Identification of Antigenic Proteins in Trichomonas vaginalis

Abstract

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease due to infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, and it can cause serious consequences for women's health. To study the virulence factors of this pathogen, T vaginalis surface proteins were investigated using polyclonal antibodies specific to the membrane fractions of T vaginalis. The T vaginalis expression library was constructed by cloning the cDNA derived from mRNA of T vaginalis into a phage lambda Uni-ZAP XR vector, and then used for immunoscreening with the anti-membrane proteins of T. vaginalis antibodies. The immunoreactive proteins identified included adhesion protein AP65-1, alpha-actinin, kinesin-associated protein, teneurin, and 2 independent hypothetical proteins. Immunofluorescence assays showed that AP65-1, one of the identified immunogenic clones, is prevalent in the whole body of T vaginalis. This study led us to identify T vaginalis proteins which may stimulate immune responses by human cells.