Recombinant Toxoplasma gondii surface antigen 1 (P30) expressed in Escherichia coli is recognized by human Toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies

The immunodominant surface antigen of Toxoplasma gondii, surface antigen 1 (SAG1), was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein containing a majority of the SAG1 protein supplied with six histidyl residues in the N-terminal end. The recombinant protein was purified on a Ni-chelate column and then on a fast performance liquid chromatography column and was in a nonreduced condition. It was recognized by T. gondii-specific human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies as well as by a mouse monoclonal antibody (S13) recognizing only nonreduced native SAG1. Antibodies induced in mice by the recombinant SAG1 recognized native SAG1 from the T. gondii RH isolate in culture. Recombinant SAG1 is suitable for use in diagnostic systems for detecting anti-SAG1-specific IgG and IgM antibodies.