Cloning of cDNAs encoding a 28 kilodalton antigen of Toxoplasma gondii

By screening cDNA libraries in λgt11 with antibodies raised against the previously described protective F3G3 antigen of Toxoplasma gondii, and subsequently screening with nucleic acid probes, we have isolated cDNA clones that encode a 28 kDa antigen of T. gondii that is likely one of the two antigenic components of the F3G3 antigen. The gene apparently exists as a single copy in the tachyzoite haploid genome of the three strains of T. gondii examined. Northern blot analyses revealed that the cDNAs hybridize with a major T. gondii RNA species of 1.1 kb. Together the cDNAs encompass 1051 bp of cDNA sequence containing an open reading frame with the capacity to encode a 28 kDa protein. Antibodies that were affinity purified using recombinant fusion proteins produced by two of the clones reacted on protein blots of whole T. gondii lysate with a single antigen having an apparent molecular mass of 28 kDa. Both recombinant fusion proteins reacted with IgG antibodies in sera of mice and humans infected with T. gondii and therefore might be useful for the development of diagnostic assays for T. gondii infection.