Two immunodominant antigens from Madurella mycetomatis were identified by IgG antibodies in infected mice

Abstract

Abstract Madurella mycetomatis is the most frequent etiological agent of eumycetoma, a chronic infectious disease that is acquired by traumatic inoculation of the microbe, mainly in the lower limbs. It usually affects young people between the ages of 15 and 30 and its treatment is complicated, involving surgical approach and chronic use of antifungals. To date there is lack of accessible immunological test for the diagnosis of this disease. In this work we obtained protein antigens from the cellular extract of M. mycetomatis, which can be used in the design of an immunodiagnostic test. 8-12 week old female BALB/C mice were infected with a suspension of M. mycetomatis using 3 different inoculation routes: intraperitoneal, dorsal subcutaneous and foot pad. Crude cellular extract of M. mycetomatis, protein antigens were analyzed on an SDS-PAGE gel, which were recognized by serum of mice infected with M. mycetomatis using the Western blot technique. The IgG anti-M. mycetomatis identified 2 immunodominant antigens were recognized by antibodies in all infected mice with M. mycetomatis. The identification of these antigens in sera from patients with eumycetoma has diagnostic potential.