Our research program is focused toward understanding the virulence of Trichomonas vaginalis through the identification and biochemical characterization of membrane immunogens with important biological properties or functions. Three major areas of research are emphasized: i) antigen analysis studies targeting potential (glyco)proteinaceous substances as candidates for vaccines or immunodiagnostic tests; ii) the surface parasitism of host cells by T. vaginalis using in vitro and in vivo models; and iii) production of monospecific and monoclonal antibody against highly immunogenic surface proteins of T. vaginalis for enhancing our knowledge of immunochemical properties of specific antigens and dissecting the nature of the parasitism by trichomonads to urogenital-vaginal tissues and cell cultures. A variety of technology will be employed which include standard radiolabeling procedures, chromatographic?and electrophoretic methods, hybridoma monoclonal antibody reagents, and electron microscopy. Our long term goal is to identify highly immunogenic membrane protein antigens of T. vaginalis which possess key biologic functions, such as ligands involved in host parasitism of cell surfaces, essential for infection of human hosts. Initial data are provided in the Preliminary Results section which indicate the feasibility of this proposed research program. In addition to studies described above, the virulence of Treponema pallidum will be examined through the immunobiochemical characterization of specific outer envelope proteins implicated as adhesins recognizing fibronectin on host cell surfaces. The chemical dissection of fibronectin and protease-derived fibronectin fragments will be emphasized in order to permit analysis of precise domains on the fibronectin polypeptide responsible for binding treponemal ligands. As above, a combination of up-to-date methodologies will be employed. Preliminary studies suggest that definition of the infectious process and precise virulence determinants may be possible with these approaches.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Modified Research Career Development Award (K04)
Project #
5K04AI000584-05
Application #
3070697
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1984-04-01
Project End
1989-03-31
Budget Start
1988-04-01
Budget End
1989-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Department
Type
School of Medicine & Dentistry
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Arroyo, R; Alderete, J F (1989) Trichomonas vaginalis surface proteinase activity is necessary for parasite adherence to epithelial cells. Infect Immun 57:2991-7
Alderete, J F; Neale, K A (1989) Relatedness of structures of a major immunogen in Trichomonas vaginalis isolates. Infect Immun 57:1849-53
Alderete, J F; Baseman, J B (1989) Serum lipoprotein binding by Treponema pallidum: possible role for proteoglycans. Genitourin Med 65:177-82
Alderete, J F (1988) Alternating phenotypic expression of two classes of Trichomonas vaginalis surface markers. Rev Infect Dis 10 Suppl 2:S408-12
Alderete, J F; Peterson, K M; Baseman, J B (1988) Affinities of Treponema pallidum for human lactoferrin and transferrin. Genitourin Med 64:359-63
Alderete, J F; Garza, G E (1988) Identification and properties of Trichomonas vaginalis proteins involved in cytadherence. Infect Immun 56:28-33
Alderete, J F (1988) Does lactobacillus vaccine for trichomoniasis, Solco Trichovac, induce antibody reactive with Trichomonas vaginalis? Genitourin Med 64:118-23
Alderete, J F; Demyys, P; Gombosova, A et al. (1987) Phenotypes and protein-epitope phenotypic variation among fresh isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis. Infect Immun 55:1037-41
Alderete, J F (1987) Trichomonas vaginalis NYH286 phenotypic variation may be coordinated for a repertoire of trichomonad surface immunogens. Infect Immun 55:1957-62
Peterson, K; Baseman, J B; Alderete, J F (1987) Molecular cloning of Treponema pallidum outer envelope fibronectin binding proteins, P1 and P2. Genitourin Med 63:355-60

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