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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2006, p. 1674-1680, Vol. 44, No. 5
0095-1137/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.44.5.1674-1680.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Identification of a Novel 74-Kilodalton Immunodominant Antigen of Pythium insidiosum Recognized by Sera from Human Patients with Pythiosis

Theerapong Krajaejun,1* Mongkol Kunakorn,1 Rungnapa Pracharktam,1 Piriyaporn Chongtrakool,1 Boonmee Sathapatayavongs,2 Angkana Chaiprasert,3 Nongnuch Vanittanakom,4 Ariya Chindamporn,5 and Piroon Mootsikapun6

Departments of Pathology,1 Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital,2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,3 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand,4 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand,5 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand6

Received 14 May 2005/ Returned for modification 5 July 2005/ Accepted 23 February 2006

The oomycetous, fungus-like, aquatic organism Pythium insidiosum is the etiologic agent of pythiosis, a life-threatening infectious disease of humans and animals that has been increasingly reported from tropical, subtropical, and temperate countries. Human pythiosis is endemic in Thailand, and most patients present with arteritis, leading to limb amputation and/or death, or cornea ulcer, leading to enucleation. Diagnosis of pythiosis is time-consuming and difficult. Radical surgery is the main treatment for pythiosis because conventional antifungal drugs are ineffective. The aims of this study were to evaluate the use of Western blotting for diagnosis of human pythiosis, to identify specific immunodominant antigens of P. insidiosum, and to increase understanding of humoral immune responses against the pathogen. We performed Western blot analysis on 16 P. insidiosum isolates using 12 pythiosis serum samples. These specimens were derived from human patients with pythiosis who had different forms of infection and lived in different geographic areas throughout Thailand. We have identified a 74-kDa immunodominant antigen in all P. insidiosum isolates tested. The 74-kDa antigen was also recognized by sera from all patients with pythiosis but not by control sera from healthy individuals, patients with thalassemia, and patients with various infectious diseases, indicating that Western blot analysis could facilitate diagnosis of pythiosis. Therefore, the 74-kDa antigen is a potential target for developing rapid serodiagnostic tests as well as a therapeutic vaccine for pythiosis. These advances could lead to early diagnosis and effective treatment, crucial factors for better prognosis for patients with pythiosis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. Phone: (662) 201-1379. Fax: (662) 246-4281. E-mail: mr_en{at}hotmail.com.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2006, p. 1674-1680, Vol. 44, No. 5
0095-1137/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.44.5.1674-1680.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Jindayok, T., Piromsontikorn, S., Srimuang, S., Khupulsup, K., Krajaejun, T. (2009). Hemagglutination Test for Rapid Serodiagnosis of Human Pythiosis. CVI 16: 1047-1051 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Krajaejun, T., Imkhieo, S., Intaramat, A., Ratanabanangkoon, K. (2009). Development of an Immunochromatographic Test for Rapid Serodiagnosis of Human Pythiosis. CVI 16: 506-509 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chindamporn, A., Vilela, R., Hoag, K. A., Mendoza, L. (2009). Antibodies in the Sera of Host Species with Pythiosis Recognize a Variety of Unique Immunogens in Geographically Divergent Pythium insidiosum Strains. CVI 16: 330-336 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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