Cross-ractions between Larrea divaricata Cav. proteins and bacterial cellular proteins.

MATTAR M; DAVICINO R; MICALIZZI B

Uspallata (Mendoza)

Congreso; XXIII Reunión Científica de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Larrea divaricata Cav. ("jarilla"), has been used to treat a number of conditions. Nevertheless, so far no information is available regarding its immunological properties. This study aimed at immunologically characterizing proteins from a crude extract of L. divaricata Cav. and assessing antisera for recognition of bacterial cellular proteins identified by immunoblotting technique. The crude extract was obtained from leaves in PBS (pH 7.4) 24 h at 4ºC. Pseudomonas sp., K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris, E. coli 0:157 were the tested bacteria. The extract was concentrated by ultrafiltration usin Microcon-10 (Amicon) concentrators. The extract proteins were used as immunogens. Extract and bacterial proteins were electrophoresed through a 10% separating polyacrylamide gel and electroblotted onto nitrocellulose. The extract protein patterns and the protein profiles of the microorganisms showed many bands (17-23). Sera from mice immunized with extract proteins showed homologous and heterologous antigen-antibody reactions. The bacterial proteins gave a strong immune reaction to Pseudomonas sp: 16 (80%); P. vulgaris: 14 (61%) ; K. pneumoniae: 7 (37%); E. coli O:157: 7 (30%) and extract: 10 (59%) of immunoreactive bands. There was an elevated cross reactivity of extract proteins specific antibodies against bacterial proteins, indicating that L. divaricata Cav. extract proteins are immunogenic candidate for development of a vaccine against bacterial infections in immunodepressed patients.