Purification and evaluation of recombinant BP26 protein for serological diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams

ZYGMUNT, M. BAUCHERON S. BOWDEN, R.A. ESTEIN, S.M. GONZALEZ, C. VIZCAÍNO, N. CLOECKAERT, A.

Chicago, Illinois. Estados Unidos.

Congreso; 50 th Brucellosis Research Conference Special Anniversary Meeting; 1997

To investígate the valué of the BP26 protein in the dia­gnosis of ovine brucellosis caused by Brucella ovis, we expressed the bp26 gene in Escherichia coli (1). The majo-rity of the recombinant protein was produced in a soluble form. The purification of the recombinant BP26 (rBP26) protein was achieved by using ion-exchange chromato-graphy of the supernatant of disrupted E. coli cells. After one step of purificatíon, the purity of the rBP26 was ana-lysed by using SDS-PAGE, Coomassie blue staining, and Western blot with a monoclonal antibody directed against the BP26 protein. Positivity of sera from B. ovis infected rams in an indirect ELISA using purified rBP26 protein indicated that BP26 may be a suitable antigen for serolo-gical diagnosis of B. ovis infection in rams.