Analisi proteomica di proteine immunoreattive di Brucella melitensis da utilizzare in test diagnostici

Serological tests included in the national eradication plan for the diagnosis of ovine brucellosis are based on antigens obtained from Brucella suspension or extracted lipopolysaccharides (LPS). These reagents may give rise to false positives since most of the antibodies produced by an organism infected with Brucella spp are directed against the O-antigen present in LPS, that is also common to other Gram negative bacteria such as Yersinia enterocolitica and Escherichia coli. The aim of this work was to characterize B. melitensis specific immunogenic proteins in order to improve diagnostic tests used in brucellosis eradication programs. A positive sheep B. melitensis serum was treated to eliminate anti-LPS antibodies to highlight the reaction towards the immunoreactive proteins in western blotting. The immunoreactive bands were identified by nLC-MS/MS and through bioinformatic tools it was possible to select 23 protein candidates.