[Preliminary study on serum proteomics in mice with acute toxoplasma gondii infection by using functionalized magnetic beads and MALDI-TOF-MS technique].

Objective: To detect and analyze the serum protein biomarkers in mice with acute Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Methods: The serum samples from 8 C57BL/6J mice with acute Toxoplasma gondii infection and 8 normal healthy paired mice were prepared with WCX magnetic beads, and then analyzed on PBS II -C mass spectrometer reader. The protein spectra of the serum samples were normalized by the Ciphergen Protein Chip software. The peak labeling was performed by the Biomarker Wizard software. The specific protein biomarkers were screened by the Biomarker Pattern software to construct a diagnostic model for acute Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Results: A total of 13 distinguished proteomic peaks were detected. Nine peaks were of up-regulated expressions including m/z values of 1 932.76, 1 976.85, 2 090.53, 5 004.5, 5 776.01, 5 803.05, 5 847.99, 5 877.51 and 7 501.58, respectively; and four peaks were of down-regulated expressions including m/z values of 1 866.40,4 063.71, 8 120.31 and 8 203.83, respectively.

Conclusion: The potential protein biomarkers for acute Toxoplasma gondii infection are discovered in mouse serum by MALDI-TOF-MS combined with WCX magnetic beads.