The structural appearance of adhesive discs is essentially identical, not only for different G. lamblia assemblages but also for other species such as G. muris [37, 39, 40]. Immunofluorescence assays using anti-β giardin mAb and confocal microscopy showed that β-giardin localized in the ventral disc of WB permeabilized trophozoites (Figure 3A). We have extended the analysis to other Assemblages A isolates (WB clone A6 and Portland-1) and we found no

differences with the localization seen in WB 1267 trophozoites (data not shown). The distinctive fluorescence intensity detected at the margins of the ventral disc has been previously reported in Giardia trophozoites transfected with GFP-tagged β-giardin or using polyclonal Selleck Tanespimycin antibodies [41, 42]. Some authors have suggested that β-giardin also localizes in the median body Dabrafenib of WB trophozoites [43]. However, we did not observe any labeling of the median body, although a large population of trophozoites was analyzed. These differences in localization may suggest that it could

be modified, taking into account that Palm et al. found three isoforms of this protein in a proteomic assay [23]. Interestingly, the immunolocalization of β-giardin at the ventral disc in GS trophozoites was rather different, with β-giardin being specifically organized into a radial array that surrounded the half ring of the ventral ADAM7 disc, resembling a horseshoe (Figure 3B). Also, at the center of the ventral disc, an asymmetrical grid could be observed. Figure 3 Immunolocalization

of β-giardin in WB and GS trophozoites. Reactivity of 12G5 mAb on WB and GS Giardia trophozoites was determined by indirect immunofluorescence in permeabilized trophozoites. (A) Upper panel: immunofluorescence assays showing the labelling in the ventral disc of the trophozoites. Lower panels: high magnification showing the immunostaining in the ventral disc of WB trophozoites, with more intensity on the margins. (B) Upper panel: immunofluorescence of β-giardin in GS trophozoites. Lower panels: high magnification showing immunofluorescence specifically organized into a radial array surrounding the half ring of the ventral disc and also at the centre of it. Scale bar: 10 μm. The singular localization of β-giardin in WB and GS trophozoites was unexpected, considering that the amino acid sequence of β-giardin is 100% identical in the two assemblages (Additional File 1). Complementary assays utilizing non-permeabilized WB or GS trophozoites showed no fluorescence, showing intracellular β-giardin localization. Related to this, in studies performed on G. muris trophozoites, β-giardin was described as a surface protein, based on surface protein biotinilation assays [44].