Abstract
To identify vaccine candidates for Schistosoma mansoni, the IgG fraction of rabbit antiserum raised against immature female worms affinity purified over a NP-40 extract of 3-h schistosomula was used to immunoscreen a cercarial λgt11 cDNA library. One clone with a 1.5-kb cDNA insert revealed an encoded peptide of 479 amino acids, which bears homology to human actin-binding protein (ABP-280 = filamin). Northern blot analysis revealed a transcript of about 8.6 kb, indicating that the complete gene was not cloned. Overlapping clones, which encode a composite sequence of 983 amino acids (45% identity with filamin), were subsequently isolated from the cDNA library. The 1.5-kb insert was cloned into pGEX, overexpressed, and the 479 amino acid peptide purified. Western blot analysis using polyclonal antisera specific to the peptide identified a 280-kDa molecule in adult worm extracts. RT-PCR demonstrated that Smfilaimin is expressed in various stages. Immunofluorescence studies with specific antisera revealed a tegument-associated fluorescence in adult worms. IgG specific to the Smfilamin fragment showed 36.6% killing of schistosomules in an in vitro killing assay.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1035-1042 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Parasitology Research |
Volume | 102 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2008 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Parasitology
- veterinary(all)
- Insect Science
- Infectious Diseases