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Antibodies induced in mice by a DNA-construct coding for the elastase of Schistosoma mansoni recognize the enzyme in secretions and preacetabular glands of cercariae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2002

M. BAHGAT ,
K. CHLICHLIA ,
V. SCHIRRMACHER  and
A. RUPPEL
M. BAHGAT
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Hygiene, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany Present address: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
K. CHLICHLIA
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Hygiene, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
V. SCHIRRMACHER
Affiliation:
Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
A. RUPPEL
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Hygiene, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Abstract

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A DNA-construct coding for the elastase of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni was prepared from adult S. mansoni worm RNA which was reverse transcribed into cDNA. The gene coding for the elastase was amplified using primers specific for the sequence of cercarial elastase and was cloned into a mammalian expression vector. Expression of the elastase gene at the transcriptional level was achieved for the first time in transfected mammalian cells (COS-7) and was also successful in muscle tissue of mice injected with the DNA-construct. These mice developed antibodies recognizing in Western blots the elastase from cercarial secretions. Also, these antibodies reacted in immunofluorescence tests with the preacetabular glands of cercariae, i.e. the site of origin for elastase. Thus, the DNA-construct induced the expression of elastase in mice and formation of antibodies that recognized the native antigen.

Keywords

Schistosoma mansonielastasetransfectionDNA vaccinationimmune response
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 124 , Issue 3 , March 2002 , pp. 301 - 306
Copyright
2002 Cambridge University Press