title: Vaccination against hydatidosis using a defined recombinant antigen.
abstract: Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of hydatid disease in humans and animals. Natural transmission of the parasite occurs between dogs as definitive hosts and animal intermediate hosts. There is an urgent need for improved methods to control the parasite's transmission. Here we describe the development of a vaccine based on a cloned recombinant antigen from the parasite egg (oncosphere). Sheep-vaccinated with the antigen, designated EG95, are protected (mean 96-98%) against hydatidosis developing from an experimental challenge infection with E. granulosus eggs. The vaccine will provide a valuable new tool to aid in control of transmission of this important human pathogen. It also has the potential to prevent hydatid disease directly through vaccination of humans.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lightowlers
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Gauci
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Heath
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D004285:Dogs; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012756:Sheep; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic