title: Cloning and characterisation of mmc-1, a microfilarial-specific gene, from Brugia pahangi.
abstract: Nine differentially expressed genes were cloned from Brugia pahangi in a screen which sought to identify cDNAs that were differentially expressed between the microfilariae from the mammalian host and the mosquito vector. One gene (mmc-1), that was up-regulated in mammalian-derived microfilariae, was characterised in detail. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that mmc-1 was specific to the microfilarial stage of the life cycle and was not transcribed by developing microfilariae in utero, but only following the release of the microfilariae from the adult female. Analysis of DNA from other filarial worms suggested that mmc-1 may be a Brugia-specific gene. Using serum samples from individuals exposed to Brugia malayi infection, it was shown that MMC-1 was specifically recognised by antibodies of the IgG3 subclass. mmc-1 has no homologues in the data bases and its function in the parasite is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Emes
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Xingxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Devaney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017179:Brugia pahangi / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003470:Culture Media; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000469:parasitology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015723:Gene Library; D005849:Gerbillinae; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D003470:Culture Media; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015801:Helminth Proteins