[Cloning and expression of Schistosoma japonicum eggshell protein gene].
OBJECTIVE
To construct an eukaryotic expression system pcDNA3/ESG-HeLa cell and explore the possibility of whether the eggshell protein might be used as potential targets for vaccine development.


METHODS
The eggshell protein gene (ESG) was amplified using PCR technique and inserted into vector pcDNA3 to construct recombinant vector pcDNA3/ESG. The expression of the eggshell protein was performed in HeLa cell line. SDS-PAGE, dot-ELISA and Western blotting were used to identify the antigenicity of the expressed product.


RESULTS
The amplification of ESG (618) bp was achieved and high level expression of the eggshell protein was obtained in HeLa cells and the amount of total expressed products was up to 24.4%. Dot-ELISA and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expressed protein could be recognized by sera from rabbits infected with S. japonicum and from female worm- or egg-immunized rabbits. In addition, the expressed protein could specifically stimulate proliferative response of the immunized BALB/c mouse spleen cells, the transformation rate being up to 44.57%.


CONCLUSIONS
The eukaryotic expression system pcDNA3/ESG was successfully established and high level expression of the eggshell protein of S. japonicum was achieved in HeLa cell line. The expressed recombinant protein exhibited immunological activities.
Liu
L
L
Department of Parasitology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510089.
Yu
X
X
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics*
D004527:Egg Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins