Schistosoma japonicum: localization of calpain in the penetration glands and secretions of cercariae.
A monoclonal antibody was generated against the large subunit of Schistosoma japonicum calpain to study the localization and possible function of the molecule in vivo. Mice were immunized with recombinant S. japonicum calpain and polyclonal antisera and a monoclonal antibody specific to schistosome calpain was obtained. In immunohistochemistry, a monoclonal antibody against S. japonicum calpain, KG-2E11, bound weakly to calpain expressed at the surface of adult worm tegument, however, it bound strongly to the cercarial secretions ("footprints") of S. japonicum, emitted from the penetration glands. The present study indicates that calpain is multifunctional as it is expressed at various locations in different developmental stages. Calpain-based vaccines could thus possibly induce protective immunity against cercariae and the following early developing stages.
Kumagai
Takashi
T
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Public Health, The University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyusyu, Japan. tkuma@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Maruyama
Haruhiko
H
Hato
Mariko
M
Ohmae
Hiroshi
H
Osada
Yoshio
Y
Kanazawa
Tamotsu
T
Ohta
Nobuo
N
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002154:Calpain / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000517:prevention & control; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D002154:Calpain