title: Paragonimus westermani: biochemical and immunological characterizations of paramyosin.
abstract: Paramyosin of the helminth parasite is a muscle protein that plays multifunctional roles in host-parasite relationships. In this study, we have cloned a gene encoding Paragonimus westermani paramyosin (PwPmy) and characterized biochemical and immunological properties of the recombinant protein. The recombinant PwPmy (rPwPmy) was shown to bind both human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and collagen. The protein was constitutively expressed in various developmental stages of the parasite and its expression level increased progressively as the parasite matured. Immunohistological analysis revealed that PwPmy was mainly localized in subtegumental muscle, tegument and cells surrounding the oral sucker, intestine, and ovary of the parasite. Sera from patients with paragonimiasis showed antibody reactivity against rPwPmy, and IgG1 and IgG4 were predominant. Immunization of mice with rPwPmy also induced high IgG responses. Biochemical and immunological characterization of PwPmy may provide valuable information for the further study to develop a vaccine or a chemotherapeutic agent for paragonimiasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul 122-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Qin-Ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Sung-Ung
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byoung-Kuk
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Seon-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shin-Hyeong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyeong-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Woon-Mok
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Ming-Sen
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Tong-Soo
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010237:Paragonimiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D048492:Paragonimus westermani / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014335:Tropomyosin; D003094:Collagen