title: Fusion protein comprised of the two schistosomal antigens, Sm14 and Sm29, provides significant protection against Schistosoma mansoni in murine infection model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schistosoma mansoni infection represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many areas of the developing world. Effective vaccines against schistosomiasis are not available and disease management relies mainly on treatment with the anthelmintic drug praziquantel. Several promising schistosomal antigens have been evaluated for vaccine efficacy such as Sm14, Sm29 and tetraspanins. However, most investigators examine these promising antigens in animal models individually rather than in properly adjuvanted antigen combinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we made a recombinant fusion protein comprised of the promising schistosomal antigens Sm14 and Sm29. The fusion protein, FSm14/29, was administered to Swiss albino mice either unadjuvanted or adjuvanted with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid adjuvant, poly(I:C). Mice were challenged with S. mansoni cercariae and different parasitological/immunological parameters were assessed seven weeks post-challenge. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA test with post-hoc Tukey-Kramer test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice pre-immunized with unadjuvanted or poly(I:C)-adjuvanted fusion protein showed reduction of adult worm burden of 44.7 and 48.4%, respectively. In addition, significant reduction of tissue egg burdens was observed in mice immunized with the fusion protein when compared with the infected saline/adjuvant negative control groups and groups immunized with the individual Sm14 and Sm29 antigens. Light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation of adult worms recovered from FSm14/29-immunized mice revealed appreciable morphological damage and tegumental deformities. Histopathological examination of liver sections of immunized mice demonstrated reduced granulomatous and inflammatory reactions when compared with infected unvaccinated mice or mice immunized with the individual Sm14 and Sm29 antigens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings presented in this study highlight the importance of the fusion protein FSm14/29 as a potential vaccine candidate that is worthy of further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. mossallamsh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shereen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Mossallam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. ehabaman2003@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Eglal I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. radwaemad1@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Radwa E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ewaisha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. amalkhalil_2005@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amal M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. h_aboushleib51@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hamida M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Aboushleib
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. m.bahey-el-din@alexu.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahey-El-Din
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051379:Mice; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014612:Vaccines
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C000589456:Sm29 protein, Schistosoma mansoni; D014612:Vaccines; C068709:SM14 protein, Schistosoma mansoni