title: Characterization of VAMP2 in Schistosoma japonicum and the Evaluation of Protective Efficacy Induced by Recombinant SjVAMP2 in Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The outer-tegument membrane covering the schistosome is believed to maintain via the fusion of membranous vesicles. Fusion of biological membranes is a fundamental process in all eukaryotic cells driven by formation of trans-SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complexes through pairing of vesicle associated v-SNAREs (VAMP) with complementary t-SNAREs on target membranes. The purpose of this study was to characterize Schistosoma japonicum vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (SjVAMP2) and to investigate its potential as a candidate vaccine against schistosomiasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sequence of SjVAMP2 was analyzed, cloned, expressed and characterized. SjVAMP2 is a member of the synaptobrevin superfamily harboring the v-SNARE coiled-coil homology domain. RT-PCR analysis revealed that significantly higher SjVAMP2 levels were observed in 14-, 28- and 42-day-old worms, and SjVAMP2 expression was much higher in 42-day-old female worms than in those male worms. Additionally, the expression of SjVAMP2 was associated with membrane recovery in PZQ-treated worms. Immunostaining assay showed that SjVAMP2 was mainly distributed in the sub-tegument of the worms. Western blotting revealed that rSjVAMP2 showed strong immunogenicity. Purified rSjVAMP2 emulsified with ISA206 adjuvant induced 41.5% and 27.3% reductions in worm burden, and 36.8% and 23.3% reductions in hepatic eggs in two independent trials. Besides, significantly higher rSjVAMP2-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a levels were detected in rSjVAMP2-vaccinated mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that SjVAMP2 is a potential vaccine candidate against S. japonicum and provided the basis for further investigations into the biological function of SjVAMP2.
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.|College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaodan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuntao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chuangang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.|Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiaojiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014611:Vaccination; D050988:Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050988:Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 2