Identification of fatty acid molecules in a Fasciola hepatica immunoprophylactic fatty acid-binding protein

Fasciola hepatica adult flukes have a native protein complex denoted nFh12 and consisting of fatty acid binding proteins that comprise at least 8 isoforms. It is a potent immunogen because in several animal hosts it induces an early antibody response to F. hepatica infection. It is also a potent cross-protective immunogen because it induces a protective immune response in mice to challenge infection with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. The gene encoding this protein has been cloned and sequenced. It produces a polypeptide of 132 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 14.7 kDa and is denoted rFh15. It also has a significant homology to a 14-kDa S. mansoni fatty acid binding protein (Sm14). In the present study, nFh12 was delipidated with charcoal treatment and then studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Additionally, a lipid analysis of nFh12 was undertaken using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to demonstrate that the nFh12 protein complex is, in fact, a complex of fatty acid binding proteins. Five long-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were detected. The most abundant were palmitic acid (38%), stearic acid (24%), and oleic acid (13%). These fatty acid molecules do not have covalent bonds attached to the protein molecule. Because both nFh12 and Sm14 protect mice against challenge infection with F. hepatica and S. mansoni, it is possible that they have common protective epitopes in which fatty acids could be involved. Further studies are in progress to determine the chemical nature of these potential common epitopes.     

A 14-kDa Schistosoma mansoni polypeptide is homologous to a gene family of fatty acid binding proteins

The complete nucleotide sequence encoding a Schistosoma mansoni protein termed Sm14 was determined from cDNA clones propagated in bacteriophage lambda gt11 in Escherichia coli. The 14.8-kDa protein bears significant homologies with a family of related polypeptides which bind hydrophobic ligands. Members of this group of cytosolic proteins were originally identified based on their affinity for long chain fatty acids. The purified recombinant protein exhibited an affinity to fatty acids, in contrast to a mutant lacking 16 N-terminal amino acids. Immunofluorescence experiments show that tubercles, which are structures located on the dorsal surface of adult male schistosome and known to contain lipids, are stained using antibodies raised to the beta-galactosidase fusion protein. A regular staining pattern is also evident in the muscle layers as well as in the body of the parasite. As the schistosome cannot synthesize fatty acids de novo and is dependent on the uptake of lipids from serum, the available data support a role for Sm14 in the transport of fatty acids.     

Immunoprophylaxis against Fasciola hepatica in rabbits using a recombinant Fh15 fatty acid-binding protein.

Previous studies of ours have demonstrated that a recombinant protein (Fh15) related to fatty acid-binding proteins did not induce significant protection in rabbits challenged 2 or 4 wk postimmunization over nonimmunized controls. In the current study, rabbits were immunized with Fh15 and challenged with Fasciola hepatica metacercariae 12 and 20 wk later. In the current study in which longer lag periods for challenge infection after the second immunization were used, worm burden reductions compared to adjuvant controls were a significant 43% and 76%, respectively. Importantly, rabbits immunized with Fh15 had significant numbers of immature flukes, 66% in the 12-wk period and 84% in the 20-wk lag period as compared to controls. In addition, liver lesions were clearly diminished in the vaccinated rabbits. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay absorbance values showed that immunized rabbits developed high antibody levels to Fh15 from 8 wk after the first immunization and did not increase after challenge. These results suggest that a recombinant F. hepatica molecule related to fatty acid-binding proteins induces protective (worm burden reductions), anti-fecundity (immature flukes), and anti-pathology (less liver lesions) effects in rabbits and may serve as a model for the immunoprophylaxis of fascioliasis.     

Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni: immunofluorescent antigen localization and cross-reactivity

In an attempt to identify the tissue sources of biochemically purified antigenic fractions of Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni, antisera were tested against plastic-embedded sections of worms of various ages by an indirect fluorescent-antibody-labeling technique. Antibodies prepared against antigens purified by chromatography of F. hepatica whole worm extract through concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B labeled the parenchyma and tegument of adult F. hepatica strongly while antibodies developed against antigens purified by antibody-affinity chromatography against antibodies of S. mansoni labeled only the parenchyma. Antigens common to these two groups clearly originated from F. hepatica parenchyma. Certain of these common antigens are known to provide significant protection in mice to challenge with S. mansoni cercariae, and in the present study antisera against F. hepatica extracts cross-labeled S. mansoni adult male parenchyma. Reciprocal cross-reactions between antisera against S. mansoni and the parenchyma of adult F. hepatica were also noted. FhFIIb, an extract of F. hepatica which Tailliez described as not cross-reacting with S. mansoni, was found to contain no F. hepatica parenchymal antigens. Antigenic fractions of F. hepatica and S. mansoni collected from the surface of worms after incubation in nonionic detergent were unexpectedly found to contain much parenchymal antigen, suggesting leakage of internal components into the supernatant during preparation. Antisera to F. hepatica developed during a natural infection in rabbits labeled tegumental components and gut strongly but did not react with parenchymal tissue. Antisera against extracts of adult schistosomes labeled the parenchyma of male worms and the glycocalyx of the cercarial tegument, indicating the presence of common antigens in the adult and the cercarial stage. Reciprocal reactions between anticercarial sera and adult sections provided further evidence of shared antigenicity. Antisera against S. mansoni egg antigens strongly labeled sections of eggs in liver tissue and cross-reacted with cercarial glycocalyx, indicating the existence of common antigens between these two stages. The antisera also cross-reacted with what appeared to be non-membrane-bound protein in the tegument of F. hepatica. The soluble egg antigen extract shared antigenicity with the parenchyma of both S. mansoni and F. hepatica but circumoval precipitin had no cross-reactivity with this tissue. Thus S. mansoni eggs contain nondiffusable components sharing antigenic specificity with adult parenchymal tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Solubilization of antigens of Fasciola hepatica which react with antibodies to Schistosoma mansoni.

Extracts of Fasciola hepatica adult worms contain antigens reactive with antisera prepared against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. These antigens are poorly solubilized when homogenized in a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution and pellet readily when subjected to high speed centrifugation. Solubilization is improved greatly by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.03%) to the PBS. When this is done, one obtains approximately the same total amount of crude Lowry reactive material as with PBS extraction followed by high speed centrifugation but antigenic reactivity to an anti-S. mansoni antiserum increases enormously. The antigens liberated from F. hepatica SDS extraction are largely materials under 200,000 MW and over 60,000 MW.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding a cotton palmitoyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase.

A cotton genomic clone containing a 17.4-kb DNA segment was found to encompass a palmitoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (Fat B1) gene. The gene spans 3.6 kb with six exons and five introns, and is apparently the first plant FatB acyl-ACP thioesterase gene to be completely sequenced. The six exons are identical in nucleotide sequence to the open reading frame of the corresponding cDNA, and would encode a preprotein of 413 amino acids. The preprotein can clearly be identified as a FatB acyl-ACP thioesterase from its similarity to the deduced amino acid sequences of other FatB thioesterase preproteins. A 5'-flanking region of 914 bp was sequenced, with the potential TATA basal promoter 324 bp upstream from the ATG initiation codon. The 5'-flanking sequence also has a putative CAAT box and two presumptive basic region helixloop-helix (bHLH) elements with the consensus motif CANNTG (termed an E box), implicated as being a positive regulatory element in seed-specific gene expression.     

Effect of closantel on intrategumental pH in Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola hepatica

It has been proposed that the anthelmintic activity of the flukicide, closantel, is due to the drug's ability to interfere with the proton gradient in the parasite's mitochondria that in turn inhibits the generation of ATP by the parasite. Recent results using 31P-NMR suggest that this is not the primary target of the drug. We measured the effects of closantel on fluke intrategumental pH and observed a significant decrease (6.8 to 6.5). This decrease occurred within 10 min and at concentrations that were lower than those that produced significant changes in parasite ATP concentration. We also noted that this drug-induced change in intrategumental pH was associated with a marked reduction in fluke motility. Our results, when coupled to previous reports, would suggest that closantel is a membrane-active molecule that is capable of affecting a number of helminth biochemical and physiological processes.     

Molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence and expression of the gene encoding prepro-polygalacturonaseII of Aspergillus niger

PolygalacturonaseII of Aspergillus niger was fragmented using CNBr and the NH2-terminal fragment and another fragment were partially sequenced. The polygalacturonaseII (pgaII) gene was then isolated by using an oligonucleotide mixture based on the internal amino acid sequence as a probe. The nucleotide sequence of the pgaII structural gene was determined. It was found that polygalacturonaseII is synthesized as a precursor having an NH2-terminal prepro-sequence of 27 amino acids. The cloned gene was used to construct polygalacturonaseII over-producing A. niger strains. PolygalacturonaseII was isolated from one such strain and was determined to be correctly processed and to be fully active.     

The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum: molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression

Summary The ppc gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum encoding phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase was isolated by complementation of a ppc mutant of Escherichia coli using a cosmid gene bank of chromosomal c. glutamicum DNA. By subsequent subcloning into the plasmid pUC8 and deletion analysis, the ppc gene could be located on a 3.3 kb SalI fragment. This fragment was able to complement the E. coli ppc mutant and conferred PEP carboxylase activity to the mutant. The complete nucleotide sequence of the ppc gene including 5 and 3 flanking regions has been determined and the primary structure of PEP carboxylase was deduced. The sequence predicts a 919 residue protein product (molecular weight of 103154) which shows 34% similarity with the respective E. coli enzyme. Present address: Institut für Biotechnologie 1 der Kernforschungsanlage, Postfach 1913, D-5170 Jülich, Federal Republic of Germany     

Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni: identification of common proteins by comparative proteomic analysis

It is not unusual to find common molecules among parasites of different species, genera, or phyla. When those molecules are antigenic, they may be used for developing drugs or vaccines that simultaneously target different species or genera of parasite. In the present study, we used a proteomic-based approach to identify proteins that are common to adult Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni. Whole-worm extracts from each parasite were separated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and digital images of both proteomes were superimposed using imaging software to identify proteins with identical isoelectric points and molecular weights. Protein identities were determined by mass spectrometry. Imaging and immunoblot analyses identified 28 immunoreactive proteins that are common to both parasites. Among these molecules are antioxidant proteins (thioredoxin and glutathione-S-transferase), glycolytic enzymes (glyceraldehyde 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and enolase), proteolytic enzymes (cathepsin-L and -D), inhibitors (Kunitz-type, Stefin-1), proteins with chaperone activity (heat shock protein 70 and fatty acid-binding protein), and structural proteins (calcium-binding protein, actin, and myosin). Some of the identified proteins could be used to develop drugs and vaccines against fascioliasis and schistosomiasis.     

Schistosoma mansoni: reduced worm burdens in mice immunized with isolated Fasciola hepatica antigens.

Mice immunized with Fasciola hepatica antigens are protected to a challenge exposure with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. This protection is manifested in a 28–54% reduction in worm burdens of the immunized mice over controls. The protective antigens could be isolated by antibody affinity chromatography and react with an antiserum to S. mansoni. These antigens, when used to immunize mice, result in 50–60% reduction in worm burdens over controls. One protective antigen has been isolated which when used alone or in combination with a B-cell adjuvant such as polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (poly (AU)) results in 56–81% reduction in worm burdens over controls. The complexity of the F. hepatica adult worm antigens was demonstrated by Laurell crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Crossreactivity with antisera to S. mansoni and S. japonicum and the presence of one common antigen between the two genera have been demonstrated.     

Stage-specific expression of a Schistosoma mansoni polypeptide similar to the vertebrate regulatory protein stathmin

The ubiquitous vertebrate protein stathmin is expressed and phosphorylated in response to a variety of external and internal signals. Stathmin, in turn, controls cell growth and differentiation through its capacity to regulate microtubule assembly dynamics. This is the first report on the molecular cloning and characterization of a stathmin-like protein (SmSLP) in an invertebrate, the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. SmSLP is first synthesized at high levels in the intermediate molluscan host and completely disappears 48 h after penetration into the mammalian host. The protein is preferentially iodinated in intact immature parasites using the Bolton-Hunter reagent, can be quantitatively extracted in high salt buffers, and remains soluble after boiling. Native SmSLP was partially sequenced, and its complete structure was derived from the cloning and sequencing of its cDNA. The sequence is up to 26% identical to vertebrate stathmin sequences and contains two potential phosphorylation sites. Native SmSLP is indeed phosphorylated because phosphatase digestion shifts its mobility in electrofocusing gels. SmSLP associates with tubulin, as suggested by immune co-precipitation results. In vitro experiments demonstrated that SmSLP inhibits tubulin assembly and causes the depolymerization of preassembled microtubules, thus probably fulfilling regulatory roles in critical steps of schistosome development.     

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of a gene encoding an adhesin subunit protein of Helicobacter pylori.

Gene hpaA, which codes for the receptor-binding subunit of the N-acetylneuraminyllactose-binding fibrillar hemagglutinin (NLBH) of Helicobacter pylori, was cloned and sequenced. The protein expressed by hpaA, designated HpaA, was identified as the adhesin subunit on the basis of its fetuin-binding activity and its reactivity with a polyclonal, monospecific rabbit serum prepared against NLBH purified from H. pylori. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and Western blots (immunoblots) showed that the cloned adhesin has the same molecular weight (20,000) as that found on H. pylori. Also, HpaA contains a short sequence of amino acids (KRTIQK) which are all either identical or functionally similar to those which compose the sialic acid-binding motif of Escherichia coli SfaS, K99, and CFA/I. Affinity-purified antibody specific for a 12-residue synthetic peptide that included this sequence blocked the hemagglutinating activity of H. pylori and was shown by immuno-gold electron microscopy to react with almost transparent material on unstained H. pylori cells, which is consistent with previous observations concerning the location and morphology of the NLBH.     

Immunogenic protein MPB57 from Mycobacterium bovis BCG: molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence and expression

Using a single-probe method, we have cloned the gene for an immunogenic MPB57 protein of Mycobacterium bovis BCG. The nucleotide sequence includes an ORF of 300 base pairs encoding a protein of 99 amino acids with an Mr of 10,818. This cloned gene was expressed in an Escherichia coli expression vector to give a mature protein which reacted with a polyclonal antibody raised against MPB57.     

Schistosoma mansoni tropomyosin: cDNA characterization, sequence, expression, and gene product localization

We have defined the polypeptide pattern of 3-hr Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula on nonequilibrium two-dimensional gels (NEPHGE). An acidic group of polypeptides with a molecular weight of about 40 kDa and a pI value of around 5.0 (numbered 48/59/53) were identified as antigens on Western blots probed with chronic human infection sera or vaccinated mouse sera. Polypeptides 48/49/53 from silver-stained NEPHGE gels produced antisera that were specific as demonstrated by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitations of in vitro translation products. A cDNA clone (clone 1) from a S. mansoni adult worm pBR322 library was isolated by using cDNA probes made from size-fractionated mRNA and defined as encoding polypeptide 49 by hybridization selection of the mRNA which was in vitro translated and immunoprecipitated with specific mouse antiserum. A lambda gt 11 expression clone which contained an insert close to the full length mRNA was isolated from a S. mansoni cercariae library. The complete sequence of the mRNA was determined by sequencing the insert of this clone as well as primer extension of total RNA. The only open reading frame coding for 284 amino acids in the 1316 nucleotide sequence showed a 44.76 to 55.44% homology with the amino acid sequences of 18 different tropomyosins from various species. Computer-predicted secondary structure of schistosome tropomyosin was mainly alpha-helix which was very similar to other tropomyosins. Northern analysis showed the mRNA to be about 1.5 kb in size and detectable at much higher levels in the adult worm stage as compared to the cercariae and the egg stages. Western blot analysis likewise showed that greater amounts of tropomyosin were detected in extracts from adult worm stage as compared to extracts from cercariae and egg stages. Immunocytochemical analysis shows that tropomyosin is strongly associated with the tegument of adult worms. The restriction digestion pattern given by genomic Southern analysis suggests the existence of introns and/or multiple gene copies. Thus polypeptide 49, an immunodominant antigen, represents schistosome tropomyosin.     

Isolation and partial characterization of an antigen shared between Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola hepatica, and Biomphalaria glabrata

An antigen was isolated and partially characterized from adult Schistosoma mansoni which immunologically cross-reacted with Fasciola hepatica and Biomphalaria glabrata, a schistosome intermediate snail host. The antigen was isolated from a solubilized freeze-thaw preparation containing 0.5% Triton X-100 by passage through a CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B column coupled with rabbit IgG prepared against a homogenate of B. glabrata hepatopancreas. The eluted antigen (designated as SMw-53P) stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250, but not with Nile Blue A or periodic acid-Schiff's stains. The antigen did not bind to a Concanavalin A affinity column. SMw-53P was determined to have a molecular weight of 53,000 daltons by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Western blotting, using sera from mice infected with S. mansoni, revealed the presence of the antigen in whole worm preparations of both S. mansoni and F. hepatica. The serodiagnostic potential of the antigen was evaluated by ELISA utilizing sera from S. mansoni-infected mice, or rabbits injected with homogenates of F. hepatica or S. mansoni whole worm, or B. glabrata hepatopancreas. SMw-53P was shown to strongly react with all antisera, but not normal mouse or rabbit sera. These data suggest a limited value for the antigen for the specific immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni, but do suggest a possible potential as a general screening tool for detecting trematode infections. Further studies regarding the antigen's potential as a vaccine are indicated.     

Molecular cloning, sequence analysis and expression studies of a novelGAmyb homologous gene,hvmyb

Using a knownGAmyb gene as the probe, two fully identical clones were isolated from a barley aleurone cDNA library. Sequence analysis showed that their 5′ termini are highly homoIogous to the 3′ termini ofGAmyb (97%) and their 3′ termini share no significant homology with any myb genes. Therefore, the deduced protein may hold intact putativeGAmyb activation domain but lack the normal DNA-binding domain. Northern blot reveals thathumyb expression in barley aleurone layers is strongly up-regulated by gibberellin (GA) and down-regulated by abscisic acid (APIA). The tissue-and developmental-stage-specificity ofhvmyb was also found, which was only expressed in barley aleurone cells and dropped to non-detectable level soon after germination.     

Molecular cloning of a member of the Fasciola hepatica saposin-like protein family

A 436-bp complementary DNA (cDNA) was isolated from an adult Fasciola hepatica cDNA expression library by screening with the serum from a rabbit infected with F. hepatica for 4 wk. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by this cDNA is an 11.5-kDa polypeptide that has significant homology to F. hepatica NK-lysin protein, to several members of saposin-like or NK-lysin protein families, as well as 3 amoebapore precursors of Entamoeba histolytica. The most striking feature observed within this protein, denoted FhSAP-2, is the presence of 6 conserved cysteine residues arranged within 5 amphipathic alpha-helical domains and the presence of 7 hydrophobic residues in strictly conserved positions. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay it was found that rFhSAP-2 is highly reactive with sera from rabbits infected with F. hepatica for 2-14 wk as well as with sera from humans with chronic fascioliasis. An anti-rFhSAP-2 rabbit antiserum reacted with F. hepatica excretory-secretory antigens by Western blot, revealing a major 11.5-kDa and 2 minor 46- and 67-kDa antigenic polypeptides. This suggests that FhSAP-2 may be an antigen released from cytoplasmic storage granules present within F. hepatica parasites. rFhSAP-2 also exhibits a strong lytic activity on human erythrocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This suggests that cell lysis could be 1 of the biological functions of this protein.