Abstract
Ingestion of the larval nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis can cause the human eosinophilic meningitis known as angiostrongyliasis. Analysis of the extracts and excretory-secretory (ES) products of A. cantonensis larvae and adult stages on gelatin substrate zymography demonstrated the presence of distinct gelatinolytic enzymes. In worm extracts, inhibitor studies showed that the metalloproteinases revealed in L1 (23Â kDa), L3 (66, 42 and 30Â kDa), young adult worm (72 and 94Â kDa) and adult worm (72 and 94Â kDa). In ES products, the L1 revealed one low (42Â kDa) and two high (105 and 94Â kDa) molecular weight proteolytic bands that degraded gelatin in substrate gels. The L3 revealed three low (66, 50, and 30Â kDa) and one high (105Â kDa) molecular weight proteolytic bands. Inhibitor studies confirmed that the 105 and 94 proteolytic bands of the L1, and the 50 and 30Â kDa proteolytic bands of the L3 classification were metalloproteinases. These metalloproteinases secreted in the infective larvae may be associated with the parasite dissemination or pathogenesis.
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This study was supported by a grant (NSC-90–2320–B040–021) from the National Science Council, Republic of China.
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Lai, S.C., Jiang, S.T., Chen, K.M. et al. Matrix metalloproteinases activity demonstrated in the infective stage of the nematodes, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Parasitol Res 97, 466–471 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1484-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1484-6