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The Taenia saginata homologue of the major surface antigen of Echinococcus spp. is immunogenic and 97% identical to its Taenia solium homologue

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Abstract

The TEG-Tsag gene of Taenia saginata is homologous to the genes expressing the two major surface antigens of Echinococcus spp. (EM10 and EG10). Surface antigens of parasites are logical candidates for vaccines, and in this paper we demonstrate that cattle vaccinated with the recombinant TEG-Tsag protein, either used singly or in conjunction with the recombinant HP6-Tsag protein, the major 18 kDa surface/secreted antigen of T. saginata oncospheres, produce excellent antibody responses to both these recombinant proteins. Thus TEG-Tsag may have utility as a vaccine and also as a diagnostic tool for bovine cysticercosis. In addition, as we now demonstrate a 97% homology between TEG-Tsag and its Taenia solium homologue, TEG-Tsol, this latter molecule may have similar potential in the control of human and porcine cysticercosis. The TEG molecule is characterized by an N-terminal FERM domain and a C-terminal ERM domain which are found in a number of cytoskeletal-associated proteins located at the interface between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton and in proteins that interact with lipid membranes. The FERM domain is also postulated to bind to adhesion proteins, in a PIP2-regulated fashion, providing a link between cytoskeletal signals and membrane dynamics. Thus TEG protein may play a role in tegument function and interaction with the host.

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Acknowledgements

This investigation received financial support from EU/INCO-DC (project CT95-0002), ISCIII-Programa Intramural (MPY 1274/05), ISCIII-RETIC RD06/0021/0019 and the Red Meat Research and Development Trust of South Africa. L. M. Gonzalez was sponsored by fellowships from the ISCIII, RICET-FIS and ISCIII-RETIC RD06/0021/0019 and E. Ferrer by fellowships from AECI, ISCIII and RICET-FIS. We are grateful to the staff of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria for their help in looking after the cattle. The experiments described in this paper comply with the current laws of the countries in which the work was performed.

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Author notes

  1. Lynne M. Michael

    Present address: Animal Health Division, Bayer (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 143, Isando, 1600, Republic of South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Ctra. Majadahonda Pozuelo Km 2,2, 28220, Majadahonda Madrid, Spain

    Luis Miguel González*, Elizabeth Ferrer* & Teresa Gárate

  2. Departamento de Parasitología and Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (BIOMED), Universidad de Carabobo, Maracay, Venezuela

    Elizabeth Ferrer*

  3. Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, Republic of South Africa

    Andrea Spickett, Lynne M. Michael & Adriano F. Vatta

  4. Division of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian Scotland, EH25 9RG, UK

    Leslie J. S. Harrison

  5. Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Rua Quinta Grande 6, Apartado 14, P-2780-156, Oeiras Codex, Portugal

    R. Michael E. Parkhouse

Authors
  1. Luis Miguel González*
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  2. Elizabeth Ferrer*
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  3. Andrea Spickett
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  4. Lynne M. Michael
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  5. Adriano F. Vatta
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  6. Teresa Gárate
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  7. Leslie J. S. Harrison
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  8. R. Michael E. Parkhouse
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Leslie J. S. Harrison or R. Michael E. Parkhouse.

Additional information

*These authors made an equal contribution to this work.The nucleotide sequence data for the molecules described in this paper are available in the GenBank, EMBL and DDBJ databases under the accession numbers AJ581299, X97000 and X95983.

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González*, L.M., Ferrer*, E., Spickett, A. et al. The Taenia saginata homologue of the major surface antigen of Echinococcus spp. is immunogenic and 97% identical to its Taenia solium homologue. Parasitol Res 101, 1541–1549 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0673-x

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