Paramyosin is a muscular
protein exclusively found in invertebrate species, which has been proposed as a
vaccine candidate against
infections with Schistosoma mansoni and Brugia malayi. Here, we report the studies on the distribution of Onchocerca volvulus
paramyosin, designated OvPmy, in different O.
volvulus stages by immunohistochemistry using rabbit
antibodies raised against the recombinant OvPmy
protein as well as the induction of the human humoral immune response to OvPmy. To conduct the studies, OvPmy was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion
protein to raise the rabbit
antibodies. The recombinant OvPmy was tested in immunoblots using sera from individuals living in an area hyperendemic for
onchocerciasis in Liberia, West Africa. The
antibodies used here localised
paramyosin exclusively in the muscle tissue of O.
volvulus as well as Onchocerca ochengi. No extracellular compartments, such as the cuticle or the lumina of the pseudocoeloma cavity, were labelled; however, labelling was seen in microfilarial fragments taken up by host immune cells, such as giant cells. It was recognised by anti-
paramyosin antibodies of a group of
onchocerciasis patients.