Paragonimus westermani: biochemical and immunological characterizations of paramyosin.

Abstract

Paramyosin of the helminth parasite is a muscle protein that plays multifunctional roles in host-parasite relationships. In this study, we have cloned a gene encoding Paragonimus westermani paramyosin (PwPmy) and characterized biochemical and immunological properties of the recombinant protein. The recombinant PwPmy (rPwPmy) was shown to bind both human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and collagen. The protein was constitutively expressed in various developmental stages of the parasite and its expression level increased progressively as the parasite matured. Immunohistological analysis revealed that PwPmy was mainly localized in subtegumental muscle, tegument and cells surrounding the oral sucker, intestine, and ovary of the parasite. Sera from patients with paragonimiasis showed antibody reactivity against rPwPmy, and IgG1 and IgG4 were predominant. Immunization of mice with rPwPmy also induced high IgG responses. Biochemical and immunological characterization of PwPmy may provide valuable information for the further study to develop a vaccine or a chemotherapeutic agent for paragonimiasis.

• Authors: Qin-Ping Zhao, Sung-Ung Moon, Byoung-Kuk Na, Seon-Hee Kim, Shin-Hyeong Cho, Hyeong-Woo Lee, Yoon Kong, Woon-Mok Sohn, Ming-Sen Jiang, Tong-Soo Kim
• Journal: Experimental parasitology (Exp Parasitol) Vol. 115 Issue 1 Pg. 9-18 (Jan 2007) ISSN: 0014-4894 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16814286 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Helminth
• DNA, Helminth
• Immunoglobulin G
• Recombinant Proteins
• Tropomyosin
• Collagen

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Antibodies, Helminth (biosynthesis)
• Base Sequence
• Blotting, Western
• Cloning, Molecular
• Collagen (metabolism)
• DNA, Helminth (chemistry)
• Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Gene Expression
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Paragonimiasis (immunology, parasitology, prevention & control)
• Paragonimus westermani (chemistry, genetics, immunology, physiology)
• Recombinant Proteins (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Sequence Alignment
• Tropomyosin (chemistry, genetics, immunology, physiology)