Molecular cloning of the 22–24 kDa excretory-secretory 22U protein of Dirofilaria immitis and other filarial nematode parasites

• Published in: Molecular and biochemical parasitology 1999-01, Vol.98 (2), p.297-302
• Main Authors: Frank, GlennR, Wisnewski, Nancy, Brandt, KevinS, Carter, CliveR.D., Jennings, NicolaS, Selkirk, MurrayE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Brugia malayi - genetics; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilaria immitis - genetics; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Excretory–secretory protein; Female; Filarial nematode; Filarioidea - genetics; Gene Library; Helminth Proteins - genetics; Larva - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Molting; Onchocerca volvulus - genetics; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
• ISSN: 0166-6851; 1872-9428
• DOI: 10.1016/S0166-6851(98)00173-X

Parasitic nematode excretory-secretory (ES) products consist of an ill-defined collection of molecules released by the parasite that have postulated roles in nutrition, migration, reproduction, immune evasion and molting, in addition to waste products. The general method of collecting and studying ES material has been to culture nematode larvae or adult worms in vitro for sufficient time to allow its accumulation in the media. In addition to the above processes, research on ES products has been conducted to identify diagnostic antigens and vaccine candidates. In efforts to understand the biology of larval Dirofilaria immitis development and molting processes, and to identify potential vaccine candidates, we have used timed metabolic labeling procedures to evaluate protein expression in somatic and ES compartments during in vitro culture of third stage larvae (L3) recovered from mosquitoes, through the molt to fourth stage larvae (L4).