Identification of immuno-reactive adult Angiostrongylus vasorum proteins using mass spectrometry

• Published in: Molecular and biochemical parasitology 2011-11, Vol.180 (1), p.56-61
• Main Authors: Jefferies, Ryan, Morgan, Eric R., Shaw, Susan, Heesom, Kate
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiostrongylus - chemistry; Angiostrongylus - genetics; Angiostrongylus - growth & development; Angiostrongylus - immunology; Angiostrongylus vasorum; Animals; Antigens, Helminth - chemistry; Antigens, Helminth - genetics; Antigens, Helminth - immunology; Aspartyl protease inhibitor; Blotting, Western; Diagnosis; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; ELISA; Helminth Proteins - chemistry; Helminth Proteins - genetics; Helminth Proteins - immunology; Mass spectrometry; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Molecular Sequence Data; Strongylida Infections - parasitology; Strongylida Infections - veterinary; Vaccine candidate
• ISSN: 0166-6851; 1872-9428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2011.07.009

[Display omitted] ► Soluble somatic proteins were extracted from first and third stage larvae and adult worms. ► Immunodominant proteins were identified by Western blot. ► 14 immunodominant proteins from adult worms were characterised by 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. ► One of these proteins included an aspartyl protease inhibitor, which might have value as a vaccine candidate. ► The immunodominant proteins could be used to develop more specific diagnostic tests for this emerging canine parasite. Angiostrongylus vasorum is an emerging parasite of dogs and related carnivores throughout western Europe and presents a biosecurity threat to many countries worldwide. Infections are difficult to diagnose due to a high variability of clinical signs and can be fatal if left untreated. Previous attempts to develop indirect ELISA as a diagnostic test for antibody presence in dogs have been limited by cross-reactive recognition of antibodies to other endemic nematodes. This study compared the immuno-dominant soluble somatic proteins for first stage, third stage and adult A. vasorum using Western blotting. 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were further used to identify specific immuno-dominant proteins (n=14) within the soluble fraction from whole adult worms. Proteins included an aspartyl protease inhibitor, representing a potential candidate for a recombinant-based ELISA and novel vaccine.