CLONING AND PARTIAL NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF SCHISTOSOMA-JAPONICUM PARAMYOSIN - A POTENTIAL VACCINE CANDIDATE AGAINST SCHISTOSOMIASIS

Paramyosin from the blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, has shown promise as a vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis mansoni. Here we report the cloning and partial nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding paramyosin from the related human parasite, Schistosoma japonicum. Affinity purified antibodies to this clone recognized a S. japonicum antigen of molecular weight 97 kDa, equivalent to the reported size of S. mansoni paramyosin. Alignment of the cDNA sequence with that of S. mansoni paramyosin revealed 90% identity. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences revealed 95% identity. Although these two parasites differ in many characteristics, the substantial homology demonstrated here between S. mansoni and S. japonicum paramyosin could have important implications for the development of a S.japonicum vaccine.