Proteolytic activity in Fasciola hepatica is reduced by the administration of cathepsin L mimotopes

• Published in: Journal of helminthology Vol. 85; no. 1; p. 51
• Main Authors: Villa-Mancera, A, Quiroz-Romero, H, Correa, D, Alonso, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-03-2011
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antibodies, Helminth - blood; Bacteriophage M13 - genetics; Bacteriophage M13 - immunology; Cathepsin L - administration & dosage; Cathepsin L - chemistry; Cathepsin L - immunology; Cathepsin L - metabolism; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epitopes - immunology; Fasciola hepatica - enzymology; Fasciola hepatica - genetics; Fasciola hepatica - immunology; Fascioliasis - immunology; Fascioliasis - parasitology; Fascioliasis - prevention & control; Female; Immunization; Liver - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Molecular Mimicry; Peptide Library; Vaccination; Vaccines - administration & dosage; Vaccines - genetics; Vaccines - immunology
• ISSN: 1475-2697
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X1000026X

The objective of this study was to assess the proteolytic activity of Fasciola hepatica cathepsins in liver sections from mice vaccinated with phage clones of cathepsin L mimotopes, using the film in situ zymography technique. Female BALB/c mice were immunized three times with 2.5 x 10¹¹ phage particles without adjuvant. Animals vaccinated with phage clones produced high titres of anti-mimotope antibodies and a significant reduction in fluke burden was observed following challenge with metacercariae of F. hepatica. The proteolytic activity in hepatic tissue was reduced after the immunization with phage clones.