Characterization of somatic and metabolic antigens of Cysticercus cellulosae and determination of immunodominant proteins

Abstract

The present study shows the characterization of four somatic antigens (Whole Cyst Antigen (WCA), Cystic Fluid Antigen (CFA), Scolex Antigen (SA) and Membrane-Body Antigen (MBA)) and one metabolic antigen (Excretory-Secretory Antigen (ESA)) prepared from Cysticercus cellulosae originated from a naturally infected pig. Immunodominat proteins were determined using hyper immune rabbit sera. The Sodium Dodecyl SulphatePolyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profile of the antigens revealed different numbers and patterns of protein bands in the range of 11.80 to 176.74 kDa. The electrophoretic pattern of ESA also revealed a number of closely placed indistinct bands in the range of 20-34 kDa.. The proteins in the lower molecular weight range (< 30 kDa) in the case of WCA, CFA, ESA, and the medium molecular weight range (30-60 kDa) in the case of SA and MBA were observed to be immunodominant in the Enzyme-Linked Immunoelectrotransfer Blot (EITB) assay. These immunodominant proteins could be further investigated as potential diagnostic antigens in the serodiagnosis of cysticercosis in pigs, and neurocysticercosis in human patients.