Fasciola hepatica: Molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of a gene encoding a polypeptide homologous to a Schistosoma mansoni fatty acid-binding protein

Immunization of mice with an antigenic polypeptide from Fasciola hepatica adult worms and having an apparent molecular mass of 12,000 Da (Fh12) has been shown to reduce the worm burden from challenge infection with Schistosoma mansoni by more than 50%. Moreover, mice infected with S. mansoni develop antibodies to Fh12 after 5-6 weeks of infection, indicating that this Fasciola-derived antigen is a cross-reactive, cross-protective protein. A λgt11 F. hepatica cDNA library was constructed from poly(A)⁺ RNA extracted from adult worms. A cDNA encoding a cross-reactive polypeptide (Fh15) was cloned by screening the F. hepatica λgt11 library with a monospecific, polyclonal rabbit antiserum against pure, native Fh12. The cDNA was sequenced and the predicted amino acid sequence revealed an open reading frame encoding a 132-amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 14,700 Da. This protein has significant homology to a 14-kDa S. mansoni fatty acid-binding protein. Comparison of the protective-inducing activity of recombinant Fh15 with that of purified Fh12 against schistosomes and Fasciola is warranted.