Identification of Setaria cervi heat shock protein70 by mass spectrometry and its evaluation as diagnostic marker for lymphatic filariasis

Using mass spectrometry and immunological approaches, a heat shock protein70 associated with lymphatic filariasis (LF) has been identified from a bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi. A heat shock protein was detected in different life stages of S. cervi when exposed to an elevated temperature of 44 °C. A combination of ATP-agarose column chromatography and electro-elution was used for its purification from adult female extract. On closer examination, it migrated as a single band at 68 kDa on 10% SDS-PAGE. Peptide sequences TTPSYVAFTDTER, DSGAIAGLNVLR, IINEPTAAAIAYGLDK, NALESYAFNMK and LLSDFFSGK were obtained through MALDI-LC/MS analysis. Confirmation of peptides was accomplished by MASCOT database which showed substantial sequence homology with S. digitata, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Caenorhabditis elegans. Multiple sequence alignment using Clustal W showed 98% identity with W. bancrofti and only 28% with human HSP70. Furthermore, the antigenicity plot has shown that the highly antigenic amino acid residues are constituted within the conserved peptides. These observations suggest a plausible biological connection of ScHSP70 with the disease and its strong immunogenic nature. ScHSP70 showed antigenic cross-reactivity with IgG class of antibody in different categories of filarial sera. However, when IgG subclasses were tested, IgG4 showed high specificity and sensitivity with asymptomatic microfilaraemic sera.