Identification and characterization of Schistosoma japonicum Sjp40, a potential antigen candidate for the early diagnosis of schistosomiasis

The pathogenesis of schistosomiasis is mainly caused by egg-induced granuloma formation and subsequent fibrosis. If Schistosoma japonicum infections could be detected in the early stage, especially before the egg deposition in the host tissues, the development of severe pathologic lesions might be prevented efficiently. The present study identified and characterized S. japonicum Sjp40, a potential antigen candidate for the early diagnosis of schistosomiasis. From the S. japonicum cercariae cDNA library, a clone encoding Sjp40 was identified by screening with the pooled rabbit sera collected on day 21 postinfection. Then, the recombinant Sjp40 protein (rSjp40) and monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) anti-rSjp40 were developed. The expression profiles of Sjp40 at 3 stages of S. japonicum, including egg, cercariae, and adult, were also determined at both mRNA and protein level, which displayed that the expression pattern of Sjp40 varied at different stages. Quantification of circulatory anti-Sjp40 IgG in the infected mice sera by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay showed a statistically significant increase on days 21, 28, 35, and 42 postinfection compared with the mice sera prior to infection and the control mice. It was further confirmed by Western blot that all 8 clones of anti-rSjp40 McAbs could react specifically with the native antigen in S. japonicum cercariae, and rSjp40 could be recognized by the pooled infected mouse sera on days 21, 28, 35, and 42 postinfection as well as the pooled patient sera with acute schistosomiasis japonica. These findings indicated that Sjp40 and its antibodies are detectable from the host at a relatively early phase (day 21 postinfection with S. japonicum) and suggested that Sjp40 is a potential antigen candidate for the early diagnosis of schistosomiasis.