Functional characterization and immune recognition of the extracellular superoxide dismutase from the human pathogenic parasite Onchocerca volvulus (OvEC-SOD)

► C. elegans was used to evaluate SP-mediated secretion of nematodal proteins. ► Functional analyses of wild type and mutant OvEC-SODs were performed. ► The importance of Cys192 for stabilization of beta-sheet architecture is proposed. ► The OvEC-SOD is a target to the humoral immune response in human onchocerciasis.