Essential role of chitinase in the development of the filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae.

ABSTRACT: Chitinases of pathogens have been proposed as potential targets of vaccines or specific inhibitors. We studied the genomic organization, transcript levels, developmental expression, and biological function of chitinases in the rodent filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae, a model organism for human-pathogenic filarial worms. Characterization of nine genomic clones from an A. viteae phage library and Southern blot experiments revealed the existence of three different chitinase genes, two of which could theoretically yield functional transcripts. The deduced proteins of these genes had the common modular organization of family 18 chitinases. Northern blot experiments and rapid amplification of cDNA ends-PCR with adult worms and larval stages showed that only one gene is expressed, with

SUBMITTER: Tachu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2223640 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature