Utility of a protein fraction with cathepsin L-Like activity purified from cysticercus fluid of Taenia solium in the diagnosis of human cysticercosis.

ABSTRACT: Neurocysticercosis, an endemic parasitic disease in most developing countries, is caused by Taenia solium and compromises the human central nervous system. Cathepsin L-like proteases are secreted by several parasites including T. solium and constitute important antigens for immunodiagnostics. A protein fraction with cathepsin L-like activity was purified from the cysticercus fluid by size exclusion and ion exchange chromatography. Cathepsin L-like activity was measured fluorometrically by detecting the hydrolysis of the fluorogenic substrate Z-Phe-Arg-AMC. The purified protein fraction included antigens of 53 and 25 kD that were tested in a Western immunoblot and in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of human cysticercosis. The sensitivity of the Western immunoblot

SUBMITTER: Zimic M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2762273 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature