FASCIOLA-HEPATICA - RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF NEWLY EXCYSTED JUVENILE PROTEINS

The sensitivity of N-terminal sequencing has been used to identify pro teins expressed by the newly excysted juvenile stage of the parasite F asciola hepatica. Of the seven proteins identified, a number have sign ificant sequence homology to the cysteine proteases: cathepsin B, cath epsin L and asparaginyl endoproteinase. Proteolytic acitvity was demon strated using gelatin substrate sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, a number of novel proteins were ide ntified which shared no significant sequence homology to proteins in t he databases. The availability of such N-terminal sequence information allows rapid identification of major proteins from scarce development al stages and provides the basis for further molecular studies. (C) 19 95 American Press, Inc.