A hookworm allergen which strongly resembles calreticulin

Immmoglobulin E-rich plasma from patients from Papua New Guinea infected wi th Necator americanus has been used to probe an adult N. americanus cDNA li brary for the presence of hookworm allel gens. Using this approach, one hoo kworm allergen has been identified as calreticulin, which was subsequently expresses in Escherichia coli. Little serological cross reactivity was seen between the recombinant calreticulins of this hookworm and its host. Prosp ective roles for hookworm calreticulin in the host-parasite relationship ar e discussed in depth.