A recombinant 10-kDa protein of Taenia solium metacestodes specific to active neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is an important cause of neurological disease worl dwide. A 10-kDa antigen of Taenia solium metacestodes (TsMs) has been shown to be specific for immunodiagnosis of NCC, Screening of a TsM complementar y DNA (cDNA) library isolated a cDNA encoding this protein. The cloned cDNA contained a 258-bp complete open-reading frame that encodes an 86-amino ac id polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 9582 Da. It showed 73% homology with a 10-kDa antigen of T. crassiceps. The recombinant protein w as expressed bacterially as a fusion protein at a high level. In immunoblot with recombinant protein, 97% (184/190) of sera from patients with active NCC showed strong reactivity, whereas 14% (4/29) of those from patients wit h chronic calcified NCC reacted weakly. In 180 sera from other patients wit h parasitic infections and from normal controls, it showed 98% specificity A single recombinant TsM antigen has a high potential for serological diffe rentiation of active NCC.