Cloning and characterization of a potentially protective antigen in lymphatic filariasis.

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Abstract
To facilitate biochemical studies of protective filarial antigens, a .lambda.gt11 cDNA library was constructed from Brugia malayi adult mRNA and screened with rabbit sera that recognizes a limited set of filarial antigens of approximately 25, 42, 60, and 112 kDa. Antigens of .apprxeq. 25 and .apprxeq. 60 kDa have been shown previously to induce enhanced clearance of microfilaremia in mice. A 154-base pair clone detected by immunological reactivity was used to isolate by hybridization a nearly full-length cDNA clone of 1.8 kilobases. Nucleotide-sequence analysis indicated that this clone was derived from a mRNA encoding a 63-kDa antigen. A fusion polypeptide containing 37 kDa of the Escherichia coli TrpE protein (anthranilate synthase) and 55 kDa of the cloned protein was recognized in immunoblot experiments with antisera raised against a partially purified preparation of the .apprxeq. 60-kDa protective filarial antigen. Thee data relate the cloned antigen to a potentially protective antigen in lymphatic filariasis.