ABSTRACT
Proteoglycans [PG] from F. hepatica were sequentially extracted using 7M GnCl, 1% Triton X-100 and 1% SDS. Uronic acid, carbohydrate and protein were detected in the extracts. The presence of PG in the three extracts was examined using agarose acrylamide gel electrophoresis. A simple reproducible procedure for the purification of the main F. hepatica proteoglycan [FPG] included chromatography on DEAE-cellulose column under dissociative condition [4M GnCl] followed by chromatography on Sepharose C1-6B. Chemical analysis [uronic acid, hexosamine sulfate, carbohydrate and protein] and immunological characterization of peaks using different sera were carried out. The second peak of DEAE cellulose column [P2] was more specific to F. hepatica hyperimmune sera compared to the other peaks. Chromatography of P2 on Sepharose C1-6B column indicated the presence of three main uronic acid peaks. The first peak [A] exhibited high cross reactivity with hyperimmune sera against S. mansoni infected sera and chronically infected sera with S. mansoni cercariae. On the contrary of this behavior, the second peak [B] was more specific to FPG. Fraction B may be considered as a pure PG and more immunogenic and specific to F. hepatica