ABSTRACT
Objective To clone and express the gene encoding Schistosoma japonicum myophilin-like protein (SjcMLP) and to study the antigenicity of the recombinant protein. Methods The SjcMLP gene was amplified by PCR. The PCR product was cloned into T vector, and then subcloned into expression vector pQE30. The recombinant plasmid of pQE30-SjcMLP was transformed into E.coli M15, and induced with IPTG for expression. The bacterial lysis was conducted by ultrasonication and the supernatant was analysed by SDS-PAGE. The recombinant protein (reSjcMLP)was purified with the Ni-NTA resin, and analysed with SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The titers of sera from C57BL/6 mice immunized subcutaneously with reSjcMLP were detected by ELISA. Results The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blot showed that the molecular weight of expressed fusion protein was around 24.8 kDa and was recognized by the sera from the mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum. The purified protein of reSjcMLP was coated for ELISA test and the IgG titers in the sera from the mice immunized with reSjcMLP were as high as 1∶12 800 reacted with. However, no significant difference was found in worm reduction rates between the immunized mice and control mice. Conclusions The fused recombinant protein of reSjcMLP is successfully ex-pressed and purified. The recombinant protein in this experiment fails to induce significant protection against the challenge infection in C57BL/6 mice.