Schistosoma japonicum recombinant ferritin: expression, purification and its protective immunity against Schistosoma japonicum in mice

Objective To express and purify recombinant Schistosoma japonicum ferritin(rsjferritin)and to explore the protective immunity against Schistosoma japonicum induced by the protein in mice.Methods The ferritin gene was subcloned into the expression vector pGMC.The rsjferritin was expressed at a high level in E.coli 2566 induced by IPTG.Purify and identify using electrophoretic chromatography,SDS-PAGE and Western-blot.Kunming mice were immunized subcutaneously three times(0,2,4 weeks)with rsjferritin.Each mouse was challenged with 40±1 cercariae.6 weeks later the mice were killed,the worms and the liver eggs were counted.Results The purified rsjferritin's molecular weight was 40kD,and it possessed good antigenic activity and could be recognized by the rabbit sera infected with Schistosoma japonicum.Compared with the control groups,the worm reduction rate and eggs per gram liver reduction rate in experimental group were 24.5% and 45.8% respectively.Conclusion The rsjferritin has been expressed high efficiently in E.coli,and it can induce a protective immunity against Shistosoma japonicum in mice.