Cloning of the gene encoding a 50 kilodalton potential surface antigen of Schistosoma mansoni.

A cDNA library was constructed from the mRNA of adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni, in the expression vector lambda gt11. This library was screened with a pool of sera raised against either soluble egg antigens or purified schistosomulum tegumental membranes. An antiserum raised against the fusion protein of one clone immunoprecipitated a 45 kDa polypeptide from the in vitro translation products of adult worm mRNA and recognised a 50 kDa antigen in homogenates of adult worms. This serum gave positive fluorescence of the surface of schistosomula in indirect immunofluorescence assays and was able to mediate killing of schistosomula by human eosinophils in vitro, suggesting that this clone contained part of a gene encoding a surface antigen.