Comparison of protein composition between schistosomula of Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni.

SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the protein composition of mechanically transformed schistosomula (ms) of a Japanese strain of Schistosoma japonicum was essentially similar to that of a Philippine strain of S. japonicum. However, the protein components of S. mansoni ms were remarkably different from those of S. japonicum. Specific proteins of Mr 60-65 and 30 kDa were found in ms of S. japonicum and S. mansoni, respectively. In skin-penetrated schistosomula (ss) of the two species, a common protein of 67 kDa was detected. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, strain-specific polypeptides (9 in a Japanese and 11 in a Philippine strain) were identified in ms of S. japonicum. Mechanically transformed and skin-penetrated schistosomula of S. japonicum (Japanese) had, respectively, 7 and 10 specific proteins. Four and 1 specific polypeptides were also detected in two-dimensional profiles of ms and ss of S. mansoni, respectively.