Cloning and Expression of Fasciola gigantica Cathepsin-B Recombinant Proteins

Fasciola gigantica cathepsin (cysteine) proteases are potential diagnostic antigens for animal and human fasciolosis. These include cathepsin-L proteases that have been exploited in the diagnosis of animal fasciolosis. However, no scientific data on the diagnostic potential of F. gigantica cathepsin B proteases is available. Therefore, three recombinant antigens of F. gigantica viz. cathepsin (cat) B-1, cat B-2 and cat B-3 were expressed in prokaryotic expression system. The recombinant antigens were purified under denaturing conditions by Nickel affinity chromatography and an optimal level of the recombinant proteins was obtained. These recombinant proteins will further be evaluated for their potential in the early prepatent diagnosis of F. gigantica infection in domestic ruminants.