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Title: Localization of thioredoxin in Fasciola hepatica

Author
item MCKOWN, RICHARD - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Chitko-Mckown, Carol
item RICHARDSON, CHARLENE - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item WOJCIESZYN, JOHN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item CRAIG, THOMAS - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item RICE-FICHT, ALISON - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2007
Publication Date: 12/1/2007
Citation: Mckown, R.D., Chitko Mckown, C.G., Richardson, C.D., Wojcieszyn, J.W., Craig, T.M., Rice-Ficht, A.C. 2007. Localization of thioredoxin in Fasciola hepatica [abstract]. Proceedings of the 88th Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases. Presentation No. 124.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Thioredoxin is a member of a group of small redox proteins that may protect parasites from the host immune response. Experiments were designed to localize thioredoxin anatomically within the adult and immature stages of Fasciola hepatica. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were performed to determine the production of thioredoxin in adult flukes, miracidia, redia, and cercaria. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to determine the anatomical location in adult flukes, eggs, sporocysts, redia, and cercaria. In situ hybridization (ISH) was performed only on adult flukes to determine the site of thioredoxin mRNA expression. Western blotting using a rabbit polyclonal antibody against F. hepatica thioredoxin identified expression in adult flukes, redia, and cercaria, but not in miracidia. IHC analysis using the same polyclonal antibody identified thioredoxin protein in the tegument, ceca, excretory canal, and sperm of the adult fluke. Within the redia, thioredoxin was only found in the tegument. However, within the cercaria, it was identified in the excretory vesicle epithelium as well as in the tegument. No evidence of production was found in the sporocysts. In the adult flukes, ISH analysis identified thioredoxin mRNA in the same locations as determined by IHC. Further experiments will need to be performed to determine the function of thioredoxin in F. hepatica.