Characterization of Immunogenic Soluble Crude Proteins from Biomphalaria Pfeifferi Against Schistosoma mansoni

Kennedy M Kuria ,Sylvia A Opiyo

doi:10.7176/jnsr/10-12-03

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent tropical disease in the world after malaria. Chemotherapy and molluscicides which are the main methods of control do not give lasting protection as the disease continues to spread to other new regions. Previous studies have demonstrated the immunogenic properties of the digestive gland (DG), foot parts (FT) and the rest of body tissue (RT) soluble protein of Biomphalaria pfeifferi against Schistosoma parasite and therefore possible candidates for vaccine development against the parasite. However, information about the chemical composition of the soluble proteins is scanty. The objective of this study was to characterize and determine chemical composition of the DG and FT soluble proteins from Biomphalaria pfeifferi. A total of twelve compounds were identified using GC-MS. N-tert -butyl methylamine and penicillamine were present in both DG and FT soluble proteins. Butylamine S, valine, amino heptanoic acid, 1,1-dimethylamino-1 butane and valienamine were present in the DG soluble protein but were missing in the FT extracts. Tert-butylamine, heptylamine, cycloheptane methylamine, erythro- O -methylthreonine and leucine were present in the FT soluble protein but missing in the DG extracts. FTIR analysis showed N-H stretch at 3100 cm -1 , C=O stretch at 1700cm -1 , N-H bending at 1600cm -1 and O-H peak at 3500 cm -1 while UV absorption occurred at 240-300 nm thus confirmed the presence of amino acids in the soluble protein extracts. Results from this study justifies medicinal activity of Biomphalaria pfeifferi soluble crude protein extracts. Further studies involving isolation of individual constituents in the crude soluble proteins and subjecting them to bioassay is highly recommended. Keywords: Schistosomiasis; Biomphalaria pfeifferi; Protein extracts; Chemical compounds DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-12-03 Publication date: June 30th 2020

Highlights

Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma (Jauréguiberry et al 2010)
The digestive gland (DG) extracts consisted of butylamine S (97%), N-tert-butylmethylamine (92%), valine (83%), aminoheptanoic acid (74%), L-valine (84%) in absolute methanol, and 1,1-dimethylamino-1-butane (88%), N-tert-butylmethylamine (82%), valienamine (73%), penicillamine (69%) and penicillamine (82%) in water
N-tert-butyl methylamine and penicillamine were the only compounds that were present in both DG and foot parts (FT) soluble crude proteins

Summary

Introduction

Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by blood flukes (trematode worms) of the genus Schistosoma (Jauréguiberry et al 2010). It is the second most prevalent tropical disease in the world after malaria and World Health Organization estimated the annual death rate at 200,000 globally (WHO 2016). More than 207 million people, 85% of whom live in Africa, are infected with schistosomiasis, and an estimated 700 million people are at risk of infection in 76 countries where the disease is considered endemic (WHO 2016). It is estimated that 16 million people in 56 out of 158 districts are at risk of the disease and over 9.1 million are infected in the country (Odhiambo et al 2014). Vaccine would be cost-effective alternative way for the control of schistosomiasis

Objectives

Methods

Results