SDS-PAGE-separated tissue proteins of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails in the presence and absence of Schistosoma mansoni
el-Ansary, A.; el-Shaikh, K.; el-Sherbini, M.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 30(1): 125-136
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 1110-0583 PMID: 10786025 Document Number: 517987
SDS-PAGE was used to separate and compare tissue proteins of Schistosoma mansoni-infected and noninfected Biomphalaria alexandrina. Infected snails were examined at 1-week intervals for 4 weeks pi. Noninfected snails had proteins ranging between 23 and 210 kDa; proteins with MWs between 45 and 160 kDa showed minimal absorbance compared with S. mansoni-infected snails. In infected snails at 7 days pi, the predominant proteins had MWs of 36, 44, 56, 65 and 144 kDa. The 36-kDa protein in particular showed a markedly higher absorbance (>1) compared to noninfected snails (0.0166). This protein was identified as lactate dehydrogenase and a 56-kDa protein was identified as pyruvate kinase. The increased expression of these 2 enzymes could be of host and/or parasite origin. The results show that B. alexandrina infected with S. mansoni has a very different protein profile compared to that of noninfected snails.