Schistosoma japonicum: screening of cercariae cDNA library by specific single-chain antibody against SIEA26-28 ku and immunization experiment of the recombinant plasmids containing the selected genes

To obtain the gene encoding SIEA26-28 ku, which has been proven to be a potential anti-schistosomiasis vaccine candidate, screening Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) cercariae cDNA library with soluble specific single-chain antibody (SIEA26-28 ku-scFv) was performed. A large amount of specific single-chain antibody was harvested through construction of recombinant expression vector pET32a/scFv. The protein was purified and characterized. By using this protein (PET32a-scFv) as a probe, S. japonicum cercariae cDNA library was screened. Two strong positive clones were selected, and their eukaryotic recombinant plasmids were constructed. These genes were named as S. japonicum ribosomal protein S4 (SjRPS4) and S. japonicum ribosomal protein L7 (SjRPL7), respectively. Experiments of mice showed that both SjRPS4 and SjRPL7 DNA vaccines could induce significant immunoprotection. Result of these experiments further proved that the specific single-chain antibody is a very valuable tool in screening of cDNA library to get the corresponding molecules.