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Clin. Vaccine Immunol. doi:10.1128/CVI.00338-07
Copyright (c) 2007, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

LEUCINE AMINOPEPTIDASE IS AN IMMUNODOMINANT ANTIGEN OF FASCIOLA HEPATICA EXCRETORY/SECRETORY PRODUCTS IN HUMAN INFECTIONS

Área de Parasitología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Unidad de Biología Parasitaria, Depto. de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Higiene, Av. A. Navarro 3051 CP11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.; División de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.; Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. Gral. Flores 2121 CP11800, Montevideo, Uruguay

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: Antonio.Marcilla{at}uv.es.

	Abstract

The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica parasitizes humans and ruminant livestock worldwide, and is now being considered a re-emerging zoonotic disease, especially in endemic areas like in South America. This study investigates the immune response to excretory and secretory (ES) products produced by F. hepatica in a group of patients from the highly endemic area of the Peruvian Altiplano. Using a proteomic approach and immunoblotting techniques, we have identified the enzymes leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) as immunodominant antigens recognized by sera from fasciolosis patients. An indirect ELISA using recombinant LAP as antigen was developed to check sera from individuals of this endemic region. Our results demonstrate that LAP produces a specific and strong reaction, suggesting its potential use in serologic diagnosis of F. hepatica infections in humans.