Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (SM14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic compositions and diagnostic kits using peptide fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (SM14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic compositions and diagnostic kits using peptide fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (SM14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic compositions and diagnostic kits using peptide fragments.

Abstract: A process for purification of a fatty acid binding proteins such as, e.g., Sm14 of Pichia pastoris or type-3 FABP protein of Fasciola hepatica. The process includes the steps of: (a) performing lysis of cells containing the fatty acid binding protein to obtain a lysate; (b) clarifying the lysate obtained in step (a) to obtain a clarified lysate; (c) loading the clarified lysate in a column containing an anion exchange resin; (d) eluting proteins from the column by pH changes in the column; and (e) separating contaminant proteins from the fatty acid binding protein by gel-filtration.

Abstract: A process for purification of a fatty acid binding proteins such as, e.g., Sm14 of Pichia pastoris or type-3 FABP protein of Fasciola hepatica. The process includes the steps of: (a) performing lysis of cells containing the fatty acid binding protein to obtain a lysate; (b) clarifying the lysate obtained in step (a) to obtain a clarified lysate; (c) loading the clarified lysate in a column containing an anion exchange resin; (d) eluting proteins from the column by pH changes in the column; and (e) separating contaminant proteins from the fatty acid binding protein by gel-filtration.

Abstract: The production of recombinant proteins using a synthetic gene for increased expression of the protein in Pichia pastoris is disclosed. More specifically, disclosed is a process for producing a recombinant Sm14 protein of Schistosoma mansoni, by providing a synthetic gene for increased production of Sm14 protein, producing the gene and genetically manipulating the Pichia pastoris strain with the gene in order to produce a vaccine effectively. Improved methods are also provided for producing and purifying this protein from P. pastoris cells, which can be scaled for industrial production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (SM14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic compositions and diagnostic kits using peptide fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using peptide fragments of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of production of recombinant proteins, using a synthetic gene for increased expression of the protein in Pichia pastoris. More specifically, the invention describes the production of a recombinant Sm14 protein of Schistosoma mansoni, by providing a synthetic gene for increased production of Sm14 protein, producing said gene and genetically manipulating the Pichia pastoris strain with said gene in order to produce a vaccine effectively. Improved methods are also provided for producing and purifying this protein from P. pastoris cells, which can be scaled for industrial production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using peptide fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccinal strain of recombinant BCG Mycobacterium bovis expressing the Schistossoma mansoni Sm14 protein (BCG Pasteur ?leuD/p?K410-hsp60*-Sm14). The vaccinal strain of the present invention is employed in the control of infections caused by parasites, specially the Schistossoma mansoni. The vaccinal strain is a an auxotrophic strain to leucine amino acid derived from the BCG Pasteur sub-strain complemented to leucine after genetic transformation with the construct p?K410-hsp60*-Sm14. The efficacy of the BCG Pasteur ?leuD/p?K410-hsp60*-Sm14 strain in the control of the Schistossoma mansoni infection based on the recombinant Sm14 antigen in vivo is showed in the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the said peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using said peptide fragments.

Abstract: The primary objective of the present invention is the development of new mutant forms of the Sm14 protein, for producing a greater production volume. The recombinant proteins here obtained were capable of providing protection against schistosome and fasciola infection. The level of protection of Sm14 recombinant proteins obtained in the present invention was similar to that reached in the parasite saline extract. The mutant proteins of the present invention have reached approximately 100% of renaturation after the heating at 80° C., different from wild forms of the Sm14 protein. Moreover, after storage for 2 months at 4° C., mutant proteins have shown smaller ?-structure loss than wild forms that have shown formation with random structure, as demonstrated by the circular dichroism analysis, indicating the success of mutations.

Abstract: The primary objective of the present invention is the development of new mutant forms of the Sm14 protein, for producing a greater production volume. The recombinant proteins here obtained were capable of providing protection against schistosome and fasciola infection. The level of protection of Sm14 recombinant proteins obtained in the present invention was similar to that reached in the parasite saline extract. The mutant proteins of the present invention have reached approximately 100% of renaturation after the heating at 80° C., different from wild forms of the Sm14 protein. Moreover, after storage for 2 months at 4° C., mutant proteins have shown smaller ?-structure loss than wild forms that have shown formation with random structure, as demonstrated by the circular dichroism analysis, indicating the success of mutations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the said peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using said peptide fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the said peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using said peptide fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to helminthic derived antigenic material capable of inducing effective and long lasting protection against parasites, in particular to antigens that mediate protective immunity against helminths.