Characterization of proteinases in different isolates of adult Haemonchus contortus

A high degree of intra- and inter-geographical variation has been demonstrated previously in the excretory/secretory proteinases released by adult Haemonchus contortus. Proteinase activity has also been associated with host-protective 'hidden' antigens isolated from the gut of adult H. contortus. If similar geographical strain variation also exists within the gut-associated proteinases, this will have important implications for the development of a globally effective vaccine. The proteinases active in integral-membrane protein extracts from 3 different strains of adult H. contortus were characterized on the basis of their pH optima and molecular size. Although enzyme activity was detected over a wide pH range, the majority of proteinase activity was detected at acidic pH. Differences in specific activity and size of enzymes were observed between the 3 different parasite strains at different pH values. A high degree of conservation in reactive peptides was observed when protein extracts were probed with antisera raised to the protective hidden gut-antigen complexes isolated from the Moredun strain of H. contortus, or to bacterially expressed subcomponents thereof. Therefore, despite the observed differences in membrane-bound proteinase profiles, the similarity of the immunogenic response against these hidden antigens may be sufficient to prove protective against different geographical isolates of H. contortus.