Identification, expression, characterization, and immunolocalization of lactate dehydrogenase from Taenia asiatica

From the expression sequence tags (ESTs) of Taenia asiatica, an EST containing a putative open reading frame of 993 bp was identified as lactate dehydrogenase (TaLDH) homologue. Recombinant TaLDH (rTaLDH) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21/DE3 and purified. rTaLDH had a specific LDH activity and could be recognized in serum from swine or patient infected with T. asiatica. TaLDH was immunolocalized on the tegument of T. asiatica adult and embryonic membrane of oncosphere. Our study suggested that TaLDH is a potential drug target and candidate antigen for immunodiagnosis and vaccine for taeniasis and viscero-cysticercosis caused by T. asiatica.