Cloning and immunological characterisation of Echinococcus granulosus ferritin

A cDNA clone of Echinococcus granulosus has been isolated from an expression library screened with sera from cystic echinococcosis patients. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 56% homology to the heavy chain of human ferritin. E. granulosus ferritin contains 173 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular weight of 19830 Da and a statistical isoelectric point of 7.6. Functionally important amino acid residues of the ferroxidase centre are conserved in comparison with other ferritins. In vitro-translated E. granulosus ferritin was tested for its diagnostic potential by immunoprecipitation. The antigenic reactivity exhibited a good potential for the further development of E. granulosus ferritin as an immunodiagnostic tool for human hydatidosis.