Identification of a homologue of a house dust mite allergen in a cDNA library from Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis and evaluation of its vaccine potential in a rabbit/S. scabiei var. canis model

P Harumal, Marjorie Morgan, Shelley Walton, Deborah Holt, J Rode, Larry Arlian, Bart Currie, David J Kemp

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Sarcoptes scabiei ("itch mite") causes scabies, a disease of considerable human and veterinary significance. Little work has been done at the molecular level because of the difficulty of obtaining mites. We have used mites in skin from the bedding of crusted scabies patients for the construction of a library of 105 cDNAs from S. scabiei var. hominis cloned in the vector pGEX4T-2. We describe the isolation by immunoscreening of 2 clones, one of which (Ssag1) is homologous to and cross-reactive with the house dust mite Euroglyphus maynei allergen M-177, an apolipoprotein from hemolymph. Immunohistochemistry revealed that it is located around the internal organs and cuticle of the mite and in eggs. Although it was not found to be protective in a challenge trial, the rabbits did not exhibit typical crust characteristics. This work shows that it is now possible to conduct such challenge trials with cloned scabies antigens.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)54-60
    Number of pages7
    JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
    Volume68
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - 2003

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