Journal of Developing Drugs
Open Access

Biophysical characterization of a novel universal stress protein of Schistosoma mansoni towards molecular intervention for therapeutic treatment of human schistosomiasis

International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Development and Technology

April 24-26, 2017 Dubai, UAE

Adenowo Abiola Fatimah, Oyinloye Babatunji Emmanuel, Masamba Priscilla and Kappo Abidemi Paul

University of Zululand, South Africa
Afe Babalola University, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Develop Drugs Res

Abstract :

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease which is widespread in various nations of Sub-Saharan Africa. Schistosomiasis has intense negative effects on child development, outcome of pregnancy, and agricultural productivity. In 2008, 17.5 million people were treated worldwide for schistosomiasis and 11.7 million of those treated were from Sub- Saharan Africa. Universal stress proteins (USPs) act as natural biological defence mechanisms in living organisms. They are overexpressed in stress conditions and assist in overcoming stressors through various mechanisms. USPs has been predicted to play a role in host invasion by pathogens such as Mycobacteriun, Salmonella and Klebsiella; thus may be useful in the treatment of various pathogenic diseases. This family of proteins have been discovered in many organisms including Schistosoma mansoni: the vector responsible for the devastating parasitic disease, schistosomiasis. The aim of this study is to characterize a novel S. mansoni universal stress protein, which has been hypothesized as a candidate druggable target against the parasite in humans. The USP gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subsequently subcloned into a pQE30 vector. Recombinant expression of the His-tagged protein was successfully done in E. coli, followed by purification to homogeneity via Ni-NTA affinity purification and gel filtration. Thereafter, biophysical characterization of the pure protein was done using protein assays, circular dichroism (CD) and mass spectrometry. These biophysical data are important for further studies towards therapeutic intervention for schistosomiasis in the form of point-of-care diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis, vaccines as well as drugs.

Biography :

Email: afaatimah@yahoo.com