Molecular characterization of Ag2 gene of Taenia solium Bareilly isolate

Taenia solium cysticerci infection is common in pigs and human beings and is a major health problem in many developing countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia. In the present communication we report the molecular cloning and analysis of the 220 bp coding sequence for Ag2 protein of T. solium cysticerci (Bareilly isolate). Using cDNA template the entire coding sequence (devoid of signal sequence) for Ag2, was PCR amplified and ligated to pTZ57R/T cloning vector. The recombinant plasmid was extracted from the white colonies and purified for custom sequencing for nucleotides. The nucleotide sequence information revealed a relatively small molecular size of Ag2 protein composed of 67 amino acids with theoretical molecular weight and isoelectric point of 7.67 kDa and 9.42, respectively. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the Bareilly isolate was aligned and analyzed in silico using DNA STAR and MEGA version 4.0 softwares with the related sequences from other isolates of T. solium available in public domain. The nucleotide sequence of T. solium cysticerci Ag2 (Bareilly isolate) revealed 99.5 to 100% sequence homology with the published sequences of T. solium cysticerci China, Brazil, Cameroon, Tanzania and South Africa isolates. The near hundred per cent sequence homology of Ag2 gene from different isolates of T. solium, viz. China, Brazil, Cameroon, Tanzania, South Africa and India, proved its highly conserved nature and therefore we predict its potential application in sensitive serodiagnosis of taeniasis.