We report on the first case of human babesiosis in Korea. The intraerythrocytic parasite (KO1) in the patient's blood mainly appeared as paired pyriforms and ring forms; but Maltese cross forms were not seen, and the parasite showed morphological features consistent with those of the genus Babesia sensu stricto. The sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of KO1 was closely related to that of Babesia spp. isolated from sheep in China (similarity, 98%). The present study provides the first evidence of the presence of a hitherto unidentified, new type of Babesia parasite capable of infecting humans.
Clonorchis sinensis, the Chinese liver fluke, is the causative agent of clonorchiasis as well as liver and biliary diseases. The excretory-secretory products (ESPs) of the parasites play important roles in host-parasite interactions. In this study, we have investigated the proteome of ESPs obtained from C. sinensis adult worms. Although the full genome database of C. sinensis is not yet available, we have successfully identified 62 protein spots using 2-DE-based mass analysis and EST database of C. sinensis. The proteins identified include detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase and thioredoxin peroxidase, myoglobin and a number of cysteine proteases that are expressed abundantly. In order to identify potential targets for the diagnosis and therapy of clonorchiasis, we conducted immunoblot analysis of the ESPs proteome using the sera obtained from clonorchiasis patients and identified legumains and cysteine proteases as antigens present in the ESPs. Although the cysteine proteases were previously reported to elicit antigenicity, the legumains are found herein for the first time as a serological antigen of C. sinensis. To confirm these findings, we expressed recombinant legumain in Escherichia coli and verified that recombinant legumain also functions as a potent antigen against the sera of clonorchiasis patients. Our results illustrate the validity of immuno-proteomic approaches in the identification of serodiagnostic antigens in the parasites.
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