01764nas a2200217   4500008004100000245006700041210006700108260010100175300001400276490000700290520099600297653001501293653001601308653002401324653001901348653002001367100001701387700002501404700001901429856009801448       2008                        eng d00aMajor sperm protein as a diagnostic antigen for onchocerciasis0 aMajor sperm protein as a diagnostic antigen for onchocerciasis  aTHE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, ENGLANDbPERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  a7206-72090 v163 aOnchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is the second leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. In order to successfully control this disease, the development of efficient diagnostic tools as well as effective treatments is imperative. A number of proteins have been proposed as vaccine and diagnostic candidates, yet none have been successfully advanced to the point of general clinical use. We have prepared major sperm protein 2 (MSP2) from Onchocerca volvulus as a possible diagnostic antigen for onchocerciasis. Importantly, recombinant MSP2 is dimeric in solution, identical to alpha-MSP from the roundworm, Ascaris suum. A panel of sera obtained from Cameroonian individuals afflicted with onchocerciasis positively responded to the recombinant MSP2. Our data suggest that MSP2, like the previously described antigen Ov16, can be utilized as a diagnostic onchocerciasis antigen for monitoring the interruption of transmission. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.10adiagnostic10aimmunoassay10amajor sperm protein10aonchocerciasis10ariver blindness1 aPark, Junguk1 aDickerson, Tobin, J.1 aJanda, Kim, D.  uhttps://nematoda.myspecies.info/content/major-sperm-protein-diagnostic-antigen-onchocerciasis