Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 11 1 2016 03 14 35 45 Ying ZHANG Dept. of Medical Genetics, Wuhan University School of Basic Medicial Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China Young-An BAE Dept. of Molecular Parasitology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea Hong-Ying ZONG Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China Yoon KONG Dept. of Molecular Parasitology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea Guo-Bin CAI Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China 2016 03 14 2016 03 14 Background: Parasite proteases have important roles in cleavage of host proteins during the invasion of host tissues and participate in the parasite’s evasion from the host’s immune response. The aim of the present study was to estimate a metalloproteinase properties of Taenia solium metacestode (TsMP) during host-parasite interactions, and evaluate its potential as a serodiagnostic antigen for cysticercosis. Methods: The cDNA coding for the mature catalytic domain of TsMP was cloned into pGEX-6P-1 expression vector. A recombinant glutathione S-transferase and TsMP fusion protein was induced. After refolding and purification, enzymatic properties of the recombinant metalloproteinase were observed. Immunoblot assay was processed to evaluate its potential as a serodiagnostic antigen for cysticercosis. Results: The recombinant TsMP protein showed proteolytic activity, which preferred host extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and fibronectin as degradable substrates. In immunoblot assay, 87.5% of sera from patients with cysticercosis showed strong reactivity. In sera from patients with other parasitic infections and from normal controls, it showed high specificity. Conclusions: TsMP might be involved in the processing of numerous host proteins and play an important role in the parasite life cycle. A single recombinant TsMP antigen could have a potential value for serodiagnosis of cysticercosis. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/808 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/808/651