Nematomucin Antigen Expression Identification using Anti-Peptide Antibodies

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes infect billions of humans and cost billions in crop damage. Their success may be due in part to surface protein alterations as the worm develops. Yet surface antigen expression on a molecular level is poorly understood. Using C. elegans as a model nematode, anti-peptide antibodies directed against peptide sequences derived from putative C. elegans surface protein genes were obtained. This project aims to better understand antigenic surface molecule expression using Western blotting. Antigenic surface proteins of mixed stage worms range from 35-52kDa