Anti-parasitic effect of cyclosporin A on Echinococcus granulosus and characterization of the associated cyclophilin protein

Abstract

Cyclophilins are a family of proteins found ubiquitously in eukaryotes, many of which bind to the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA). CsA has been found to have anti-parasitic effects against a variety of helminth and protozoan parasites and this activity could be mediated via cyclophilin. In this study we characterize a full length cyclophilin gene from Echinococcus granulosus, the associated natural gene and expression pattern, and investigate the functional properties of the recombinant E. granulosus cyclophilin protein. In addition, the effects of CsA were investigated on E. granulosus protoscoleces in in vitro culture. The full length E. granulosus cyclophilin cDNA encodes a pro..