Sm15 and Sm13 are recognized by antibodies from mice protectively
vaccinated with tegumental membranes, suggesting a potential role in
protective immunity. In order to raise antibodies for immunochemical
investigations, the genes for these antigens were expressed in pGEX and
pMal vectors so that comparisons could be made among different expression
systems and different genes. The fusion proteins corresponding to several
parts of the gene for the precursor of Sm15 failed in producing antibodies
recognizing the parasite counterpart. On the other hand, antibodies raised
against Sm13 MBP-fusion proteins recognized the 13 kDa tegumental protein.
Thus the peculiarities of the gene of interest are important and the choice
of the expression system must sometimes be decided on an empirical basis.
