Taenia solium oncosphere surface antigen (TSOL18)

Taenia solium oncosphere surface antigens, most notably the TSOL18 and TSOL45 proteins, are critical surface-exposed molecules expressed during the early larval stage of the pork tapeworm (Lightowlers, 2010). These antigens play a fundamental role in the initial stages of infection, facilitating the attachment of the parasite to the host's intestinal epithelium and its subsequent penetration into the circulatory system for migration to various tissues (Flisser et al., 2004). TSOL18 is a 18 kDa glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that has been identified as a highly effective target for recombinant vaccines (UniProt Q962V7). In humans, the development of these larvae into cysticerci causes cysticercosis, with neurocysticercosis being a leading cause of preventable epilepsy worldwide (WHO, 2023). Therapeutic strategies focus on vaccines like Cysvax, which target these antigens in pigs to induce a protective immune response that prevents the establishment of larval infection and breaks the transmission cycle to humans (Assana et al., 2010). The primary mechanism of action for these vaccines is the induction of a robust humoral immune response, where specific antibodies trigger complement-mediated lysis of the oncospheres (Lightowlers et al., 2003).

Other names

TSOL18TSOL45TSOL1618 kDa oncosphere surface proteinOncosphere antigen

Induction of a host humoral immune response that produces specific antibodies leading to complement-mediated lysis of the oncosphere stage of the parasite (Lightowlers et al., 2003).