Motolice parazitující v játrech a centrální nervové soustavě lidí a zvířat jsou stále hojně rozšířeny na celé Zemi. Mohou působit nezanedbatelné zdravotní i ekonomické problémy, a proto jsou možnosti jejich potlačení trvale žhavými náměty mnoha vědeckých projektů. Kromě poznání ontogenetického vývoje, způsobu přenosu a patogenity těchto parazitů je v popředí zájmu i studium jejich biologicky aktivních molekul (např. histolytické či metabolické enzymy, dominantní antigeny), jejichž poznání může vést ke spolehlivější diagnostice, efektivnější léčbě a prevenci onemocnění vyvolaných motolicemi. and Flukes parasitizing the liver and central nervous systems of humans and animals are still widespread all over the world. They can cause serious health and economic losses, so the means of their eradication are a hot topic for many research projects. Besides a description of trematode development, transmission and pathogenicity, there is a study of biologically active parasite molecules (e.g. histolytic and metabolic enzymes, immunodominant antigens). A characterization of these molecules may lead to a reliable diagnosis, effective treatment and prevention of diseases.
Trichobilharzia regenti is a neurotropic bird schistosome, causing cercarial dermatitis in humans. In this study, ZAP cDNA expression library from Radix peregra s. lat. hepatopancreases containing intramolluscan stages of T. regenti was constructed and screened using PCR with specific and degenerate primers, designed according to previously described serine and cysteine peptidases of other parasite species. Full-length sequences of cathepsins B1 and L, and two serine peptidases, named RpSP1 and RpSP2, were obtained. The protein-protein BLAST analysis and parallel control reactions with template from hepatopancreases of T. regenti non-infected snails revealed that only cathepsin B1 was of parasite origin. The remaining sequences were derived from the snail intermediate host, which implies that the initial source of parasite mRNA was contaminated by snail tissue. Regardless of this contamination, the cDNA library remains an excellent molecular tool for detection and identification of bioactive molecules in T. regenti cercariae.