Cloning of Na‐GST‐1 homologues from Ancylostoma ceylanicum

Human hookworm infection is a neglected tropical disease, estimated by the World Health Organization to afflict 740 million people in underdeveloped countries. Its most common causative agent is Necator americanus. Glutathione Transferases (GSTs) are thought to play a major role in the detoxification associated with blood feeding and drug resistance of hookworms, and are thus crucial for their survival. Thus, it was hypothesized that GSTs are present in Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Here, the immunoscreening of Ancylostoma ceylanicum (hamster hookworm) cDNA library with anti‐ Na ‐GST rabbit serum yielded several positive clones. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of these clones followed by the cloning of these PCR products into the pGEM®TEasy vector allowed for sequencing. Of the amino acid sequences obtained, two were identified by the NCBI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool as homologues of Na‐ GST‐1, an established GST of N. americanus. They were named Ay‐ GST‐1 and Ay ‐GST‐2, having 82% and 57% identity to Na‐ GST‐1 respectively. The assumed dependence of hookworms on GSTs to carry out important metabolic functions makes these identified homologues potential vaccine candidates.