Identification of universal diagnostic peptide candidates for neglected tropical diseases caused by cestodes through the integration of multi-genome-wide analyses and immunoinformatic predictions.

Neglected tropical diseases caused by helminth infections currently affect millions of people worldwide. Among them, there are three tapeworm species of outstanding importance: Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, and Taenia solium, which are responsible for cystic echinococcosis, alveolar echinococcosis, and cysticercosis, respectively.

Negligible elongation of mucin glycans with Gal β1-3 units distinguishes the laminated layer of Echinococcus multilocularis from that of Echinococcus granulosus.

The larval stages of the cestodes Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus cause the important zoonoses known as larval echinococcoses. These larvae are protected by a unique, massive, mucin-based structure known as the laminated layer. The mucin glycans of the E.