The study focuses on adenylate kinases (EgADK1 and EgADK8) in Echinococcus granulosus, exploring their molecular characteristics and potential immunological roles.
Both enzymes were cloned and expressed, showing high sequence similarity, multiple phosphorylation sites, and B-cell epitopes, indicating their significance in ATP metabolism and parasite development.
Although EgADK1 and EgADK8 were found in various stages of the parasite, they are not effective as diagnostic antigens for cystic echinococcosis due to recognition by sera from other infected animals.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) and remains a major public health concern globally.