Parasitic helminth macrophage migration inhibitory factor proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and uses thereof

An isolated protein comprising a parasitic MIF protein, wherein said protein elicits an immune response against a parasitic helminth MIF protein, and wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes with a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence complementary to a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of nDiMIF(1)345, nDiMIF(2)330, nOvMIF(1)345, and nOvMIF(2)342 immobilized on a filter under conditions comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting said nucleic acid molecule with a solution of 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine, 0.5% dried milk in water, and 0.1 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 42° C.;
• (b) washing the filter 3 times in a wash solution containing 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.;
• and
• (c) further washing the filter two times in a wash solution containing 2X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.

A composition comprising an excipient and an isolated parasitic helminth MIF protein, wherein said protein elicits an immune response against a parasitic helminth MIF protein, and wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence complementary to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:17, and SEQ ID NO:19 immobilized on a filter under conditions comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting said nucleic acid molecule with a solution of 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine, 0.5% dried milk in water, and 0.1 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 42° C.;
• (b) washing the filter 3 times in a wash solution containing 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.;
• and
• (c) further washing the filter two times in a wash solution containing 2X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.

A method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting MIF activity of a parasitic helminth, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting an isolated parasitic helminth MIF protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has MIF activity;
• and
• (b) determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity;
• wherein said parasitic helminth MIF protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence complementary to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:17, and SEQ ID NO:19 immobilized on a filter under conditions comprising the steps of:
• (1) contacting said nucleic acid molecule with a solution of 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine, 0.5% dried milk in water, and 0.1 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 42° C.;
• (2) washing the filter 3 times in a wash solution containing 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.;
• and
• (3) further washing the filter two times in a wash solution containing 2X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.

A test kit to identify a compound capable of inhibiting MIF activity of a parasitic helminth, said test kit comprising an isolated parasitic helminth MIF protein having MIF activity and a means for determining the extent of inhibition of said activity in the presence of a putative inhibitory compound;

• wherein said parasitic helminth MIF protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence complementary to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:17, and SEQ ID NO:19 immobilized on a filter under conditions comprising the steps of:
• (a) contacting said nucleic acid molecule with a solution of 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine, 0.5% dried milk in water, and 0.1 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 42° C.;
• (b) washing the filter 3 times in a wash solution containing 5X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.;
• and
• (c) further washing the filter two times in a wash solution containing 2X SSPE, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosine at 42° C.