Abstract: 　AIM: To evaluate the immunoprotective effect of Schistosoma japonicum recombinant 22.6 kDa (rSj22.6) and Sj22.6/Sj26 GST fusion protein. METHODS:The Sj22.6/Sj26 GST fusion protein was prepared by affinity chromatography using glutathione Sepharose 4B. The purified rSj22.6 could be cleaved easily from the fusion protein with Thrombin.17 and 12 mice immunized with rSj22.6 and Sj22.6/Sj26 GST separately were each challenged with 40±1 S. japonicum cercariae.RESULTS: In BALB/c mice, the rSj22.6 and Sj22.6/Sj26 GST could induce 32.1 (P<0.005) and 34.9% (P<0.02) worm reduction, respectively, as well as 28.4% (P<0.02) and 45.1% (P<0.005) total egg reduction, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bpth rSj22.6 and Sj22.6/Sj26 GST fusion protein are partially effective against S.japonicum.

Key words: Schistosoma japonicum, 22.6 kDa antigen, fusion expression, recombinant protein, immunoprotection