Taenia solium is a species of tape worm, the intestinal infection with which is referred to as Taeniasisis and is acquired by ingestion of T. solium cysticerci found in raw and undercooked pork muscle or food contaminated with human or pig feces. Many infections are asymptomatic but may be characterized by insomnia, anorexia, abdominal pain and weight loss. Cysticercosis is the formation of cysticerci in various body tissue resulting from the migration of the T.a solium larvae out of the intestine. Although infection with T. solium is itself not dangerous, cysticercosis can be fatal. In the present invention, the gp50 antigen has been cloned and may be useful for improvements over the existing Western blot diagnostic method for identifying individuals with cysticercosis.   

Inventors: Victor Tsang, Ryan M Greene, Patricia P Wilkins, and Kathy Hancock

CDC Reference Number: I-031-99/0

USPTO Serial Number: PCT/US01/10392

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