Characterization and immunogenicity analysis of glutathi- one S-transferase from Otodectes cynotis

Hongbo Wang; Meilin Tan; Yinbo Gui; Xiaofang Wu; Maochuan Guo; Ran He

doi:10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111688

Characterization and immunogenicity analysis of glutathi- one S-transferase from Otodectes cynotis

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2025 Jul 3:263:111688. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111688. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hongbo Wang¹, Meilin Tan¹, Yinbo Gui¹, Xiaofang Wu¹, Maochuan Guo¹, Ran He²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, China.
² Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, China. Electronic address: ranhe1991@sicau.edu.cn.

PMID: 40617329
DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111688

Abstract

Otodectes cynotis (ear mite), the primary etiological agent of feline otitis externa, represents a significant veterinary concern due to its high prevalence and treatment challenges. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), a detoxifying and immunogenic enzyme in various parasites, is a potential molecular target for vaccine development. In this study, we cloned and heterologously expressed the GST gene from O. cynotis, confirmed its recombinant protein activity using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as a substrate, and determined its optimal enzymatic conditions (pH 8, 30 °C). Bioinformatic analysis revealed high sequence conservation with arthropod homologs, predicted functional domains, and identified several immunogenic B- and T-cell epitopes. Molecular docking with ethacrynic acid indicated stable binding, suggesting GST as a potential drug target. This study presents the first functional and immunogenic characterization of O. cynotis GST, suggesting its critical role in oxidative stress mitigation and drug detoxification, and supporting its potential as an anti-mite vaccine candidate.

Keywords: Bioinformatics; Gene cloning; Glutathione S-transferase; Otodectes cynotis; Vaccine target.