Tetraspanin antigens in the zoonotic Asian blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum: Implications for vaccine candidacy

The development of an effective anti-schistosome vaccine is increasingly considered an essential tool in moving towards schistosomiasis end-game elimination. Tetraspanins (TSPs) are a protein family targeted by several vaccine candidates, however questions remain on how their variability in natural populations may impact vaccine effectiveness. A recent study analyses the variability of S. japonicum TSPs in China, highlighting implications for anti-schistosome vaccine development.