Crassiceps system

Cell-free systems capable of synthesising polypeptides have been prepared from protoscoleces of E. granulosus (7), larval T. crassiceps (588) and H. diminuta (633). In general, these studies have demonstrated that protein synthesis in cestodes, although showing some specificity, is similar to that in mammals in that it requires polysomes, amino acid adenylates, aminoacyl-tRNAs, pH 5 fraction, ATP, GTP, magnesium and either sodium or potassium ions. 

Several studies have used a cell-free system prepared from rabbit reticulocytes to translate cestode messenger RNA (mRNA) in vitro. Thus, a small portion of the proteins synthesised in this heterologous system, using mRNA from T. crassiceps, were shown to be antigenic (5). The molecular weights of the translated polypeptides were generally low (13 000-22 000),... 

Most work has centred on cyclophyllidean species whose larvae develop in mammals. Few studies have been made on the other cestode orders, such as the Pseudophyllidea whose larvae develop in lower vertebrates, especially fish, amphibia and reptilia. Apart from the H. nana/rodent system, discussed earlier, the most studied species have been those which are either readily maintained in laboratory animals or are of medical, veterinary or economic importance, i.e. Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, Mesocestoides corti, Taenia crassiceps, T. hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. ovis, T. saginata and T. solium. The account given here has been restricted largely to these species. 

Agosin, M. Naquira, C. (1978). Translation of Taenia crassiceps mRNA in cell-free heterologous systems. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 60B 183-7. 

---