日本血吸虫肠相关天冬氨酸组织蛋白酶D在体内能分解人血红蛋白和血清蛋白,有作为免疫预防或新药研究的靶分子的潜能。Verity等曾以此酶的重组分子作为疫苗免疫小鼠,获得了2 1%～38%的总减虫率和2 2 %～4 0 %的雌虫减虫率,同时检测到高滴度的组织蛋白酶D特异性抗体,但抗体水平与 Schistosoma japonicum gut-associated aspartic cathepsin D, which cleaves human hemoglobin and serum proteins in vivo, has the potential to be used as a target for immunoprophylaxis or new drug research. Verity and other recombinant molecules have been used as a vaccine to immunize mice, 21% to 38% of the total reduction of worm rates and 22% ~ 40% of the female worm reduction rate, while detecting high titers Cathepsin D-specific antibodies, but antibody levels and