Sm16 is an immunomodulatory protein that seems to play a key role in the suppression of the cutaneous inflammatory response duringSchistosoma mansonipenetration of the skin of definitive hosts. Therefore, Sm16 represents a potential target for protective immuneresponses induced by vaccination. In this work, we generated the recombinant protein rSm16 and produced polyclonal antibodies against this protein to evaluate its expression during different parasite life-cycle stages and its location on the surface of the parasite.In addition, we analyzed the immune responses elicited by immunization with rSm16 using two different vaccine formulations, aswell as its ability to induce protection in Balb/c mice. In order to explore the biological function of Sm16 during the course ofexperimental infection, RNA interference was also employed. Our results demonstrated that Sm16 is expressed in cercaria and schistosomula and is located in the schistosomula surface. Despite humoral and cellular immune responses triggered by vaccination using rSm16 associated with either Freund’s or alum adjuvants, immunized mice presented no reduction in either parasite burdenor parasite egg laying. Knockdown of Sm16gene expression in schistosomula resulted in decreased parasite sizein vitrobut had noeffect on parasite survival or egg productionin vivo. Thus, ourfindings demonstrate that although the vaccine formulations used inthis study succeeded in activating immune responses, these failed to promote parasite elimination. Finally, we have shown that Sm16 is not vital for parasite survival in the definitive host and hence may not represent a suitable target for vaccine development.