Crystal structure of Brugia malayi venom allergen-like protein-1 (BmVAL-1), a vaccine candidate for lymphatic filariasis

•The vaccine candidate Brugia malayi venom allergen-like 1 protein (BmVAL-1) has three distinct binding cavities.•The cavities are the central cavity; the sterol-binding caveolin-binding motif (CBM); and the palmitate-binding cavity.•These cavities are connected by channels, which can accommodate water molecules, ions and small ligands.•The channels explain how blocking divalent ions in the central cavity affects sterol binding in the distinct CBM cavity.•BmVAL-1 has a glycosylated CBM, is an effective sterol transporter in vivo and binds cholesterol and palmitate in vitro.