MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AGAINST ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE OF SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI - PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised in mice against acetylcholine sterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni, Specif ic tests were used, in which the hybridoma culture supernatants were s creened for MAbs capable of recognizing AChE, The MAbs were characteri zed by their recognition of different stages of the parasite life cycl e, by their binding to epitopes of protein or of carbohydrate, and by their capability of blocking AChE activity of the intact parasites, Fu rthermore, the MAbs were tested for their cross-reaction with AChE der ived from various species, One of the MAbs, termed SA31, showed strong crossreactivity with invertebrate and vertebrate species, indicating some similarity of cross-reaction between schistosome and mammalian AC hE, However, most of the schistosome AChE epitopes are not shared with vertebrate AChE, The specific interaction of three other MAbs with in tact schistosomula resulted in a marked complement (C)-dependent cytot oxicity. Specific schistosome AChE epitopes might be suitable candidat es for drug design and vaccine preparation.