SCHISTOSOMA-JAPONICUM - IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF PARAMYOSIN DURING DEVELOPMENT

This paper describes the localization of paramyosin immunoreactivity i n Schistosoma japonicum and represents the first comparative immunoloc alization study among schistosome adult, cercariae and lung schistosom ula by electron microscopy. A polyclonal antibody was utilized to immu nolabel paramyosin or paramyosin-like proteins. Paramyosin was localiz ed within the muscle layer of all 3 developmental stages. Furthermore, paramyosin was localized within granules of the post-acetabular gland s of cercariae, and within the tegument matrix and surface of lung sch istosomules. Adults and cercariae did not display any detectable param yosin on the surface or within the tegument. The possible functions of paramyosin within S. japonicum and the relevance of these findings in relation to the reported protective properties of paramyosin as an an ti-schistosome vaccine target molecule are discussed.