GENETIC-CONTROL OF IMMUNITY TO HELIGMOSOMOIDES-POLYGYRUS - PRESENTATION OF PROMISCUOUS ANTIGENS TO PARASITE-SPECIFIC T-CELL HYBRIDOMAS

The role of MHC class II in the presentation of Heligmosomoides polygy rus antigens has been investigated, using a number of T cell hybridoma s produced in A and E positive and negative mice. By using fixed and i rradiated antigen presenting cells (APC), further evidence has emerged , to support earlier data, that there can be differential processing r equirements during the presentation of H. polygyrus antigens by A and E molecules. In concordance with these earlier observations, this work provides further evidence that individual T cells can respond to anti gen when presented by more than one MHC molecule. Previously, this evi dence has been restricted to individual MHC molecules of the same hapl otype, but these data show that H. polygyrus produces antigens which c an be presented by both syngeneic and allogeneic MHC molecules. These antigens do not appear to be synonymous with the previously described H. polygyrus superantigen, as presentation is restricted to specific M HC haplotypes. It is proposed that H. polygyrus may produce these anti genic molecules as part of its strategy to manipulated the host immune system.