ANTIGENS IDENTIFIED BY MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES IN TISSUE-SECTIONS OF BOOPHILUS-MICROPLUS

Lee R. P. and Opdebeeck J. P. 1995. Antigens identified by monoclonal antibodies in tissue sections of Boophilus microplus. International Jo urnal for Parasitology 25: 241-248. A panel of monoclonal antibodies ( mAbs) raised against midgut antigens of Boophilus microplus were used to probe various stages and organs of the tick. One of the monoclonal antibodies in this panel (QU13) has previously been shown to recognize protective antigens. Of the 18 mAbs tested, all except two (QU5 and Q U12) reacted with sections of adult midgut and Malpighian tubules usin g an avidin-biotin alkaline phosphatase method for immunostaining, MAb s QU1, QU2, QU3, QU4, QU12, QU13, and QU18 reacted specifically with t he lumenal surfaces of type III acini of the salivary gland. These sev en mAbs also stained the midgut in larval sections indicating that the antigens recognized were not stage specific, However, none of the sev en mAbs tested recognised antigens in either the adult ovary or the de veloping egg. Antigens which were immunogold labelled by mAbs QU1, QU4 , QU11, QU13, and QU15 in electron microscopy were Located either on o r near the surface of the microvilli of digestive cells from the midgu t of the adult tick. We conclude that common antigens are present on t he lumenal surfaces of the adult midgut, type III acini of the salivar y gland, and the Malpighian tubules and that these antigens are also l ocated in the larval gut.