Av. Wisnewski et Tf. Kresina, INDUCTION OF PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY TO SCHISTOSOMIASIS WITH IMMUNOLOGICALLY CROSS-REACTIVE LUMBRICUS MOLECULES, International journal for parasitology, 25(4), 1995, pp. 503-510
Immunologically cross-reactive molecules of Schistosoma japonicum and
Lumbricus terrestris were identified by antibodies derived from human
and rodent sera. Pooled Ige from schistosomiasis patients but not unin
fected individuals bound multiple antigens of identical molecular weig
ht in both soluble S. japonicum worm antigen preparations (SWAP) and s
oluble earthworm preparations (SEWP). These antigens had molecular wei
ghts corresponding to 18, 40, 62, 64, 74, 97, and >110 kDa. Three of t
hese antigens of 74, 97 and >110 kDa were immuno-affinity purified usi
ng antibodies derived from schistosomiasis patients' sera. Vaccination
of mice with SEWP produced murine antibodies which bound parasite mol
ecules of 40, 74, 97, and >110 kDa and induced 36% protection from S.j
aponicum infection (P<0.05). Antibody production to S. japonicum param
yosin, a molecule previously shown to induce protection from schistoso
me infection, was prominently expressed in the protected murine immune
sera. The study shows that Lumbricus sp. represent a potential source
for paramyosin and other candidate vaccine molecules for schistosomia
sis.