V. Chenthamarakshan et al., IMMUNOPROPHYLACTIC POTENTIAL OF A 120 KDA BRUGIA-MALAYI ADULT ANTIGENFRACTION, BMA-2, IN LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS, Parasite immunology, 17(6), 1995, pp. 277-285
A 120 kDa antigen containing SDS-PAGE fraction BmA-2 isolated from Bru
gia malayi adult parasite was highly reactive with normal ser a front
filarial endemic area. BmA-2 was analysed for its propylactic potentia
l in in vitro and in vivo. Ser a collected om BmA-2 immunized jirds in
duced a significant level (80 to 90%) of protection against infective
larvae and microfilariae in in vitro ADCC assay as well as in in situ
micropore chamber implantation studies. Mastomys natalensis immunized
with BmA-2 showed a significant level of protective response against c
irculating microfilariae by clearing 90% of them front circulation by
fifth day after challenge infection. Immunization of jirds with BmA-2
resulted in an enhanced level of antibody response against BmA-2 and 8
8% reduction in the development of the parasites to the adult stage. P
assive transfer of immunesera from jirds immunized wth BmA-2 to naive
jirds resulted in 71% reduction in adult worm recovery as observed 90
days after challenge infection with B. malayi. On the other hand the p
assive transfer of nonadherent spleen cells from immune jirds did not
show any significant effect on the development of parasite. Administra
tion of jirds anti BmA-2 serum to microfilaraemic jirds showed a tempo
rary decrease in microfilarial count which was increased to pretherape
utic level within 100 days and there was Ilo effect on the adult worms
. This intplies that the immune protective effect of BmA-2 is mainly a
ntibody dependent and active immunization with BmA-2 is effective agai
nst filarial infection.