CHROMATOGRAPHIC AND ANTIGENIC PROPERTIES OF ECHINOCOCCUS-GRANULOSUS HYDATID CYST-DERIVED GLYCOLIPIDS

The neutral and acidic fraction glycolipids of Echinococcus granulosus metacestode tissue compartments were isolated, defined by their chrom atographic and antigenic properties, and assessed as to their efficacy as antigens in the serodiagnosis of human hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, and other helminthiases. Analyses wet e accomplished by thin-layer chromatography immunostaining and ELISA. The neutral gly colipid fraction's major carbohydrate epitope was the same as or very similar to that of Taenia crassiceps neutral glyco(sphingo)lipids, as represented by the 'neogala'-series cove structure. The blood group-ac tive, carbohydrate epitope P1 was expressed by a number of neutral fra ction glycolipid component bands. The reverse-phase, thin-layer chroma tography-isolated neutral fraction glycolipid component, designated Ag l, was efficient in the serological discrimination of cystic echinococ cosis medium to high-titled sera. Agl did not specifically discriminat e low-titred sera, i.e., other human helminthiases. The detected siali c acid residues of the acidic fraction glycolipids, on enzymatic cleav age, were identified as N-acylneuraminic acid and terminal. The acidic fraction glycolipids exhibited the paradox of only chemically minor c omponents being antigenic towards cystic and alveolar echinococcosis i nfection sera. The combined acidic fraction glycolipid components Ra a nd Rx were capable of serological discrimination between cystic echino coccosis, alveolar echinococcosis and other helminthiases.