PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GENUS AND SPECIES-SPECIFIC MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AGAINST SURFACE TEGUMENTAL ANTIGENS OF SCHISTOSOMA-MEKONGI

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against freeze-thaw surface t egumental antigens of Schistosoma mekongi were produced from naturally infected BALB/c mice. In this study, we have characterized two MoAbs which have different antigenic specificity for S. mekongi, S. japonicu m and S. mansoni. The tal get epitopes of these two hybridoma antibodi es are contained in the Mr 38 kDa (designated Sme 38) and Mr 97 kDa (d esignated Sme 97) proteins of adult worms as analysed by immunoblottin g. The Sme 38 epitope was genus-specific, since it is also detectable in S. japonicum and S. mansoni. The Sme 97 was not detected in S. japo nicum and S. mansoni, therefore it is considered as species-specific e pitope. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed the presence of Sme 38 ep itope in the surface tegument, the tegumental cells lying underneath t he muscle layer and gut surface. The Sme 97 epitope was detectable onl y in the surface tegumental area.