ALTERED BEHAVIOR OF CARBOHYDRATE-BOUND MOLECULES AND LIPIDS IN AREAS OF THE TEGUMENT OF ADULT SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI WORMS DAMAGED BY PRAZIQUANTEL

By using fluorescent probes the distribution and fluid properties of l ipid and saccharide-bound molecules was assessed in the tegument of pr aziquantel (-) treated Schistosoma mansoni adult male worms. Our resul ts show that higher amounts of glycoproteins and/or glycolipids are ex posed in damaged areas of the membrane compared with undamaged ones. A t damaged regions these molecules present high lateral diffusion coeff icient and mobile fraction values which suggests that after praziquant el(-) treatment they are being shed by the worm into the medium. The l ateral diffusion coefficient of the lipid analogue 5'-octadecanoyl ami nofluorescein is unchanged in damaged or undamaged areas but the mobil e fraction is significantly reduced at damaged areas. The immunologica l significance of these altered surface properties is discussed.