Protection of hamsters from amebic liver abscess formation by a monoclonalantibody to a 150-kDa surface lectin of Entamoeba histolytica

We examined the effects of passive immunization with a monoclonal antibody (EH3015) that recognizes a 150-kDa surface lectin of Entamoeba histolytica on amebic liver-abscess formation in hamsters. The hamsters were inoculated i.p with 0.1, 1.0, or 10 mg of EH3015 at 24 h prior to an intrahepatic cha llenge with 10(5) trophozoites of E. histolytica. In hamsters treated with 1.0 and 10 mg of EH3015 the incidence of liver abscesses was significantly reduced. These results demonstrate that monoclonal antibody EH3015 can prev ent the development of amebic liver abscesses and that the 150-kDa lectin m ay be a protective antigen on the surface of E. histolytica.