ANTIGENIC VARIABILITY IN TRICHURIS-TRICHIURA POPULATIONS

The present study examines antigenic variability for the human whipwor m Trichuris trichiura. Recognition by Ige of somatic antigens of indiv idual worms collected from 3 intensely infected children from Jamaica, West Indies has been investigated by immunoblotting. When probed with 1 plasma sample, significant differences in recognition of 2 selected antigens among worm populations and between male and female worms was observed. In addition, there was evidence for antigenic variability w ithin worm populations at the individual worm level. Such variation ma y have considerable implications for the development of immunity to pa rasitic nematodes.