Ultrastructural localization of Sm15 and Sm25, two major tegumental adult worm antigens of Schistosoma mansoni

Sm15 and Sm25 are two of the principal tegumental antigens recognized by an tibodies from mice protectively vaccinated with adult worm tegumental membr anes and may therefore be potential vaccine candidate antigens. Using antib odies affinity purified from anti-tegumental membrane anti-sera, and antibo dies raised against the recombinant antigens, Sm15 and Sm25 were shown to b e located specifically in the tegument of adult worms being distributed thr oughout the syncitium but not associated with the outer membrane.