A fucose-containing epitope is shared by keyhole limpet haemocyanin and Schistosoma mansoni glycosphingolipids

The glycolipids of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms, cercariae and eggs are recognised by schistosome infection serum and the monoclonal antibody M2D3H . The haemocyanin of the keyhole limpet, Megathura crenulata, is known to b e immunoreactive to schistosomal infection sera and is, therefore, under in vestigation for the diagnosis of and vaccination against schistosomiasis. B y dot-blot, inhibition-ELISA and inhibition-HPTLC immunostaining we have de monstrated that the M2D3H epitope is shared by both S. mansoni glycolipids and keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Analogously to the established epitop ic importance of fucose to the immunorecognition of S. mansoni glycolipids, we have similarly defined the significance of the fucose residue(s) for th e immunoreactivity between KLH and schistosomal infection serum and the mon oclonal antibody M2D3H. Fucose was specifically removed from KLH by partial hydrolysis, monitored by ultrafiltration and carbohydrate component analys is. On removal of the fucose residue(s) the serological and immunological r eactivity of KLH was greatly diminished, which implied that the fucose-cont aining M2D3H antigenic determinant was common to both S. mansoni glycolipid s and KLH. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.