Article
Antigenic Community between Schistosoma mansoni and Biomphalaria glabrata: on the Search of Candidate Antigens for Vaccines
Registro en:
97(Suppl. I): 99-104
0074-0276
Autor
Chacón, N
Losada, S
Alarcon de Noya, Belkisyole
Noya, Oscar
Institución
Resumen
We have previously confirmed the presence of common antigens between Schistosoma mansoni and its vector,
Biomphalaria glabrata. Cross-reactive antigens may be important as possible candidates for vaccine and diagnosis
of schistosomiasis. Sera from outbred mice immunized with a soluble Biomphalaria glabrata antigen (SBgA) of noninfected
B. glabrata snails recognized molecules of SBgA itself and S. mansoni AWA by Western blot. Recognition of
several molecules of the SBgA were inhibited by pre-incubation with AWA (16, 30, 36, 60 and 155 kDa). The only
specific molecule of AWA, inhibited by SBgA, was a 120 kDa protein. In order to determine which epitopes of SBgA
were glycoproteins, the antigen was treated with sodium metaperiodate and compared with non-treated antigen.
Molecules of 140, 60 and 24 kDa in the SBgA appear to be glycoproteins. Possible protective effects of the SBgA
were evaluated immunizing outbred mice in two different experiments using Freund’s Adjuvant. In the first one (12
mice/group), we obtained a significant level of protection (46%) in the total worm load, with a high variability in
worm recovery. In the second experiment (22 mice/group), no significant protection was observed, neither in worm
load nor in egg production per female. Our results suggest that SBgA constitutes a rich source of candidate antigens
for diagnosis and prophylactic studies. Comunidad Antigénica entre Biomphalaria y Schistosoma This work has been financed by the Fonacit of the Minister of
Science and Technology of Venezuela (Project no. S1-
2000000564). Additional support was obtained by Bayer S.A.
de Venezuela and the Coordinación de Investigación de la
Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Central de Venezuela
for sponsoring the presentation of this paper in an international
meeting.