title: Cell-mediated and monoclonal antibody-dependent killing of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae.
abstract: To identify the target antigens implicated in the adherence and killing of microfilariae (mf) by leucocytes, we incubated nodular mf and leucocytes in the presence of anti-cuticular monoclonal antibodies (MOVs) and fresh serum. Leucocyte donors were patients with a mean age of 37 years (with 0-1 mf/snip), who had lived in the endemic village studied for at least 10 years. After 16-20 h of incubation, up to 74% of the mf could be seen with 10 or more cells adhering to them. By 36-40 h up to 54% of the mf had been killed by the leucocytes in the presence of a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies termed MOV GIV. The degree of killing in control experiments with the monoclonal antibody MOV 1 remained lower (P less than 0.05), ranging from 0.0 to 4.5% of mf with initial viability of 90-95%. Western blotting revealed MOV GIV prominent target antigens of 10.5, 18.0, 23.5 and 27 kDa in crude surface extracts of female O. volvulus. The detected antigens may play a role in host protection.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Center, Faculty of Science, Yaounde University, Cameroon.
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Titanji
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Nde
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Mbacham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal