Comparison of the cuticular structure of parasitic nematodes recognized by immunocytochemical and lectin binding studies.
The cuticle structure of some nematode species was studied by immunogold and lectin-gold techniques. The gold labelling made it possible to distinguish the cuticle layers by the distribution and/or the density of the marker. On the other hand, no labelling pattern was found which led to a clear grouping of the layers into larger 'zones', since there were no subunits consisting of more than one layer which reacted in a characteristic way as compared to the rest of the cuticle. The outer surface of the epicuticle of parasitic adult worms turned out to be highly inert; it did not react with any of the antibodies or lectins tested. The cuticle of parasitic nematodes seems to function as a protection against the host's defense mechanisms rather than as an interaction site. An immunogenic component on the surface was only found in infective larvae. All antibodies and lectins showed a preferential binding to the electron dense layers and fibrous structures (HPL/GalNAc, WGA/GlcNAc) or to the amorphous ground-substance (Con A/Glc, RCA I/Gal).
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Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel.
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D001665:Binding Sites; D002009:Brugia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004153:Dipetalonema / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009348:Nematoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D037102:Lectins