Schistosoma mansoni antigens differentially recognized by resistant WEHI 129/J mice.
Mice of the strain WEHI 129/J are genetically resistant to chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection. Resistance is expressed in at least 50% of mice, with the remaining mice showing normal susceptibility to infection. The serum antibody specificities in the resistant proportion of WEHI 129/J were analyzed at various times after exposure to cercariae by using both Western blotting and immunoprecipitation. Comparisons with the susceptible proportion of WEHI 129/J and other permissive mouse strains revealed four antigens that were differentially recognized by resistant mice at various times of infection: Sm25, an Mr 25,000 integral membrane protein of adult worms that was better recognized by resistant mice 40 to 50 days after exposure; Sm67, an Mr 67,000 water-soluble antigen of adult worms that was better recognized by resistant mice at days 30 to 40; Sm120, an Mr 120,000 antigen expressed by cercariae and adult worms that was differentially recognized, although inconsistently, at days 20 to 40 postexposure; and Sm26, an Mr 26,000 glutathione S-transferase that was uniquely recognized by resistant mice at day 20 in two of three experiments. Analysis of antibody specificities in (BALB/c x WEHI 129/J)F1 x WEHI 129/J backcross mice indicated that high responsiveness to Sm25 at days 40 to 50 correlated with resistance. The candidacy of these four molecules as vaccines for schistosomiasis mansoni is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth