title: Praziquantel-induced exposure of Schistosoma mansoni alkaline phosphatase: drug-antibody synergy which acts preferentially against female worms.
abstract: The efficacy of praziquantel-treatment of murine Schistosoma mansoni-infections can be enhanced by concurrent administration of rabbit anti-sera with specificity for parasite antigens. Monospecific rabbit serum raised against S. mansoni worm alkaline phosphatase, that was reactive with the enzyme on the drug-treated female surface, was found to significantly and preferentially increase the mortality of female worms by PZQ. Immunoglobulins purified from the anti-alkaline phosphatase antiserum inhibited 54% of schistosome alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activity on the surface of praziquantel-treated worms. We propose that synergistic antibody-mediated death of drug-damaged worms is a consequence of the inhibition of drug-exposed alkaline phosphatase on the female worm surface by passively transferred antibody.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Modha
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Doenhoff
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000469:parasitology; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D011223:Praziquantel; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase