title: Developmentally regulated expression of a Haemonchus contortus surface antigen.
abstract: All life cycle stages of Haemonchus contortus were screened with antibody-secreting cell (ASC) probes generated from immune sheep 5 days after a challenge infection. An antigen with an approximate molecular weight of 70-90 kDa was found to be predominantly expressed in the 3rd-stage larvae, while a molecule with an approximate molecular weight of 28-31 kDa was recognised by the ASC-probes in the earlier developmental stages. Antisera generated against the purified 70-90 kDa molecule and antibodies eluted from the 70-90 kDa region in the 3rd-stage larvae were found to react with the 28-31 kDa region in the 2nd-stage larvae. These results suggest that the 70-90 kDa antigen, previously identified as a major 3rd-stage surface antigen, is synthesised as a lower molecular weight molecule in the earlier larval stages and assembled into a higher molecular weight complex through non-reducible covalent bonds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raleigh
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Meeusen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth