title: Synergistic action of cyclosporin A and polyspecific rabbit anti-sera against murine Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: The efficacy of cyclosporin A (CsA) treatment against Schistosoma mansoni in mice was compared with treatments that included co-administration of one of two anti-sera (infected rabbit serum (IRS) obtained by repeated infection and a worm membrane antigen anti-serum (WSS) obtained by immunization with worm surface supernatants). These two sera recognized a number of worm antigens but differed in precise detail. Administration of CsA alone to mice harbouring mature infections of S. mansoni reduced worm burdens and preferentially targeted female worms. Sera administered alone had no effect on worm burdens. Co-administration of worm membrane antigen anti-serum (WSS) with CsA reduced worm burden significantly compared with drug treatment alone. Male worms were more susceptible to this combined treatment regime. Anti-infection serum (IRS) had a lesser stimulatory activity in combination with CsA which was not statistically different from the effects of CsA alone on worm burdens. The data suggest that CsA-induced surface damage to the parasite may reveal specific antigens that were previously unavailable for host attack.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Millership
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Chappell
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Fallon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D051379:Mice; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000628:therapy*; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014200:Trematoda
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D012556:Schistosomicides; D016572:Cyclosporine