title: Effects of an anti-exospore monoclonal antibody on microsporidial development in vitro.
abstract: In this study we evaluated the effects of the anti-microsporidial exospore monoclonal antibody 3B6, recognizing 3 Encephalitozoon species, Encephalitozoon intestinalis (Syn. Septata intestinalis), Encephalitozoon cuniculi, and Encephalitozoon hellem on microsporidial growth in vitro. Pre-treatment of spores for 24 h with mAb 3B6 resulted in 21-29% fewer infected host cells 4 days after inoculation of the cultures compared to cultures pre-treated with medium or an irrelevant isotype control mAb (P < 0.001). Fewer intracellular spores (1.2 +/- 0.2) in infected cells were found when mAb 3B6 was present in cultures compared to cultures with medium alone (4.3 +/- 0.8) or an irrelevant isotype control mAb (4.2 +/- 0.9; P < 0.001). This decrease appeared not to be dependent on time of exposure, mAb concentration, or presence of complement. It is concluded that antibodies, particularly those directed to potential neutralizing-sensitive epitopes on spores, may have a role in the control of microsporidial growth in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA. fje@u.arizona.edu
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Enriquez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ditrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016819:Encephalitozoon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013170:Spores / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D003165:Complement System Proteins