title: A 43-kDa circulating filarial antigen fraction of Wuchereria bancrofti in immunoprophylaxis against Brugia malayi in jirds.
abstract: A 43 kiloDaltan (kDa) antigen fraction (CFA2-6) isolated from microfilaraemic plasma of bancroftian filarial patients showed selective reactivity with sera samples collected from endemic normals. Antibodies raised against this antigen showed a strong reactivity with the surface of Brugia malayi infective larvae as well as microfilariae. Similar antigenic determinants were detected in the parasite extracts, but not in the excretory-secretory products. Further analysis was done on the immunoprophylactic potential of CFA2-6 in inducing immunity against Brugia malayi in Meriones unguiculatus (jird) in vivo. A strong protective response of approximately 84% was observed against the development of the filarial parasite in the jirds immunized with CFA2-6. The immunized jirds also showed a significant clearance (87%) of microfilariae inoculated intravenously. Approximately 65% of infective larvae failed to survive in jirds transferred with anti-CFA2-6 serum compared to the jirds transferred with sera from the control jirds. Passive transfer of anti-CFA2-6 antibody to the jirds followed by intravenous inoculation of microfilariae resulted in the reduction of 77% of circulating microfilariae. This study suggests that the 43-kDa CFA2-6 could stimulate a strong protective immune response against infective larvae and microfilariae in experimental animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and J.B. Tropical Disease Research Centre, M.G. Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram 442 102, Wardha, MS, India. chenta@uic.edu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vasu
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Harinath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D017178:Brugia malayi / Q000276:immunology*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008842:Microfilariae; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth