A monoclonal antibody against Echinococcus multilocularis Em2 antigen

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Immunology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Echinococcus multilocularis is a significant cause of parasitic disease.
• Accurate species-specific diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and control.
• The Em2 antigen is a key target for diagnostic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate a species-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb G11) against the Em2 antigen of Echinococcus multilocularis.
• To characterize the Em2 antigen biologically and facilitate its purification.
• To develop a sensitive and specific sandwich-ELISA for detecting E. multilocularis.

Main Methods:

• Generation of a monoclonal antibody (MAb G11) specific to the Em2 antigen.
• Development and application of an antibody sandwich-ELISA using MAb G11.
• FITC-labelling of MAb G11 for immunofluorescence studies on metacestodes and oncospheres.
• Affinity chromatography using solid-phase MAb G11 for antigen purification.

Main Results:

• MAb G11 demonstrated high specificity for E. multilocularis Em2 antigen, detecting it in all 15 isolates tested and none of other Echinococcus species.
• The sandwich-ELISA achieved a sensitivity of 80 ng/ml for soluble Em2 antigen.
• FITC-labelled MAb G11 specifically bound to the laminated layer of metacestodes and to an outer layer of in vitro cultured oncospheres.
• Em2 antigen synthesis by oncospheres was confirmed in vitro by day 13 post-hatching using the MAb G11 ELISA.

Conclusions:

• MAb G11 is a valuable tool for species-specific identification of Echinococcus multilocularis.
• The developed sandwich-ELISA offers a sensitive and specific method for detecting E. multilocularis.
• MAb G11 facilitates efficient purification of Em2 antigen for large-scale diagnostic and immunological applications.