Isolation and characterisation of a surface membrane glycoprotein from adult Schistosoma mansoni

A peanut agglutinin-binding glycoprotein in adult Schistosoma mansoni was shown to be absent from pre-liver worms, but could be detected on the worm surface in large amounts at four weeks post-infection. Four-week parasites incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-peanut agglutinin showed a general surface fluorescence. The molecule did not incorporate methionine or palmitate. ELISA using the isolated glycoprotein showed the presence of antibodies to it in serum from infected mice and from humans infected with S. mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium. The implications of these results for surface membrane development are discussed.