Isolation and characterization of surface antigens from Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula

Surface antigens of Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula were isolated using antibodies produced in rat and human schistosomiasis. Three immunoreactive surface proteins of 40 000, 37 000 and 32 000 daltons were identified by SDS-PAGE analysis of immune complexes formed by incubation of a detergent extract of surface labelled schistosomula with infected rat sera. Surface antigens of similar molecular weight were also isolated when using sera of patients with schistosomiasis. Binding of schistosomula surface antigens to specific antibodies was substantially inhibited by components released by adult worms. The results suggest that these schistosomula surface antigens could be involved in the immune response against challenge infection but their protective role in immunity still remains to be determined.