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Schistosoma mansoni shares a protective oligosaccharide epitope with freshwater and marine snails

Nature volume 323, pages 443–445 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

The expression of similar antigenic determinants by trematode parasites and their intermediate (invertebrate)1–5 or definitive (vertebrate)6 hosts has been previously reported. Studies of experimental7–9 and human10 infection by the parasite Schistosoma mansoni have revealed the strong immunogenicity of a surface antigen with a relative molecular mass (Mr) 38,000 (38K). Here we provide evidence that the important protective epitope of the 38K molecule is expressed by the uninfected intermediate host of S. mansoni, Biomphalaria glabrata and is synthesized both by the mollusc and by the parasite throughout its life cycle, thus confirming our original hypothesis11. Deglycosylation experiments indicate that the protective epitope is an oligosaccharide and in B. glabrata, is associated with a 90K component. Analysis of soluble extracts from different freshwater mollusc species shows that the same protective epitope is found in schistosome as well as in non-schistosome hosts. Moreover, it was also found on the haemocyanin of the keyhole limpet (Megathura crenulata), a carrier protein widely used in immunological studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre d'lmmunologie et de Biologic Parasitaire, Unité Mixte INSERM 167-CNRS 624, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France

    C. Dissous, J. M. Grzych & A. Capron

Authors
  1. C. Dissous
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  2. J. M. Grzych
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  3. A. Capron
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Dissous, C., Grzych, J. & Capron, A. Schistosoma mansoni shares a protective oligosaccharide epitope with freshwater and marine snails. Nature 323, 443–445 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/323443a0

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