The human immune response to defined immunogens of Schistosoma mansoni: elevated antibody levels to paramyosin in stool-negative individuals from two endemic areas in Brazil

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1989 Nov-Dec;83(6):798-804. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(89)90334-9.

Abstract

Sera from individuals living in 2 areas endemic for Schistosoma mansoni in Minas Gerais, Brazil were assayed for the presence of antibodies against paramyosin and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), molecules previously implicated as vaccine immunogens from studies in laboratory hosts. A group was identified consisting of subjects who were stool-negative and had no record of previous infection but who were seropositive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against crude adult worm antigen (SWAP). These individuals had anti-paramyosin antibody levels which were dramatically elevated with respect to those measured in infected (stool-positive) individuals living in the same endemic area. In contrast, the same 2 groups of stool-positive and stool-negative subjects could not be distinguished on the basis of their seroreactivity to either GST or SWAP. After chemotherapy, anti-paramyosin antibodies rose above pre-treatment levels and remained elevated in those individuals who became stool-negative. In contrast, anti-paramyosin antibodies decreased to pretreatment values in drug-treated individuals who failed to show complete parasitological cure. These results suggest that the immune response of humans to paramyosin may play a role in natural resistance to schistosome infection, and that an elevated antibody level against this antigen may be a useful correlate of drug-induced cure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Helminth / immunology
  • Antibody Formation / drug effects
  • Brazil
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Feces / analysis
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Glutathione Transferase / immunology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology*
  • Tropomyosin / immunology*
  • Tropomyosin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Tropomyosin
  • Glutathione Transferase