Further studies on the circulating M antigen in human and experimental Schistosoma mansoni infections.

Circulating M antigen, previously described in urine from patients infected by Schistosoma mansoni, was shown in serum from infected patients, using human anti-M immune serum with immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic analyses. This antigen was also shown to be present in the serum and urine from infected hamsters, in the urine from infected rabbits and in the serum from infected mice. Generally, it appeared on day 20 after infection. M antigen was specific for the genus Schistosoma and for the immature and adult worm stage. Its electrophoretic migration was cathodic. The molecular weight of urinary M antigen was around 45,000 daltons. The M antigen was thermostable, soluble in trichloroacetic acid, and contained no lipid component. It was hydrolyzed by protease, ribonuclease, amylase or neuraminidase, but was destroyed by sodium metaperiodate. All these properties betoken the polysaccharidic nature of M antigen.