Immunogenicity and immunolocalization of the 22.6 kDa antigen of Schistosoma japonicum.

The 22.6 kDa tegumental-associated antigens of Schistosoma mansoni (Sm22.6) and Schistosoma japonicum (Sj22.6) are of recognized interest in schistosomiasis vaccine development, although no direct vaccination/challenge experiments using either Sm22.6 or Sj22.6 had been previously described. We report that Escherichia coli-expressed reSj22.6 failed to protect mice or water buffaloes against subsequent challenge with S. japonicum cercariae. This was despite the fact that specific IgG (buffaloes) and IgG and IgE (CBA mice) antibodies were generated against the 22.6 kDa molecule, observations consistent with some of our earlier findings. We could find no evidence from immunolocalization studies that Sj22.6 is expressed or exposed on the surface of the adult parasite since it appears to be restricted to the apical cytoplasm of the tegument and is not associated with the apical or basal membrane or any membrane-bound structures in the apical cytoplasm. Nevertheless, Sj22.6 must be released to the immune system during the course of infection because specific anti-Sj22.6 IgG antibodies were present in the sera of nonvaccinated but challenged mice. We conclude that it may be necessary to produce reSj22.6 in a more relevant expression system, such as baculovirus, to further establish its vaccine potential and that detailed immunochemical and immunolocalization studies of early developmental stages may be necessary to determine how Sj22.6 is released or shed in S. japonicum infections.