Phenotypic variation of surface antigenic determinants in Trichomonas vaginalis detected by monoclonal antibodies.

We produced a large panel of murine monoclonal antibodies against surface determinants of Trichomonas vaginalis using the hybridoma technique. An immunoenzymatic technique (E.L.I.S.A.) was used to screen positive hybrid cells producing specific antibodies against the protozoan surface. Eleven monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) out of seventy-seven positives were further characterized. We tested antibody reactivity in order to investigate the antigenic variance among 13 different strains of Trichomonas vaginalis of different geographic origin. To elucidate the complexity of antigenic expression in Trichomonas vaginalis, further characterization of the antigenic pattern in our 13 clinical isolates was carried out by immunoblotting techniques. We demonstrate that some monoclonal antibodies react with antigens varying in molecular weight in the different strains tested. We also demonstrate the pivotal role of protozoan proteases in antigenic rearrangement.