Schistosoma japonicum (Chinese strain): characterization of two monoclonal antibodies which recognized common epitopes in the tegument of adult worms and schistosomula.

Two monoclonal antibodies have been produced that bind to the common epitopes on adult and schistosomula of S. japonicum (Chinese strain). The isotypes of these monoclonal antibodies were determined to be IgM (designated 8G9-5) and IgG2a (designed 9E7) respectively. The target epitopes of 8G9-5 and 9E7, as analysed by immunoblotting assay, are at Mr of 64 kDa and 54 kDa respectively. Indirect immunofluorescence assay using frozen sections of adult worms, intact mechanically transformed schistosomula and 5-day-old lung schistosomula indicated that both epitopes are located in the tegument of both stages of parasite. These epitopes appear to be two of several major immunogenic proteins on the tegument of both young and adult worms.