In vitro synthesis of a 28 kilodalton antigen present on the surface of the schistosomulum of Schistosoma mansoni.

Adult Schistosoma mansoni proteins were fractionated on polyacrylamide slab gels, recovered by electrophoretic elution and used for immunization of Fischer rats. Three antisera recognizing, respectively, 28, 78 and 85 kDa antigens were obtained. The 28 kDa antigen was found among the in vitro translation products from adult worm RNA, and among the 125I-labelled surface antigens of S. mansoni schistosomula. The isoelectric point of the 28 kDa antigen was 6.3-6.5. The 28 kDa antiserum mediated a cytotoxic activity against schistosomula when used in an in vitro assay in the presence of a purified eosinophil cell population.