Analysis of tegumental surface proteins of Schistosoma mansoni primary sporocysts.

Axenically transformed primary sporocysts of Schistosoma mansoni (NMRI strain) were labeled with 125I in an effort to identify sporocyst proteins exposed at the tegumental surface. Using the 125I activating reagent, 1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-3 alpha,6 alpha-diphenylglycoluril, in conjunction with SDS-PAGE and autoradiography, up to 12 bands were radiolabeled out of 60 components visualized by silver staining. Labeled proteins ranged in apparent Mr from greater than 200 to less than 12 kDa. Pronase treatment of living sporocysts after radioiodination removed all labeled material, suggesting that only surface proteins were being iodinated. Western blot analysis employing 5 monoclonal antibodies (MAB's) to sporocyst surface antigens revealed a wide range of reactivities which produced banding patterns closely reflecting autoradiograms of identical samples. The concomitant removal by Pronase of immunoreactive and radiolabeled surface proteins with identical Mr in the range of 90-130 kDa suggests that epitopes recognized by these antibodies are associated with these higher molecular weight surface proteins. However, although Pronase removes all labeled surface proteins, substantial nonradiolabeled, immunoreactive material with Mr less than 90 kDa still remains on enzyme-treated parasites. This indicates that MAB-reactive epitopes, in addition to their occurrence with surface proteins, are also associated with either unlabeled, protease-resistant surface components or internal antigens. The immunohistochemical localization of antibody-reactive material in gland-like structures within sporocysts supports an internal source for nonradiolabeled, immunoreactive components. Finally, the periodate sensitivity of the epitopes recognized by all tested MAB's suggests that carbohydrate moieties may represent a common and extremely immunogenic constituent of the sporocyst surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)