Decreased binding of cytotoxic antibody by developing Schistosoma mansoni. Evidence for a surface change independent of host antigen adsorption and membrane turnover.

Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula maintained in chemically defined culture media became increasingly resistant to the cytotoxic effects of infected guinea pig serum. Two- and 6-day-old schistosomula recovered from mice showed no uptake of IgG antibody from infected guinea pig serum, as revealed by the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Results from this test remained negative when the schistosomula were tested at 0 C, after exposure to drugs which inhibit synthetic and secretory processes, or after being killed by heat or formalin. In contrast, new schistosomula collected within 3 hr after skin penetration bound IgG from infection serum under all test conditions, and showed increased susceptibility to cytotoxicity after exposure to various drugs. It thus appears that soon after skin penetration schistosomula undergo surface changes which prevent binding of antibody from infection serum. These changes can apparently take place in the absence of host antigens, and once they have occurred, do not depend on worm physiological processes for their function.