Characterization of a monoclonal antibody against infective larvae of Brugia malayi.

Monoclonal antibodies were produced following immunization of mice with live infective larvae of Brugia malayi. One of these, 46.08.76, is an antibody that promotes adherence of mouse peritoneal macrophages and human peripheral blood leucocytes to the infective larvae of B. malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti, respectively, and kills them. Fresh normal serum, as a source of complement, augments this effect. The same monoclonal antibody conferred 89% protection to jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) against challenge infection of B. malayi stage-three larvae. This monoclonal antibody recognizes antigens of 80,000, 67,000, 52,000 and 36,000 MW proteins present among the antigens of larvae, as detected by an immunoblotting technique. The antibody also reacts with antigens of infective larvae of Litomosoides carinii, Dipetalonema viteae and B. pahangi, but to a smaller extent.