Immunoglobulin class responses to Taenia taeniaeformis in susceptible and resistant mice.

The immunoglobulin class response of two inbred strains of mice, C57BL/6 and C3H/He, to infection and challenge with Taenia taeniaeformis larvae was compared using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gel electrophoresis followed by immunoelectrotransfer blot (Western blotting) techniques. The C57BL/6 mice, which are relatively resistant to infection, had a more restricted humoral response than the more susceptible, C3H/He mice. C3H/He mice produced a wider range of immunoglobulin classes, in particular IgA and IgG3, to those antigens recognized by both strains of mice. In addition they produced antibodies to a wider range of antigens. The production of these additional antibodies by the susceptible strain raises the possibility that some of the antibodies may have specificities which interfere, or block the action of potentially protective antibodies. Antibodies, mainly of the IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b classes, to antigens of approximately less than 21,000, 21,000-23,000, 30,000 and 60,000 mol. wt, present both in the oncosphere and the metacestode extracts, were found in serum from previously infected and resistant mice of both strains. These antigens may be important in stimulating protective concomitant immunity.