Surface components of Onchocerca volvulus.

A technique employing Sephadex G25 gel filtration has been developed for the rapid isolation and purification of live microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus from subcutaneous nodules and skin samples. Microfilariae, adult worms and L3 larvae have been surface radiolabelled using the Iodogen technique. Two proteins have been characterised on the surface of uterine microfilariae: these have apparent molecular weights of 14,800 and 15,000. A MW 15,000 protein was the only molecule labelled on the surface of skin microfilariae. Ten proteins were labelled on adult male worms: these have molecular weights of 15,000, 17,500, 20,000, 22,000, 24,000, 29,000, 32,000, 37,000, 42,000, and 50,000. Some, if not all, of these proteins were also identified on female worms. Seven proteins were labelled on the surface of L3 larvae: these have molecular weights of 17,500, 48,000, 50,000, 52,000, 54,000, 57,000, and 105,000. Three of the adult surface proteins were precipitated by selected human infection serum: these are the MW 17,500, 32,000 and 42,000 molecules. The microfilarial surface proteins were not precipitated by human infection serum. The antiserum used in these experiments was shown by Western blot analysis to contain high levels of antibody with specificity for microfilarial and adult antigens. Indirect immunofluorescent assays showed these sera to contain antibody which bound to the surface of adult worms and eggs but not microfilariae. The possibility that skin microfilariae absorb host serum albumin was investigated: Western blot analysis and surface immunofluorescence assays using a specific anti-human albumin serum gave negative results. Fluorescent lectin binding studies revealed the presence of stage-specific carbohydrate moieties exposed on the surface of adult worms and eggs. Microfilariae do not have surface carbohydrate determinants.