Characterization of a purified glycoprotein from Schistosoma mansoni eggs: specificity, stability, and the involvement of carbohydrate and peptide moieties in its serologic activity.

A major egg glycoprotein (MEG) was purified from a crude soluble extract of Schistosoma mansoni ova (Egyptian strain) by successive steps of lectin affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. Radioiodinated MEG exhibited a single precipitation band upon immunodiffusion against antiserum from chronically infected mice, and ran as a single band on PAGE (Rf 0.38) and SDS-PAGE (Rf 0.36). Its estimated m.w. was 70,000. The degree of stage and species specificity of MEG and the effect of various treatments on its serologic reactivity were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). A low degree of cross-reactivity between MEG and similarly prepared soluble antigens from adult worms and cercariae was demonstrated by RIA inhibition tests, whereas a high degree of cross-reactivity was found between MEG and a crude soluble S. haematobium egg antigen. In similar RIA inhibition tests, the Puerto Rican S. mansoni had a lower degree of cross-reactivity with S. haematobium than the Egyptian strain. MEG was four times more abundant in SEA from a Puerto Rican strain of S. mansoni than in SEA from the Egyptian strain. The serologic reactivity of MEG was stable to heat at 100 degrees C for 60 min, to 0.1 N NaOH or HCl, and to 10% TCA. Treatment of MEG with pronase caused a limited fragmentation of the molecule and some loss of its serologic reactivity. Periodate oxidation resulted in a substantial loss of molecular mass and of serologic reactivity, leaving a low residual activity that is only partially cross-reactive with the bulk of MEG. These results suggest the importance of both carbohydrate and peptide moieties of MEG for its serologic reactivity.