Hemocytes of schistosome-resistant and -susceptible Biomphalaria glabrata recognize different antigens on the surface of Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts.

A cytoadherence assay was used to determine whether antibodies to plasma and hemocyte components of Schistosoma mansoni-susceptible (M-line) and -resistant (10-R2, 13-16-R1) strains of Biomphalaria glabrata affected attachment of hemocytes to chemically fixed schistosome sporocysts differentially. Experiments used purified, intact IgG and purified Fab fragments of each antibody. Indirect fluorescent antibody tests confirmed that the intact purified IgG to plasma and hemocytes from the 3 strains of snails bound to sporocysts. There was no qualitative difference in fluorescence among any of the antibodies to snail components, although the various antibodies affected adherence of hemocytes to the parasite differentially. Adherence assays revealed that antibodies to plasma components inhibited binding of hemocytes from the snail strain to which the antibody was generated. Additionally, antibody to plasma from resistant strains of B. glabrata inhibited binding of hemocytes from the homologous and heterologous resistant strains but not hemocytes from susceptible snails. Antibody to hemocytes from M-line snails did not inhibit binding of hemocytes from any of the snail strains. Since results of assays using intact IgG correlated well with assays using their Fab fragment counterparts, it was concluded that hemocytes from the 3 snail strains utilize specific antigen-binding sites on sporocysts. Results of these assays also indicate that, with regard to the mechanism of hemocyte binding to sporocysts, M-line and 13-16-R1 snails are more dissimilar than M-line and 10-R2 or 10-R2 and 13-16-R1 B. glabrata.