Structural and molecular specificity of antibody responses in mice immune to third stage larvae of Onchocerca volvulus.

Immunization of mice with irradiated Onchocerca volvulus infective stage larvae (L3) has been demonstrated to confer protection against challenge infections with these larvae. Additionally, cytokine level measurements and cytokine depletion studies have shown that both IL-4 and IL-5 are important in generating a protective immune response against O. volvulus challenge infections, thus suggesting a dependency of protective immunity on IgG1, IgE and/or eosinophils. In the present study, we examined the humoral responses of immunized mice to O. volvulus L3 antigens. ELISA measurements of total serum antibody levels indicated that IgE was the only antibody isotype elevated in mice immunized with O. volvulus L3. IgM from immunized mice was the only isotype that recognized surface antigens on intact O. volvulus L3. IgG1, IgG3, IgE and IgA recognized internal parasite antigens on O. volvulus L3 frozen sections. Western blot analysis of L3 proteins showed that in serum from mice immunized with O. volvulus L3 IgG1, IgG2a/2b, IgA, and IgE, as well as IgM, recognized unique L3 proteins. Antibodies in serum from L3 immunized mice were able to detect O. volvulus adult antigens in a pattern similar to the recognition found in O. volvulus L3. Some L3 antigens were shared by adults, while other antigens were L3 specific. The ELISA, immunohistochemistry and Western blot findings thus demonstrate a complex pattern of antigen recognition of parasite antigens by antibodies found in mice immune to the L3 of O. volvulus.