Immune response of electroeluted detergent soluble 29 kDa antigen from Setaria digitata (Von Linstow).

Filariasis is one of the typical parasitic infections which cause immune suppression during the course of infection in both humans and experimental animals. A 29 kDa protein isolated from detergent soluble antigen of S. digitata showed maximum inhibition of cell mediated immune response. The heat inactivated 29 kDa protein was found to be devoid of property of suppression of immune response in the host. Histological study of spleen of BALB/C mice immunized with 29 kDa protein showed changes in regions of spleen such as follicle, trabeculae, capsule, reticuloendothelial cells and eosinophils. The 29 kDa protein, the most reactive of the detergent soluble proteins produced partial suppression of immune response, thereby contributing to the factors responsible for the survival of filarial parasites in hosts.