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Schistosomulum-released products (SRP) have been shown to enhance both expression of rat and human eosinophil Fc receptors and IgG-dependent cytotoxicity. The present work provides additional evidence of the secretion of... more
Schistosomulum-released products (SRP) have been shown to enhance both expression of rat and human eosinophil Fc receptors and IgG-dependent cytotoxicity. The present work provides additional evidence of the secretion of eosinophil-enhancing factors by schistosomula and other developmental stages of schistosomes, including adult worms. The heat lability, as well as the strong inhibition of the stimulating activity of SRP by the protease inhibitor Trasylol, suggest that thermolabile proteases secreted by the parasite are involved in this mechanism. The purification of the schistosome proteases by preparative isoelectric focusing and gel filtration demonstrated that neutral proteases able to hydrolyze the collagenase substrates Azocoll and Z-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro are able to significantly enhance eosinophil effector functions. Purified Clostridium histolyticum collagenase was also able to mimic the enhancing effect of schistosome proteases, suggesting involvement of a collagenase-like a...
To know if alkaline phosphatase (AP) from schistosomes other than Schistosoma mansoni can be used as diagnostic marker for schistosomiasis in alkaline phosphatase immunocapture assay (APIA), we comparatively tested n-butanol extracts of... more
To know if alkaline phosphatase (AP) from schistosomes other than Schistosoma mansoni can be used as diagnostic marker for schistosomiasis in alkaline phosphatase immunocapture assay (APIA), we comparatively tested n-butanol extracts of adult worm membranes from a Venezuelan (JL) strain of S. mansoni (Ven/AWBE/Sm); a Cameroonian (EDEN) strain of Schistosoma intercalatum (Cam/AWBE/Si) and a Yemeni strain of Schistosoma haematobium (Yem/AWBE/Sh). APIA was evaluated with sera of patients from Venezuela, Senegal, and Gabon infected with S. mansoni, from Gabon infected with S. intercalatum or S. haematobium, from Chine infected with Schistosoma japonicum and from Cambodian patients infected with Schistosoma mekongi. Results indicate that 92.5% (37/40) of Venezuela sera, 75% (15/20) of Senegal sera, 39.5% (17/43) of S. haematobium sera, and 19.2% (5/26) S. intercalatum sera were APIA-positive with the Ven/AWBE/Sm preparation. APIA with the Cam/AWBE/Si preparation showed that 53.8% of S. intercalatum-positive sera had anti-AP antibodies, and 51.2% S. haematobium-positive sera cross-immunocapturing the S. intercalatum AP. APIA performed with Yem/AWBE/Sh showed that 55.8% S. haematobium sera were positive. Only two out of nine S. japonicum sera were APIA-positive with the Ven/AWBE/Sm and Cam/AWBE/Si, and no reaction was observed with Cambodian S. mekongi-positive sera. AP activity was shown to be present in all the schistosome species/strains studied. The use of APIA as a tool to explore the APs antigenicity and the presence of Schistosoma sp. infections through the detection of anti-Schistosoma sp. AP antibodies in a host, allowed us to demonstrate the antigenicity of APs of S. mansoni, S. intercalatum, and S. haematobium.
Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B (Sm31) is a major antigen from adult worms that circulates in the blood of infected patients (Li et al., Parasitol Res 1996; 82: 14-18). An analysis of the Sm31 sequence (Klinkert et al., Mol Biochem... more
Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B (Sm31) is a major antigen from adult worms that circulates in the blood of infected patients (Li et al., Parasitol Res 1996; 82: 14-18). An analysis of the Sm31 sequence (Klinkert et al., Mol Biochem Parasitol 1989; 33: 113-122) allowed the prediction of seven hydrophilic regions that were confirmed to be exposed on the surface of a 3D model of Sm31; the species specificity of these regions was checked using BLAST analysis. The corresponding peptides were chemically synthesized in polymerazible forms using the t-Boc technique. Rabbits developed a high humoral response against these peptides as tested by a multiple antigen blot assay; it recognized native Sm31 in crude S. mansoni extracts and as circulating antigen in sera of S. mansoni-infected patients by western blot. Relevant antigenic determinants were located at the N- and C-terminus sequences. Antibodies against these regions recognized the native enzyme in an ELISA-like assay called cysteine protease immuno assay in which the immunocaptured enzyme was revealed by the intrinsic cathepsin B hydrolytic activity of Sm31. The method successfully and specifically detected Sm31 in sera of infected individuals, most of them (83.3%) with light infections, offering a rationale for the development of parasite enzyme capture assays using anti-synthetic peptide antibodies for possible use in the diagnosis of schistoso,iasis.
1<p>Average n° of adult worms (males and females) recovered in the perfusion fluid of liver and small mesenteric veins from each experimental group (Mean ± SEM, <i>n</i> = 10).</p><p>The reduction of the... more
1<p>Average n° of adult worms (males and females) recovered in the perfusion fluid of liver and small mesenteric veins from each experimental group (Mean ± SEM, <i>n</i> = 10).</p><p>The reduction of the parasitic load was calculated according to formula: % Protection = (1−B/A)×100 <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002254#pntd.0002254-Shuxian1" target="_blank">[31]</a> where A is the average n° of worms in the AWBE-immunized group and, B the average n° of worms in the adjuvant (ADJ) inoculated group (Control). AW: Adult Worms; AWBE: Adult Worm <i>n</i>-Butanol Extract; ADJ: adjuvant inoculated mice; B: mice injected with buffer. Significance by <i>t</i> student test (compared to group of ADJ-inoculated animals):</p>*<p>significant (<i>p</i>≤0.05).</p
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Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 83451 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [refinar]. Mostrando: 1 .. 1 no formato [Detalhado]. página 1 de 1, 1 / 1, LILACS, seleciona. para imprimir. Fotocópia. experimental, Documentos relacionados. Id: 83451. Autor: Cesari, Italo ...
... FROM DIFFERENT ANIMALS BY THE S. manSOm AGGLUTININ Erythrocyte source Titer NMRI/T/IVIC Mice A Mice AKR Mice BALB/c ... Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank Miss Maria Elena Garcia for the excellent technical assistance and Mr.... more
... FROM DIFFERENT ANIMALS BY THE S. manSOm AGGLUTININ Erythrocyte source Titer NMRI/T/IVIC Mice A Mice AKR Mice BALB/c ... Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank Miss Maria Elena Garcia for the excellent technical assistance and Mr. Erick Fernandez and ...
The S. mansoni adult worm n-butanol extract (Sm-AWBE) has been previously shown to contain specific S. mansoni antigens that have been used for immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis in solid phase alkaline phosphatase immunoassay (APIA) and... more
The S. mansoni adult worm n-butanol extract (Sm-AWBE) has been previously shown to contain specific S. mansoni antigens that have been used for immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis in solid phase alkaline phosphatase immunoassay (APIA) and western blot (WB) analyses. Sm-AWBE was also used in immunoprotection studies against a fatal live-cercariae challenge in experimental mouse vaccination (~43% protection). The Sm-AWBE fraction was prepared by mixing adult worm membranous suspensions with aqueous-saturated n-butanol, centrifuging and recovering n-butanol-resistant proteins in the aqueous phase. Here we report a preliminary identification of Sm-AWBE protein components as revealed from a qualitative proteomic study after processing Sm-AWBE by 1D-gel electrophoresis, in-gel and in-solution tryptic digestions, and mass spectrometry analyses. We identified 33 proteins in Sm-AWBE, all previously known S. mansoni proteins and antigens; among them, immunomodulatory proteins and proteins most...
A study of the subcellular localization of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-3-(4, 3-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) oxido-reductase systems in Mycobacterium was presented. Evidence based on starch... more
A study of the subcellular localization of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-3-(4, 3-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) oxido-reductase systems in Mycobacterium was presented. Evidence based on starch gel electrophoresis and different responses of the subcellular fractions to heat inactivation suggested the existence of more than one enzyme responsible for the NADH-MTT oxido-reductase activity. One type of activity was found in the membrane-mesosome fraction which contained labile and electrophoretically non-migrating enzymes. Another type of activity was also detected in the soluble fraction which on starch gel electrophoresis exhibited 4 bands of activity, two of which showed heat resistance.
1. Incubation of Schistosoma mansoni for 5 min in a phosphate-buffered medium, pH 7.4, released tegumental material containing the following phosphohydrolase activities: alkaline phosphatase, 5′-nucleotidase, glycerol-2-phosphatase,... more
1. Incubation of Schistosoma mansoni for 5 min in a phosphate-buffered medium, pH 7.4, released tegumental material containing the following phosphohydrolase activities: alkaline phosphatase, 5′-nucleotidase, glycerol-2-phosphatase, glucose 6-phosphatase, phosphodiesterase and ATPase. 2. Maximum activity of these enzymes was measured at pH 9.5; however, the phosphodiesterase and ATPase activities were also appreciable at pH 7.0. 3. Solubilization of the released tegumental material in 1% Triton X-100 followed by gel filtration distinguished three peaks of enzyme activity: an ATPase (mol.wt. greater than 1000 000), a phosphodiesterase (mol.wt. 1 000 000) and an alkaline phosphomonoesterase with broad specificity (mol.wt. 232 000). 4. The ATPase activity was highly activated by 10 mM-Mg2+ or 1 mM-Ca2+ and was inhibited by chelating agents. Ouabain, Na+ and K+ had little effect on enzyme activity, whereas activity was increased by 50% in the presence of calmodulin. The phosphodiesteras...
Amino-acid sequences of the variable regions of three lambda chains produced by plasmacytomas of BALB/c mice are compared. Two are almost certainly identical and one differs from these by three amino acids. These findings extend our... more
Amino-acid sequences of the variable regions of three lambda chains produced by plasmacytomas of BALB/c mice are compared. Two are almost certainly identical and one differs from these by three amino acids. These findings extend our earlier conclusion on the relative uniformity of sequences in this type of immunoglobulin light chain. With amino-acid sequence data on two additional lambda chains, eight mouse lambda chains studied to date are indistinguishable and four probably differ from these by one, two, or three amino acids.
An aminopeptidase activity capable of hydrolysing leucine 4-nitroanilide and alanine 4-nitroanilide at pH 7.0 was detected in saponin-CaCl2 extracts and homogenates of adult Schistosoma mansoni. The extracts were also capable of acting on... more
An aminopeptidase activity capable of hydrolysing leucine 4-nitroanilide and alanine 4-nitroanilide at pH 7.0 was detected in saponin-CaCl2 extracts and homogenates of adult Schistosoma mansoni. The extracts were also capable of acting on synthetic dipeptides at the same pH, preferentially hydrolysing peptide bonds following leucine, alanine, or proline N-terminal residues. Imide bonds were not hydrolysed. The hydrolysis of leucine 4-nitroanilide was apparently stimulated by thiols, strongly inhibited by 1 mM 4-chloromercuric benzene sulfonic acid, and partially inhibited by 1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline.
Control de la esquistosomiasis en Venezuela ha sido un tema de gran interés y controversia entre las parasitosis metaxénicas. Una pequeña área de transmisión de aproximadamente 15.000 km2 fue pensado para ser erradicada hace unos años.... more
Control de la esquistosomiasis en Venezuela ha sido un tema de gran interés y controversia entre las parasitosis metaxénicas. Una pequeña área de transmisión de aproximadamente 15.000 km2 fue pensado para ser erradicada hace unos años. Sin embargo, algunas ...
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Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 44503 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [refinar]. Mostrando: 1 .. 1 no formato [Detalhado]. página 1 de 1, 1 / 1, LILACS, seleciona. para imprimir. Fotocópia. experimental, Documentos relacionados. Id: 44503. ...
Alarcon de Noya, Belkisyole; Noya, Oscar; Ruiz, Raiza; Colmenares, Cecilia; Losada, Sandra; Contreras, Rosa; Bruces, Ana; Certad, Gabriela; Hernan, Aurora; Sierra, Carmen; Toro, Jesus; Chacon, Nathalie; Cesari, Italo. ... Bol. malariol.... more
Alarcon de Noya, Belkisyole; Noya, Oscar; Ruiz, Raiza; Colmenares, Cecilia; Losada, Sandra; Contreras, Rosa; Bruces, Ana; Certad, Gabriela; Hernan, Aurora; Sierra, Carmen; Toro, Jesus; Chacon, Nathalie; Cesari, Italo. ... Bol. malariol. salud ambient;43(1):21-30, ...
Methyl jasmonate (MJ), an oxylipid that induces defense-related mechanisms in plants, has been shown to be active against cancer cells bothin vitroandin vivo, without affecting normal cells. Here we review most of the described MJ... more
Methyl jasmonate (MJ), an oxylipid that induces defense-related mechanisms in plants, has been shown to be active against cancer cells bothin vitroandin vivo, without affecting normal cells. Here we review most of the described MJ activities in an attempt to get an integrated view and better understanding of its multifaceted modes of action. MJ (1) arrests cell cycle, inhibiting cell growth and proliferation, (2) causes cell death through the intrinsic/extrinsic proapoptotic, p53-independent apoptotic, and nonapoptotic (necrosis) pathways, (3) detaches hexokinase from the voltage-dependent anion channel, dissociating glycolytic and mitochondrial functions, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, favoring cytochromecrelease and ATP depletion, activating pro-apoptotic, and inactivating antiapoptotic proteins, (4) induces reactive oxygen species mediated responses, (5) stimulates MAPK-stress signaling and redifferentiation in leukemia cells, (6) inhibits overexpressed proinfla...
An aminopeptidase activity capable of hydrolysing leucine 4-nitroanilide and alanine 4-nitroanilide at pH 7.0 was detected in saponin-CaCl2 extracts and homogenates of adult Schistosoma mansoni. The extracts were also capable of acting on... more
An aminopeptidase activity capable of hydrolysing leucine 4-nitroanilide and alanine 4-nitroanilide at pH 7.0 was detected in saponin-CaCl2 extracts and homogenates of adult Schistosoma mansoni. The extracts were also capable of acting on synthetic dipeptides at the same pH, preferentially hydrolysing peptide bonds following leucine, alanine, or proline N-terminal residues. Imide bonds were not hydrolysed. The hydrolysis of leucine 4-nitroanilide was apparently stimulated by thiols, strongly inhibited by 1 mM 4-chloromercuric benzene sulfonic acid, and partially inhibited by 1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline.
SUMMARY Bacitracin at concentrations of 65-13-0 ,ug./ml. inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 607. Concentrations I o times higher were required to produce a similar effect on M. tuberculosis BCG. Assays of the bacitracin... more
SUMMARY Bacitracin at concentrations of 65-13-0 ,ug./ml. inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 607. Concentrations I o times higher were required to produce a similar effect on M. tuberculosis BCG. Assays of the bacitracin effect in Sauton medium showed no significant drug inhibition due to the cancelling effect of citrate ions present in this medium. Low con- centrations of bacitracin produced smooth-surface colonies consisting of bacteria which showed a modified cell-wall appearance, in contrast to the rough colonies formed by control bacteria. Ultrastructure studies indicated that the main target of bacitracin action on mycobacteria may be a direct effect on the membrane system.
Schistosoma mansoni egg antigens are mostly responsible for the granulomatous pathology in human intestinal schistosomiasis. Several previous studies have indicated that the induction of an immune response against some parasite enzymes... more
Schistosoma mansoni egg antigens are mostly responsible for the granulomatous pathology in human intestinal schistosomiasis. Several previous studies have indicated that the induction of an immune response against some parasite enzymes may protect against pathology. The present work was designed to identify enzyme activities present in a standard soluble egg antigen (SEA) preparation. Simple colorimetric analyses were performed incubating SEA with 2-naphthyl, 2-naphthylamide (2NA), or p-nitrophenyl substrates at different pHs in the absence of added effectors. Results showed prominent acid phosphatase (pH 5.4), alkaline phosphatase (pH 8.5), and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (pH 5.4) activities. Relevant peptidase activities were also detected at pH 6.5-7.5 against 2NA derivatives of (1) aliphatic (alpha-Ala > beta-Ala > Leu > Met > S-benzyl-Cys), polar (Ser > Gln), basic (Arg > Lys > ornithine), and acidic (Glu) amino acids; (2) dipeptides: X-Ala (X = Gly > Leu > Lys > Asp), X-Arg (X = Ala > Arg > Phe > Gly > Pro > Asp), Ser-Met, and Phe-Pro; and (3) tripeptides (Ala-Phe-Pro > Phe-Pro-Ala). The data demonstrated that S. mansoni SEA contains a rich set of hydrolases with different specificities that might play a role in the egg physiology and possibly also in the host-parasite relationships.
The asparaginyl endopeptidase (Sm32) is expressed in the gastrodermal cells of the schistosome gut and in the head glands of the cercariae. Possibly, Sm32 hydrolyzes pro-proteins involved in the degradation of host hemoglobin [Parasitol.... more
The asparaginyl endopeptidase (Sm32) is expressed in the gastrodermal cells of the schistosome gut and in the head glands of the cercariae. Possibly, Sm32 hydrolyzes pro-proteins involved in the degradation of host hemoglobin [Parasitol. Today 12 (1996) 125]. Preliminary evidences using an Sj32/Sm32 murine vaccine have shown a profound effect on oviposition and worm burden [Chin. J. Schist. Control. 7 (1995) 72; Bull. Human Med. Univ. 24 (1999) 225; Vaccine 20 (2002) 439]. The importance of Sm32 as a novel vaccine candidate is based on the possibility of preventing the maturation of other cathepsins and/or preventing schistosome skin invasion. We studied the immunogenicity of polymerizable peptides derived from Sm32 to select potential protective epitopes. Sm32 prediction of T and B epitopes and homology studies with human legumain were performed. Among the variety of factors that influence the antibody response, we specifically examined the effect of: (i) genetic background of mous...
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Metastasis of head and neck tumors is responsible for a high mortality rate. Understanding its biochemistry may allow insights into tumorigenesis. To that end we carried out RNA-Seq analyses of 5 SCC9 derived oral cancer cell lines... more
Metastasis of head and neck tumors is responsible for a high mortality rate. Understanding its biochemistry may allow insights into tumorigenesis. To that end we carried out RNA-Seq analyses of 5 SCC9 derived oral cancer cell lines displaying increased invasive potential. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were annotated based on p-values and false discovery rate (q-values). All 292 KEGG pathways related to the human genome were compared in order to pinpoint the absolute and relative contributions to the invasive process considering the 8 hallmarks of cancer plus 2 new defined categories, as well as we made with our transcriptomic data. In terms of absolute contribution, the highest correlations were associated to the categories of evading immune destruction and energy metabolism and for relative contributions, angiogenesis and evading immune destruction. DEGs were distributed into each one of all possible modes of regulation, regarding up, down and continuum expression, along th...
Schistosoma mansoni enzymes play important roles in host-parasite interactions and are potential targets for immunological and/or pharmacological attack. The aim of this study was to comparatively assess the presence of hydrolytic... more
Schistosoma mansoni enzymes play important roles in host-parasite interactions and are potential targets for immunological and/or pharmacological attack. The aim of this study was to comparatively assess the presence of hydrolytic activities (phosphatases, glycosidases, aminopeptidases) in soluble (SF) and membrane (MF) fractions from different S. mansoni developmental stages (schistosomula 0 and 3h, juveniles, and adult worms of 28 and 45days-old, respectively), by using simple enzyme-substrate microassays. Our results show and confirm the prominent presence of alkaline phosphatase (AlP) activity in the MF of all the above parasite stages, highlighting also the relevant presence of MF-associated α-mannosidase (α-MAN) activity in juveniles. A soluble AlP activity, together with β-N-D-acetylglucosaminidase (β-NAG), and α-MAN activities, was detected in SF of schistosomulum 0h. Soluble β-NAG, α-MAN, acid phosphatase (AcP), leucin (LAP) and alanine (AAP) aminopeptidase activities were also seen in the SF of the other different developmental stages. This work shows different soluble and membrane-associated hydrolytic capacities in each S. mansoni developmental stage from schistosomula to adults that might be exploitable as potential new targets for immune and/or chemoprophylactic strategies.
Resumen GOMEZ MARTINEZ, Erika, BALLEN, Diana, TULIO DIAZ, Marcos et al. Diversidad enzimática de la fracción soluble de un aislado venezolano de adultos Paragonimus sp. Bol Mal Salud Amb, jul. 2010, vol. 50, no. 1, p. 75-84. ISSN 1690-4648.
The previously shown antigenicity of Schistosoma mansoni (JL venezuelan strain) alkaline phosphatase (Mg2+, pH 9.5) allowed its use in an immunodiagnosis assay, that consisted in the immunoadsorption of the enzymatic activity. Protein-A... more
The previously shown antigenicity of Schistosoma mansoni (JL venezuelan strain) alkaline phosphatase (Mg2+, pH 9.5) allowed its use in an immunodiagnosis assay, that consisted in the immunoadsorption of the enzymatic activity. Protein-A coated polyvinyl plates were used as solid phase to capture IgG from sera of infected human patients. After buffered saline washings, the plates were incubated with an enzyme-rich fraction (a n-butanol aqueous extract of adult worm obtained from pairs). Immunoadsorbed alkaline phosphatase (AP) was revealed by adding rho-nitrophenyl phosphate. Anti-AP antibodies were detected in 93% of coproparasitologically proven S. mansoni-infected venezuelan patients but not in parasite-free control sera and sera from patients infected with parasitosis other than schistosomiasis. The APIA did not correlate with cure but the anti-AP antibody response was progressively reduced after treatment. The use of an AP substrate amplifying system allowed an improvement of the assay sensitivity without loss of specificity. The data suggest that the APIA could be used as a marker of infection by S. mansoni.
Adult Schistosoma mansoni parasites have the capacity to degrade ingested host hemoglobin and other host plasma proteins by using a series of gut proteolytic enzymes, including cathepsin B; this enzyme is released to the host... more
Adult Schistosoma mansoni parasites have the capacity to degrade ingested host hemoglobin and other host plasma proteins by using a series of gut proteolytic enzymes, including cathepsin B; this enzyme is released to the host intravascular environment during regurgitations of adult worms. Cathepsin B becomes thus a circulating parasite component that has been shown to be specifically recognized as the Sm31 antigen by antibodies present in most S. mansoni infected patients. Taking advantage of this immunological property, we attempted here to immunocapture Sm31 from sera of infected patients using specific polyclonal rabbit antibodies raised against a highly enriched preparation of Sm31 and detect its intrinsic proteolytic activity using a previously described solid-phase procedure called Cysteine Protease Immuno Assay (CPIA). To produce highly specific anti-Sm31/cathepsin B antibodies, cathepsin B (Sm31 or SmCB) was enriched more than 3000-folds from an adult worm preparation using ...
Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 30829 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [refinar]. Mostrando: 1 .. 1 no formato [Detalhado]. página 1 de 1, 1 / 1, LILACS, seleciona. para imprimir. Fotocópia. experimental, Documentos... more
Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 30829 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [refinar]. Mostrando: 1 .. 1 no formato [Detalhado]. página 1 de 1, 1 / 1, LILACS, seleciona. para imprimir. Fotocópia. experimental, Documentos relacionados. Id: 30829. Autor: Cesari, Italo ...
Mouse λ chains exhibit a simple pattern of variability. This is shown by a comparison of the amino acid sequences of the variable region of 12 λ chains produced by plasmacytomas of BALB/c mice. Eight of the 12 λ chains are identical, two... more
Mouse λ chains exhibit a simple pattern of variability. This is shown by a comparison of the amino acid sequences of the variable region of 12 λ chains produced by plasmacytomas of BALB/c mice. Eight of the 12 λ chains are identical, two differ from these by one residue, one by two residues, and one by three residues. Our interpretation of this finding is that λ chains are coded for by a single germ-line gene for both vλ and cλ that determines the structure represented by the eight identical sequences, and the variant sequences are the result of single point mutations. We postulate that these somatic mutants in vλ are selected for in a sequential fashion by antigen because all of the amino acid substitutions fall into that region of the L-chain that contributes to the antibody combining site (Wu, T. T. and Kabat, E. A., J. Exp. Med., 132: 211, 1970).
Neutral protease activities of schistosomula, 20 day old and adult worms of S. mansoni have been studied. 1. The neutral enzymes of the three development stages are able to hydrolyse numerous natural and synthetic substrates. 2. The... more
Neutral protease activities of schistosomula, 20 day old and adult worms of S. mansoni have been studied. 1. The neutral enzymes of the three development stages are able to hydrolyse numerous natural and synthetic substrates. 2. The enzymes of homogenates and saponin CaC12 extracts show significant discrepancies in their specificities, optimum pH activities and in the effects of enzyme inhibitors. 3. A serine protease activity was specific for the schistosomula stage whereas thiol proteinases characterize the later stages of evolution. A metalloaminopeptidase activity was shown at all three stages. 4. Gel filtration chromatography and isoelectric focusing of an adult worm homogenate demonstrated the presence of at least 5 caseolytic and 4 azocollytic neutral activities. Three aminopeptidases, one of which exhibited iminopeptidase specificity were revealed by the same procedure.
1. Enzyme polymorphism, analyzed by starch gel electrophoresis, was found to be zero for acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase, phosphoglucose isomerase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and... more
1. Enzyme polymorphism, analyzed by starch gel electrophoresis, was found to be zero for acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase, phosphoglucose isomerase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme, in one Brazilian and two Venezuelan strains of Schistosoma mansoni. 2. All loci studied were monomorphic within strains, but the isoenzymic patterns were, however, different among the strains. 3. Results suggest a drastic loss of the genetic variability usually found in natural populations.
In an attempt to identify antigenic molecules from Schistosoma mansoni eggs, a serological study was performed on children of a Venezuelan town (Caraballeda) in which the transmission of schistosomiasis had been interrupted two years... more
In an attempt to identify antigenic molecules from Schistosoma mansoni eggs, a serological study was performed on children of a Venezuelan town (Caraballeda) in which the transmission of schistosomiasis had been interrupted two years prior to sera sampling. Infected children received treatment with Praziquantel and, based on the disappearance of eggs in the stools plus negativization of the circumoval precipitin test (COPT) one year after treatment, they were classified as either responders or non-responders to chemotherapy. Western blots of soluble egg antigen (SEA) with a very sensitive chemiluminescent substrate were performed. Sera from responder children recognized a 25 kDa band of SEA which diminished significantly after treatment. This was less frequent in non-responder children. When the sera of responder and non-responder children were compared before treatment, we found that the recognition of the 40 and 41 kDa proteins could be predictive of response to chemotherapy. All these antigens, used in ELISA-type techniques, might be of importance in the evaluation and follow-up of large scale schistosome control programmes.

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