ovalbumin and Schistosomiasis

Eosinophil count, delayed intradermal test and lymphoblast transformation test (LTT) using SEA, have been used to study the correlation of eosinophilia with CMI in patients with schistosomiasis mansoni. Only a weak positive correlation was found between the eosinophil count and both in vivo and in vitro manifestations of CMI. When IgE serum level was correlated with eosinophil count, a positive correlation was only found in cases with hepato-splenic disease (those with increased CMI).

Topics: Antigens, Helminth; Eosinophilia; Eosinophils; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunoglobulin E; Intradermal Tests; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Ovalbumin; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis

To investigate the effects of antigen cross-linking on ELISA results, we assayed antibodies to several purified antigens, using microtitration trays coated with antigens in their native and cross-linked forms. Cross-linking was achieved by a carbodiimide promoted condensation reaction. For several antigens an increase in sensitivity of the ELISA was obtained after cross-linking. The results of a double antibody sandwich assay using the same cross-linked antigens, showed that the affinity for antibodies remained unchanged after limited cross-linking. Therefore, the higher sensitivity of the ELISA is most likely due to a higher affinity of the cross-linked antigens for the plastic carrier. Cross-linking of proteins in a complex antigen preparation obtained from Schistosoma mansoni led to a large increase in sensitivity.

Topics: Animals; Antigens; Carbodiimides; Cricetinae; Cross-Linking Reagents; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Immunoglobulin G; Macromolecular Substances; Ovalbumin; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis

Infection by Schistosoma mansoni in the rat was found able to maintain high levels of reaginic antibody to an unrelated antigen, ovalbumin, mainly when infection was carried out 14 days after immunization. In addition, administration of a soluble metabolic product of living worms, the immunosuppressive activity of which was removed by dialysis, was also effective in inducing a potentiated response to ovalbumin.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Antibody Formation; Cricetinae; Female; Immunoglobulin E; Male; Ovalbumin; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reagins; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis