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Praziquantel‐induced exposure of Schistosoma mansoni alkaline phosphatase: drug‐antibody synergy which acts preferentially against female worms
Author(s) -
FALLON P. G.,
SMITH P.,
NICHOLLS T.,
MODHA J.,
DOENHOFF M. J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3024.1994.tb00307.x
Subject(s) - praziquantel , alkaline phosphatase , schistosoma mansoni , biology , antibody , schistosomiasis , drug , immunology , enzyme , antigen , parasite hosting , antiserum , anthelmintic , schistosoma , helminthiasis , microbiology and biotechnology , pharmacology , helminths , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science , ecology
SUMMARY The efficacy of praziquantel‐treatment of murine Schistosoma mansoni ‐infections can be enhanced by concurrent administration of rabbit anti‐sera with specificity for parasite antigens. Monospecific rabbit serum raised against S. mansoni worm alkaline phosphatase, that was reactive with the enzyme on the drug‐treated female surface, was found to significantly and preferentially increase the mortality of female worms by PZQ. Immunoglobulins purified from the anti‐alkaline phosphatase antiserum inhibited 54% of schistosome alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activity on the surface of praziquantel‐treated worms. We propose that synergistic antibody‐mediated death of drug‐damaged worms is a consequence of the inhibition of drug‐exposed alkaline phosphatase on the female worm surface by passively transferred antibody.