Lectin-blot analyses of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae excretory-secretory components.

The rapid recognition of invading pathogen polysaccharides by host lectins might have a significant role in the outcome of the infection. Oligosaccharide structures of the pathogens may provoke an antibody response and serve as a target for specific antibodies. It is well known that Trichinella spiralis antigens, either on the surface or excreted-secreted, are key modulators or targets of the host immune system. In our study of the role of lectins in host defense against T. spiralis infection, an investigation on sugar component of parasite glycoproteins was performed. Affino-blot analyses of T. spiralis muscle larvae excretory-secretory (ES) products by plant lectins revealed that these proteins possess: (1) N-glycans (ConA, PSA, PHA), and probably some O-linked structures (AAA), (2) oligosaccharide structures with mannose residues, especially of the oligomannose type (ConA) and the biantennary complex type with Fuc in the pentasaccharide core (PSA), (3) bisected oligosaccharides, probably some polyantennary glycophorms (PHA), (4) terminally positioned Gal (RCA I, AAA), (5) N-glycans containing oligomers of, or bisected GlcNAc (WGA), that lack alpha2,6 type of linkage (absence of SNA binding).