IgM antibodies recognizing carbohydrate epitopes shared between schistosomula and miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni that block in vitro killing.

A series of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) was raised in mice against Schistosoma mansoni, which recognized a carbohydrate determinant on a major Mr greater than 200,000 schistosomulum surface antigen. These mAb cross-reacted with the surface of cercariae and miracidia and with schistosomula of S. haematobium and S. bovis. Other mAb were generated that only recognized a Mr 20,000 schistosomulum surface antigen; they did not cross-react with eggs or miracidia and were species specific. The anti-Mr 20,000 mAb of the IgG1 isotype exhibited high levels of complement-dependent cytotoxicity to schistosomula in vitro. IgM mAb that recognized carbohydrate epitopes of the Mr greater than 200,000 surface antigen blocked the lethal activity of the anti-Mr 20,000 mAb. The IgM anti-Mr greater than 200,000 mAb also reduced complement-dependent cytotoxicity of serum from mice vaccinated with irradiated cercariae.