A monoclonal antibody with specificity for Trypanosoma cruzi, central and peripheral neurones and glia.

Of 26 hybridomas secreting anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies, two reacted with murine brain and spinal cord extracts but not other tissues. Both antibodies (5H7 and 3H3) had identical isotypes (IgM) and specificities as judged by western blotting. Antigens of molecular weight 58,000 and 37,000 in mouse brain and spinal cord, and 58,000 and 35,000 in T. cruzi were detected. Different tissue antigens were recognized by a previously reported T. cruzi mammalian neural tissue cross-reacting monoclonal antibody CE5; on immunofluorescence 5H7 stained some glia, and some central and peripheral neurones in rat tissue sections. Pooled sera from mice chronically infected with T. cruzi competed with binding of 5H7 to T. cruzi antigens.