Echinococcus granulosus: identification of subunits of the major antigens.

This paper describes a procedure for obtaining the two "major" Echinococcus granulosa antigens (antigens 4 and 5) from sheep hydatid fluid. Purified antigen 4 (m.w. 400,000 and over) and antigens 5 (m.w. 150,000) were separated in order to identify molecular subunits of each. SDS 12.5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of antigen 4 gave a single band for which a m.w. of 67,000 was calculated. When 5% 2-mercaptoethanol was added to the antigen 4 preparation, SDS 12.5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave two bands (m.w. 47,000 and 20,000). SDS 12.5% polyacrylamide electrophoresis of antigen 5, with or without 2-mercaptoethanol, gave at least three bands with m.w. ranging from 10,500 to 20,000. Low m.w. subunits of both antigens were eluted in a single peak from a preparatory SDS 7.5% acrylamide gel electrophoresis; these subunits were found to be immunogenic and antigenic.