Cuticle preparations from Necator americanus and their immunogenicity in the infected host.

Pritchard, David Idris and McKean, Paul G. and Rogan, Michael Thomas (1988) Cuticle preparations from Necator americanus and their immunogenicity in the infected host. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 28 (3). pp. 275-283. ISSN 0166-6851

Abstract

Cuticle samples have been prepared from the human parasitic nematode Necator americanus using detergent solubilisation with sodium dodecyl sulphate and subsequent reduction of disulphide bonds using 2-beta-mercaptoethanol. It would appear that N. americanus, like many other nematodes, relies on relatively small collagenous proteins, linked by disulphide bonds, to maintain the integrity of its cuticle. These molecules are normally hidden from the immune system during the course of infection but are potentially immunogenic. It is suggested that waves of antibodies, firstly with specificity against superficial cuticular epitopes followed by antibodies against deeper lying, structural elements, should be induced during vaccination to effectively destroy the nematode at the cuticular level.