IDENTIFICATION OF PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE EPITOPE-CONTAINING ANTIGENS IN BRUGIA-MALAYI AND RELATION OF SERUM EPITOPE LEVELS TO INFECTION STATUS OF JIRDS WITH BRUGIAN FILARIASIS

Abstract

The Gib 13 monoclonal antibody was raised against eggs of Onchocerca gibsoni and subsequently found to react with a phosphorylcholine epitope designated as the T15 idiotype. Since an immunoradiometric assay based on the Gib 13 monoclonal antibody holds promise for serodiagnosis of filariasis, the goals of the current study were to evaluate phosphorylcholine epitope production and release by various parasite stages and to assess changes in serum epitope levels during different phases of Brugia malayi infection in jirds. Extracts of B. malayi adult male worms, female worms, and microfilariae contained Gib 13 monoclonal antibody-reactive antigens of Mr 25-30,000, 57-90,000, and approximately eq..