Lesions induced by complement in vitro on the protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis: a study by electron microscopy.

Changes in the ultrastructure of the tegument of Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces during complement-mediated lysis in vitro was studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the total disintegration of protoscoleces by complement proceeds through formation of ‘tegumental bubbles’ and disruption of the external plasma membrane. This sequence of events was evident in the appearance of numerous loose membrane fragments and vesicles, the lifting of the external unit membrane of the microtriches and the release of organelles from the distal cytoplasm. Subsequent events, such as the appearance of a ‘fuzzy’ coat and disruption of the basement membrane, were probably due to autolysis.     

Monoclonal antibodies to low density lipoprotein used for the study of low- and very-low-density lipoproteins, in "ELISA" and immunoprecipitation technics

Seven monoclonal antibodies to low-density lipoprotein were studied by the ELISA for their reactivity with LDL or VLDL. Cotitration experiments showed that five of them are addressed to different antigenic epitopes. Two of the monoclonal antibodies were temperature independent whereas the others had a decreased binding activity at 37 degrees C compared to that obtained at 25 degrees C or 4 degrees C, suggesting the presence of antibodies directed to sequence or conformation epitopes, respectively. All antibodies reacted with both LDL and VLDL; four of them had a higher affinity for LDL and two others for VLDL. Immunoprecipitation of LDL and/or VLDL was observed upon immunodiffusion with certain pairs of antibodies. This may allow the use of pairs of monoclonal antibodies to LDL for the quantitative determination of apolipoprotein B in serum LDL and VLDL.