Induction of protection against Brugia malayi infection in jirds by microfilarial antigens

The development of immunologic methods to reduce transmission of human lymphatic filariasis depends on measures that will enhance the host's ability to eliminate infective larvae, adult worms, or blood-borne microfilariae (mf). The present study was designed to assess the capacity of a crude extract of Brugia malayi mf to decrease the level of microfilaremia and adult worm burden in jirds inoculated with infective larvae, and to identify the filarial antigens that elicit antibody responses in these animals. Thirty weeks after subcutaneous inoculation with 75 infective larvae, 100% of control jirds were patent (i.e., had microfilaremia) compared with 60% of the group immunized with 10 micrograms of crude microfilarial extract (p less than 0.05). In addition, microfilaremia was lower in patent immunized animals compared with controls (p less than 0.05). The mean total number of adult female B. malayi per jird recovered at necropsy in control animals was 16.0 vs 7.0 in immunized jirds (p less than 0.05). Serum of immunized jirds contained anti-mf antibodies with an end titer of 1:8000, a value similar to that of animals with chronic B. malayi infection. Microfilarial antigens of Mr approximately 150,000, 75,000, 42,000, and 25,000 were identified in immunoblotting studies by reactivity with antibodies in sera of immunized jirds. Antibodies induced by immunization with microfilarial extract were not specific for this stage of the parasite life cycle, as jird anti-mf antibodies reacted with a Mr approximately 150,000 and several Mr 50,000 to 110,000 antigens derived from immature and mature adult parasites of both sexes. These data indicate that immunization of jirds with a water soluble microfilarial extract enhances the host's ability to eliminate adult worms and blood-borne mf. The filarial antigens that induce antibodies in immunized jirds have been identified.     

Fasciola hepatica: host responders and nonresponders to parasite glutathione S-transferase.

Fasciola hepatica glutathione S-transferase (FhGST) was isolated from adult worms by glutathione agarose affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE shows three proteins of M(r) ranging from 29-27.8 kDa. Western immunoblot analyses using SDS-PAGE separated adult worm extracts and probed with a rabbit anti-FhGST antiserum reveal two bands in the same M(r) range. Mice and rabbits immunized with purified FhGST develop copious amounts of anti-FhGST antibodies. Moreover, antisera to F. hepatica adult worms and excretion-secretion products also react with FhGST. Cross-reactivity with schistosomes is evidenced in the reactivity with FhGST of anti-Schistosoma mansoni adult worm antisera and, to a lesser extent, antisera to S. mansoni-soluble egg antigens. The time of appearance of anti-FhGST antibodies in different species of animals infected with F. hepatica was determined. Sheep and a New Zealand white rabbit developed anti-FhGST antibodies detectable by ELISA as early as 2 weeks postexposure with F. hepatica. However, neither mice nor calves infected with F. hepatica developed antibodies to FhGST through the 5-10 weeks of infection tested. But mice infected with S. mansoni developed anti-FhGST cross-reacting antibodies by 6 weeks of infection. Calves immunized with a Fasciola/Schistosoma cross-reactive, cross-protective antigen complex in which a 12,000-kDa protein (Fh12) has been shown to contain immunoprophylactic activity, also developed antibodies to FhGST. Since FhGST is a novel potential vaccine, its protection-inducing capability in a multivalent vaccine combined with Fh12 clearly warrants study. In summary, it appears that hosts with fascioliasis are either responders to FhGST (rabbits, sheep) or nonresponders (mice, cattle), offering interesting models for studying the immune response.     

Protection against canine distemper virus in dogs after immunization with isolated fusion protein.

Canine distemper virus attachment (hemagglutinin [H] equivalent) and fusion (F) antigens were purified by affinity chromatography with monoclonal antibodies. The purified antigens were used to immunize groups of three dogs. Radioimmune precipitation assays with sera from these animals showed that the F antigen preparation was pure and induced only an F polypeptide-specific antibody response but that the H antigen preparation had a slight contamination by the F antigen. Immunized animals were challenged with virulent canine distemper virus. Two animals in each group developed pronounced humoral and cellular immune responses after challenge. Among these infected animals, only the dogs immunized with H antigen developed symptoms, albeit mild. In contrast, three nonimmunized control animals developed severe disease, with a fatal outcome in two cases. The complete resistance against challenge in two dogs was interpreted to reflect in one case anti-F immunity and in the other case most likely a high level of anti-H immunity. It is suggested that the F antigen may be of particular interest for the development of morbillivirus and possibly other paramyxovirus subunit or synthetic vaccines, because it can induce immunity capable of blocking virus infection and in situations of virus replication prevent the emergence of symptoms.     

Studies of stage-specific immunity against Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep: immunization with adult parasites.

Merino sheep immunized by the adoptive transfer of adult T. colubriformis for 8 weeks were significantly protected against a challenge infection of 20,000 larvae. Two additional groups of sheep received a primary infection of 9000 adult worms which were allowed to persist for 14 weeks before one group was drenched. When both groups were challenged 10 days later with 30,000 larvae, serial necropsies of these and naive sheep revealed that worm rejection did not occur until 7-10 days after challenge. By comparison with the rapid rejection of larval challenges from sheep immunized with normal primary infections, the results suggest that the antigens which elicited rejection in these experiments are stage-specific and were only present or synthesized in sufficient quantities when parasites had developed for 1 week.     

Use of parasite antigen detection to monitor the success of drug therapy in Dirofilaria immitis-infected dogs

Recently the authors developed a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay for circulating Dirofilaria immitis antigen and demonstrated its utility as a diagnostic tool for canine dirofilariasis. In the present study, serum parasite antigen measurements were used to monitor the success of thiacetarsamide therapy in 2 controlled trials that involved 24 naturally infected dogs. Parasite antigen levels correlated significantly with adult worm burdens in untreated control dogs. Antigen levels fell dramatically by 8 wk after treatment in successfully treated dogs and were undetectable 12 wk after treatment in dogs that were parasitologically cured. Microfilarial counts exhibited seasonal periodicity in both treated and control dogs and were not useful in monitoring the success of adulticide therapy. Parasite antigen detection is quite useful in monitoring the efficacy of adulticide therapy for dogs infected with D. immitis. This approach may lead to improved clinical use of thiacetarsamide, and it should facilitate evaluation of new drugs for this important infection.     

Immunological aspects of murine infection with the rat nematode Strongyloides ratti Sandground, 1925

In a study of the immune response of the rat to infection with the nematode Strongyloidis ratti, the antigens of the infective larval stage (L3) and of the parasitic, parthenogenetic female (Fp) were investigated. From both the larvae and the adult females, one metabolic (exoantigen) and two somatic antigens were extracted. Of the two somatic antigens, one was soluble and obtainable by physical means while the other was separated by chemical means from the tegument of the parasite. Humoral responses to the various antigens were evaluated by immunodiffusion and ELISA techniques, while the overall immune response was assayed by the worm burden in the immunized and subsequently infected rats. Agar-gel double diffusion yielded precipitin bands only with larval somatic antigens. ELISA proved positive at a titer of 20,000 with larval metabolic antigen and sera of rats immunized against either larval metabolic or somatic antigens. By 20 days post challenge infection, however, this titer diminished to 4000. In vivo studies of worm burden in rats immunized with the various antigens and then exposed to the live L3 of the nematode showed that there were significantly fewer adult worms in the rats immunized with larval somatic antigen and adult metabolic antigen than in those immunized with adult somatic antigen or larval metabolic antigen.     

Specific monoclonal antibodies to Opisthorchis viverrini.

A Balb/c mouse was immunized with a crude soluble antigen of Opisthorchis viverrini adult worms (OVAA) over a period of 7 months. Spleen cells from the immune mouse were fused with Sp2/0 myeloma cells. Among the 264 tissue culture wells containing the fused cells, cells of 96 wells (36%) produced antibodies to the immunizing agent. Antibodies produced by cells in several wells reacted with antigens from other species of parasite. Cells of 17 wells produced antibodies specific only to OVAA, thus cells from three representative wells were cloned by limiting dilution. Hybrids obtained produced antibodies which could be classified according to their tissue specificities into three groups. The first group of antibodies reacted strongly to the worm integument and weakly with the muscles while those belonging to the second group reacted only to muscles of the worms. The monoclonal antibodies of the third group gave a positive reaction to both muscles and tegument.     

Effect of CGP 20376 on Brugia malayi and parasite antigenemia in jirds

This study was designed to investigate the activity of CGP 20376, a benzothiazole derivative, against Brugia malayi in jirds and to illustrate the utility of parasite antigen detection as a means of monitoring drug efficacy in filariasis. Drug treatment was 100% effective in jirds treated 3 or 24 days after infection. Microfilaria and adult worm counts were reduced (relative to counts in sham-treated control animals) by 96% and 95%, respectively, in animals treated 153 days after infection. Four of 6 animals in this treatment group cleared their microfilaremias and were free of adult worms 5 mo after treatment. Thus, CGP 20376 was effective against all life cycle stages of B. malayi in jirds. Parasite antigen levels in jird sera were consistent with parasitological results in all treatment groups, but antigen clearance was incomplete in some cases after apparently successful treatment of mature and immature infections.     

Schistosoma japonicum: Immunological response to circulating polysaccharide antigens in rabbits with a light infection

To study the detectability of circulating polysaccharide antigens and the immunological response to such antigens in rabbits with a light Schistosoma japonicum infection, sera of five rabbits infected with 50 cercariae were studied up to 29 weeks post infection (p.i.). While one rabbit developed no worm burden, the other rabbits developed low worm burdens (4 to 16 worms). In the sera of these rabbits, the only polysaccharide antigen demonstrable with immunoelectrophoresis (IEF), was the circulating anodic antigen (CAA). With the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), CAA was detectable from 5 to 6 weeks p.i. in the sera of the two rabbits with the highest number of worm couples. The lowest CAA level which was detectable in unconcentrated sera from which serum proteins had been removed was 125 ng CAA/ml, corresponding with a worm burden of 4.5 worm/kg body wt. During the entire infection, CAA-specific immune complexes were only demonstrable in very low concentrations. Antibodies against polysaccharide antigens were assessed with immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) on Rossman's fixed sections of adult worms, with the ELISA, and with IEF. Specific IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies were detectable from 2 to 3 weeks p.i. with IFA and ELISA. These early antibodies were shown to be directed against gut-associated antigens, while antibodies against parenchyma-associated antigens were found later in the infection. With IEF, antibodies against two trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble antigens were detectable, including the major, S. japonicum-specific antigen 2.     

日本血吸虫SjRAD23基因的克隆表达及基因重组抗原的免疫保护效果

辐射敏感蛋白23具有核苷酸切除修复功能,在泛素蛋白酶体途径中起到重要作用。本研究利用PCR技术克隆了日本血吸虫辐射敏感蛋白23(Sj RAD23)编码的c DNA序列,成功获得Sj RAD23的基因序列,其ORF为1 053 bp。构建Sj RAD23基因重组表达质粒p ET28a(+)-Sj RAD23,并在大肠杆菌BL21中成功诱导表达,重组蛋白在上清和沉淀中都有存在。利用免疫组化技术检测该蛋白在虫体的分布情况,该蛋白广泛分布在日本血吸虫虫体被膜。用重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠后,免疫小鼠血清中检测到较高水平的特异性Ig G、Ig G1和Ig G2a。Western blotting分析显示重组蛋白能够被日本血吸虫成虫可溶性抗原免疫小鼠血清所识别。用重组蛋白r Sj RAD23免疫结果与206佐剂对照组比较,r Sj RAD23在BALB/c小鼠中诱导了35.94%减虫率,40.59%肝脏减卵率。结果表明Sj RAD23具有作为疫苗候选分子的潜力。     

Recombinant modified vaccinia virus ankara expressing the surface gp120 of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) primes for a rapid neutralizing antibody response to SIV infection in macaques

Neutralizing antibodies were assessed before and after intravenous challenge with pathogenic SIVsmE660 in rhesus macaques that had been immunized with recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing one or more simian immunodeficiency virus gene products (MVA-SIV). Animals received either MVA-gag-pol, MVA-env, MVA-gag-pol-env, or nonrecombinant MVA. Although no animals were completely protected from infection with SIV, animals immunized with recombinant MVA-SIV vaccines had lower virus loads and prolonged survival relative to control animals that received nonrecombinant MVA (I. Ourmanov et al., J. Virol. 74:2740-2751, 2000). Titers of neutralizing antibodies measured with the vaccine strain SIVsmH-4 were low in the MVA-env and MVA-gag-pol-env groups of animals and were undetectable in the MVA-gag-pol and nonrecombinant MVA groups of animals on the day of challenge (4 weeks after final immunization). Titers of SIVsmH-4-neutralizing antibodies remained unchanged 1 week later but increased approximately 100-fold 2 weeks postchallenge in the MVA-env and MVA-gag-pol-env groups while the titers remained low or undetectable in the MVA-gag-pol and nonrecombinant MVA groups. This anamnestic neutralizing antibody response was also detected with T-cell-line-adapted stocks of SIVmac251 and SIV/DeltaB670 but not with SIVmac239, as this latter virus resisted neutralization. Most animals in each group had high titers of SIVsmH-4-neutralizing antibodies 8 weeks postchallenge. Titers of neutralizing antibodies were low or undetectable until about 12 weeks of infection in all groups of animals and showed little or no evidence of an anamnestic response when measured with SIVsmE660. The results indicate that recombinant MVA is a promising vector to use to prime for an anamnestic neutralizing antibody response following infection with primate lentiviruses that cause AIDS. However, the Env component of the present vaccine needs improvement in order to target a broad spectrum of viral variants, including those that resemble primary isolates.     

日本血吸虫新抗原基因的筛选、克隆、 表达和免疫效果研究

为了寻找日本血吸虫 (Schistosoma japonicum, Sj) 新的疫苗候选基因并进行免疫效果研究,用 Sj 雌虫抗原免疫家兔制备血清,对Sj成虫 cDNA 文库进行免疫筛选,将获得的新基因 ( 命名为Sj-F1, GenBank 登录号为 AY261995) 克隆入原核表达载体 pTWIN1 和真核表达载体 pcDNA3 ,经 PCR 、限制性酶切筛选和鉴定阳性重组子. 将 pTWIN1/Sj-F1 质粒转化大肠杆菌 ER2566,在低温和低 IPTG 浓度下诱导表达可溶性重组融合蛋白 (rSj-F1/intein2),并经 SDS- 聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳 (SDS-PAGE) 和蛋白质印迹 (Western blot) 分析鉴定. 将 pcDNA3/Sj-F1 质粒转化大肠杆菌 ER2502 ,大量制备 DNA 疫苗. 用重组融合蛋白和 DNA 疫苗免疫小鼠,末次免疫后 2 周用Sj尾蚴进行攻击感染. 感染后 42 天剖杀冲虫,计算减虫率和减卵率. 感染前采血用 ELISA 法检测抗体. 免疫保护效果测定显示：重组蛋白疫苗以 FCA 作佐剂经皮下免疫和以壳聚糖作佐剂经粘膜免疫分别获得了 28.07%、 24.69% 的减虫率和 48.30% 、 46.38% 的减卵率; DNA 疫苗 (pcDNA3/Sj-F1) 单独免疫获得了 18.47% 的减虫率和 35.06% 的减卵率;用 DNA 疫苗启动免疫后用重组蛋白疫苗经皮下加强免疫,减虫率和减卵率分别提高到了 40.42% 和 56.17%;用 DNA 疫苗启动免疫后用重组蛋白疫苗经黏膜加强免疫,减虫率和减卵率增高更明显,分别提高到了 42.38% 和 62.87%. 结果表明,Sj-F1 重组蛋白疫苗及 DNA 疫苗均可诱导小鼠产生部分抗血吸虫感染的保护力,两者联合免疫保护效果优于单一疫苗.     

Brugia malayi: detection of parasite antigen in sera from infected jirds

Sera from Brugia malayi-infected jirds were demonstrated to contain a heat-stable, 95- to 105-kDa parasite antigen by immunoblot with rabbit antibody to the parasite and with a monoclonal antibody that binds to phosphorylcholine. This antigen is a major component of B. malayi adult worm excretory/secretory antigen, and it is present in lavage fluid obtained from ip-infected animals. The antigen was detected by enzyme immunoassay in all sera collected from jirds 9-54 weeks after sc injection with 100 or 300 infective larvae (L3). Parasite antigen titers were higher in animals infected with the higher L3 dose. Antiphosphorylcholine antibodies were present in jird sera for the first 12 weeks after larval injection, but thereafter, antibody titers decreased to undetectable levels. Parasite antigen was not detected by immunoblot or enzyme immunoassay in sera from 21 human subjects with B. malayi microfilaremia. Antigen may be cleared from human sera by antiphosphorylcholine antibodies, which were present in all sera tested. The practical significance of B. malayi antigen detection in the jird is that it provides a sensitive means of noninvasively monitoring the status of infection in this important experimental filariasis model.     

Concomitant and protective immunity in mice exposed to repeated infections with Echinostoma malayanum

Concomitant immunity and its consequence against infection play roles in regulating worm burdens in helminthiasis. Under natural conditions, this immunity is generated by exposure to repeated low dose or trickle infection. In this study, concomitant immunity was induced in mice exposed repeatedly to infection with Echinostoma malayanum and its protective effect on a challenge infection evaluated. A profile of worm burden from exposure to 10 metacercariae/mouse/week rose rapidly during the first 2 weeks reaching a plateau from week 3 to 8 post infection. Based on a cumulative dose of infection, worm recoveries were around 75% in the first 2 weeks, dropped to 50% at week 3 and 19% at week 8. After week 2, adult worm burden was constant and no juvenile worms were found after week 3 of the experiment. To examine the effect of resistance against reinfection, mice in the experimental group were primarily infected with 10 metacercariae/week for 5 weeks, treated with praziquantel and were challenged with 75 metacercariae/animal. The number of worms recovered from the experimental groups was significantly lower than that from naïve control groups beginning from 24 h to 28 days post challenge. The worms in the experimental group showed growth retardation and the proportion of adult worms was lower than that in the control animals especially during the first 3 weeks of the experiment. Parasite fecundity was also suppressed compared with that in the control group. The selective effects of protective immunity on establishment, growth, and fecundity of challenged worms affected the population dynamics of E. malayanum which is a similar phenomenon to concomitant immunity in schistosomiasis.     

Echinococcus granulosus in sheep: transfer from ewe to lamb of 'Arc 5' antibodies and oncosphere-killing activity, but not protection.

Fourteen ewes were orally dosed with 2000 E. granulosus eggs at 2 weeks of age, were mated at 19 months, and produced lambs when the cysts were 2 years old. One week after parturition, all 14 ewes had 'Arc 5' antibodies in their serum, as did 11/14 of their lambs. Fourteen uninfected ewes were immunized three times before parturition with E. granulosus eggs injected intramuscularly. Cysts grew at the first, or first and second site, but not the third, indicating that the ewes were immune prior to parturition. Most sera from these ewes and their lambs, and from 14 control ewes and their lambs, produced precipitin arcs with hydatid cyst fluid, but no 'Arc 5'. All lambs were challenged with 500 eggs 2 weeks after birth. At necropsy, cyst numbers within groups ranged from 3 to > 200, but there was no significant difference between the three groups of lambs. The immunized ewes did not pass a protection to their lambs that was effective when the lambs were challenged. 'Arc 5' antibodies were induced by prolonged infection with cysts, and were not seen in the sera of ewes immunized with eggs, although the eggs developed into cysts at the injection sites. 'Arc 5' antibodies did not protect lambs against infection, and were not correlated with protection in ewes. Subcutaneous injection of oncospheres into four ewes from each group at the time of lamb challenge showed that the immunized ewes were immune to this method of challenge, but the infected and control ewes were not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The detection of antibodies in human and animal filariases by counterimmunoelectrophoresis with Dirofilaria immitis antigens.

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis revealed the presence of precipitin antibody in all of 6 dogs and the 1 cat infected with Dirofilaria immitis and in the serum of 17 of 24 individuals living in a setting of hyperendemic subperiodic bancroftian filariasis. Antigens used in the test were prepared from microfilariae and adult male D. immitis. Some humans and animals had antibodies to both antigens while others had antibodies against microfilariae or adult worms only. The presence of soluble circulating antigen was detected in the sera of two dogs with high microfilaraemias.     

Use of parasite antigen detection to monitor macrofilaricidal therapy in Brugia malayi-infected jirds

Improved methods are needed to evaluate new treatments for filarial infections. We have recently developed a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay to detect circulating parasite antigen in sera from Brugia malayi-infected jirds. In the present study, parasite antigen levels were compared to parasitological parameters after treatment of B. malayi-infected jirds with CGP 20376 that has been reported to be active against both microfilariae and adult worms of this parasite. Microfilariae were cleared promptly and permanently after CGP 20376 treatment, and no adult worm was recovered in jirds at necropsy 20 wk after treatment. In contrast, untreated animals had sustained microfilaremia throughout the course of the study, and adult worms were recovered in all control animals (mean worm recovery; 24.3 +/- 7.8 SE). Parasite antigen was present in sera from all infected animals before treatment. Parasite antigen titers in sera were unchanged 5 wk after treatment but fell to undetectable levels in 4 of 6 animals by 20 wk after treatment. Low-level antigenemia was detected in 2 of 6 animals at 20 wk, perhaps suggesting incomplete killing of parasites or incomplete clearance of antigen. Parasite antigen levels were stable throughout the study in control animals. These preliminary results suggest that parasite antigen detection is useful as a means of noninvasively monitoring the efficacy of anti-filarial drug therapy.     

Immunization of cultured juvenile rockfish Sebastes schlegeli against Microcotyle sebastis (Monogenea)

To determine whether immunization with Microcotyle sebastis antigen could induce protection against the parasite's establishment, naive juvenile rockfish were immunized by injection or immersion with whole worm antigen of M. sebastis. The infestation intensities of immunized groups following a challenge (2 wk after boosting) with 5000 M. sebastis eyed-eggs were significantly lower than those of control groups, when determined 7 wk postinfection. The fish in the groups boosted with M. sebastis antigen showed stronger protection than unboosted groups. The control group injected with FCA only showed a significantly smaller number of worms than the control group, which was immersed in PBS containing seawater. The results strongly suggest that both specific and nonspecific immune factors participate in the protection of rockfish against M. sebastis establishment.     

Investigations of the incidence of bovine trichomoniasis in nevada and of the efficacy of immunizing cattle with vaccines containing Tritrichomonas foetus

Trichomonas cultures taken from 2389 bulls showed that approximately 4.7% of them were infected. Correlation of these data with the ranches from which diagnostic samples were obtained indicated that in the period of 1984 through 1987 26.7 to 44.1% of ranches had at least one infected bull. Thirty-four 18-month-old Holstein heifers were assigned to one of three groups, controls n = 12 animals, soluble vaccine n = 11 animals, and whole vaccine n = 11 animals to determine the effect of Tritrichomonas foetus vaccines on the reproductive performance of T . foetus infected animals. Heifers were bred with T . foetus infected bulls beginning two weeks after the second T . foetus vaccination. All immunized animals developed antibody titers of at least 1:1000 following vaccination. In addition, all control and immunized animals became infected with T . foetus . However, the duration of infection was approximately two weeks shorter in immunized animals. Approximately 42% (5 of 12) of control heifers remained infected with T . foetus for the duration of the experiment, while only 18% (2 of 11) of each of the vaccine groups remained infected for the duration of the experiment. Finally, 27% (3 of 11) of heifers in each of the vaccine groups were pregnant at slaughter, while none of the control heifers were pregnant at slaughter. Therefore, both vaccine formulations appeared to protect heifers (P<0.05) from fetal loss due to trichomoniasis.     

Detection of Schistosoma mansoni circulating cathodic antigen for evaluation of resistance induced by irradiated cercariae.

The appearance of serum levels of circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) detectable by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (5H11) antigen-capture sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system was evaluated during acute Schistosoma mansoni infections in female CF1 mice exposed to either 100 or 25 cercariae. Measurable CCA levels occurred in these groups at 5 and 7 wk after infection, respectively. The kinetics of appearance of CCA were thus related to the intensity of infection. The level of resistance developed by female C57BL/6 mice upon immunization with irradiated cercariae, as expressed by both worm burden and CCA levels after cercarial challenge was evaluated. Immunization conferred 44% protection against the challenge infection, and the level of CCA detected in the sera of the control group was significantly (P less than 0.02) higher than that found in the sera of the immunized group, 6 wk after challenge. These results demonstrate that CCA detection by the 5H11 mAb antigen-capture sandwich ELISA can reflect vaccine-induced resistance against S. mansoni. Localization studies showed that 5H11 reacts with a CCA epitope in the adult worm gut and to a lesser extent with the male tegument. Adaptations of this and other antigen detection systems may prove useful in monitoring the efficacy of developmental vaccines, an ability that may be essential for the extension of such studies to humans.