Abstract
This study presents the characterization of an experimental immunotherapeutic approach for schistosomiasis utilizing antiidiotypic antibodies. Antiidiotype (31-3B6) was generated in rabbits using a protective murine monoclonal antibody 31-3B6 which recognizes a 68,000-D molecular mass glycoprotein present in extracts of Schistosomiasis mansoni adult worm homogenetics. Immunization of mice with antiidiotype (31-3B6) before S. mansoni cercariae infection resulted in protection levels ranging from 16 to 41% depending on the route of administration of antiidiotypic antibody and the use of adjuvant. Levels of protection as high as 25% could be obtained with a single injection of antiidiotype (31-3B6) without the use of adjuvant. Animals noted to be resistant to infection with S. mansoni cercariae were also noted to exhibit a humoral immune response that bound components of S. mansoni adult worm homogenetics. This induced antiantigen immune response was shown to bind to the surface of S. mansoni schistosoma by indirect immunofluorescence. Further characterization of the induced antiantigen response showed that a portion (3-32%) of the induced humoral immune response portrayed the binding specificities of the murine monoclonal antibody 31-3B6. The data indicate that antiidiotype antibodies generated utilizing defined monoclonal antibodies can act as surrogate antigens in the protection of infection in schistosomiasis.