Trichinella spiralis: antigenic epitopes from the stichocytes detected in the hypertrophic nuclei and cytoplasm of the parasitized muscle fibre (nurse cell) of the host

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies raised against antigens present in the excretions/secretions (E/S) of larval Trichinella spiralis, polyclonal antibodies raised against E/S and antisera from rabbits and pigs infected with T. spiralis were used in conjunction with immunocytochemical techniques to detect antigens in sections of muscle from mice that had been infected with T. spiralis for 15 or 30 days. The antibodies recognized epitopes in the stichocytes, on the surface of the cuticle, in the lumen of the oesophagus and in the lumen of the intestine of encysted larvae. Monoclonal antibodies 7C2C5 and 1H7 and the polyclonal antibodies recognized epitopes in the cavity occupied by the larva, in the cytoplasm of the nurse cell, and in the hypertrophic nuclei of the nurse cell, but did not recognize material in the smaller nuclei of the nurse cell, in the cyst wall or in the surrounding muscle. Monoclonals 3B2E6 and 1D11G8B2, which recognized epitopes in the stichocytes and on the surface of the cuticle of the larvae, gave negative results with the cytoplasm and nuclei of the nurse cell. A polyclonal antibody raised against Trichuris suis recognized epitopes in the muscle and hypodermis of encysted T. spiralis but gave negative results with material in the nurse cell and nurse cell nuclei. The possibility that the antigen detected in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the nurse cell is produced by the stichocytes of the nematode and that it is controlling genes of the altered muscle fibre, either directly or indirectly, is discussed.

The detection and occurrence of circulating antigens of Trichinella spiralis during worm development

“…Hybridoma cell lines of 1H7, 3B2E6, 1D11 and 5D11 were produced in our laboratory (Lee et al 1991). 7C 2 C 5 , which was purchased from the American Type Cell Collection, USA, was originally produced by Gamble and Graham (1984).…”

Plant-nematode interactions

“…Antibodies that were raised against protein secretions from infective Trichinella were used to trace the antigen in the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm of the host cells [23]. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies against secretions were made that could recognize epitopes in the stichocytes (the source of secreted proteins) and hypertrophied nuclei but not in the smaller nuclei of the nurse cell system or the surrounding tissue [73]. This strongly suggests that a protein originating from the stichocyte is present in affected nuclei and may be the inducer of the hypertrophic reaction.…”

A novel cDNA clone encoding a specific excretory/secretory antigen of larval Trichinella pseudospiralis

“…Antibodies raised against the 43 fusion proteins reacted strongly with the stichocytes of the infective-stage larvae. Besides being useful in serodiagnosis, the ES molecules of T. spiralis have also been suggested to play a role in reprogramming the genomic expression of host muscles (Lee et al 1991;Ko et al 1994), induction and maintenance of nurse cells (Lee and Shivers 1987;Despommier 1990), development of the encysting worm, and degradation of muscle-speci®c proteins (Jasmer 1990;Ko et al 1994).…”