An association between Schistosoma mansoni worms and an enzymatically-active protease/peptidase in mouse blood

An enzyme found previously in extracts of adult Schistosoma mansoni Worms, that hydrolysed the chromogenic substrate N-acetyl-DL-phenylalanine beta-naphthyl -ester, has here been further investigated and characterized. Evidence that the molecule found in the parasite was antigenically and enzymatically homologous with a constituent of normal mouse plasma has been consolidated using a monospecific serum in immunoelectrophoresis and Western immunoblotting. The molecular size of the enzyme was found to be approximately 70 kDa and it was inhibited by a serine protease inhibitor, but not by inhibitors of other classes of protease. The enzymatic activity found in normal mouse serum was also found in normal rat serum, but not in sera from several other mammalian species

Structural Characterization of Glycans on Omega-1, a Major Schistosoma mansoni Egg Glycoprotein That Drives Th2 Responses

Soluble egg antigens (SEA) of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni are among the strongest natural stimuli of Th2 responses. Omega-1, a major glycoprotein in SEA, initiates these characteristic Th2 responses through conditioning of dendritic cells (DCs). In view of the reported immunomodulatory potential of SEA glycans, we have investigated omega-1 glycosylation, using an approach combining mass spectrometric techniques and enzyme treatments at the glycopeptide level. We demonstrate that omega-1 has two fully occupied N-glycosylation sites, each mainly carrying core-difucosylated diantennary glycans with one or more Lewis X motifs in the antennae. Using a specific approach of nanoscale LC MS(/MS) and MALDI-TOF(/TOF) MS in combination with exoglycosidase treatments of tryptic glycopeptides, we were able to provide a detailed, site-specific glycosylation analysis of a single, native S. mansoni glycoprotein. The obtained knowledge of the glycans present on omega-1 contributes to a full understanding of the mode of action of this immunomodulatory glycoprotein.Host-parasite interactio

Echinococcus multilocularis metacestode extract triggers human basophils to release interleukin-4

Infections with parasitic helminths are associated with a T helper 2 (Th2) immune response and IgE production. The underlying mechanism, however, is only partially understood. Recently we have isolated a protein from extracts of Schistosoma mansoni eggs that triggers human basophils from non-sensitized donors to release interleukin-4 (IL-4), the key cytokine of a Th2 response. We called this protein IPSE (for IL-4-inducing principle from Schistosoma mansoni eggs). Supposing that IPSE-like IL-4-inducing activities might be a general principle shared among different helminth species, we investigated extracts from the cestode E. multilocularis for its effect on human basophils. Our results showed that extracts from metacestodes of E. multilocularis cause basophil degranulation, as well as the secretion of histamine, IL-4 and IL-13, in a dose-dependent manner. IgE stripping and resensitization of basophils indicated that the mechanism of IL-4 induction requires the presence of IgE on the cells. Since analogous properties have been demonstrated earlier for IPSE, we think that S. mansoni and E. multilocularis may induce a Th2 response in their hosts via a related mechanism, namely, by the induction of IL-4 release from basophils