Schistosoma: Cross-reactivity and antigenic community among different species

It is not unusual to find common molecules among different species of the genus Schistosoma. When those molecules are antigenic, they may be used in immunodiagnosis and vaccines, but they could also be applied to taxonomic and evolutionary studies. To study cross-reactivity and antigenic community among different species of schistosomes, plasmas from laboratory animals infected with Schistosoma bovis, S. guineensis, S. rodhaini, S. haematobium, and four strains of S. mansoni were evaluated with a crude extract of adult worms of S. mansoni by Western blot. Using the multiple antigen blot assay, plasmas from these infected animals were exposed to a selected group of synthetic peptides from Sm28GST, Sm28TPI, Sm elastase, Sm97, Sm32, Sm31, and Sm Cathepsin L. The results presented herein demonstrate differential cross-reactivity and antigenic community among the Mansoni and Haematobium groups of schistosomes, which is of relevance as an additional new tool for phylogenetic studies of schistosomes as well as for diagnosis and vaccine purposes.