Characterization of worm surface antigens recognized by rabbit anti-SmI antibodies after miltefosine- and PZQ-treatment.

<p>(i) Immunofluorescent staining of PZQ- (6 μg/ml for 24 hours) (A and C) and miltefosine- (40 μg/ml for 48 hours) (B and D) treated <i>S</i>. <i>mansoni</i> adult worms detected with rabbit anti-SmI IgG antibodies (A and B) and IgG antibodies from a normal rabbit serum (C and D). Scale bar = 100 μm. (ii) Western immunoblots of a <i>S</i>. <i>mansoni</i> crude worm homogenate preparation (SmWH) were probed with rabbit anti-SmI antiserum (lane 1), rabbit anti-SmI antibodies eluted from PZQ- (6 μg/ml for 24 hours) (lane 2) and miltefosine- (40 μg/ml for 48 hours) (lane 3) treated worms. A blot of SmWH probed with a normal rabbit serum (lane 4) was used as a control. Lane M, protein molecular weight markers. Antigenic extract was loaded onto the gel with 10 μg protein/lane. Blots were detected using HRP-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibodies. Detected antigens with the most intense reactivities are arrowed.