Candidate vaccine antigens that stimulate the cellular immune response of mice vaccinated with irradiated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni

Vaccination with radiation-attenuated cercariae confers the highest levels of resistance to challenge infection in experimental schistosomiasis and requires Ag-specific T cells. Therefore, this study aimed to identify specific Ag that stimulate the cellular immune response of mice vaccinated with irradiated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni. Four experimental groups representing different levels of resistance in the vaccine model (C57BL/6J versus CBA/J mice vaccinated with 15- or 50-krad irradiated cercariae) were compared for in vitro lymphocyte proliferation and lymphokine production. Adult worm extracts fractionated by isoelectric focusing were used as Ag. Lymphocyte proliferation of all groups was limited to three consecutive isoelectric fractions (pH 4.6-6.3). Interestingly, the antibody response of these mice was directed to Ag in the same isoelectric fractions, three of which had previously been identified as paramyosin, heat shock protein 70, and the integral membrane protein Sm23. These Ag as well as two 28 kDa proteins, triosephosphate isomerase and glutathione S-transferase, in purified native or recombinant form or as a synthetic peptide, stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. Lymphocytes of vaccinated C57BL/6J mice generally showed higher levels of proliferation than did CBA/J mice. Interestingly, cells of once-vaccinated mice responded better than did cells of mice vaccinated three times. Lymphokine assays demonstrated that IL-2 and IL-4 was generally reduced after multiple vaccinations and varied qualitatively as well as quantitatively between mouse strains. This study substantiates that the five Ag, paramyosin, heat shock protein 70, triosephosphate isomerase, glutathione S-transferase, and the integral membrane protein Sm23, are important candidates for a defined antischistosomal vaccine.