Antigenic differences between Parastrongylus cantonensis and Parastrongylus malaysiensis revealed by a monoclonal antibody

Abstract

Objective: To confirm antigenic differences between Parastrongylus cantonensis and Parastrongylus malaysiensis. Methods: Sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting were conducted. Results: Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the somatic extracts of R cantonensis and P. malaysiensis adult worms were highly complex with no apparent differences in the gel patterns between the two species. Immunoblot analysis using AW-3C2, a monoclonal antibody produced against the adult worm of P. cantonensis, showed variable staining smears in Parastrongylus adult worm antigens. With male worm antigens, a distinct antigenic band with apparent molecular weight of 205 kDa in P. cantonensis and one of 180 kDa in P. malaysiensis were observed. Conclusion: Antigenic differences exist between R cantonensis and P. malaysiensis among proteins with apparently identical molecular weight.