Schistosome Materials for Vaccine Development.
Abstract
This contract has had two purposes: (1) to supply investigators in schistosome immunology at NMRI with parasite and infected-host materials for their research; and (2), researchwise, to define the snail-schistosome-mouse interactions involved in maintenance of a constant, dependable, large-volume source of parasite and infected host materials. Biomphalaria glabrata of mixed Puerto Rican-Brasilian origin (Nmri strain) have been grown and infected each week in sufficient numbers to supply 4 million or more cercariae of Puerto Rican Schistosoma mansoni (Nmri strain) weekly. Research has been focussed on three areas. The first was on defining the means of schistosome maintenance at a level which insured a constant dependable supply of large quantities of research material. The second area of research interest was in development of procedures for collecting penetration enzymes of cercariae and analyzing its total protein content (Lowry) and its activity against an azocoll substrate. Total protein content varied widely from collection to collection but the proteolytic activity remained fairly constant. Research in the third area indicated that certain rotifers which colonized the shells of infected snails strongly inhibited cercarial emergence. Methods of controlling rotifer colonization on snails were developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA105483
Entities
People
- F. A. Lewis
- M. Stirewalt
Organizations
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas