Immune‐recognition of Schistosoma mansoni primary sporocysts may require specific receptors on Biomphalaria glabrata hemocytes

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Abstract
Cellular interactions, leading to cell-mediated cytotoxicity when B. glabrata hemocytes encapsulate S. mansoni sporocysts, were investigated. Rabbit antibodies (IgG), when bound to antigens on sporocyst surfaces, prevent the normal cytoadherence (CA) of hemocytes from both susceptible and resistant host snails. Since interference with Ca occurs with even fixed sporocysts, the effect is not due to IgG stimulated modulation of the parasite surface. Using 2 antisera with some overlapping specificities, and quantitative immunofluorescent antibody technique (QIFAT), concentrations of IgG needed to place equivalent amounts of IgG on the sporocysts were determined. At these concentrations, CA was affected differentially, implying that interference was due to the specific antigens bound, and not due simply to the presence of IgG. Also with QIFAT, how much F(ab'')2 and IgG from anti-sporocyst serum were needed to block an equivalent amount of antigenic determinants from access was determined by whole FITC [fluorescein isothiocyanate] labeled IgG. sporocysts whose surface antigens were equally blocked were equally unadherent for hemocytes, supporting the notion that the nature of obscured antigens, and neither the Fc portion nor the larger size of intact IgG protein, was responsible for the effect on CA. These surprising results imply a role for specific antigen binding sites on snail hemocytes.