Induction of Granulomatous and Elicitation of Cutaneous Sensitivity by Partially Purified SEA of Schistosoma mansoni

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Abstract
Schistosomiasis mansoni is a helminth infection of about 80 million people in the tropics. Granulomas which appear around schistosome eggs disseminated in the tissues of the definitive host are primarily responsible for the occurrence of hepatosplenic disease (1). This granulomatous reaction has been shown to be a specific, cell-mediated host response (2) to soluble antigens secreted by the living, mature schistosome eggs (3). Furthermore, when soluble egg antigens (SEA)2 obtained by homogenization and ultracentrifugation were administered in microgram amounts without adjuvant they induced delayed hypersensitivity in mice and guinea pigs (3, 4). When SEA was coated onto bentonite particles it elicited typical granulomas in specifically sensitized animals (5, 6). Crude SEA was also used in delayed skin tests (3, 4) and in the stimulation of blastogenesis (7) and lymphokine production (8, 9) in cultures of sensitized lymphocytes.

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