Browsing by Author "Yeboah, G.K."
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Item Characterization Of Anti –Schistosoma Haema Tobium Monoclonal Antibodies And Investigations Into Their Reactivity In The Western Immunoblot Assay.(University of Ghana, 1996-05) Yeboah, G.K.Schistosoma haematobium antigens are the least studied amongst the three major human schistosomes (S. haematobium, S. mansoni and S. japonicum), mainly because of difficulty in maintaining the life cycle of this parasite in the laboratory. As a result, work on identification of potentially diagnostic and protective S. haematobium antigens lags behind. The work reported in this thesis was aimed at characterizing monoclonal antibodies recently produced against S. haematobium antigens so as to determine whether any of them are useful for specific diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis or for protection against the disease. Nineteen monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) recently generated against 5. haematobium soluble egg and infected human urinary antigens were used in this study. Earlier attempts to characterize six of the MoAbs had revealed that one of them (Sh3/15.28) was S. haematobium species-specific, but it could not detect the antigen in infected human urine, and was therefore not suitable for developing highly desirable non-invasive, field applicable assays. Moreover, four out of the six MoAbs failed to bind the antigens that they detect in the western immunoblot assay, thereby making it difficult to further characterize them by this technique. From the studies reported in this thesis, fifteen of the MoAbs were found to be of the IgM class, three were of IgGl and one was of IgG3 subclass. Crossreactivity studies using crude antigens of S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. japonicum and Necator cimericanus (hookworm) eggs or worms showed that two MoAbs (Sh2/15.F and Sh3/15.28) were S. haematobium species-specific, and another one (Sh3/44.3) was specific to die Egyptian strain of S. haematobium. Sh3/44.3 detected antigens in soluble egg antigens of an Egyptian strain of S. haematobium (SEAEgy) obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) but failed to detect antigens in both egg and adult worm antigen extracts of Ghanaian strain(s) that were tested. Six MoAbs namely, Shl/71.7, Sh3/34.10, Sh3/38.2, Sh4/14.3, Sh5/32.30 and Sh5/34.10 were Schistosoma genus-specific, while the remaining ten bound cross-reactive antigens in S. haematobium and S. japonicum. Biochemical analysis o f the antigens showed that seven out of eight MoAbs namely, Sh2/15.F, Sh3/15.13, Sh3/34.10, Sh4/14.3, Sh4/16.45, Sh5/32.30 and Sh5/34.10 bound protein epitopes which were also present in ammonium sulphate precipitated proteins (P2J) from the urine of individuals infected with Ghanaian strain(s) o f S. haematobium. The eighth antibody (Sh3/44.3) bound a S. haematobium Egyptian strain-specific antigen and, therefore, could possibly not detect any antigens in P2J. All the remaining eleven MoAbs bound glycoprotein antigens. Characterization of the antigens detected, by the indirect immunoflourescent test (IFAT), showed that four MoAbs bound antigens located on the surface membranes of Ghanaian strain(s) of S. haematobium miracidia while, three others bound internally located (possibly cytoplasmic) antigens. The remaining twelve MoAbs bound both surface and internal antigens. Further characterization using the western immunoblot assay showed that reactivity of the MoAbs was influenced by the biochemical nature o f the antigens detected, the antibody concentration used as probes for antigen detection and the amount of current used in electrophoresis. Out of the nineteen MoAbs investigated, seventeen reacted under varying conditions of complete denaturing whilst the remaining two (Sh3/38.2 and Sh3/44.5) failed to bind antigens under both denaturing and nondenaturing conditions. All the MoAbs that detected glycoproteins epitopes (except those with generally low reactivity) reacted when diluted in Tris-buffered saline, pH 8.0 containing 2% skimmed milk as blocking agent. On the other hand, most o f the MoAbs which detected relatively low molecular weight polypeptides (<40kDa) could only do so at high antibody concentrations, particularly when undiluted. Interestingly, none of the MoAbs could detect antigens in P2J by the western immunoblot assay. The two S. haematobium species-specific MoAbs, Sh2/15.F and Sh3/15.28 detected both the West African (Ghanaian) and North African (Egyptian) strains of the parasite, thereby suggesting that they would be suitable for diagnosis in different geographical areas. However, only Sh2/15.F could detect antigens in S. haematobium infected human urine, indicating that this antibody may be more suitable for diagnostic purposes. Furthermore, the ability of Sh2/15.F to detect antigens by the dot-ELISA, adds to its probable usefulness, since the MoAb may then be suitable for developing field applicable membrane-based dipstick assays. Western immunoblot analysis showed that Sh2/15.F bound a polypeptide antigen of approximate molecular weight of 29 kDa, whilst Sh3/15.28 bound a glycoprotein epitope located on 53, 56.7 and 66 kDa antigens. Even though the S. haematobium Egyptian strain-specific MoAb Sh3/44.3 is not likely to be useful in diagnosis, it may be potentially useful in studies intended to characterize S. haematobium strains. On the other hand, Schistosoma genusspecific MoAbs that could detect urinary antigens may be suitable for the development o f genus-specific assays for use where species-specific identification is not critical. Furthermore, genus-specific MoAbs that detected protein antigens may also be useful in studies towards the search for schistosomiasis protective antigens. This is because it is generally accepted that the most suitable vaccine candidate antigens for the disease are the cross-reactive proteins. Two of the MoAbs (Sh3/15.13 and Sh4/16.45) that detected cross-reactive antigens in S. haematobium and S. japonicum could also bind the antigen in S. haematobium infected human urine and may therefore be useful for diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis since its distribution does not coincide with that of the disease caused by S. japonicum. In conclusion, therefore, this study has shown that some of the MoAbs generated against S. haematobium are suitable for the development of non invasive field-applicable diagnostic assays for urinary schistosomiasis and/or for intestinal schistosomiasis. Furthermore, the identification of S. haematobium antigens that are likely to be of protective value would facilitate studies aimed at controlling schistosomiasisItem Importance of Bulinus Globosus Snails in the Transmission of Urinary Schistosomiasis in Eight Villages in Southern Ghana.(Ghana Medical Journal, 1999-06) Aryeetey, M.E.; Wagatsuma, Y.; Yeboah, G.K.; Asante, M.; Mensah, G.; Kojima, S.Snail survey was carried OUI al water contact siles (WCSs) of 8 villages in southern Ghana 10 establish freshwater snails responsible for schistosomiasis transmission in the area. Bulinus globosus, one of the intermediate host snails of Schistosoma haematobium was found at the WCSs in all 8 villages although those infected were identified at sites in 5 of the villages. The snails were confined to the Densu river itself, its tributaries (streams) and ponds. These snails were found during the minor rainy season. at the beginning of and during the dry season. They were found to be focal in distribution. Also found in the Densu river and the ponds were uninfected Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails. In addition to those indicated above, non·schistosome transmitting snails were also found.