Activation of complement in C-reactive protein positive sera by phosphorylcholine-bearing component isolated from parasite extract

Summary Phosphorylcholine-bearing component levels in extracts of various parasites were determined by a capillary precipitin test using anti-phosphorylcho-line Ig A myeloma protein, TEPC-15. Phosphorylcholine was demonstrated as a structural component not only in nematodes but also in trematodes and cestodes. The phosphorylcholine-bearing component was isolated from an extract of Toxocara canis larvae using a TEPC-15-Sepharose 4B column. The component reacted with C-reactive protein in sera to form one precipitin line in Immunoelectrophoresis. The component provided two Brilliant Coomassie Blue positive bands in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It reacted with C-reactive protein to activate complement in serum.