Stage specific secreted and somatic antigens of Trichinella spiralis

Infective larvae, adult males and newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis were cultured with [35S]methionine in vitro. Total secreted and total somatic (sodium deoxycholate-soluble) proteins were analyzed by electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS-PAGE). Secreted proteins were relatively few in number and were different for each stage, whereas somatic proteins gave an unresolved smear in all cases. Immune precipitation with serum from infected mice revealed only one major antigen in secretions of all stages. In a similar investigation of the solubilised somatic antigens, the complexity of antigens ranged from none in infective larvae, through few in the adult, to many in the newborn larvae. The total concanavalin A-binding glycoproteins of each stage exhibited considerable individuality, and hence stage specificity, when resolved by two dimensional gel analysis. These results extend our knowledge of stage specific components of T. spiralis, and allow a rational approach towards the construction of diagnostic procedures.