BACKGROUND Human schistosomiasis is a freshwater snail-transmitted disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the Schistosoma genus. Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, and Schistosoma japonicum are the three major species infecting humans. These parasites undergo a complex developmental life cycle, in which they encounter a plethora of environmental signals. The presence of genes encod...

Mice previously infected with Schistosoma mansoni, and cured by specific treatment (400ing/kg oxamniquine, p. o.) in the chronic phase o f the disease, were reinfected 20 days after treatment to assess their capacityfor modulation ofthe granulomatous response. Histopathologic examination o f the animals ’ liver, at 60 days after reinfection, evidenced the presence o f typical granulomas o f the...

In two distinct experiments, immature S. mansoni worms (LE strain, Belo Horizonte, Brazil), aged 20 days, obtained from the portal system of white outbred mice, were irradiated with 14 and 4 Krad, respectively. Afterwards, the worms were directly inoculated into the portal vein of normal mice. Inoculation was performed with 20 irradiated worms per animal. Fifty days after inoculation, the mice ...

7Sgamma2b antibody was found attached to and in the integument of adult Schistosoma mansoni removed from CF1 white mice. With the techniques used, IgA, IgM, 7Sgamma1, 7Sgamma2a, 7Sgamma3, and C3 complement were not found to be attached to the integumental surfaces. 7Sgamma2b does not seem to fix C3, and it is suggested this antibody may be acting in enhancing and blocking roles which protect th...

examination of faecal samples of 6,430 school children aged between 2 and 20 years, for gastrointestinal parasites using sedimentation and kato smear techniques was carried out in benin city, nigeria between january 1997 and december 1998. four thousand two hundred and thirty six (65.8%) were infected. three species of protozoa and 8 species of helminths were recorded as follows: entamoeba hist...

In the course of its complex life cycle, the parasite Schistosoma mansoni need to adapt to distinct environments, and consequently is exposed to various DNA damaging agents. The Schistosoma genome sequencing initiative has uncovered sequences from genes and transcripts related to the process of DNA damage tolerance as the enzymes UBC13, MMS2, and RAD6. In the present work, we evaluate the impor...

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against a synthetic peptide derived from the sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) regulatory protein virion infectivity factor (vif) labeled the surface of Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula by indirect immunofluorescence. Western blotting showed that two S. mansoni proteins of 170 and 65 kD were recognized by the mAb. Sera from 20% of ...