Abstract
In the present study, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from filarial parasites was identified in sera from humans infected withOnchocerca volvulus as well as inMastomys natalensis infected withBrugia pahangi. The enzyme was present in immune complexes precipitated with cold 4% polyethylene glycol. The infected sera showed 3–4 times more AChE activity than did normal sera, and enzyme activity could be demonstrated in 5% polyacrylamide gels by specific staining. The enzyme from infected serum showed 3 times more activity when acetylthiocholine was used as the substrate as compared with butyrylthiocholine, whereas the enzyme activity present in normal serum was low and did not show this substrate specificity. Immunoprecipitation assays confirmed the presence of anti-AChE antibodies in the infected serum. The enzyme was further analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting with rabbit antibodies toB. malayi AChE. Immunoblotting of theB. pahangi-infected serum revealed two closely located bands at about 200 kDa and one 95-kDa band, whereas inO. volvulus-infected serum, only one specific band was observed at about 200 kDa. The identification of parasite AChE may be particularly useful for diagnosis of the disease or for the study of the involvement of this enzyme in the host-parasite relationship.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bremner KC, Ogilvie BM, Keith RK, Berrie DA (1973) Acetylcholinesterase secretion by parasitic nematodes: III.Oesophagostumum spp. Int J Parasitol 3:609–618
Chandrashekar R, Ogunrinade AF, Alvarez RM, Kale OO, Weil GJ (1990) Circulating immune complex-associated parasite antigens in human onchocerciasis. J Infect Dis 162:1159–1164
Damouneville M, Auriault C, Pierce RJ, Capron A (1982) Antigenic properties ofSchistosoma mansoni aminopeptidases. Evolution during the development in mammalian hosts. Mol Biochem Parasitol 6:265–275
Des Moutis I, Ouaissi A, Grzych JM, Yarzabol L, Haque A, Capron A (1983)Onchocerca volvulus: detection of circulating antigens by monoclonal antibodies in human onchocerciasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 32:533–542
Dissanayaka S, Galahitiyawa SC, Ismail MM (1982) Immune complexes inWuchereria bancrofti infections in man. Bull W H 60:919–927
Ellman GL, Courtney KD, Andres V, Featherstone RM (1961) A new and rapid colorimetric determination of acetylcholinesterase activity. Biochem Pharmacol 7:88–95
Jones VE, Ogilvie BM (1972) Protective immunity toNippostrongylus brasiliensis in the rat: III. Modulation of worm acetylcholinesterase by antibodies. Immunology 22:119–129
Kaliner M, Austen KF (1974) Cyclic nucleotides and modulation of effector systems of inflammation. Biochem Pharmacol 23:761–771
Karnovsky MJ, Roots L (1964) A direct coloring thiocholine method for cholinesterases. J Histochem Cytochem 12:219–221
Kwan-Lim GE, Gregory WF, Selkirk ME, Partono F, Maizels RM (1989) Secreted antigens of filarial nematodes: a survey and characterization of in vitro excreted/secreted products of adultBrugia malayi. Parasite Immunol 11:629–654
Lee DL (1970) The fine structure of the excretory system in adultNippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda) and a suggested function for the excretory glands. Tissue Cell 2:225–231
Lunde MN, Paranjape R, Lawleys TJ, Ottesen EA (1988) Filarial antigen in circulating immune complexes from patients withWucheria bancrofti filariasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 38:366–371
Maizels RM, Burke J, Denham DA (1987) Phosphorylcholine-bearing antigen in filarial nematode parasites: analysis of somatic extracts, in vitro secretions and infection sera fromBrugia malayi andB. pahangi. Parasite Immunol 9:49–66
Massoulic J, Bon S (1982) The molecular forms of cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase in vertebrates. Annu Rev Neurosci 5:57–106
McLaren DJ (1972) Ultrastructural and histochemical studies on the sensory organelles and nervous system ofDipetalonema vitae (Nematoda: Filariodea). Parasitology 65:507–524
Michaeli D, Pinto JD, Benjamini E, De Buren FP (1969) Immunoenzymology of acetylcholinesterase. Substrate specificity and heat stability of acetylcholinesterase and of acetylcholinesterase-antibodies complex. Immunochemistry 6:101–109
Misra S, Taneja V, Rathaur S (1992) In vitro and in vivo effect of DEC on the activity of acetylcholinesterase fromWuchereria bancrofti-infected human serum. Trop Med Parasitol 43:95–97
Ogilvie BM, Rothwell TLW, Bremner KC, Schnitzerling HJ, Nolan J Keith RK (1973) Acetylcholinesterase secretion by parasitic nematodes: I. Evidence for secretion of the enzyme by a number of species. Int J Parasitol 3:589–597
Omar MS, Kuhlow F (1977) Cholinesterase activity in the microfilariae ofWuchereria bancrofti. Trop Med Parasitol 28:467–470
Ouaissi A, Kouemeni LE, Hague A, Ridel PR, Andre PS, Capron A (1981) Detection of circulating antigens in onchocerciasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 30:1211–1218
Rathaur S, Robertson BD, Selkirk ME, Maizels RM (1987) Secretory acetylcholinesterase fromBrugia malayi adult and microfilarial parasites. Mol Biochem Parasitol 26:257–265
Rhoads ML (1981) Cholinesterase in the parasitic nematode,Stephanurus dentatus. Characterization and sex dependence of secretory cholinesterase. J Biol Chem 256:9316–9323
Rhoads ML (1984) Secretory cholinesterase of nematodes: possible functions in the host-parasite relationship. Trop Vet 2:3–10
Rothwell TLW Merrit GC (1974) Acetylcholinesterase secretion by nematodes: IV. Antibodies against the enzyme inTrichostrongylus colubriformis-infected sheep. Int J Parasitol 4:63–71
Rothwell TLW, Ogilvie BM, Love RJ (1973) Acetylcholinesterase secretion by parasitic nematodes: II.Trichostrongylus spp. Int J Parasitol 3:599–608
Schulz-Key H, Albiez EJ, Büttner DW (1977) Isolation of living adultOnchocerca volvulus from nodules. Trop Med Parasitol 28:428–430
Weil GJ, Liftis F (1987) Identification and partial characterization of a parasite antigen in sera from humans infected withWuchereria bancrofti. J Immunol 138:3035–3041
Weil GJ, Chandrashekar R, Liftis F, McVay CS, Bosshardt SC, Klei TR (1990) Circulating parasite antigen inBrugia pahangi-infected jirds. J Parasitol 76:78–84
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rathaur, S., Müller, S., Maizels, R.M. et al. Identification of circulating parasite acetylcholinesterase in human and rodent filariasis. Parasitol Res 78, 671–676 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931519
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931519