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Lectin binding to secretory structures, the cuticle and the surface coat of Toxocara canis infective larvae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

A. P. Page ,
W. Rudin  and
R. M. Maizels
A. P. Page
Affiliation:
Wellcome Research Centre for Parasitic Infections, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB
W. Rudin
Affiliation:
Wellcome Research Centre for Parasitic Infections, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB
R. M. Maizels
Affiliation:
Wellcome Research Centre for Parasitic Infections, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB
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Summary

Toxocara canis infective larvae are known to produce abundant glycosylated molecules which may be found associated with the surface or secreted into their environment. Using a range of fluorescein-conjugated and gold-conjugated lectins, the localization of particular carbohydrates was defined on the surface of live parasites, and internally at the ultrastructural level. Surface exposure of N-acetyl galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine was deduced by binding of FITC-conjugated Helix pomatia (HPA) and wheat-germ agglutinins (WGA). These sugars appear to be associated with a densely staining surface coat as conventional immuno-electron microscopy procedures dissipate this coat and reveal no surface binding site for these lectins. However, by using cryo-immuno-electron microscopical (C-IEM) techniques, the surface coat is retained and can be shown to bind WGA. The fluorescent lectins also revealed strong WGA binding to the secretory and amphidial pores, while the buccal opening and the cuticular alae bound HPA. Corresponding results were obtained at the ultrastructural level. Thus, HPA bound to the electron-dense area of the cuticle, areas of local cuticular thickening such as the alae and buccal labia, as well as to the oesophageal lumen. WGA also bound to the thickened cuticle of the alae and the buccal opening, but showed no reaction to either the electron-dense layer of the cuticle or the oesophageal lumen. Unlike HPA, WGA did bind specifically to the secretory column contents and the electron-dense regions of the lips associated with the chemosensory amphids. The compartmentalization of the sugars N-acetyl galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, their sources and routes of surface expression and the possible association with the TES glycoprotein antigens are discussed.

Keywords

lectinssecretory organssurface coatcuticle

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 105 , Issue 2 , October 1992 , pp. 285 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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