Immunoprophylactic potential of a 120 kDa Brugia malayi adult antigen fraction, BmA-2, in lymphatic filariasis.

A 120 kDa antigen containing SDS-PAGE fraction BmA-2 isolated from Brugia malayi adult parasite was highly reactive with normal sera from filarial endemic area. BmA-2 was analysed for its prophylactic potential in in vitro and in vivo. Sera collected from BmA-2 immunized jirds induced a significant level (80 to 90%) of protection against infective larvae and microfilariae in in vitro ADCC assay as well as in in situ micropore chamber implantation studies. Mastomys natalensis immunized with BmA-2 showed a significant level of protective response against circulating microfilariae by clearing 90% of them from circulation by fifth day after challenge infection. Immunization of jirds with BmA-2 resulted in an enhanced level of antibody response against BmA-2 and 88% reduction in the development of the parasites to the adult stage. Passive transfer of immunesera from jirds immunized with BmA-2 to naive jirds resulted in 71% reduction in adult worm recovery as observed 90 days after challenge infection with B. malayi. On the other hand the passive transfer of non-adherent spleen cells from immune jirds did not show any significant effect on the development of parasite. Administration of jirds anti BmA-2 serum to microfilaraemic jirds showed a temporary decrease in microfilarial count which was increased to pretherapeutic level within 100 days and there was no effect on the adult worms. This implies that the immune protective effect of BmA-2 is mainly antibody dependent and active immunization with BmA-2 is effective against filarial infection.