Fibronectin-like properties in antigen B from the cysticercus of Taenia solium.

The most prominent antigen of the cysticercus of Taenia solium in the serology of human cysticercosis, antigen B, is capable of agglutinating red blood cells of different species, of aligning in vitro cell growth of transformed mouse fibroblasts, and of strongly binding to pig, rat and human collagen. Scatchard analysis of the adsorption isotherms indicates quite avid heterogeneous binding of antigen B to rat collagen (K's = 10(3), 10(5)). These remarkable biological activities of antigen B, resembling those of fibronectins, allow for some speculation concerning its role in the host-parasite relationship (i.e. organizing vicinal host components to improve the parasite's lodging niche; the 'smoke screen' effect for the host's immune response; Clq inhibition), and expand fibronectin-like properties to molecules from Phyla other than vertebrates.