Immunoprecipitation of surface antigen precursors from Schistosoma mansoni messenger RNA in vitro translation products.

Messenger RNA has been isolated from adults and eggs of Schistosoma mansoni and translated in vitro in mRNA dependent rabbit reticulocyte lysate. The in vitro translation products have been immunoprecipitated using a wide variety of hyperimmune and infection sera from rabbits, mice and humans. A large number of in vitro translation products are precipitated by these sera, and we have identified a subset of the immunoprecipitated polypeptides which are expressed on the surface of the young schistosomulum. Messenger RNA from both adults and eggs directs the synthesis of these polypeptides suggesting that at least some of the surface proteins of the young schistosomulum are being synthesised throughout the life cycle. cDNA clone banks prepared from adult mRNA will therefore contain the genes for these schistosomulum surface antigens greatly facilitating their isolation.