Solubilization of Antigens of Fasciola hepatica Which React with Antibodies to Schistosoma mansoni

Extracts of Fasciola hepatica adult worms contain antigens reactive with antisera prepared against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. These antigens are poorly solubilized when homogenized in a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution and pellet readily when subjected to high speed centrifugation. Solubilization is improved greatly by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.03%) to the PBS. When this is done, one obtains approximately the same total amount of crude Lowry reactive material as with PBS extraction followed by high speed centrifugation but antigenic reactivity to an anti-S. mansoni antiserum increases enormously. The antigens liberated from F. hepatica SDS extraction are largely materials under 200,000 MW and over 60,000 MW.