Monoclonal antibodies detect antigenic diversity in Theileria parva parasites
Pinder, M.; Hewett, R.S.
Journal of Immunology 124(2): 1000-1001
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 6766157 Document Number: 162436
Mice were immunized with cloned bovine lymphoblastoid cells infected with Theileria parva parva (Mugaga) macroschizonts. Immune spleen cells from the mice were subsequently fused with myeloma cells and monoclonal antibody preparations were made from the 7 clones of hybrid cells which were cultured. An indirect immunofluorescence assay showed that the 7 monoclonal antibodies bound to intracellular vesicles in the line used for immunization, although none bound to normal peripheral blood lymphocytes from the bovid that the line was derived from. They appeared, therefore, to bind to Theileria parasite or parasite-induced antigens. Macroschizonts of T. parva parva or T. parva lawrencei (from different geographical areas) in 6 cell lines were stained by all the monoclonal antibodies. Macroschizonts in another line were stained by only 5 or the 7 antibodies and those from 2 other cell lines were stained by only 4. These studies demonstrate that there are antigenic differences in the macroschizont stage of various strains of T. parva, detectable by monoclonal antibodies.