Human
neurocysticercosis is caused by Taenia solium metacestodes. It usually affects the central nervous system of humans and can be confused with other brain pathologies. The Lens culinaris-binding
glycoproteins from this parasite have been shown to be ideal targets for the development of a highly specific immunoassay for the diagnosis of
neurocysticercosis. In the present study we characterised the
carbohydrates associated with five antigenic
glycoproteins of T. solium metacestodes in the range of 12-28 kilodaltons.
Lectin-affinities and enzymatic deglycosylations suggested that each of the five
antigens contain various glycoforms of
asparagine-linked
carbohydrates of the hybrid, complex and probably high
mannose type. These
carbohydrates accounted for at least 30-66% of the apparent molecular mass of the
glycoconjugates. In contrast, there was no evidence for the presence of O-linked
carbohydrates.
Lectin affinity patterns suggested that the
sugars are short and truncated in their biosynthetic route, and that some contain terminal
galactose moieties. Elucidating the precise structure of the
carbohydrates and establishing their role in antigenicity will be essential to design strategies to produce them in large and reproducible amounts for the development of improved immunoassays.