Characterization of the exposed carbohydrates on the sheath surface of in vitro-derived Brugia pahangi microfilariae by analysis of lectin binding.

ABSTRACT

Adult female Brugia pahangi were maintained metabolically active in vitro for up to 35 days in Click's medium supplemented with 10% horse serum. For the first 14 to 18 days microfilariae were released into culture. Although these in vitro-derived microfilariae were morphologically identical to in vivo-derived microfilariae, they could be differentiated by their characteristic of binding to a panel of fluorescein-conjugated lectins. The results suggest that maturation and release of microfilariae are correlated with glycosidic alterations on the sheath surface.