Lack of a Specific Humoral Antibody Response in Leiostomus xanthurus (Pisces: Sciaenidae) to Parasitic Copepods and Monogeneans

Abstract

Examination of the larval stage of the tapeworm, Taenia crassiceps, by 31p NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of a major phosphoglyceride component. However, using saturation transfer, no exchange between glycerophosphorylcholine and phosphoglyceride or any other NMR-detectable phosphorus metabolites was detected. Previous NMR investigations have demonstrated glycerophosphorylcholine to be a major phosphorus component of helminth parasites (Tielens et al., 1982, Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 6: 175-180; Rohrer et al., 1986, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 248: 200209; Thompson et al., 1987, Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 22: 45-54). Mathews et al. (1985, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 845: 178188) outlined the possible metabolic functions of this metabolite including its potential role as a novel precursor or a breakdown product in phospholipid metabolism. Free phosphoglycerides, however, are minor components or were undetected in the NMR spectra of helminths examined thus far. Here we report a major phosphoglyceride component in the 31p NMR spectrum of the larval stage of the tapeworm, Taenia crassiceps. Using saturation transfer we were, however, unable to detect any exchange between glycerophosphorylcholine and phosphoglyceride or other NMR-detectable phosphorus metabo-