ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY ACTIVATION OF COMPLEMENT BY A MURINE PARASITIC NEMATODE (<i>NEMATOSPIROIDES DUBIUS</i>)

Abstract

Summary The cuticular surface of the infectious third‐stage larvae of Nematospiroides dubius activates complement via the alternative pathway. Sensitisation of larvae with complement or with antibodies from the serum of immune mice (resistant to reinfection) promoted the adherence of mouse peritoneal exudate cells to the larval cuticle during incubation in vitro . The infectivity of larvae sensitised with antibody or complement was significantly reduced after incubation with cells from immune mice.