A Monoclonal Antibody to the Amebic Lipophosphoglycan-Proteophosphoglycan Antigens Can Prevent Disease in Human Intestinal Xenografts Infected with Entamoeba histolytica

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites are covered by lipophosphoglycan-peptidoglycan molecules which may be key virulence factors. We found that pretreatment of severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing human intestinal xenografts with a monoclonal antibody to the amebic lipophosphoglycan-peptidoglycan molecules can prevent or significantly reduce the human intestinal inflammation and tissue damage that are normally seen with E. histolytica colonic infection.