Antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus is a novel ligand for C-reactive protein.

Antigen B (EgAgB) is a phosphatidylcholine (PC)-rich lipoprotein of Echinococcus granulosus s.l. larva, potentially capable of modulating the activation of various myeloid cells, including macrophages.

Echinococcus granulosus Antigen B binds to monocytes and macrophages modulating cell response to inflammation.

Background: Antigen B (EgAgB) is an abundant lipoprotein released by the larva of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus into the host tissues. Its protein moiety belongs to the cestode-specific family known as hydrophobic ligand binding protein (HLBP), and is encoded by five gene subfamilies (EgAgB8/1-EgAgB8/5). The functions of EgAgB in parasite biology remain unclear.

Echinococcus granulosus antigen B: a Hydrophobic Ligand Binding Protein at the host-parasite interface.

Lipids are mainly solubilized by various families of lipid binding proteins which participate in their transport between tissues as well as cell compartments. Among these families, Hydrophobic Ligand Binding Proteins (HLBPs) deserve special consideration since they comprise intracellular and extracellular members, are able to bind a variety of fatty acids, retinoids and some sterols, and are present exclusively in cestodes. Since these parasites have lost catabolic and biosynthetic pathways for fatty acids and cholesterol, HLBPs are likely relevant for lipid uptake and transportation between parasite and host cells.

Characterisation of the native lipid moiety of Echinococcus granulosus antigen B.

Antigen B (EgAgB) is the most abundant and immunogenic antigen produced by the larval stage (metacestode) of Echinococcus granulosus. It is a lipoprotein, the structure and function of which have not been completely elucidated. EgAgB apolipoprotein components have been well characterised; they share homology with a group of hydrophobic ligand binding proteins (HLBPs) present exclusively in cestode organisms, and consist of different isoforms of 8-kDa proteins encoded by a polymorphic multigene family comprising five subfamilies (EgAgB1 to EgAgB5).

Effects of protoscoleces and AgB from Echinococcus granulosus on human neutrophils: possible implications on the parasite's immune evasion mechanisms.

The factors affecting the innate susceptibility to Echinococcus granulosus infections are largely unknown. We assessed the interaction of healthy human neutrophils with protoscoleces (PSC) and antigen B (AgB) of E. granulosus by analysis of CD11b upregulation and H(2)O(2) production by flow cytometry.