AID grant no. 615-0259-G-SS-00-1071-00 to the University of Nairobi to provide support to a research program entitled `identification of protective and/or diagnostic antigens of schistosoma haematobium"

Specific objectives are to: (1) produce hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies to species- and stage-specific antigens of S. haematobium; (2) determine whether cross-reactive or new monoclonal antibodies protect experimental animals from challenge infection; and (3) identify S. haematobium antigen levels, using either experimental infection sera or monoclonal antibodies, as a method of quantifying adult worm burdens in infected animals. The study methodology will include the collection of sera from human populations as well the use of experimental animals, but not the use of human subjects.