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Individuals suffering from schistosomiasis raise an immune response against Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAcbeta (Lewis X, Lex), a trisaccharide that is expressed both in monomeric and polymeric form in different life stages of the schistosomes. In order to study a possible immunological discrimination between different presentations of Le(x), i.e. as a monomer or as an oligomer (di- or trimer), the levels of antibodies against lacto-N-fucopentaose III (LNFPIII, a pentasaccharide containing monomeric Le(x)), and against dimeric and trimeric Le(x) have been measured in sera of mice with a schistosome infection. The antibody response was predominantly of the IgM type. A striking difference in intensity of the antibody response against monomeric and oligomeric Le(x) was observed. Furthermore, the antibody response against circulating cathodic antigen (CCA), a schistosomal antigen containing multimeric Le(x), was also measured, and the response pattern differed from that of the anti-mono, di- and trimeric Le(x) responses. In addition, the binding pattern of a panel of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), derived from mice infected with schistosomes, with LNFPIII, di- and trimeric Le(x) was measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). These Mabs could be divided into three different groups according to their interaction with the Le(x) oligosaccharides. Based on these data, we suggest that the different presentations of Le(x) give rise to different groups of anti-Le(x) antibodies. (C) 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.