Figure 1: Opsonization of S. mansoni by IgE and Eosinophils. Cytokines and CD40 ligands expressed by Th2 cells function to stimulate B lymphocytes to express a class of antibodies called IgE. IgE acts as an opsonizing antibody to stick phagocytic eosinophils to parasite and allows the released major basic proteins and eosinophil cationic proteins to be focused on the targets for extracellular killing of the helminths. The Fab portion of IgE recognizes epitopes on the helminth, while the Fc portion binds to Fc receptors of activated eosinophils. The lysosomal proteases of eosinophils are able to destroy the tough integument of helminths (source: Doc Kaiser’s Microbiology website).