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Szabo EK, Bowhay C, Forrester E, Liu H, Dong B, Coria AL, Perera S, Fung B, Badawadagi N, Gaio C, Bailey K, Ritz M, Bowron J, Ariyaratne A, Finney CAM. Heligmosomoides bakeri and Toxoplasma gondii co-infection leads to increased mortality associated with changes in immune resistance in the lymphoid compartment and disease pathology. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0292408. [PMID: 38950025 PMCID: PMC11216590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Co-infections are a common reality but understanding how the immune system responds in this context is complex and can be unpredictable. Heligmosomoides bakeri (parasitic roundworm, previously Heligmosomoides polygyrus) and Toxoplasma gondii (protozoan parasite) are well studied organisms that stimulate a characteristic Th2 and Th1 response, respectively. Several studies have demonstrated reduced inflammatory cytokine responses in animals co-infected with such organisms. However, while general cytokine signatures have been examined, the impact of the different cytokine producing lymphocytes on parasite control/clearance is not fully understood. We investigated five different lymphocyte populations (NK, NKT, γδ T, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells), five organs (small intestine, Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and liver), and 4 cytokines (IFN©, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) at two different time points (days 5 and 10 post T. gondii infection). We found that co-infected animals had significantly higher mortality than either single infection. This was accompanied by transient and local changes in parasite loads and cytokine profiles. Despite the early changes in lymphocyte and cytokine profiles, severe intestinal pathology in co-infected mice likely contributed to early mortality due to significant damage by both parasites in the small intestine. Our work demonstrates the importance of taking a broad view during infection research, studying multiple cell types, organs/tissues and time points to link and/or uncouple immunological from pathological findings. Our results provide insights into how co-infection with parasites stimulating different arms of the immune system can lead to drastic changes in infection dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina K. Szabo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christina Bowhay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Emma Forrester
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Holly Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Beverly Dong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Aralia Leon Coria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shashini Perera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Beatrice Fung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Namratha Badawadagi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Camila Gaio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kayla Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Manfred Ritz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joel Bowron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anupama Ariyaratne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Constance A. M. Finney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions Research Training Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Barros Oliveira CV, Paulino da Silva ME, de Lima JR, Tavares Moreira AM, Mendes Brito MJ, Coelho Gonçalves CA, Lemos de Barros JE, de Oliveira RM, Kamdem JP, Barros LM, Duarte AE. Correlations between the degree of infection by wild strain of Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and porcine hematological parameters. Exp Parasitol 2024; 261:108754. [PMID: 38636935 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The apicomplexa Toxoplasma gondii is capable of actively proliferating in numerous types of nucleated cells, and therefore has a high potential for dissemination and resistance. Thus, the present work aimed to correlate the inoculum concentrations and amount of post-infection parasites with porcine hematological parameters (including biochemistry) through in vitro culture. Porcine blood was incubated with different concentrations of parasites (1.2 × 107, 6/3/1.5 × 106 cells/mL), then the concentrations of red blood cells (RBC) and their morphology, total and differential leukocytes, and free peptides were evaluated. In addition, eight different blood samples analyzed before inoculation, where subsequent multivariate analysis was applied to correlate different variables with trophozoite concentration. The results showed no significant variation (p < 0.05) in the relative levels of free peptides, or the relative percentage of RBC at all the parasite concentrations tested. However, the normalized percentages of leukocytes and neutrophils showed a significant reduction, while those of lymphocytes, eosinophils and monocytes showed the opposite behavior. Semi-automatic processing of images exhibited significant microcytosis and hypochromia. The multivariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between the amount number of protozoa (AP) and the variables: "Red cells" and "Neutrophils", an indifference between the AP and the content of free peptides, and the concentration of monocytes in the samples; and a negative correlation for AP and the percentages of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Our results suggest that specific changes in hematological parameters may be associated with different degrees of parasitemia, demanding a thorough diagnostic process and adequate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Elenilda Paulino da Silva
- Laboratory for Research and Diagnosis of Tropical Diseases - LPDDT, Federal University of Pernambuco - UFPE, Recife, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Jailson Renato de Lima
- Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology - LEA, Federal University of Cariri, Crato, 63113-140, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Amanda Maria Tavares Moreira
- Laboratory of Biology and Toxicology - BIOTOX, Regional University of Cariri - URCA, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Maria Jéssica Mendes Brito
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences - CCBS, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri - URCA, 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil
| | - Cicera Alane Coelho Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Semi-Arid Bioprospecting and Alternative Methods- LABSEMA, Regional University of Cariri - URCA, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil
| | - João Eudes Lemos de Barros
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri - URCA, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Jean Paul Kamdem
- Laboratory of Biology and Toxicology - BIOTOX, Regional University of Cariri - URCA, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Luiz Marivando Barros
- Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology - LECOV, Regional University of Cariri - URCA, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Antonia Eliene Duarte
- Laboratory of Biology and Toxicology - BIOTOX, Regional University of Cariri - URCA, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil
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Alonaizan R. Molecular regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation during parasitic infection. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231918. [PMID: 38623843 PMCID: PMC11096646 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases are a serious global health concern, causing many common and severe infections, including Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis. The NLRP3 inflammasome belongs to the NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich-repeat-containing proteins) family, which are cytosolic proteins playing key roles in the detection of pathogens. NLRP3 inflammasomes are activated in immune responses to Plasmodium, Leishmania, Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Trypanosoma cruzi, and other parasites. The role of NLRP3 is not fully understood, but it is a crucial component of the innate immune response to parasitic infections and its functions as a sensor triggering the inflammatory response to the invasive parasites. However, while this response can limit the parasites' growth, it can also result in potentially catastrophic host pathology. This makes it essential to understand how NLRP3 interacts with parasites to initiate the inflammatory response. Plasmodium hemozoin, Leishmania glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and E. histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin can stimulate NLRP3 activation, while the dense granule protein 9 (GRA9) of T. gondii has been shown to suppress it. Several other parasitic products also have diverse effects on NLRP3 activation. Understanding the mechanism of NLRP3 interaction with these products will help to develop advanced therapeutic approaches to treat parasitic diseases. This review summarizes current knowledge of the NLRP3 inflammasome's action on the immune response to parasitic infections and aims to determine the mechanisms through which parasitic molecules either activate or inhibit its action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Alonaizan
- Faculty of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Oser L, Midha A, Schlosser-Brandenburg J, Rausch S, Mugo RM, Kundik A, Elizalde-Velázquez LE, Adjah J, Musimbi ZD, Klopfleisch R, Helm CS, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Hartmann S, Ebner F. Ascaris suum infection in juvenile pigs elicits a local Th2 response in a setting of ongoing Th1 expansion. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1396446. [PMID: 38799456 PMCID: PMC11116563 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1396446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascaris spp. undergo extensive migration within the body before establishing patent infections in the small intestinal tract of humans and pigs. However, whether larval migration is critical for inducing efficient type 2 responses remains poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated systemic versus local adaptive immune responses along the hepato-tracheal migration of Ascaris suum during primary, single infections in conventionally raised pigs. Neither the initial invasion of gut tissue nor migration through the liver resulted in discernable Th2 cell responses. In contrast, lung-stage larvae elicited a Th2-biased pulmonary response, which declined after the larvae had left the lungs. In the small intestine, we observed an accumulation of Th2 cells upon the arrival of fourth-stage larvae (L4) to the small intestinal lumen. In parallel, we noticed robust and increasing Th1 responses in circulation, migration-affected organs, and draining lymph nodes. Phenotypic analysis of CD4+ T cells specifically recognizing A. suum antigens in the circulation and lung tissue of infected pigs confirmed that the majority of Ascaris-specific T cells produced IL-4 (Th2) and, to a much lesser extent, IL-4/IFN-g (Th2/1 hybrids) or IFN-g alone (Th1). These data demonstrate that lung-stage but not the early liver-stage larvae lead to a locally restricted Th2 response. Significant Th2 cell accumulation in the small intestine occurs only when L4 complete the body migration. In addition, Th2 immunity seems to be hampered by the concurrent, nonspecific Th1 bias in growing pigs. Together, the late onset of Th2 immunity at the site of infection and the Th1-biased systemic immunity likely enable the establishment of intestinal infections by sufficiently large L4 stages and pre-adult worms, some of which resist expulsion mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Oser
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ankur Midha
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josephine Schlosser-Brandenburg
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Rausch
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert M. Mugo
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arkadi Kundik
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luis E. Elizalde-Velázquez
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joshua Adjah
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zaneta D. Musimbi
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Klopfleisch
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christina S. Helm
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Ebner
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Infection Pathogenesis, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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Bishop LJ, Stutzer C, Maritz-Olivier C. More than Three Decades of Bm86: What We Know and Where to Go. Pathogens 2023; 12:1071. [PMID: 37764879 PMCID: PMC10537462 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick and tick-borne disease control have been a serious research focus for many decades. In a global climate of increasing acaricide resistance, host immunity against tick infestation has become a much-needed complementary strategy to common chemical control. From the earliest acquired resistance studies in small animal models to proof of concept in large production animals, it was the isolation, characterization, and final recombinant protein production of the midgut antigen Bm86 from the Australian cattle tick strain of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (later reinstated as R. (B.) australis) that established tick subunit vaccines as a viable alternative in tick and tick-borne disease control. In the past 37 years, this antigen has spawned numerous tick subunit vaccines (either Bm86-based or novel), and though we are still describing its molecular structure and function, this antigen remains the gold standard for all tick vaccines. In this paper, advances in tick vaccine development over the past three decades are discussed alongside the development of biotechnology, where existing gaps and future directives in the field are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christine Maritz-Olivier
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0083, South Africa; (L.J.B.); (C.S.)
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Hamed EFA, Mostafa NES, Fawzy EM, Ibrahim MN, Ibrahim BH, Radwan M, Salama MA. Toxoplasma gondii Suppresses Th2-Induced by Trichinella spiralis Infection and Downregulates Serine Protease Genes Expression: A Critical Role in Vaccine Development. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2023; 18:172-181. [PMID: 37583627 PMCID: PMC10423907 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v18i2.13183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii coinfection can modify host immune responses and the severity and spread of other parasites. We investigated how T. gondii and Trichinella spiralis infections counter-regulate each other's immune responses. Methods The parasite burden, the expression of T. gondii rhoptry kinase ROP18 and T. spiralis putative serine protease (TsSP), the IgG1 and IgG2a responses, besides histopathological and immunohistochemical staining with iNOS and arginase were used to evaluate the dynamics of coinfection. Results Through their effects on host immune responsiveness, coinfection with T. gondii modified the virulence of T. spiralis infection. Coinfected animals with high and low doses of T. gondii demonstrated significant reductions in the T. spiralis burden of 75.2% and 68.2%, respectively. TsSP expression was downregulated in both groups by 96.2% and 86.7%, whereasROP18 expression was downregulated by only 6% and10.6%, respectively. In coinfected mice, elevated levels of T. gondii-specific IgG2a antibodies were detected. Th1 induced by T. gondii inhibits the Th2 response to T. spiralis in coinfected animals with high iNOS expression andlow-arginine1 expression. Conclusion T. gondii infection induces a shift toward a Th1-type immune response while suppressing a helminth-specific Th2 immune response, paving the way for developing novel vaccines and more efficient control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nahed El-Sayed Mostafa
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Eman Magdy Fawzy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Nabil Ibrahim
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Qurrayat, KSA
| | - Basma Hamed Ibrahim
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Mona Radwan
- Department of Community and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Marwa Ahmed Salama
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
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Effects of Ovine Monocyte-Derived Macrophage Infection by Recently Isolated Toxoplasma gondii Strains Showing Different Phenotypic Traits. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243453. [PMID: 36552372 PMCID: PMC9774764 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovine toxoplasmosis is one the most relevant reproductive diseases in sheep. The genetic variability among different Toxoplasma gondii isolates is known to be related to different degrees of virulence in mice and humans, but little is known regarding its potential effects in sheep. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic variability (types II (ToxoDB #1 and #3) and III (#2)) of six recently isolated strains that showed different phenotypic traits both in a normalized mouse model and in ovine trophoblasts, in ovine monocyte-derived macrophages and the subsequent transcript expression of cytokines and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase). The type III isolate (TgShSp24) showed the highest rate of internalization, followed by the type II clonal isolate (TgShSp2), while the type II PRU isolates (TgShSp1, TgShSp3, TgShSp11 and TgShSp16) showed the lowest rates. The type II PRU strains, isolated from abortions, exhibited higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and iNOS than those obtained from the myocardium of chronically infected sheep (type II PRU strains and type III), which had higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The present results show the existence of significant intra- and inter-genotypic differences in the parasite-macrophage relationship that need to be confirmed in in vivo experiments.
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Hananeh WM, Radhi A, Mukbel RM, Ismail ZB. Effects of parasites coinfection with other pathogens on animal host: A literature review. Vet World 2022; 15:2414-2424. [DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.2414-2424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A parasite-host relationship is complicated and largely remained poorly understood, especially when mixed infections involving pathogenic bacteria and viruses are present in the same host. It has been found that most parasites are able to manipulate the host's immune responses to evade or overcome its defense systems. Several mechanisms have been postulated that may explain this phenomenon in different animal species. Recent evidence suggests that coinfections involving many parasitic species alter the host's vulnerability to other microorganisms, hinder diagnostic accuracy, and may negatively impact vaccination by altering the host's immune responsiveness. The objective of this review was to provide a comprehensive summary of the current understanding of how parasites interact with other pathogens in different animal species. A better understanding of this complex relationship will aid in the improvement efforts of disease diagnosis, treatment, and control measures such as novel and effective vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael M. Hananeh
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box, 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Asya Radhi
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box, 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Rami M. Mukbel
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Zuhair Bani Ismail
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
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French T, Steffen J, Glas A, Osbelt L, Strowig T, Schott BH, Schüler T, Dunay IR. Persisting Microbiota and Neuronal Imbalance Following T. gondii Infection Reliant on the Infection Route. Front Immunol 2022; 13:920658. [PMID: 35898505 PMCID: PMC9311312 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.920658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a highly successful parasite capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals. The natural way of infection in intermediate hosts is the oral ingestion of parasite-contaminated water or food. In murine experimental models, oral infection (p.o.) of mice with T. gondii is applied to investigate mucosal and peripheral immune cell dynamics, whereas intraperitoneal infection (i.p.) is frequently used to study peripheral inflammation as well as immune cell – neuronal interaction in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the two infection routes have not yet been systematically compared along the course of infection. Here, C57BL/6 mice were infected p.o. or i.p. with a low dose of T. gondii cysts, and the acute and chronic stages of infection were compared. A more severe course of infection was detected following i.p. challenge, characterized by an increased weight loss and marked expression of proinflammatory cytokines particularly in the CNS during the chronic stage. The elevated proinflammatory cytokine expression in the ileum was more prominent after p.o. challenge that continued following the acute phase in both i.p. or p.o. infected mice. This resulted in sustained microbial dysbiosis, especially after p.o. challenge, highlighted by increased abundance of pathobionts from the phyla proteobacteria and a reduction of beneficial commensal species. Further, we revealed that in the CNS of i.p. infected mice CD4 and CD8 T cells displayed higher IFNγ production in the chronic stage. This corresponded with an increased expression of C1q and CD68 in the CNS and reduced expression of genes involved in neuronal signal transmission. Neuroinflammation-associated synaptic alterations, especially PSD-95, VGLUT, and EAAT2 expression, were more pronounced in the cortex upon i.p. infection highlighting the profound interplay between peripheral inflammation and CNS homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy French
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Steffen
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Albert Glas
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Osbelt
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Till Strowig
- Department of Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Björn H. Schott
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Schüler
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ildiko Rita Dunay,
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Santosa B, Fristiani AKB, Dharmana E, Damayanti FN, Nugroho HSW. Immune Response (Serum Globulin) in BALB/c Mice after Hookworm Egg Protein Immunization as the Initial Stage of Developing Laboratory Diagnostics: An In Vivo Approach. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.9642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hookworm infestation is still high and requires practical laboratory diagnosis with high sensitivity and specificity. Meanwhile, there are several limitations associated with the existing method; hence, a new method is essentially needed. Furthermore, the principle of immunological reactions needs to be developed by identifying the extent of hookworm eggs suspension immune responses. The BALB/c mouse is among the most widely used inbred models used in biomedical research and is particularly utilized in immunology and infectious disease research.
AIM: This study aims to determine whether the protein concentration of hookworm eggs stimulates antibodies formation (proteins) in the serum of BALB/c mice.
METHODS: This is an experimental study with a post-test only control design approach. Egg protein was isolated by removing the contents using a mini drill to immunize BALB/c mice, while the antibody response was observed by spectrophotometer and agglutination methods.
RESULTS: The Chi-square and Post hoc statistical tests showed a significance p ≤ 0.001 indicating a relationship between hookworm egg protein and agglutination results. The higher the antibody level, the more visible the agglutination and vice versa.
CONCLUSION: These results are expected to form a basis for developing more practical and efficient diagnostic methods based on antigen-antibody reactions.
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Oyesola OO, Souza COS, Loke P. The Influence of Genetic and Environmental Factors and Their Interactions on Immune Response to Helminth Infections. Front Immunol 2022; 13:869163. [PMID: 35572520 PMCID: PMC9103684 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.869163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminth infection currently affect over 2 billion people worldwide, with those with the most pathologies and morbidities, living in regions with unequal and disproportionate access to effective healthcare solutions. Host genetics and environmental factors play critical roles in modulating and regulating immune responses following exposure to various pathogens and insults. However, the interplay of environment and genetic factors in influencing who gets infected and the establishment, persistence, and clearance of helminth parasites remains unclear. Inbred strains of mice have long been used to investigate the role of host genetic factors on pathogenesis and resistance to helminth infection in a laboratory setting. This review will discuss the use of ecological and environmental mouse models to study helminth infections and how this could be used in combination with host genetic variation to explore the relative contribution of these factors in influencing immune response to helminth infections. Improved understanding of interactions between genetics and the environment to helminth immune responses would be important for efforts to identify and develop new prophylactic and therapeutic options for the management of helminth infections and their pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyebola O. Oyesola
- Laboratory of Parasitic Disease, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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12
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Abstract
It is well established that by modulating various immune functions, host infection may alter the course of concomitant inflammatory diseases, of both infectious and autoimmune etiologies. Beyond the major impact of commensal microbiota on the immune status, host exposure to viral, bacterial, and/or parasitic microorganisms also dramatically influences inflammatory diseases in the host, in a beneficial or harmful manner. Moreover, by modifying pathogen control and host tolerance to tissue damage, a coinfection can profoundly affect the development of a concomitant infectious disease. Here, we review the diverse mechanisms that underlie the impact of (co)infections on inflammatory disorders. We discuss epidemiological studies in the context of the hygiene hypothesis and shed light on the sometimes dual impact of germ exposure on human susceptibility to inflammatory disease. We then summarize the immunomodulatory mechanisms at play, which can involve pleiotropic effects of immune players and discuss the possibility to harness pathogen-derived compounds to the host benefit.
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13
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Age-dependent rise in IFN-γ competence undermines effective type 2 responses to nematode infection. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:1270-1282. [PMID: 35690651 PMCID: PMC9705248 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-022-00519-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The efficient induction of type 2 immune responses is central to the control of helminth infections. Previous studies demonstrated that strong Th1 responses driven by intracellular pathogens as well as a bias for type 1 activity in senescent mice impedes the generation of Th2 responses and the control of intestinal nematode infections. Here, we show that the spontaneous differentiation of Th1 cells and their expansion with age restrains type 2 immunity to infection with the small intestinal nematode H. polygyrus much earlier in life than previously anticipated. This includes the more extensive induction of IFN-γ competent, nematode-specific Th2/1 hybrid cells in BALB/c mice older than three months compared to younger animals. In C57BL/6 mice, Th1 cells accumulate more rapidly at steady state, translating to elevated Th2/1 differentiation and poor control of parasite fitness in primary infections experienced at a young age. Blocking of early IFN-γ and IL-12 signals during the first week of nematode infection leads to sharply decreased Th2/1 differentiation and promotes resistance in both mouse lines. Together, these data suggest that IFN-γ competent, type 1 like effector cells spontaneously accumulating in the vertebrate host progressively curtail the effectiveness of anti-nematode type 2 responses with rising host age.
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Banday AZ, Bhattarai D, Bhagat N, Sreedharanunni S, Khurana S, Suri D. Pediatric hypereosinophilia and toxoplasma: Peregrination beyond facileness. J Family Med Prim Care 2021; 10:3511-3514. [PMID: 34760783 PMCID: PMC8565130 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_257_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of pediatric hypereosinophilia (HE) is challenging, especially in the tropical developing countries, as appropriate diagnostic facilities may be lacking, parasitic/helminthic infections are common, and existing data on the etiology of severe eosinophilia are sparse. Second, data on long-term follow-up of these children including the temporal course of eosinophilia are also scarce. Besides, questions regarding the coexistence of multiple etiologies and their association with the severity of HE are largely unexplored. These challenges and questions often lead to diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. We highlight these difficulties utilizing a real-life clinical description. We emphasize the need for long-term follow-up of such children as HE may be the combinatorial effect of multiple etiologies, rather than a single cause. We also describe an unusual association of severe eosinophilia in a child with toxoplasmosis that was treated successfully with 8-week combination therapy with azithromycin and cotrimoxazole (sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine were not available).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaqib Z Banday
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Departments of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Dharmagat Bhattarai
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Departments of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Naveen Bhagat
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Departments of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Sreejesh Sreedharanunni
- Hematology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Sumeeta Khurana
- Parasitology, Research Block-A, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Deepti Suri
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Departments of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
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15
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Early Immune Initiation by Porcine Cells following Toxoplasma gondii Infection versus TLR Ligation. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091828. [PMID: 34576723 PMCID: PMC8471494 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Containment of acute Toxoplasma gondii infection is dependent on an efficient interferon gamma response. However, the earliest steps of immune response initiation immediately following exposure to the parasite have not been previously characterized in pigs. Murine and human myeloid cells produce large quantities of interleukin (IL)-12 during early T. gondii infection. We therefore examined IL-12 expression by porcine peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cell (DC) subsets following toll-like receptor (TLR) ligation and controlled T. gondii tachyzoite infection. We detected IL-12p40 expression by porcine plasmacytoid DC, but not conventional or monocyte-derived DC following TLR ligation. Unexpectedly, we also observed considerable IL-12p40 production by porcine CD3- NKp46+ cells-a classical natural killer cell phenotype-following TLR ligation. However, in response to T. gondii exposure, no IL-12 production was observed by either DC or CD3- NKp46+ cells. Despite this, IL-18 production by DC-enriched peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected following live T. gondii tachyzoite exposure. Only combined stimulation of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells with recombinant IL-12p70 and IL-18 induced innate interferon gamma production by natural killer cells, while T cells and myeloid cells did not respond. Therefore, porcine CD3- NKp46+ cells serve as important IL-12 producers following TLR ligation, while IL-18 likely plays a prominent role in early immune response initiation in the pig following T. gondii infection.
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16
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Midha A, Goyette-Desjardins G, Goerdeler F, Moscovitz O, Seeberger PH, Tedin K, Bertzbach LD, Lepenies B, Hartmann S. Lectin-Mediated Bacterial Modulation by the Intestinal Nematode Ascaris suum. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168739. [PMID: 34445445 PMCID: PMC8395819 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascariasis is a global health problem for humans and animals. Adult Ascaris nematodes are long-lived in the host intestine where they interact with host cells as well as members of the microbiota resulting in chronic infections. Nematode interactions with host cells and the microbial environment are prominently mediated by parasite-secreted proteins and peptides possessing immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. Previously, we discovered the C-type lectin protein AsCTL-42 in the secreted products of adult Ascaris worms. Here we tested recombinant AsCTL-42 for its ability to interact with bacterial and host cells. We found that AsCTL-42 lacks bactericidal activity but neutralized bacterial cells without killing them. Treatment of bacterial cells with AsCTL-42 reduced invasion of intestinal epithelial cells by Salmonella. Furthermore, AsCTL-42 interacted with host myeloid C-type lectin receptors. Thus, AsCTL-42 is a parasite protein involved in the triad relationship between Ascaris, host cells, and the microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Midha
- Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Guillaume Goyette-Desjardins
- Institute for Immunology & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (G.G.-D.); (B.L.)
| | - Felix Goerdeler
- Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (F.G.); (O.M.); (P.H.S.)
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Oren Moscovitz
- Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (F.G.); (O.M.); (P.H.S.)
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter H. Seeberger
- Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (F.G.); (O.M.); (P.H.S.)
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karsten Tedin
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Luca D. Bertzbach
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany;
- Department of Viral Transformation, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology (HPI), 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Lepenies
- Institute for Immunology & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (G.G.-D.); (B.L.)
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence:
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17
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Taghipour A, Malih N, Köksal F, Jokelainen P, Ghaffarifar F. Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence among tuberculosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Microb Pathog 2021; 159:105083. [PMID: 34246749 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are intracellular pathogens, both infecting a substantial proportion of human population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled T. gondii seroprevalence in tuberculosis patients. Three international databases were systematically searched for literature on prevalence of T. gondii in tuberculosis patients. A total of 1389 documents were identified, and eight papers were eligible to be included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Geographical data gaps were evident, as no studies were identified from many countries where both infections are important. The pooled seroprevalence of IgG, IgM, and both IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii in tuberculosis patients were estimated to be 35.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.3-56.7%), 35.0% (95% CI, 3.0-90.3%), and 13.4% (95% CI, 2.4-49.0%), respectively. In the included case-control studies, the pooled T. gondii seroprevalence (proportion anti- T. gondii IgG antibody positive) was higher in tuberculosis patients than in their controls, with an odds ratio by random effects model of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.28-2.08). The results of our work suggest an association between T. gondii seropositivity and being a tuberculosis patient, which should however be interpreted with caution because the timeline of the infections and the disease process are not accounted for. Our work showed that T. gondii seropositivity, indicating chronic infection with the zoonotic parasite, was relatively common among tuberculosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Taghipour
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narges Malih
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatih Köksal
- Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey; TR Ministry of Health Regional Tuberculosis Laboratories and the Director of the Tropical Diseases Research and Application Center, Turkey
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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Muturi M, Akoko J, Nthiwa D, Chege B, Nyamota R, Mutiiria M, Maina J, Thumbi SM, Nyamai M, Kahariri S, Sitawa R, Kimutai J, Kuria W, Mwatondo A, Bett B. Serological evidence of single and mixed infections of Rift Valley fever virus, Brucella spp. and Coxiella burnetii in dromedary camels in Kenya. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009275. [PMID: 33770095 PMCID: PMC7997034 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Camels are increasingly becoming the livestock of choice for pastoralists reeling from effects of climate change in semi-arid and arid parts of Kenya. As the population of camels rises, better understanding of their role in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases in Kenya is a public health priority. Rift Valley fever (RVF), brucellosis and Q fever are three of the top priority diseases in the country but the involvement of camels in the transmission dynamics of these diseases is poorly understood. We analyzed 120 camel serum samples from northern Kenya to establish seropositivity rates of the three pathogens and to characterize the infecting Brucella species using molecular assays. We found seropositivity of 24.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.5–31.8%) for Brucella, 20.8% (95% CI: 13.6–28.1%) and 14.2% (95% CI: 7.9–20.4%) for Coxiella burnetii and Rift valley fever virus respectively. We found 27.5% (95% CI: 19.5–35.5%) of the animals were seropositive for at least one pathogen and 13.3% (95% CI: 7.2–19.4%) were seropositive for at least two pathogens. B. melitensis was the only Brucella spp. detected. The high sero-positivity rates are indicative of the endemicity of these pathogens among camel populations and the possible role the species has in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. Considering the strong association between human infection and contact with livestock for most zoonotic infections in Kenya, there is immediate need to conduct further research to determine the role of camels in transmission of these zoonoses to other livestock species and humans. This information will be useful for designing more effective surveillance systems and intervention measures. Dromedary camels are well adapted to the arid and semi-arid environment that makes up about 80% of Kenya’s landmass. As such, camels play an important role in the socio-economic wellbeing and food security of pastoralists in the country. However, the species remains relatively neglected in scientific research, one of the main reasons being camels are mostly found in remote, low-income, arid regions of Africa and Asia. We carried out a study to determine the levels of exposure of camels in northern Kenya to Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus, three priority zoonotic pathogens in the country. We found high levels of exposure to the three pathogens, indicating the important role camels might play in the epidemiology of the zoonotic diseases in humans and other livestock. Based on the study findings, we argue for the immediate need for investments in disease surveillance and control strategies for priority zoonotic disease in camels in Kenya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew Muturi
- Zoonotic Disease Unit Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| | - James Akoko
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Daniel Nthiwa
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Embu, Embu, Kenya
| | | | | | | | - Josphat Maina
- Zoonotic Disease Unit Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - S. M. Thumbi
- Center for Epidemiological and Modelling Analysis, University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Paul G Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Mutono Nyamai
- Center for Epidemiological and Modelling Analysis, University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Samuel Kahariri
- Kenya Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rinah Sitawa
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joshua Kimutai
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Wilson Kuria
- Kenya Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Athman Mwatondo
- Zoonotic Disease Unit Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bernard Bett
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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Cristina Borges Araujo E, Cariaco Y, Paulo Oliveira Almeida M, Patricia Pallete Briceño M, Neto de Sousa JE, Rezende Lima W, Maria Costa-Cruz J, Maria Silva N. Beneficial effects of Strongyloides venezuelensis antigen extract in acute experimental toxoplasmosis. Parasite Immunol 2020; 43:e12811. [PMID: 33247953 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan with worldwide distribution and triggers a strong Th1 immune response in infected susceptible hosts. On the contrary, most helminth infections are characterized by Th2 immune response and the use of helminth-derived antigens to regulate immune response in inflammatory disorders has been broadly investigated. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment with Strongyloides venezuelensis antigen extract (SvAg) would alter immune response against T gondii. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were orally infected with T gondii and treated with SvAg, and parasitological, histological and immunological parameters were investigated. RESULTS It was observed that SvAg treatment improved survival rates of T gondii-infected mice. At day 7 post-infection, the parasite load was lower in the lung and small intestine of infected SvAg-treated mice than untreated infected mice. Remarkably, SvAg-treated mice infected with T gondii presented reduced inflammatory lesions in the small intestine than infected untreated mice and decreased intestinal and systemic levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6. In contrast, SvAg treatment increased T gondii-specific IgA serum levels in infected mice. CONCLUSIONS S venezuelensis antigen extract has anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory properties during T gondii infection suggesting as a possible alternative to parasite and inflammation control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Cristina Borges Araujo
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brasil
| | - Yusmaris Cariaco
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brasil
| | - Marcos Paulo Oliveira Almeida
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brasil
| | | | - José Eduardo Neto de Sousa
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico de Parasitoses, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brasil
| | - Wânia Rezende Lima
- Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Catalão, Rua Terezinha Margon Vaz, s/n Residencial Barka II, Catalão, Brasil
| | - Julia Maria Costa-Cruz
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico de Parasitoses, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brasil
| | - Neide Maria Silva
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brasil
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Midha A, Ebner F, Schlosser-Brandenburg J, Rausch S, Hartmann S. Trilateral Relationship: Ascaris, Microbiota, and Host Cells. Trends Parasitol 2020; 37:251-262. [PMID: 33008723 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ascariasis is a globally spread intestinal nematode infection of humans and a considerable concern in pig husbandry. Ascaris accomplishes a complex body migration from the intestine via the liver and lung before returning to the intestine. Tissue migration and the habitat shared with a complex microbial community pose the question of how the nematode interacts with microbes and host cells from various tissues. This review addresses the current knowledge of the trilateral relationship between Ascaris, its microbial environment, and host cells, and discusses novel approaches targeting these interactions to combat this widespread infection of livestock and man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Midha
- Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, D-14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Ebner
- Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, D-14163 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian Rausch
- Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, D-14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, D-14163 Berlin, Germany.
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21
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Schrom EC, Levin SA, Graham AL. Quorum sensing via dynamic cytokine signaling comprehensively explains divergent patterns of effector choice among helper T cells. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008051. [PMID: 32730250 PMCID: PMC7392205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the animal kingdom, various forms of swarming enable groups of autonomous individuals to transform uncertain information into unified decisions which are probabilistically beneficial. Crossing scales from individual to group decisions requires dynamically accumulating signals among individuals. In striking parallel, the mammalian immune system is also a group of decentralized autonomous units (i.e. cells) which collectively navigate uncertainty with the help of dynamically accumulating signals (i.e. cytokines). Therefore, we apply techniques of understanding swarm behavior to a decision-making problem in the mammalian immune system, namely effector choice among CD4+ T helper (Th) cells. We find that incorporating dynamic cytokine signaling into a simple model of Th differentiation comprehensively explains divergent observations of this process. The plasticity and heterogeneity of individual Th cells, the tunable mixtures of effector types that can be generated in vitro, and the polarized yet updateable group effector commitment often observed in vivo are all explained by the same set of underlying molecular rules. These rules reveal that Th cells harness dynamic cytokine signaling to implement a system of quorum sensing. Quorum sensing, in turn, may confer adaptive advantages on the mammalian immune system, especially during coinfection and during coevolution with manipulative parasites. This highlights a new way of understanding the mammalian immune system as a cellular swarm, and it underscores the power of collectives throughout nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward C. Schrom
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Simon A. Levin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Andrea L. Graham
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
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22
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Prior Toxoplasma Gondii Infection Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis Induced by Schistosoma Japonicum through Inhibiting Th2 Response and Improving Balance of Intestinal Flora in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082711. [PMID: 32295161 PMCID: PMC7216211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is an immunopathogenic disease in which a T helper (Th) cell type 2-like response plays vital roles. Hepatic fibrosis is its main pathologic manifestations, which is the leading cause of hepatic cirrhosis. Co-infections of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) with other pathogens are frequently encountered but are easily ignored in clinical studies, and effective therapeutic interventions are lacking. In this study, we explored the effect of Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) prior infection on Th1/Th2 response, community shifts in gut microbiome (GM), and the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis in murine hosts. Mice were prior infected with Tg before Sj infection. The effects of co-infection on Th1/Th2 response and hepatic fibrosis were analyzed. Furthermore, we investigated this issue by sequencing 16S rRNA from fecal specimens to define the GM profiles during co-infection. Tg prior infection markedly reduced the granuloma size and collagen deposit in livers against Sj infection. Prior infection promoted a shift toward Th1 immune response instead of Th2. Furthermore, Tg infection promoted the expansion of preponderant flora and Clostridiaceae was identified as a feature marker in the GM of the co-infection group. Redundancy analysis (RDA)/canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) results showed that liver fibrosis, Th1/Th2 cytokines were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with the GM compositions. Tg infection inhibits hepatic fibrosis by downregulating Th2 immune response against Sj infection, and further promotes the GM shifts through "gut-liver axis" in the murine hosts. Our study may provide insights into potential anti-fibrosis strategies in co-infection individuals.
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Giardia spp. promote the production of antimicrobial peptides and attenuate disease severity induced by attaching and effacing enteropathogens via the induction of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:263-275. [PMID: 32184085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Polymicrobial infections of the gastro-intestinal tract are common in areas with poor sanitation. Disease outcome is the result of complex interactions between the host and pathogens. Such interactions lie at the core of future management strategies of enteric diseases. In developed countries of the world, Giardia duodenalis is a common cause of diarrheal disease. In contrast, giardiasis appears to protect children against diarrhea in countries with poor sanitation, via obscure mechanisms. We hypothesized that Giardia may protect its host from disease induced by a co-infecting pathogen such as attaching and effacing Escherichia coli. This enteropathogen is commonly implicated in pediatric diarrhea in developing countries. The findings indicate that co-infection with Giardia attenuates the severity of disease induced by Citrobacter rodentium, an equivalent of A/E E. coli in mice. Co-infection with Giardia reduced colitis, blood in stools, fecal softening, bacterial invasion, and weight loss; the protective effects were lost when co-infection occurred in Nod-like receptor pyrin-containing 3 knockout mice. In co-infected mice, elevated levels of antimicrobial peptides Murine β defensin 3 and Trefoil Factor 3, and enhanced bacterial killing, were NLRP3-dependent. Inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome in human enterocytes blocked the activation of AMPs and bacterial killing. The findings uncover novel NLRP3-dependent modulatory mechanisms during co-infections with Giardia spp. and A/E enteropathogens, and demonstrate how these interactions may regulate the severity of enteric disease.
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Jackson CM, Mukherjee S, Wilburn AN, Cates C, Lewkowich IP, Deshmukh H, Zacharias WJ, Chougnet CA. Pulmonary Consequences of Prenatal Inflammatory Exposures: Clinical Perspective and Review of Basic Immunological Mechanisms. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1285. [PMID: 32636848 PMCID: PMC7318112 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chorioamnionitis, a potentially serious inflammatory complication of pregnancy, is associated with the development of an inflammatory milieu within the amniotic fluid surrounding the developing fetus. When chorioamnionitis occurs, the fetal lung finds itself in the unique position of being constantly exposed to the consequent inflammatory meditators and/or microbial products found in the amniotic fluid. This exposure results in significant changes to the fetal lung, such as increased leukocyte infiltration, altered cytokine, and surfactant production, and diminished alveolarization. These alterations can have potentially lasting impacts on lung development and function. However, studies to date have only begun to elucidate the association between such inflammatory exposures and lifelong consequences such as lung dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of and fetal immune response to chorioamnionitis, detail the consequences of chorioamnionitis exposure on the developing fetal lung, highlighting the various animal models that have contributed to our current understanding and discuss the importance of fetal exposures in regard to the development of chronic respiratory disease. Finally, we focus on the clinical, basic, and therapeutic challenges in fetal inflammatory injury to the lung, and propose next steps and future directions to improve our therapeutic understanding of this important perinatal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M. Jackson
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Shibabrata Mukherjee
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Adrienne N. Wilburn
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Chris Cates
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Ian P. Lewkowich
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Hitesh Deshmukh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Neonatology/Pulmonary Biology, The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - William J. Zacharias
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Neonatology/Pulmonary Biology, The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Claire A. Chougnet
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Claire A. Chougnet
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25
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French T, Düsedau HP, Steffen J, Biswas A, Ahmed N, Hartmann S, Schüler T, Schott BH, Dunay IR. Neuronal impairment following chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection is aggravated by intestinal nematode challenge in an IFN-γ-dependent manner. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:159. [PMID: 31352901 PMCID: PMC6661741 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1539-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It has become increasingly evident that the immune and nervous systems are closely intertwined, relying on one another during regular homeostatic conditions. Prolonged states of imbalance between neural and immune homeostasis, such as chronic neuroinflammation, are associated with a higher risk for neural damage. Toxoplasma gondii is a highly successful neurotropic parasite causing persistent subclinical neuroinflammation, which is associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Little is known, however, by what means neuroinflammation and the associated neural impairment can be modulated by peripheral inflammatory processes. Methods Expression of immune and synapse-associated genes was assessed via quantitative real-time PCR to investigate how T. gondii infection-induced chronic neuroinflammation and associated neuronal alterations can be reshaped by a subsequent acute intestinal nematode co-infection. Immune cell subsets were characterized via flow cytometry in the brain of infected mice. Sulfadiazine and interferon-γ-neutralizing antibody were applied to subdue neuroinflammation. Results Neuroinflammation induced by T. gondii infection of mice was associated with increased microglia activation, recruitment of immune cells into the brain exhibiting Th1 effector functions, and enhanced production of Th1 and pro-inflammatory molecules (IFN-γ, iNOS, IL-12, TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β) following co-infection with Heligmosomoides polygyrus. The accelerated cerebral Th1 immune response resulted in enhanced T. gondii removal but exacerbated the inflammation-related decrease of synapse-associated gene expression. Synaptic proteins EAAT2 and GABAAα1, which are involved in the excitation/inhibition balance in the CNS, were affected in particular. These synaptic alterations were partially recovered by reducing neuroinflammation indirectly via antiparasitic treatment and especially by application of IFN-γ-neutralizing antibody. Impaired iNOS expression following IFN-γ neutralization directly affected EAAT2 and GABAAα1 signaling, thus contributing to the microglial regulation of neurons. Besides, reduced CD36, TREM2, and C1qa gene expression points toward inflammation induced synaptic pruning as a fundamental mechanism. Conclusion Our results suggest that neuroimmune responses following chronic T. gondii infection can be modulated by acute enteric nematode co-infection. While consecutive co-infection promotes parasite elimination in the CNS, it also adversely affects gene expression of synaptic proteins, via an IFN-γ-dependent manner. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-019-1539-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy French
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Henning Peter Düsedau
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Steffen
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Aindrila Biswas
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Norus Ahmed
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Schüler
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Björn H Schott
- Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
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26
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Wang AW, Avramopoulos D, Lori A, Mulle J, Conneely K, Powers A, Duncan E, Almli L, Massa N, McGrath J, Schwartz AC, Goes FS, Weng L, Wang R, Yolken R, Ruczinski I, Gillespie CF, Jovanovic T, Ressler K, Pulver AE, Pearce BD. Genome-wide association study in two populations to determine genetic variants associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection and relationship to schizophrenia risk. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 92:133-147. [PMID: 30610941 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
T. gondii (TOXO) infects over one billion people worldwide, yet the literature lacks a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) focused on genetic variants controlling the persistence of TOXO infection. To identify putative T. gondii susceptibility genes, we performed a GWAS using IgG seropositivity as the outcome variable in a discovery sample (n = 790) from an Ashkenazi dataset, and a second sample of predominately African Americans (The Grady Trauma Project, n = 285). We also performed a meta-analyses of the 2 cohorts. None of the SNPs in these analyses was statistically significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. In the Ashkenazi population, the gene region of CHIA (chitinase) showed the most nominally significant association with TOXO. Prior studies have shown that the production of chitinase by macrophages in the brain responding to TOXO infection is crucial for controlling the burden of T. gondii cysts. We found a surprising number of genes involved in neurodevelopment and psychiatric disorders among our top hits even though our outcome variable was TOXO infection. In the meta-analysis combining the Ashkenazi and Grady Trauma Project samples, there was enrichment for genes implicated in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (p < .05). Upon limiting our sample to those without mental illness, two schizophrenia related genes (CNTNAP2, GABAR2) still had significant TOXO-associated variants at the p < .05 level, but did not pass the genome wide significance threshold after correction for multiple comparisons. Using Ingenuity Systems molecular network analysis, we identified molecular nodes suggesting that while different genetic variants associated with TOXO in the two population samples, the molecular pathways for TOXO susceptibility nevertheless converged on common pathways. Molecular nodes in these common pathways included NOTCH1, CD44, and RXRA. Prior studies show that CD44 participates in TOXO-induced immunopathology and that RXRA is instrumental in regulating T-helper immune responses. These data provide new insights into the pathophysiology of this common neurotropic parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex W Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - Dimitrios Avramopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adriana Lori
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jennifer Mulle
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Karen Conneely
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - Erica Duncan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, United States
| | - Lynn Almli
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - Nicholas Massa
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, United States
| | - John McGrath
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ann C Schwartz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - Fernando S Goes
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lei Weng
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - Ruihua Wang
- McKusick Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Robert Yolken
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ingo Ruczinski
- Bloomberg School of Public Heath, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Charles F Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - Kerry Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard School of Medicine, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Ann E Pulver
- Bloomberg School of Public Heath, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brad D Pearce
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
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27
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Lee DH, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Lee SH, Quan FS. Previous Infection with Plasmodium berghei Confers Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Mice. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 57:93-99. [PMID: 31104401 PMCID: PMC6526213 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.2.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Both Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are important apicomplexan parasites, which infect humans worldwide. Genetic analyses have revealed that 33% of amino acid sequences of inner membrane complex from the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei is similar to that of Toxoplasma gondii. Inner membrane complex is known to be involved in cell invasion and replication. In this study, we investigated the resistance against T. gondii (ME49) infection induced by previously infected P. berghei (ANKA) in mice. Levels of T. gondii-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody responses, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations were found higher in the mice infected with P. berghei (ANKA) and challenged with T. gondii (ME49) compared to that in control mice infected with T. gondii alone (ME49). P. berghei (ANKA) + T. gondii (ME49) group showed significantly reduced the number and size of T. gondii (ME49) cysts in the brains of mice, resulting in lower body weight loss compared to ME49 control group. These results indicate that previous exposure to P. berghei (ANKA) induce resistance to subsequent T. gondii (ME49) infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Hun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul 02447, Korea.,Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate school, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
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28
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Delgado Betancourt E, Hamid B, Fabian BT, Klotz C, Hartmann S, Seeber F. From Entry to Early Dissemination- Toxoplasma gondii's Initial Encounter With Its Host. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:46. [PMID: 30891433 PMCID: PMC6411707 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic intracellular parasite, able to infect any warm-blooded animal via ingestion of infective stages, either contained in tissue cysts or oocysts released into the environment. While immune responses during infection are well-studied, there is still limited knowledge about the very early infection events in the gut tissue after infection via the oral route. Here we briefly discuss differences in host-specific responses following infection with oocyst-derived sporozoites vs. tissue cyst-derived bradyzoites. A focus is given to innate intestinal defense mechanisms and early immune cell events that precede T. gondii's dissemination in the host. We propose stem cell-derived intestinal organoids as a model to study early events of natural host-pathogen interaction. These offer several advantages such as live cell imaging and transcriptomic profiling of the earliest invasion processes. We additionally highlight the necessity of an appropriate large animal model reflecting human infection more closely than conventional infection models, to study the roles of dendritic cells and macrophages during early infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Hamid
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt T Fabian
- FG 16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Klotz
- FG 16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seeber
- FG 16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
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29
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Diversity of Toxoplasma gondii strains shaped by commensal communities of small mammals. Int J Parasitol 2018; 49:267-275. [PMID: 30578812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Commensal rodent species are key reservoirs for Toxoplasma gondii in the domestic environment. In rodents, different T. gondii strains show variable patterns of virulence according to host species. Toxoplasma gondii strains causing non-lethal chronic infections in local hosts will be more likely to persist in a given environment, but few studies have addressed the possible role of these interactions in shaping the T. gondii population structure. In addition, the absence of validated techniques for upstream detection of T. gondii chronic infection in wild rodents hinders exploration of this issue under natural conditions. In this study, we took advantage of an extensive survey of commensal small mammals in three coastal localities of Senegal, with a species assemblage constituted of both native African species and invasive species. We tested 828 individuals for T. gondii chronic infection using the modified agglutination test for antibody detection in serum samples and a quantitative PCR assay for detection of T. gondii DNA in brain samples. The infecting T. gondii strains were genotyped whenever possible by the analysis of 15 microsatellite markers. We found (i) a very poor concordance between molecular detection and serology in the invasive house mouse, (ii) significantly different levels of prevalence by species and (iii) the autochthonous T. gondii Africa 1 lineage strains, which are lethal for laboratory mice, only in the native African species of commensal small mammals. Overall, this study highlights the need to reconsider the use of MAT serology in natural populations of house mice and provides the first known data about T. gondii genetic diversity in invasive and native species of small mammals from Africa. In light of these results, we discuss the role of invasive and native species, with their variable adaptations to different T. gondii strains, in shaping the spatial structure of T. gondii genetic diversity in Africa.
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30
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Mabbott NA. The Influence of Parasite Infections on Host Immunity to Co-infection With Other Pathogens. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2579. [PMID: 30467504 PMCID: PMC6237250 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites have evolved a wide range of mechanisms that they use to evade or manipulate the host's immune response and establish infection. The majority of the in vivo studies that have investigated these host-parasite interactions have been undertaken in experimental animals, especially rodents, which were housed and maintained to a high microbiological status. However, in the field situation it is increasingly apparent that pathogen co-infections within the same host are a common occurrence. For example, chronic infection with pathogens including malarial parasites, soil-transmitted helminths, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and viruses such as HIV may affect a third of the human population of some developing countries. Increasing evidence shows that co-infection with these pathogens may alter susceptibility to other important pathogens, and/or influence vaccine efficacy through their effects on host immune responsiveness. Co-infection with certain pathogens may also hinder accurate disease diagnosis. This review summarizes our current understanding of how the host's immune response to infection with different types of parasites can influence susceptibility to infection with other pathogenic microorganisms. A greater understanding of how infectious disease susceptibility and pathogenesis can be influenced by parasite co-infections will enhance disease diagnosis and the design of novel vaccines or therapeutics to more effectively control the spread of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A Mabbott
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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31
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Affinass N, Zhang H, Löhning M, Hartmann S, Rausch S. Manipulation of the balance between Th2 and Th2/1 hybrid cells affects parasite nematode fitness in mice. Eur J Immunol 2018; 48:1958-1964. [PMID: 30267404 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201847639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
T-helper type 2 (Th2) responses are central to the control of helminth infections, but sensitive to opposing cytokine signals favoring Th1 priming. We previously reported on GATA-3+ T-bet+ Th2/1 hybrid cell differentiation in helminth mono-infections, resulting in a substantial proportion of cells coproducing IFN-γ next to Th2 cytokines. Here, we demonstrate Th2/1 cells as the major source of parasite-specific IFN-γ production in acute and chronic infections with the enteric nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Th2/1 cells differentiated from naive precursors and accumulated in spleen and intestine of infected mice, resulting in increased systemic and mucosal IFN-γ production. IFN-γ supplementation early during infection supported Th2/1 differentiation, associated with elevated parasite fecundity and the maintenance of high worm burdens in the chronic stage of infection, whereas mice lacking IFN-γ signals generated poor Th2/1 responses and restricted parasite fecundity more efficiently. These findings suggest that Th2/1 hybrid responses take part in immune regulation during helminth infection and restrain effective anti-helminth immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Affinass
- Institute of Immunology, Centre of Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Institute of Immunology, Centre of Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Max Löhning
- Experimental Immunology, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Pitzer Laboratory of Osteoarthritis Research, German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Institute of Immunology, Centre of Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Rausch
- Institute of Immunology, Centre of Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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32
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González-Sánchez ME, Cuquerella M, Alunda JM. Superimposed visceral leishmanial infection aggravates response to Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:404. [PMID: 29996937 PMCID: PMC6042253 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2987-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Polyparasitism is the rule in all animal species, including humans, and has an important role in pathogenicity, diagnosis and control measures. Among them, co-infections by gastrointestinal helminths and protists are very prevalent under natural conditions but experimental infections are relatively scarce. Thus, despite the frequent association of visceral Leishmania infections and intestinal helminth parasitism the experimental co-infection has not been addressed. Heligmosomoides polygyrus, an intestinal nematode of mice, is related to other helminths causing important pathologies and is a model species for immunological studies. Mice are valuable experimental model for visceral leishmaniasis. Methods BALB/c mice infected with H. polygyrus (200 third-stage larvae, L3) were subsequently infected seven days later with Leishmania infantum (107 promastigotes) with the aim of determining the effect of the overinfection on the host response to the primary infection with the helminth. Results Overinfection with the protist did not affect the establishment rate of the nematode but induced a higher fecal egg output. Helminth burdens in co-infected animals were significant at the end of the experiment. Early unspecific immune suppression induced by the nematode in mesenteric lymph nodes was not switched by L. infantum infection. Co-infection elicited a higher serum antibody (IgG1) response against the helminth. Conclusions Visceral leishmanial overinfection aggravated the early host response against primary infections with the intestinal helminth. This effect was evidenced by an increased longevity and higher production of non-protective antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E González-Sánchez
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Hospital Doce de Octubre, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Cuquerella
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Hospital Doce de Octubre, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - J M Alunda
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Hospital Doce de Octubre, Avda. Andalucía s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.
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33
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Stutzer C, Richards SA, Ferreira M, Baron S, Maritz-Olivier C. Metazoan Parasite Vaccines: Present Status and Future Prospects. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:67. [PMID: 29594064 PMCID: PMC5859119 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic parasites and pathogens continue to cause some of the most detrimental and difficult to treat diseases (or disease states) in both humans and animals, while also continuously expanding into non-endemic countries. Combined with the ever growing number of reports on drug-resistance and the lack of effective treatment programs for many metazoan diseases, the impact that these organisms will have on quality of life remain a global challenge. Vaccination as an effective prophylactic treatment has been demonstrated for well over 200 years for bacterial and viral diseases. From the earliest variolation procedures to the cutting edge technologies employed today, many protective preparations have been successfully developed for use in both medical and veterinary applications. In spite of the successes of these applications in the discovery of subunit vaccines against prokaryotic pathogens, not many targets have been successfully developed into vaccines directed against metazoan parasites. With the current increase in -omics technologies and metadata for eukaryotic parasites, target discovery for vaccine development can be expedited. However, a good understanding of the host/vector/pathogen interface is needed to understand the underlying biological, biochemical and immunological components that will confer a protective response in the host animal. Therefore, systems biology is rapidly coming of age in the pursuit of effective parasite vaccines. Despite the difficulties, a number of approaches have been developed and applied to parasitic helminths and arthropods. This review will focus on key aspects of vaccine development that require attention in the battle against these metazoan parasites, as well as successes in the field of vaccine development for helminthiases and ectoparasites. Lastly, we propose future direction of applying successes in pursuit of next generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Stutzer
- Tick Vaccine Group, Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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