1
|
Wanji S, Chunda VC, Fombad FF, Jélil Njouendou A, Gandjui NVT, Ritter M, Enyong PA, Mackenzie C, Taylor MJ, Hoerauf A, Turner JD. Advances in preclinical platforms of Loa loa for filarial neglected tropical disease drug and diagnostics research. Front Trop Dis 2021; 2:778724. [PMID: 38654889 PMCID: PMC7615857 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2021.778724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The tropical disease, loiasis, caused by the filarial parasite, Loa, has gained prominence in global public health as a cause of excess mortality and a barrier to the elimination of the related prioritized neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, within Central Africa. There are no effective drug cures or vaccines available to treat loiasis safely. Here we review recent advances in loiasis preclinical platform technologies, including novel in vitro culturing systems, animal models and innovations in experimental infections of the L. loa vector, Chrysops, that have facilitated access to all L. loa filarial life-cycle stages. We detail applications of these new model systems in anti-filarial drug screening, diagnostic development, immunology, and pathophysiology research. Finally, we provide an overview of how loiasis preclinical platforms may be further utilized in translational medicine applications to support the development of much needed new interventions against filarial NTDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Wanji
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Valerine Chawa Chunda
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Fanny Fri Fombad
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Abdel Jélil Njouendou
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Narcisse Victor T. Gandjui
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter A. Enyong
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Charles Mackenzie
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Center l The Task Force for Global Health, 325 Swanton Way, Decatur, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research and Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Bonn-Cologne partner site, Bonn, Germany
| | - Joseph D Turner
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research and Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
The morphologic similarities of the microfilariae and their infrequency in clinical specimens in settings of endemicity present challenges to clinical laboratories in maintaining competence for accurate identification and differentiation. We present here a review of the primary filarial nematodes causing human infection, including an illustrated key, which we hope will improve the diagnostic capabilities of hematologists, microbiologists, medical technologists, and similarly qualified laboratorians.
Collapse
|
3
|
Makepeace BL, Babayan SA, Lustigman S, Taylor DW. The case for vaccine development in the strategy to eradicate river blindness (onchocerciasis) from Africa. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 14:1163-5. [PMID: 26091691 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.1059281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Onchocerciasis or river blindness is a neglected parasitic disease causing severe dermatitis and visual impairment, predominantly in Africa. Historically, onchocerciasis control targeted vector breeding sites, but the current strategy relies on mass administration of a single drug, ivermectin. As programmatic goals shift from reducing public health impact to active elimination, sole reliance on ivermectin is threatened by contraindications in areas coendemic for loiasis, an inability to break transmission in some foci, and the emergence of drug resistance. Here, we argue that prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines would accelerate elimination efforts and safeguard the enormous strides made in onchocerciasis control. These vaccines could be based on one or more of three lead candidates identified by a newly formed transatlantic partnership, The Onchocerciasis Vaccine for Africa Initiative.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Garrett CA, Barri M, Kuta A, Soura V, Deng W, Fisher EMC, Schiavo G, Hafezparast M. DYNC1H1 mutation alters transport kinetics and ERK1/2-cFos signalling in a mouse model of distal spinal muscular atrophy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 137:1883-93. [PMID: 24755273 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the heavy chain subunit (DYNC1H1) of cytoplasmic dynein cause spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and intellectual disability. We used the legs at odd angles (Loa) (DYNC1H1(F580Y)) mouse model for spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance and a combination of live-cell imaging and biochemical assays to show that the velocity of dynein-dependent microtubule minus-end (towards the nucleus) movement of EGF and BDNF induced signalling endosomes is significantly reduced in Loa embryonic fibroblasts and motor neurons. At the same time, the number of the plus-end (towards the cell periphery) moving endosomes is increased in the mutant cells. As a result, the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 activation and c-Fos expression are altered in both mutant cell types, but the motor neurons exhibit a strikingly abnormal ERK1/2 and c-Fos response to serum-starvation induced stress. These data highlight the cell-type specific ERK1/2 response as a possible contributory factor in the neuropathological nature of Dync1h1 mutations, despite generic aberrant kinetics in both cell types, providing an explanation for how mutations in the ubiquitously expressed DYNC1H1 cause neuron-specific disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Garrett
- 1 School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Muruj Barri
- 1 School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Anna Kuta
- 2 Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Violetta Soura
- 1 School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Wenhan Deng
- 1 School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- 2 Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- 3 Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Majid Hafezparast
- 1 School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| |
Collapse
|