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Tamadaho RSE, Osei-Mensah J, Arndts K, Debrah LB, Debrah AY, Layland LE, Hoerauf A, Pfarr K, Ritter M. Reduced Type 2 Innate Lymphocyte Cell Frequencies in Patent Wuchereria bancrofti-Infected Individuals. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050665. [PMID: 37242335 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 51 million individuals suffer from lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused mainly by the filarial worm Wuchereria bancrofti. Mass drug administration (MDA) programs led to a significant reduction in the number of infected individuals, but the consequences of the treatment and clearance of infection in regard to host immunity remain uncertain. Thus, this study investigates the composition of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), macrophage subsets and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), in patent (circulating filarial antigen (CFA)+ microfilariae (MF)+) and latent (CFA+MF-) W. bancrofti-infected individuals, previously W. bancrofti-infected (PI) individuals cured of the infection due to MDA, uninfected controls (endemic normal (EN)) and individuals who suffer from lymphoedema (LE) from the Western Region of Ghana. Frequencies of ILC2 were significantly reduced in W. bancrofti-infected individuals, while the frequencies of MDSCs, M2 macrophages, ILC1 and ILC3 were comparable between the cohorts. Importantly, clearance of infection due to MDA restored the ILC2 frequencies, suggesting that ILC2 subsets might migrate to the site of infection within the lymphatic tissue. In general, the immune cell composition in individuals who cured the infection were comparable to the uninfected individuals, showing that filarial-driven changes of the immune responses require an active infection and are not maintained upon the clearance of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth S E Tamadaho
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jubin Osei-Mensah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), UPO, PMB, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, UPO, PMB, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Kathrin Arndts
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), UPO, PMB, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, UPO, PMB, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Alexander Y Debrah
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, UPO, PMB, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Laura E Layland
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
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Karunakaran I, Ritter M, Pfarr K, Klarmann-Schulz U, Debrah AY, Debrah LB, Katawa G, Wanji S, Specht S, Adjobimey T, Hübner MP, Hoerauf A. Filariasis research - from basic research to drug development and novel diagnostics, over a decade of research at the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Bonn, Germany. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2023; 4:1126173. [PMID: 38655130 PMCID: PMC7615856 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1126173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Filariae are vector borne parasitic nematodes, endemic in tropical and subtropical regions causing avoidable infections ranging from asymptomatic to stigmatizing and disfiguring disease. The filarial species that are the major focus of our institution's research are Onchocerca volvulus causing onchocerciasis (river blindness), Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia spp. causing lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), Loa loa causing loiasis (African eye worm), and Mansonella spp causing mansonellosis. This paper aims to showcase the contribution of our institution and our collaborating partners to filarial research and covers decades of long research spanning basic research using the Litomosoides sigmodontis animal model to development of drugs and novel diagnostics. Research with the L. sigmodontis model has been extensively useful in elucidating protective immune responses against filariae as well as in identifying the mechanisms of filarial immunomodulation during metabolic, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany has also been actively involved in translational research in contributing to the identification of new drug targets and pre-clinical drug research with successful and ongoing partnership with sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Ghana (the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR)), Cameroon (University of Buea (UB)) and Togo (Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Contrôle de Qualité des Denrées Alimentaires (LAMICODA)), Asia and industry partners. Further, in the direction of developing novel diagnostics that are sensitive, time, and labour saving, we have developed sensitive qPCRs as well as LAMP assays and are currently working on artificial intelligence based histology analysis for onchocerciasis. The article also highlights our ongoing research and the need for novel animal models and new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indulekha Karunakaran
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ute Klarmann-Schulz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Yaw Debrah
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Gnatoulma Katawa
- Unité de Recherche en Immunologie et Immunomodulation (UR2IM)/Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Contrôle de Qualité des Denrées Alimentaires (LAMICODA), Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Biologiques et Alimentaires, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Parasites and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tomabu Adjobimey
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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Venugopal G, O'Regan NL, Babu S, Schumann RR, Srikantam A, Merle R, Hartmann S, Steinfelder S. Association of a PD-L2 Gene Polymorphism with Chronic Lymphatic Filariasis in a South Indian Cohort. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019; 100:344-350. [PMID: 30594267 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic infection, caused by three closely related nematodes, namely Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. Previously, we have shown that lysate from B. malayi microfilariae induces the expression of interleukin (IL)-10 and programmed death-ligand (PD-L) 1 on monocytes, which lead to inhibition of CD4+ T-cell responses. In this study, we investigated associations of IL-10 and programmed cell death (PD)-1 pathway gene polymorphisms with clinical manifestation in LF. We evaluated the frequency of alleles and genotypes of IL-10 (rs3024496, rs1800872), IL-10RA (rs3135932), IL-10RB (rs2834167), PD-1 (rs2227982, rs10204525), PD-L1 (rs4143815), PD-L2 (rs7854413), and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 103 patients with chronic pathology (CP), such as elephantiasis or hydrocele and 106 endemic normal (EN) individuals from a South Indian population living in an area endemic for LF. Deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were tested, and we found a significant difference between the frequency of polymorphisms in PD-L2 (rs7854413; P < 0.001) and IL-10RB (rs2834167; P = 0.012) between the CP and the EN group, whereas there were no significant differences found among IL-10, IL-10RA, PD-1, and PD-L1 SNPs. A multivariate analysis showed that the existence of a CC genotype in PD-L2 SNP rs7854413 is associated with a higher risk of developing CP (OR: 2.942; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.957-9.046; P = 0.06). Altogether, these data indicate that a genetically determined individual difference in a non-synonymous missense SNP of PD-L2 might influence the susceptibility to CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopinath Venugopal
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Noëlle L O'Regan
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Subash Babu
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), International Centre for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
| | - Ralf R Schumann
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aparna Srikantam
- Blue Peter Public Health and Research Centre, LEPRA Society, Hyderabad, India
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Svenja Steinfelder
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neural Circuits and Behavior, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the angiogenic and lymphangiogenic pathways are associated with lymphedema caused by Wuchereria bancrofti. Hum Genomics 2017; 11:26. [PMID: 29122006 PMCID: PMC5679374 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-017-0121-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lymphedema (LE) is a chronic clinical manifestation of filarial nematode infections characterized by lymphatic dysfunction and subsequent accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the interstitial space—lymphatic filariasis. A number of studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with primary and secondary LE. To assess SNPs associated with LE caused by lymphatic filariasis, a cross-sectional study of unrelated Ghanaian volunteers was designed to genotype SNPs in 285 LE patients as cases and 682 infected patients without pathology as controls. One hundred thirty-one SNPs in 64 genes were genotyped. The genes were selected based on their roles in inflammatory processes, angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis, and cell differentiation during tumorigenesis. Results Genetic associations with nominal significance were identified for five SNPs in three genes: vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) rs75614493, two SNPs in matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) rs1030868 and rs2241145, and two SNPs in carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule-1 (CEACAM-1) rs8110904 and rs8111171. Pathway analysis revealed an interplay of genes in the angiogenic/lymphangiogenic pathways. Plasma levels of both MMP-2 and CEACAM-1 were significantly higher in LE cases compared to controls. Functional characterization of the associated SNPs identified genotype GG of CEACAM-1 as the variant influencing the expression of plasma concentration, a novel finding observed in this study. Conclusion The SNP associations found in the MMP-2, CEACAM-1, and VEGFR-3 genes indicate that angiogenic/lymphangiogenic pathways are important in LE clinical development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40246-017-0121-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Ritter M, Tamadaho RS, Feid J, Vogel W, Wiszniewsky K, Perner S, Hoerauf A, Layland LE. IL-4/5 signalling plays an important role during Litomosoides sigmodontis infection, influencing both immune system regulation and tissue pathology in the thoracic cavity. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:951-960. [PMID: 28859850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 100 million people suffer from filarial diseases including lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness) and loiasis. These diseases are amongst the most devastating of the neglected tropical diseases in terms of social and economic impact. Moreover, many infection-induced immune mechanisms in the host, their relationship to disease-related symptoms and the development of pathology within the site of infection remain unclear. To improve on current drug therapies or vaccines, further studies are necessary to decipher the mechanisms behind filaria-driven immune responses and pathology development, and thus the rodent model of Litomosoides sigmodontis can be used to unravel host-filaria interactions. Interestingly, BALB/c mice develop a patent state (release of microfilariae, the transmission life-stage, into the periphery) when exposed to L. sigmodontis. Thus, using this model, we determined levels of host inflammation and pathology development during a L. sigmodontis infection in vivo for the first known time. Our study reveals that after 30days p.i., inflammation and pathology began to develop in infected wild type BALB/c mice between the lung and diaphragm, close to the site of infection - the thoracic cavity. Interestingly, infected IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- BALB/c mice had accentuated inflammation of the pleural lung and pleural diaphragm, and higher parasite burdens. Corresponding to the pleural inflammation, levels of IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MIP-2 and RANTES were significantly elevated in the thoracic cavity fluid of infected IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- mice compared with wild type controls. Moreover, upon L. sigmodontis antigen stimulation, IFN-γ and IL-17A secretions by cells isolated from draining lymph nodes of IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- mice were significantly elevated, whereas secretion of IL-5, IL-13 and IL-10 was reduced. Elevated filaria-specific IFN-γ secretion was also observed in spleen-derived CD4+ T cell co-cultures from IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- mice. In summary, this study unravels the essential role of IL-4/IL-5 signalling in controlling immunity against filarial infections and demonstrates the requirement of this pathway for the host to control ensuing pathology and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Ritter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital of Bonn, Germany
| | - Ruth S Tamadaho
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital of Bonn, Germany
| | - Judith Feid
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital of Bonn, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site, Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Wenzel Vogel
- Pathology of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck and Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Luebeck and Borstel, Germany
| | - Katharina Wiszniewsky
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital of Bonn, Germany
| | - Sven Perner
- Pathology of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck and Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Luebeck and Borstel, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital of Bonn, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site, Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Laura E Layland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital of Bonn, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site, Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
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Kwarteng A, Ahuno ST. Immunity in Filarial Infections: Lessons from Animal Models and Human Studies. Scand J Immunol 2017; 85:251-257. [DOI: 10.1111/sji.12533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kwarteng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology, PMB; Kumasi Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR); KNUST, PMB; Kumasi Ghana
| | - S. T. Ahuno
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology, PMB; Kumasi Ghana
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Kwarteng A, Ahuno ST, Akoto FO. Killing filarial nematode parasites: role of treatment options and host immune response. Infect Dis Poverty 2016; 5:86. [PMID: 27716412 PMCID: PMC5047298 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-016-0183-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is compelling evidence that not only do anti-filarials significantly reduce larval forms, but that host immune responses also contribute to the clearance of filarial parasites; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Main text Filarial infections caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia species (lymphatic filariasis) and Onchocerca volvulus (onchocerciasis) affect almost 200 million individuals worldwide and pose major public health challenges in endemic regions. Indeed, the collective disability-adjusted life years for both infections is 3.3 million. Infections with these thread-like nematodes are chronic and, although most individuals develop a regulated state, a portion develop severe forms of pathology. Mass drug administration (MDA) programmes on endemic populations focus on reducing prevalence of people with microfilariae, the worm's offspring in the blood, to less than 1 %. Although this has been successful in some areas, studies show that MDA will be required for longer than initially conceived. Conclusion This paper highlights the mode of action of the various antifilarial treatment strategies and role of host immune response. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-016-0183-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kwarteng
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), PMB, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. .,Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Samuel Terkper Ahuno
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Freda Osei Akoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana
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Caraballo L, Zakzuk J, Lee BW, Acevedo N, Soh JY, Sánchez-Borges M, Hossny E, García E, Rosario N, Ansotegui I, Puerta L, Sánchez J, Cardona V. Particularities of allergy in the Tropics. World Allergy Organ J 2016; 9:20. [PMID: 27386040 PMCID: PMC4924335 DOI: 10.1186/s40413-016-0110-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Allergic diseases are distributed worldwide and their risk factors and triggers vary according to geographical and socioeconomic conditions. Allergies are frequent in the Tropics but aspects of their prevalence, natural history, risk factors, sensitizers and triggers are not well defined and some are expected to be different from those in temperate zone countries. The aim of this review is to investigate if allergic diseases in the Tropics have particularities that deserve special attention for research and clinical practice. Such information will help to form a better understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of allergic diseases in the Tropics. As expected, we found particularities in the Tropics that merit further study because they strongly affect the natural history of common allergic diseases; most of them related to climate conditions that favor permanent exposure to mite allergens, helminth infections and stinging insects. In addition, we detected several unmet needs in important areas which should be investigated and solved by collaborative efforts led by the emergent research groups on allergy from tropical countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Caraballo
- />Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cra. 5 # 7-77, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Josefina Zakzuk
- />Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cra. 5 # 7-77, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Bee Wah Lee
- />Khoo Teck Puat- National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- />Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nathalie Acevedo
- />Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Translational Immunology Unit, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jian Yi Soh
- />Khoo Teck Puat- National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- />Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mario Sánchez-Borges
- />Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Centro Médico- Docente La Trinidad and Clínica El Avila, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Elham Hossny
- />Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Unit, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Elizabeth García
- />Allergy Section, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nelson Rosario
- />Federal University of Parana, Rua General Carneiro, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Ignacio Ansotegui
- />Department of Allergy and Immunology, Hospital Quirón Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Leonardo Puerta
- />Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cra. 5 # 7-77, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Jorge Sánchez
- />Department of Pediatrics, Graduate Program on Allergology, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Victoria Cardona
- />Allergy Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
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Chesnais CB, Sabbagh A, Pion SD, Missamou F, Garcia A, Boussinesq M. Familial Aggregation and Heritability of Wuchereria bancrofti Infection. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:587-94. [PMID: 27230098 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The familial recurrence risk of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is unknown. This case study aimed to evaluate the familial susceptibility to infection with Wuchereria bancrofti and to microfilaremia in a village of the Republic of Congo. METHODS The heritability and intrafamilial correlation coefficients were assessed for both W. bancrofti infection and microfilaremia by controlling for individual risk factors, environmental influence, and household effects. RESULTS Pedigree charts were constructed for 829 individuals, including 143 individuals with a diagnosis of W. bancrofti circulating filarial antigens (CFAs) and 44 who also had microfilariae (MF). There was no intrafamilial correlation regarding CFA levels. However, the presence of MF (ρ = 0.45) and microfilarial density (ρ = 0.44) were significantly correlated among parent-offspring pairs. Heritability estimates for CFA positivity and intensity were 0.23 and 0.18, respectively. Heritability estimates were high for microfilarial positivity (h(2) = 0.74) and microfilarial density traits (h(2) = 0.81). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that the acquisition of LF is mainly driven by environmental factors and habits and that genetic factors are moderately involved in the regulation of infection. By contrast, genetic factors play a major role in both the presence and intensity of microfilaremia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric B Chesnais
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMI 233 TransVIHMI Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, U1175 Université de Montpellier
| | - Audrey Sabbagh
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement UMR216, COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, France
| | - Sébastien D Pion
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMI 233 TransVIHMI Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, U1175 Université de Montpellier
| | - François Missamou
- Programme National de Lutte contre l'Onchocercose, Ministère de la Santé et de la Population, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
| | - André Garcia
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement UMR216, COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, France
| | - Michel Boussinesq
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMI 233 TransVIHMI Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, U1175 Université de Montpellier
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Abstract
Toxocara canis and T. cati are highly prevalent nematode infections of the intestines of dogs and cats. In paratenic hosts, larvae do not mature in the intestine but instead migrate through the somatic tissues and organs of the body. The presence of these migrating larvae can contribute to pathology. Toxocara larvae can invade the brains of humans, and while case descriptions of cerebral toxocariasis are historically rare, improved diagnosis and greater awareness have contributed to increased detection. Despite this, cerebral or neurological toxocariasis (NT) remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Furthermore, our understanding of cognitive deficits due to toxocariasis in human populations remains particularly deficient. Recent data describe an enhanced expression of biomarkers associated with brain injury, such as GFAP, AβPP, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), NF-L, S100B, tTG, and p-tau, in mice receiving even low doses of Toxocara ova. Finally, this review outlines a hypothesis to explore the relationship between the presence of T. canis larvae in the brain and the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to enhanced AD-associated neurodegenerative biomarker expression.
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Mao S, Yan B, Zhang J. Association of transforming growth factor-β1 polymorphisms with the risk of chronic kidney diseases. Ren Fail 2015; 37:304-11. [DOI: 10.3109/0886022x.2015.1077324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Sheik Y, Qureshi SF, Mohhammed B, Nallari P. FOXC2andFLT4Gene Variants in Lymphatic Filariasis. Lymphat Res Biol 2015; 13:112-9. [DOI: 10.1089/lrb.2014.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yasmeen Sheik
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | | | | | - Pratibha Nallari
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Abstract
Parasites still impose a high death and disability burden on human populations, and are therefore likely to act as selective factors for genetic adaptations. Genetic epidemiological investigation of parasitic diseases is aimed at disentangling the mechanisms underlying immunity and pathogenesis by looking for associations or linkages between loci and susceptibility phenotypes. Until recently, most studies used a candidate gene approach and were relatively underpowered, with few attempts at replicating findings in different populations. However, in the last 5 years, genome-wide and/or multicentre studies have been conducted for severe malaria, visceral leishmaniasis, and cardiac Chagas disease, providing some novel important insights. Furthermore, studies of helminth infections have repeatedly shown the involvement of common loci in regulating susceptibility to distinct diseases such as schistosomiasis, ascariasis, trichuriasis, and onchocherciasis. As more studies are conducted, evidence is increasing that at least some of the identified susceptibility loci are shared not only among parasitic diseases but also with immunological disorders such as allergy or autoimmune disease, suggesting that parasites may have played a role in driving the evolution of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- V D Mangano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy; Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy
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Bouchery T, Ehrhardt K, Lefoulon E, Hoffmann W, Bain O, Martin C. Differential tissular distribution of Litomosoides sigmodontis microfilariae between microfilaremic and amicrofilaremic mice following experimental infection. Parasite 2014. [PMID: 23193519 PMCID: PMC3671463 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2012194351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Filariases are caused by onchocercid nematodes that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. More than 180 million people are infected worldwide. Mass drug administration has been set up in many endemic areas to control the parasite burden. Although very successful in limiting microfilarial load, transmission has not been completely interrupted in such areas. A proportion of infected patients with lymphatic filariasis or loiasis are known to be amicrofilaremic, as they do not present microfilariae in their bloodstream despite the presence of adult worms. A mirror status also exists in CBA/Ca mice infected with Litomosoides sigmodontis, the well-established model of filariasis. Using this model, the goal of this study was to determine if the kinetics of blood clearance of microfilariae differed between amicrofilaremic CBA/Ca mice and microfilaremic BALB/c mice. For this purpose, a qPCR approach was devised to detect microfilariae in different tissues, after a controlled inoculation of microfilariae. We showed that the rapid clearance of microfilariae from the pleural cavity or from the bloodstream of CBA/Ca mice was associated with a massive accumulation of first stage larvae in the lungs, liver and spleen.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bouchery
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN CNRS & UMR 7205 OSEB MNHN CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris Cedex, France
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15
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Fan CK, Liao CW, Cheng YC. Factors affecting disease manifestation of toxocarosis in humans: Genetics and environment. Vet Parasitol 2013; 193:342-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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O'Neill HG, Mzilahowa T, de Deus N, Njenga SM, Mmbaga EJ, Kariuki TM. Evaluation of the European foundation initiative into African research in neglected tropical diseases by the African fellows. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2019. [PMID: 23516641 PMCID: PMC3597492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hester G O'Neill
- Department of Microbial Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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17
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Arndts K, Deininger S, Specht S, Klarmann U, Mand S, Adjobimey T, Debrah AY, Batsa L, Kwarteng A, Epp C, Taylor M, Adjei O, Layland LE, Hoerauf A. Elevated adaptive immune responses are associated with latent infections of Wuchereria bancrofti. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1611. [PMID: 22509424 PMCID: PMC3317915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to guarantee the fulfillment of their complex lifecycle, adult filarial nematodes release millions of microfilariae (MF), which are taken up by mosquito vectors. The current strategy to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem focuses upon interrupting this transmission through annual mass drug administration (MDA). It remains unclear however, how many rounds of MDA are required to achieve low enough levels of MF to cease transmission. Interestingly, with the development of further diagnostic tools a relatively neglected cohort of asymptomatic (non-lymphedema) amicrofilaremic (latent) individuals has become apparent. Indeed, epidemiological studies have suggested that there are equal numbers of patent (MF+) and latent individuals. Since the latter represent a roadblock for transmission, we studied differences in immune responses of infected asymptomatic male individuals (n = 159) presenting either patent (n = 92 MF+) or latent (n = 67 MF−) manifestations of Wuchereria bancrofti. These individuals were selected on the basis of MF, circulating filarial antigen in plasma and detectable worm nests. Immunological profiles of either Th1/Th17, Th2, regulatory or innate responses were determined after stimulation of freshly isolated PBMCs with either filarial-specific extract or bystander stimuli. In addition, levels of total and filarial-specific antibodies, both IgG subclasses and IgE, were ascertained from plasma. Results from these individuals were compared with those from 22 healthy volunteers from the same endemic area. Interestingly, we observed that in contrast to MF+ patients, latent infected individuals had lower numbers of worm nests and increased adaptive immune responses including antigen-specific IL-5. These data highlight the immunosuppressive status of MF+ individuals, regardless of age or clinical hydrocele and reveal immunological profiles associated with latency and immune-mediated suppression of parasite transmission. The tropical helminth infection lymphatic filariasis affects more than 120 million people worldwide and is considered a major public health concern. Over 90% of infections are elicited by Wucheria bancrofti and adult worms reside in the lymphatic system releasing millions of microfilariae (MF), which periodically circulate in the blood. New diagnostic tools have provided a method to determine asymptomatic patients that are amicrofilaremic: a subset of individuals that have so far been neglected but are of special interest since these patients represent a dead end in terms of parasite transmission. Therefore, we were interested in determining whether the absence of MF was associated with distinct immunological profiles and observed that indeed responses in MF+ patients were dampened. From the viewpoint of the helminth such overall suppression of immune responses may facilitate MF transmission. Latent individuals however, presented elevated filarial specific responses and extrapolating these findings to the host provides novel insight into possible protective mechanisms which either actively hinders the release of MF from worms or their travel to the periphery. Further research into these aspects may broaden the range of strategies currently employed to reduce transmission and in turn eliminate bancroftian filariasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Arndts
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Susanne Deininger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sabine Specht
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ute Klarmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sabine Mand
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tomabu Adjobimey
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Y. Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, and School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Linda Batsa
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alexander Kwarteng
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Christian Epp
- Department für Infektiologie, Parasitologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark Taylor
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ohene Adjei
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, and School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Laura E. Layland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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