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Villa-Mancera A, Maldonado-Hidalgo J, Robles-Robles M, Olivares-Pérez J, Olmedo-Juárez A, Rodríguez-Castillo J, Pérez-Mendoza N, Utrera-Quintana F, Pérez J, Ortega-Vargas S. Evaluation of Reproductive Histology Response of Adult Fasciola hepatica in Goats Vaccinated with Cathepsin L Phage-Exposed Mimotopes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7225. [PMID: 39000332 PMCID: PMC11241617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137225] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Fasciolosis, a globally re-emerging zoonotic disease, is mostly caused by the parasitic infection with Fasciola hepatica, often known as the liver fluke. This disease has a considerable impact on livestock productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the fluke burdens and faecal egg counts in goats that were administered phage clones of cathepsin L mimotopes and then infected with F. hepatica metacercariae. Additionally, the impact of vaccination on the histology of the reproductive system, specifically related to egg generation in adult parasites, was examined. A total of twenty-four goats, which were raised in sheds, were divided into four groups consisting of six animals each. These groups were randomly assigned. The goats were then subjected to two rounds of vaccination. Each vaccination involved the administration of 1 × 1013 phage particles containing specific mimotopes for cathepsin L2 (group 1: PPIRNGK), cathepsin L1 (group 2: DPWWLKQ), and cathepsin L1 (group 3: SGTFLFS). The immunisations were carried out on weeks 0 and 4, and the Quil A adjuvant was used in combination with the mimotopes. The control group was administered phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (group 4). At week 6, all groups were orally infected with 200 metacercariae of F. hepatica. At week 22 following the initial immunisation, the subjects were euthanised, and adult F. hepatica specimens were retrieved from the bile ducts and liver tissue, and subsequently quantified. The specimens underwent whole-mount histology for the examination of the reproductive system, including the testis, ovary, vitellaria, Mehlis' gland, and uterus. The mean fluke burdens following the challenge were seen to decrease by 50.4%, 62.2%, and 75.3% (p < 0.05) in goats that received vaccinations containing cathepsin L2 PPIRNGK, cathepsin L1 DPWWLKQ, and cathepsin L1 SGTFLFS, respectively. Animals that received vaccination exhibited a significant reduction in the production of parasite eggs. The levels of IgG1 and IgG2 isotypes in vaccinated goats were significantly higher than in the control group, indicating that protection is associated with the induction of a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response. The administration of cathepsin L to goats exhibits a modest level of efficacy in inducing histological impairment in the reproductive organs of liver flukes, resulting in a reduction in egg output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Villa-Mancera
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla 75460, Mexico
| | - Javier Maldonado-Hidalgo
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla 75460, Mexico
| | - Manuel Robles-Robles
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla 75460, Mexico
| | - Jaime Olivares-Pérez
- Unidad Académica de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Ciudad Altamirano 39640, Mexico
| | - Agustín Olmedo-Juárez
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad (CENID SAI-INIFAP), Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Colonia Progreso, Jiutepec 62550, Mexico
| | - José Rodríguez-Castillo
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla 75460, Mexico
| | - Noemi Pérez-Mendoza
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla 75460, Mexico
| | - Fernando Utrera-Quintana
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla 75460, Mexico
| | - José Pérez
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, Unidad de Excelencia ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Samuel Ortega-Vargas
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla 75460, Mexico
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Sánchez-López CM, González-Arce A, Ramírez-Toledo V, Bernal D, Marcilla A. Unraveling new players in helminth pathology: extracellular vesicles from Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum exert different effects on hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes. Int J Parasitol 2024:S0020-7519(24)00134-6. [PMID: 38925265 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.06.002] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum are parasitic trematodes residing in the bile ducts of mammalian hosts, causing, in some cases, impairment of liver function and hepatic fibrosis. Previous studies have shown that extracellular vesicles released by F. hepatica (FhEVs) and D. dendriticum (DdEVs) induce a distinct phenotype in human macrophages, but there is limited information on the effect of parasitic EVs on liver cells, which interact directly with the worms in natural infections. In this study, we isolated FhEVs and DdEVs by size exclusion chromatography and labeled them with a lipophilic fluorescent dye to analyze their uptake by human hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and hepatocytes, important cell types in liver pathology, using synthetic liposomes as internal labeling and uptake control. We analyzed EV uptake and the proteome profiles after the treatment with EVs for both cell types. Our results reveal that EVs establish unique and specific interactions with stellate cells and hepatocytes, suggesting a different role of EVs derived from each parasite, depending on the migration route to reach their final niche. FhEVs have a cytostatic effect on HSCs, but induce the extracellular matrix secretion and elicit anti-inflammatory responses in hepatocytes. DdEVs have a more potent anti-proliferative effect than FhEVs and trigger a global inflammatory response, increasing the levels of NF-κB and other inflammatory mediators in both cell types. These interactions may have a major influence on the progression of the disease, serving to generate conditions that may favor the establishment of the helminths in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Sánchez-López
- Área de Parasitología, Departament de Farmacia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica i Parasitologia. Universitat de València, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain; Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Health Research IIS La Fe-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Aránzazu González-Arce
- Área de Parasitología, Departament de Farmacia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica i Parasitologia. Universitat de València, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Dolores Bernal
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Antonio Marcilla
- Área de Parasitología, Departament de Farmacia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica i Parasitologia. Universitat de València, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain; Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Health Research IIS La Fe-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
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3
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Herrera-Torres G, Ruiz-Campillo MT, Bautista MJ, Martínez-Moreno FJ, Zafra R, Buffoni L, Rufino-Moya PJ, Martínez-Moreno Á, Molina-Hernández V, Pérez J. Liver Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation from Fasciola hepatica Experimentally Infected and Reinfected Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1833. [PMID: 38929451 PMCID: PMC11201016 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121833] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fasciolosis is an important economic disease of livestock. There is a global interest in the development of protective vaccines since the current anthelmintic therapy is no longer sustainable. A better knowledge of the host-parasite interaction is needed to design effective vaccines. To date, few studies have evaluated host-parasite interaction by comparing infected and reinfected animals. The present study evaluates the microscopical hepatic lesions in sheep infected and reinfected with Fasciola hepatica during the acute and chronic stages of infection. The histopathological study revealed the presence of necrotizing foci (NF1) associated with larvae migration during the early stages of infection in the primoinfected (PI) and reinfected (RI) groups. In the late stages of infection of the PI group and at the early and late stages of infection in the RI groups, extensive necrotizing/hemorrhagic foci (NF2) were found in the vicinity of enlarged bile ducts, some containing adult flukes, suggesting parasites may have caused NF2 while feeding. The immunohistochemical study revealed an increase in Foxp3+ T cells in both PI and RI groups with respect to the UC group and in the infiltrates adjacent to NF1 in the RI groups with respect to the PI group, suggesting the F. hepatica induce Foxp3 T cell expansion to facilitate parasite survival. In addition, in both the PI and RI groups, and during acute and chronic stages of the infection, a poor expression of iNOS was found accompanied by a strong expression of CD163, suggesting a marked M2 activation of macrophages in the hepatic lesions, which may be related with healing processes, and it also may facilitate parasite survival. The main differences between PI and RI animals were the more severe infiltration of eosinophils and Foxp3+ T cells, whereas RI did not modify M2 activation of macrophages which occurs since the early stages of primoinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillem Herrera-Torres
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (G.H.-T.); (M.T.R.-C.); (M.J.B.); (J.P.)
| | - María T. Ruiz-Campillo
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (G.H.-T.); (M.T.R.-C.); (M.J.B.); (J.P.)
| | - María J. Bautista
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (G.H.-T.); (M.T.R.-C.); (M.J.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Francisco J. Martínez-Moreno
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Área de Parasitología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (F.J.M.-M.); (R.Z.); (L.B.); (P.J.R.-M.); (Á.M.-M.)
| | - Rafael Zafra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Área de Parasitología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (F.J.M.-M.); (R.Z.); (L.B.); (P.J.R.-M.); (Á.M.-M.)
| | - Leandro Buffoni
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Área de Parasitología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (F.J.M.-M.); (R.Z.); (L.B.); (P.J.R.-M.); (Á.M.-M.)
| | - Pablo J. Rufino-Moya
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Área de Parasitología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (F.J.M.-M.); (R.Z.); (L.B.); (P.J.R.-M.); (Á.M.-M.)
| | - Álvaro Martínez-Moreno
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Área de Parasitología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (F.J.M.-M.); (R.Z.); (L.B.); (P.J.R.-M.); (Á.M.-M.)
| | - Verónica Molina-Hernández
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (G.H.-T.); (M.T.R.-C.); (M.J.B.); (J.P.)
| | - José Pérez
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (G.H.-T.); (M.T.R.-C.); (M.J.B.); (J.P.)
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Riera-Ferrer E, Mazanec H, Mladineo I, Konik P, Piazzon MC, Kuchta R, Palenzuela O, Estensoro I, Sotillo J, Sitjà-Bobadilla A. An inside out journey: biogenesis, ultrastructure and proteomic characterisation of the ectoparasitic flatworm Sparicotyle chrysophrii extracellular vesicles. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:175. [PMID: 38570784 PMCID: PMC10993521 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06257-x] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helminth extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to have a three-way communication function among parasitic helminths, their host and the host-associated microbiota. They are considered biological containers that may carry virulence factors, being therefore appealing as therapeutic and prophylactic target candidates. This study aims to describe and characterise EVs secreted by Sparicotyle chrysophrii (Polyopisthocotyla: Microcotylidae), a blood-feeding gill parasite of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), causing significant economic losses in Mediterranean aquaculture. METHODS To identify proteins involved in extracellular vesicle biogenesis, genomic datasets from S. chrysophrii were mined in silico using known protein sequences from Clonorchis spp., Echinococcus spp., Fasciola spp., Fasciolopsis spp., Opisthorchis spp., Paragonimus spp. and Schistosoma spp. The location and ultrastructure of EVs were visualised by transmission electron microscopy after fixing adult S. chrysophrii specimens by high-pressure freezing and freeze substitution. EVs were isolated and purified from adult S. chrysophrii (n = 200) using a newly developed ultracentrifugation-size-exclusion chromatography protocol for Polyopisthocotyla, and EVs were characterised via nanoparticle tracking analysis and tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS Fifty-nine proteins involved in EV biogenesis were identified in S. chrysophrii, and EVs compatible with ectosomes were observed in the syncytial layer of the haptoral region lining the clamps. The isolated and purified nanoparticles had a mean size of 251.8 nm and yielded 1.71 × 108 particles · mL-1. The protein composition analysis identified proteins related to peptide hydrolases, GTPases, EF-hand domain proteins, aerobic energy metabolism, anticoagulant/lipid-binding, haem detoxification, iron transport, EV biogenesis-related, vesicle-trafficking and other cytoskeletal-related proteins. Several identified proteins, such as leucyl and alanyl aminopeptidases, calpain, ferritin, dynein light chain, 14-3-3, heat shock protein 70, annexin, tubulin, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, enolase and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, have already been proposed as target candidates for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes. CONCLUSIONS We have unambiguously demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge the secretion of EVs by an ectoparasitic flatworm, inferring their biogenesis machinery at a genomic and transcriptomic level, and by identifying their location and protein composition. The identification of multiple therapeutic targets among EVs' protein repertoire provides opportunities for target-based drug discovery and vaccine development for the first time in Polyopisthocotyla (sensu Monogenea), and in a fish-ectoparasite model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Riera-Ferrer
- Fish Pathology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de La Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS, CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes, 12595, Castellón, Spain
| | - Hynek Mazanec
- Laboratory of Helminthology, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, (BC CAS), České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ivona Mladineo
- Laboratory of Functional Helminthology, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences (BC CAS), České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Konik
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1160/31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - M Carla Piazzon
- Fish Pathology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de La Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS, CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes, 12595, Castellón, Spain
| | - Roman Kuchta
- Laboratory of Helminthology, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, (BC CAS), České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Oswaldo Palenzuela
- Fish Pathology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de La Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS, CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes, 12595, Castellón, Spain
| | - Itziar Estensoro
- Fish Pathology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de La Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS, CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes, 12595, Castellón, Spain.
| | - Javier Sotillo
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ariadna Sitjà-Bobadilla
- Fish Pathology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de La Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS, CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes, 12595, Castellón, Spain
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Duan J, Zhang N, Liu S, Li J, Gong P, Wang X, Li X, Zhang X, Tang B, Zhang X. The Detection of Circulating Antigen Glutathione S-Transferase in Sheep Infected with Fasciola hepatica with Double-Antibody Sandwich Signal Amplification Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:506. [PMID: 38338149 PMCID: PMC10854876 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030506] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Fasciolosis is a global zoonotic parasitic disease caused by F. hepatica infection that is particularly harmful to cattle and sheep. A biotin-streptavidin signal amplification ELISA (streptavidin-ELISA/SA-ELISA) based on circulating antigens can allow for the early detection of F. hepatica-infected animals and is suitable for batch detection. It is considered to be a better means of detecting F. hepatica infection than traditional detection methods. In this study, using the serum of sheep artificially infected with F. hepatica, the cDNA expression library of F. hepatica was screened, 17 immunodominant antigen genes of F. hepatica were obtained, and glutathione s-transferase (GST) was selected as the candidate detection antigen. Firstly, the GST cDNA sequence was amplified from F. hepatica, followed by the preparation of recombinant protein GST (rFhGST). Then, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against rFhGST were prepared using the GST protein. Afterward, the immunolocalization of the target protein in the worm was observed via confocal microscopy, and it was found that the GST protein was localized in the uterus, intestinal tract, and body surface of F. hepatica. Finally, a double-antibody sandwich SA-ELISA based on the detection of circulating antigens was established. There was no cross-reaction with positive sera infected with Dicrocoelium lanceatum (D. lanceatum), Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus), Neospora caninum (N. caninum), or Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum). Forty serum and fecal samples from the same batch of sheep in Nong'an County, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China were analyzed using the established detection method and fecal detection method. The positive rate of the SA-ELISA was 17.5%, and the positive rate of the fecal detection method was 15%. The detection results of this method were 100% consistent with commercial ELISA kits. A total of 152 sheep serum samples were tested in Nong'an County, Changchun City, Jilin Province, and the positive rate was 5.92%. This study laid the foundation for the development of serological detection preparations for F. hepatica infection based on the detection of circulating antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bo Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (J.D.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xichen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (J.D.); (N.Z.); (X.L.)
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Rinaldi G, Paz Meseguer C, Cantacessi C, Cortés A. Form and Function in the Digenea, with an Emphasis on Host-Parasite and Parasite-Bacteria Interactions. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1454:3-45. [PMID: 39008262 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-60121-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
This review covers the general aspects of the anatomy and physiology of the major body systems in digenetic trematodes, with an emphasis on new knowledge of the area acquired since the publication of the second edition of this book in 2019. In addition to reporting on key recent advances in the morphology and physiology of tegumentary, sensory, neuromuscular, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems, and their roles in host-parasite interactions, this edition includes a section discussing the known and putative roles of bacteria in digenean biology and physiology. Furthermore, a brief discussion of current trends in the development of novel treatment and control strategies based on a better understanding of the trematode body systems and associated bacteria is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Rinaldi
- Department of Life Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Carla Paz Meseguer
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alba Cortés
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
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Cwiklinski K, McEvoy A, López Corrales J, Jewhurst H, Calvani NED, De Marco Verissimo C, Dorey AL, Keane OM, Dalton JP, Lalor R. Fasciola hepatica antioxidant and protease-inhibitor cocktail recombinant vaccines administered five times elicit potent and sustained immune responses in sheep but do not confer protection. Vet Parasitol 2023; 323:110049. [PMID: 37826973 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110049] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Our laboratory's vaccine development strategy against the livestock parasite Fasciola hepatica centres around disrupting key biological processes by combining groups of antigens with similar/complementary functional actions into a single vaccine cocktail. In this study the focus was on antioxidant protein vaccines and a protease inhibitor vaccine aimed at disrupting the parasite's ability to defend against oxidative stress and protease-inhibitor balance, respectively. Two combinations of recombinantly expressed antioxidants were assessed, namely peroxiredoxin (rFhPrx), thioredoxin (rFhTrx) and thioredoxin-glutathione reductase (rFhTGR) (Group 1) and rFhPrx, rFhTrx, and two superoxide dismutases (rFhSOD1 and rFhSOD3) (Group 2). The protease inhibitor vaccine cocktail included representatives of each of the key secreted protease inhibitor families, namely a Kunitz-type inhibitor (rFhKT1), a serpin (rFhSrp1) and a stefin, (rFhStf1) (Group 3). The vaccine combinations were formulated in adjuvant Montanide 61VG administered at five timepoints; two before experimental challenge with 60 F. hepatica metacercariae and three after infection. The vaccine combinations did not reduce the liver fluke burden, and only Group 2 displayed a marginal reduction in egg viability (8.2%). Despite previous results showing an effect of liver fluke vaccines on overall weight gain in infected animals, no significant (P value >0.05) impact on weight gain was observed in this study. Antibodies were elicited against all the vaccine antigens within the cocktails and were maintained at high levels to the end of the trial, due to our strategy of continuing vaccine administration after infection. However, these responses were not boosted by the challenge F. hepatica infection. A comparative analysis with previous vaccine data using a protease inhibitor vaccine found no repeat of the promising outcomes associated with this vaccine, indicating that the addition of rFhSrp1 to the vaccine cocktail did not improve vaccine efficacy. Assessment of liver pathology across the two trials using a modified liver enzyme score (glutamate dehydrogenase to platelet ratio) at eight weeks post infection suggests an association with liver fluke burden above 45 flukes, which could be used to predict liver pathology in future trials. The results reported in this study highlight the ambiguousness in liver fluke vaccine development and the difficulty in obtaining consistent and repeatable protection. This work stresses the need for repetition of trials and the use of sufficiently sized groups to assess vaccine efficacy with adequate statistical power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna Cwiklinski
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
| | - Amanda McEvoy
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co., Galway, Ireland
| | - Jesús López Corrales
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Heather Jewhurst
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Nichola Eliza Davies Calvani
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Carolina De Marco Verissimo
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Amber Louise Dorey
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Orla M Keane
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - John Pius Dalton
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Richard Lalor
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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8
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Sures B, Nachev M, Schwelm J, Grabner D, Selbach C. Environmental parasitology: stressor effects on aquatic parasites. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:461-474. [PMID: 37061443 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.005] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors are causing fundamental changes in aquatic habitats and to the organisms inhabiting these ecosystems. Yet, we are still far from understanding the diverse responses of parasites and their hosts to these environmental stressors and predicting how these stressors will affect host-parasite communities. Here, we provide an overview of the impacts of major stressors affecting aquatic ecosystems in the Anthropocene (habitat alteration, global warming, and pollution) and highlight their consequences for aquatic parasites at multiple levels of organisation, from the individual to the community level. We provide directions and ideas for future research to better understand responses to stressors in aquatic host-parasite systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Milen Nachev
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jessica Schwelm
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Selbach
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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