Concanavalin A-stimulated proliferation of T cell subset-depleted lymphocyte populations isolated from Fasciola hepatica-infected cattle

Fasciolosis: pathogenesis, host-parasite interactions, and implication in vaccine development

Fasciola hepatica is distributed worldwide, causing substantial economic losses in the animal husbandry industry. Human fasciolosis is an emerging zoonosis in Andean America, Asia, and Africa. The control of the disease, both in humans and animals, is based on using anthelmintic drugs, which has resulted in increased resistance to the most effective anthelmintics, such as triclabendazole, in many countries. This, together with the concerns about drug residues in food and the environment, has increased the interest in preventive measures such as a vaccine to help control the disease in endemic areas. Despite important efforts over the past two decades and the work carried out with numerous vaccine candidates, none of them has demonstrated consistent and reproducible protection in target species. This is at least in part due to the high immunomodulation capacity of the parasite, making ineffective the host response in susceptible species such as ruminants. It is widely accepted that a deeper knowledge of the host-parasite interactions is needed for a more rational design of vaccine candidates. In recent years, the use of emerging technologies has notably increased the amount of data about these interactions. In the present study, current knowledge of host-parasite interactions and their implication in Fasciola hepatica vaccine development is reviewed.

The cathepsin-like cysteine peptidases of trematodes of the genus Fasciola

Fasciolosis caused by trematode parasites of the genus Fasciola is a global disease of livestock, particularly cattle, sheep, water buffalo and goats. It is also a major human zoonosis with reports suggesting that 2.4-17 million people are infected worldwide, and 91.1 million people currently living at risk of infection. A unique feature of these worms is their reliance on a family of developmentally-regulated papain-like cysteine peptidases, termed cathepsins. These proteolytic enzymes play central roles in virulence, infection, tissue migration and modulation of host innate and adaptive immune responses. The availability of a Fasciola hepatica genome, and the exploitation of transcriptomic and proteomic technologies to probe parasite growth and development, has enlightened our understanding of the cathepsin-like cysteine peptidases. Here, we clarify the structure of the cathepsin-like cysteine peptidase families and, in this context, review the phylogenetics, structure, biochemistry and function of these enzymes in the host-parasite relationship.

Dairy Heifers Naturally Exposed to Fasciola hepatica Develop a Type 2 Immune Response and Concomitant Suppression of Leukocyte Proliferation

Fasciola hepatica is a parasitic trematode of global importance in livestock. Control strategies reliant on anthelmintics are unsustainable due to the emergence of drug resistance. Vaccines are under development, but efficacies are variable. Evidence from experimental infection suggests that vaccine efficacy may be affected by parasite-induced immunomodulation. Little is known about the immune response to F. hepatica following natural exposure. Hence, we analyzed the immune responses over time in calves naturally exposed to F. hepatica infection. Cohorts of replacement dairy heifer calves (n = 42) with no prior exposure to F. hepatica, on three commercial dairy farms, were sampled over the course of a grazing season. Exposure was determined through an F. hepatica-specific serum antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fluke egg counts. Concurrent changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations, lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokine responses were measured. Relationships between fluke infection and immune responses were analyzed by using multivariable linear mixed-effect models. All calves from one farm showed evidence of exposure, while cohorts from the remaining two farms remained negative over the grazing season. A type 2 immune response was associated with exposure, with increased interleukin-4 (IL-4) production, IL-5 transcription, and eosinophilia. Suppression of parasite-specific peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation was evident, while decreased mitogen-stimulated gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production suggested immunomodulation, which was not restricted to parasite-specific responses. Our findings show that the global immune response is modulated toward a nonproliferative type 2 state following natural challenge with F. hepatica. This has implications in terms of the timing of the administration of vaccination programs and for host susceptibility to coinfecting pathogens.

Functions of innate and acquired immune system are reduced in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) given a low protein diet

Racing pigeons are exposed to and act as carriers of diseases. Dietary protein requirement for their maintenance has not been determined experimentally despite their being domesticated for over 7000 years. A maintenance nitrogen (protein) requirement (MNR) for pigeons was determined in a balance study using diets containing 6, 10 and 14% crude protein (CP). Then, the effects of feeding the diets were investigated to determine whether they were adequate to sustain innate and acquired immune functions. Nitrogen intake from the 6% CP diet was sufficient to maintain nitrogen balance and body weight in pigeons. However, the immune functions of phagocytosis, oxidative burst and lymphocyte proliferation in pigeons fed this diet were reduced compared with those fed 10 and 14% CP diets. Pigeons given the 6 and 10% CP diets had lower antibody titres following inoculation against Newcastle disease (ND) than those on the 14% CP diet. A confounding factor found on autopsy was the presence of intestinal parasites in some of the pigeons given the 6 and 10% CP diets; however, none of the pigeons used to measure MNR or acquired immunity to ND were infested with parasites. In conclusion, neither the 6 nor 10% CP diets adequately sustained acquired immune function of pigeons.

The preparation and properties of monodisperse core-shell silica magnetic microspheres

The monodisperse core-shell silica magnetic microspheres (MMS) were synthesized by sol-gel method gelling in the emulsion. Optical microscope (OM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), nitrogen adsorption and desorption Brunauer Emmett Teller Procedure (BET) isotherms and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore size distribution measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the appearance, size distribution, phase, specific surface area, chemical composition and magnetic property of silica MMS. The results showed that silica MMS prepared through sol-gel method with acid-alkali two-step catalyze and gelling in emulsion exhibited the superior core-shell structure and size distribution of the microspheres concentrated in about 20 mum. The main phase of microspheres was amorphous silica and spinel ferroferric oxide. Meanwhile, the microspheres remained the superparamagnetic behavior and could be used as biomaterials.

The immune response of regional lymph nodes during the early stages of Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle

In this study we examined regional immune responses to Fasciola hepatica infection in the natural ruminant host. Naïve cattle and those pre-exposed to a drug-abbreviated infection were subsequently challenged and lymph nodes extracted at slaughter. In vitro proliferation and cytokine production by mononuclear cells isolated from hepatic and mesenteric lymph nodes were measured after culture with whole fluke antigen (WFA). Hepatic lymph node cells had a significantly greater response to parasite antigen than mesenteric lymph node cells (P < 0.02), although there was no difference in the magnitude of the proliferative response between naïve and pre-exposed challenged cattle. Mononuclear cells from hepatic lymph nodes produced interferon gamma, interleukin 2 and interleukin 4 after culture with parasite antigen, indicative of a mixed, T helper type 0, response. Comparison of the hepatic node response to a variety of F. hepatica antigens showed that proliferation was lower after culture with cathepsin-L, than with a high molecular weight fraction, WFA or excretory-secretory antigen. Cell culture supernatant fluid from unstimulated hepatic lymph node cells showed an IgG1 response to antigens of 48, 52-70, 82, 96 and 120-190 kDa on Western blot in pre-exposed, but not naïve, challenged animals.

Fasciola hepatica infection downregulates Th1 responses in mice

Immune responses induced with helminth parasites have been extensively studied, but there is limited information on those to Fasciola hepatica, especially on the subtype of T cell induced with this parasite. We investigated the local and systemic T cell responses of different strains of mice following oral infection with doses of metacercariae from F. hepatica. Spleen cells from BALB/c and 129Sv/Ev mice given a low-dose (5 metacercariae) infection exhibited a Th2 response, producing high levels of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-5, and low levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice showed a mixed Th1/Th2 response. A more marked polarization to a Th2 response was observed in BALB/c, 129Sv/Ev exposed to a high-dose (15 metacercariae) infection and the C57BL/6 mice also exhibited a clear Th2 response. IL-4 defective (IL-4-/-) C57BL/6 mice infected with 5 metacercariae produced less IFN-gamma and more IL-5 compared to their wild-type C57BL/6 counterparts, suggesting that IL-4 is important in establishing the Th2 type response in murine fasciolosis. However, the secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-2 was completely suppressed in the high-dose infection and this was also observed in IL-4-/- mice. Thus, liver flukes may secrete molecules that downregulate Th1 responses. T cell responses in the mesenteric (MLN) and hepatic lymph nodes (HLN) were also examined since newly excysted juveniles infect through the intestinal wall of their host before migrating to the hepatic tissue. Cells from both MLN and HLN secreted higher levels of IL-4 and IL-5 compared to spleen cells. We also observed a difference in cytokine profiles secreted by the MLN and HLN, which may reflect responses to antigens liberated by newly excysted juveniles and hepatic stage parasites, respectively.

Cell-mediated immune response in calves to single-dose, trickle, and challenge infections with Fasciola hepatica

A peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation assay was used to study the cell-mediated immune response in eight calves experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica. Hypersensitivity-related eosinophil and mast-cell responses were also assessed. The primary infection of 500 metacercariae was administered either as a single-dose or as a trickle infection over a 4-week period. Calves were challenge-infected 4 months later with 100 metacercariae and slaughtered 24 weeks postprimary infection. Skin eosinophil counts (SEC) were determined prior to infection on the basis of the intradermal reaction (IDR) to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). These counts correlated negatively with the mean fluke length but not with the fluke burden found at necropsy. At the end of the experiment, non-specific (PHA) and specific (excretory-secretory parasite, products, FhESAg, and whole-worm extract, FhSomAg) immediate type hypersensitivity IDR were elicited in contrast to delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. The SEC correlated with blood eosinophilia but not with parasite parameters. These findings suggest that the eosinophil response does not correlate clearly with the development of resistance to F. hepatica infection in cattle. A specific mononuclear cell response to FhSomAg was detectable as early as 7 days after infection in both infected groups, being significantly higher during the very early migratory phase of the juveniles in the single-dose infected calves than in the trickle infected calves. This response remained significantly higher in infected groups than in the control group throughout the experiment. Challenge elicited a significant proliferative response, less pronounced than after primary infection. No production of gamma-interferon (INF-gamma) was recorded 3 weeks after challenge. At necropsy, the mean number of flukes recovered was similar in both infected groups, suggesting that the rate at which the infection is administrated has no effect on protective immunity. Hepatic lesions, similar in both infected groups, were characterised by marked eosinophil and mast-cell infiltration. Liver biopsies were performed and their diagnostic value is discussed. All results suggest that F. hepatica infection predominantly induces a Type-2 response in cattle, and that this response has little protective effect.