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Zhou H, Hu J, Zhou T, Zhang Y, Qin P, Zhang B, Wang R, Luo X, Hu M. Establishment of an Animal Model Scheme of Strongyloides stercoralis-Infected Meriones meridianus. Pathogens 2023; 12:1285. [PMID: 38003750 PMCID: PMC10675186 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111285] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying parasitic nematodes, which generate a massive hazard to animal health, is more difficult than studying free-living nematodes as appropriate animal models are essential, and the relationship between parasites and hosts is extremely complex. Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode parasite that mainly infects dogs, humans and other primates. Currently, S. stercoralis worms needed for research mainly rely on their natural host, the dog. This study explored a method of using Meriones meridianus as a model for S. stercoralis. The immunosuppressed M. meridianus were infected with S. stercoralis subcutaneously, and post-parasitic, first-stage larvae (PP L1) were detected in the faeces, with more larvae in female gerbils. In addition, parasitic females (PFs), third-stage larvae (L3s) and rhabditiform larvae were found primarily in the small intestines and lungs of infected gerbils. The PFs and auto-infective third-stage larvae (aL3s) obtained from M. meridianus are morphologically identical to those obtained from beagles and Meriones unguiculatus. Moreover, the infection of S. stercoralis caused changes to biochemical indicators in the serum and in the physiology of M. meridianus. The results demonstrated that M. meridianus can be infected by S. stercoralis, and this model provides a great tool for exploring the biological processes of this parasite and its interaction with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (J.H.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (P.Q.); (B.Z.)
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Jinyang Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (J.H.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (P.Q.); (B.Z.)
| | - Taoxun Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (J.H.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (P.Q.); (B.Z.)
| | - Ying Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (J.H.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (P.Q.); (B.Z.)
| | - Peixi Qin
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (J.H.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (P.Q.); (B.Z.)
| | - Biying Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (J.H.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (P.Q.); (B.Z.)
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010030, China
| | - Xiaoping Luo
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010030, China
| | - Min Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (J.H.); (T.Z.); (Y.Z.); (P.Q.); (B.Z.)
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Kahyaoglu S, Tarik Atmaca H. Experimental infection of Mongolian gerbils with Toxoplasma gondii: pathological and immunohistochemical evaluations. VETERINARY RESEARCH FORUM : AN INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY JOURNAL 2022; 13:293-299. [PMID: 36320297 PMCID: PMC9548229 DOI: 10.30466/vrf.2020.126993.2937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoon parasite which causes toxoplasmosis both in human and warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease and largely threats human and animal health consequently causing economic losses. Also, it affects the visceral organs in different severity degrees according to the strain of parasite and the host. In this study, experimental toxoplasmosis was performed via intra-peritoneal route in 12 gerbils by administrating 5.00 × 103 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain. The gerbils were sacrificed 7 days after inoculation. All systemic organs were obtained via necropsy and examined by immunohistochemical and histopathological methods. Lesions infected with T. gondii mostly observed in the serosa of abdominal cavity organs including stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, and kidneys. The lesions were most severe in liver. The parasite showed an affinity for the hepatic tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental study of acute T. gondii infection in gerbil evaluating macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical findings. It is concluded that Mongolian gerbils can be used as experimental animals to investigate toxoplasmosis. Also, these animals are very suitable hosts to study liver pathology and pathobiology of T. gondii-related hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sila Kahyaoglu
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Balcova, Izmir, Turkiye
| | - Hasan Tarik Atmaca
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkiye.,Correspondence: Hasan Tarik Atmaca. DVM, PhD, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkiye. E-mail:
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Charuchaibovorn S, Sanprasert V, Sutthanont N, Hu Y, Abraham A, Ostroff GR, Aroian RV, Jaleta TG, Lok JB, Nuchprayoon S. Bacillus thuringiensis Cry5B is Active against Strongyloides stercoralis in vitro. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:1177-1182. [PMID: 31516117 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Strongyloidiasis, caused by Strongyloides stercoralis infection, is an important neglected tropical disease that causes significant public health problems in the tropics and subtropics. The disease can persist in hosts for decades and may be life-threatening because of hyperinfection and dissemination. Ivermectin (mostly) and albendazole are the most common anthelmintics used for treatment. Albendazole is suboptimal for this parasite, and although ivermectin is quite effective in immunocompromised patients, a multiple-course regimen is required. Furthermore, reliance on a single drug class for treating intestinal nematodes is a recipe for future failure. Therefore, it is important to discover new anthelmintics to treat or prevent human strongyloidiasis. One promising candidate is the Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein Cry5B. Cry5B is highly potent against parasitic nematodes, for example, hookworms and Ascaris suum. Here, we investigated the potential of Cry5B against S. stercoralis. Multiple stages of S. stercoralis, including the first larval stage (L1s), infective stage (iL3s), free-living adult stage, and parasitic female stage, were all susceptible to Cry5B as indicated by impairment of motility and decreased viability in vitro. In summary, Cry5B demonstrated strong potential as an effective anthelmintic for treatment and transmission control of human strongyloidiasis, justifying further experiments to investigate in vivo therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarit Charuchaibovorn
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research (SiSCR), Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Lymphatic Filariasis and Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Chulalongkorn Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Vivornpun Sanprasert
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Lymphatic Filariasis and Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Chulalongkorn Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nataya Sutthanont
- Lymphatic Filariasis and Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Chulalongkorn Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yan Hu
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.,Biology Department, Worcester State University, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Ambily Abraham
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Gary R Ostroff
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Raffi V Aroian
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Tegegn G Jaleta
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - James B Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Surang Nuchprayoon
- Lymphatic Filariasis and Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Chulalongkorn Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Reguera RM, Rojo-Vázquez F, Balaña-Fouce R, Martínez-Valladares M. Drug discovery technologies: Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for anthelmintic therapeutics. Med Res Rev 2020; 40:1715-1753. [PMID: 32166776 DOI: 10.1002/med.21668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Helminthiasis is one of the gravest problems worldwide. There is a growing concern on less available anthelmintics and the emergence of resistance creating a major threat to human and livestock health resources. Novel and broad-spectrum anthelmintics are urgently needed. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans could address this issue through automated high-throughput technologies for the screening of large chemical libraries. This review discusses the strong advantages and limitations for using C elegans as a screening method for anthelmintic drug discovery. C elegans is the best model available for the validation of novel effective drugs in treating most, if not all, helminth infections, and for the elucidation the mode of action of anthelmintic candidates. This review also focuses on available technologies in the discovery of anthelmintics published over the last 15 years with particular attention to high-throughput technologies over conventional screens. On the other hand, this review highlights how combinatorial and nanomedicine strategies could prolong the use of anthelmintics and control resistance problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sepúlveda-Crespo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Rosa M Reguera
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Francisco Rojo-Vázquez
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), León, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), León, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
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Abstract
Purpose of Review This paper constitutes an update of recent studies on the general biology, molecular genetics, and cellular biology of Strongyloides spp. and related parasitic nematodes. Recent Findings Increasingly, human strongyloidiasis is considered the most neglected of neglected tropical diseases. Despite this, the last 5 years has seen remarkable advances in the molecular biology of Strongyloides spp. Genome sequences for S. stercoralis, S. ratti, S. venezuelensis, S. papillosus, and the related parasite Parastrongyloides trichosuri were created, annotated, and analyzed. These genomic resources, along with a practical transgenesis platform for Strongyloides spp., aided a major achievement, the advent of targeted mutagenesis via CRISPR/Cas9 in S. stercoralis and S. ratti. The genome sequences have also enabled significant molecular epidemiologic and phylogenetic findings on human strongyloidiasis, including the first genetic evidence of zoonotic transmission of S. stercoralis between dogs and humans. Studies of molecular signaling pathways identified the nuclear receptor Ss-DAF-12 as one that can be manipulated in the parasite by exogenous application of its steroid ligands. The chemotherapeutic implications of this were unscored by a study in which a Ss-DAF-12 ligand suppressed autoinfection by S. stercoralis in a new murine model of human strongyloidiasis. Summary Seminal advances in genomics of Strongyloides spp. have transformed research into strongyloidiasis, facilitating fundamental phylogenetic and epidemiologic studies and aiding the deployment of CRISPR/Cas9 gene disruption and editing as functional genomic tools in Strongyloides spp. Studies of Ss-DAF-12 signaling in S. stercoralis demonstrated the potential of this pathway as a novel chemotherapeutic target in parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegegn G. Jaleta
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James B. Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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