Differential Protein Expression of Taenia crassiceps ORF Strain in the Murine Cysticercosis Model Using Resistant (C57BL/6) Mice

Abstract

A cysticercosis model of Taenia crassiceps ORF strain in susceptible BALB/c mice revealed a Th2 response after 4 weeks, allowing for the growth of the parasite, whereas resistant C57/BL/6 mice developed a sustained Th1 response, limiting parasitic growth. However, little is known about how cysticerci respond to an immunological environment in resistant mice. Here, we show that the Th1 response, during infection in resistant C57BL/6 mice, lasted up to 8 weeks and kept parasitemia low. Proteomics analysis of parasites during this Th1 environment showed an average of 128 expressed proteins; we chose 15 proteins whose differential expression varied between 70 and 100%. A total of 11 proteins were identified that formed a group whose expression increased at 4 weeks and decreased at 8 weeks, and another group with proteins whose expression was high at 2 weeks and decreased at 8 weeks. These identified proteins participate in tissue repair, immunoregulation and parasite establishment. This suggests that T. crassiceps cysticerci in mice resistant under the Th1 environment express proteins that control damage and help to establish a parasite in the host. These proteins could be targets for drugs or vaccine development.

Variation of the 2D Pattern of Brain Proteins in Mice Infected with Taenia crassiceps ORF Strain

“…They play a role in regulating membranes and neurotransmission, especially at synapses and myelination. There is also the regulation of energetic homeostasis, and the aim is to control the neurodegeneration that begins to manifest itself [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. It is possible that there may be protein expression differences at the level of small brain regions, and due to the strategy of processing the entire organ, we may not be able to detect them.…”

“…Infection with the Taenia crassiceps cysticerci ORF strain and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) were performed according to [48,49].…”