Immunity to<i>Onchocerca lienalis</i>microfilariae in mice

Townson, Simon; Nelson, G. S.; Bianco, A. E.

doi:10.1017/s0022149x00025931

Cited by 15 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…As in the case with antibodies against microfilariae affecting microfilariae, sufficient levels of antibodies against larvae will kill larvae, even if that larva is capable of inhibiting complement. However, as opposed to microfilarial immunity, larval immunity is capable of conferring protection, preventing development of adult worms in the putatively immune human or animal [29, 75, 78–83]. …”

Section: Administration To Filarial Wormsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers concede that a vaccine generating both humoral and cell-mediated immunity would be more effective [87, 88]. In the case of filarial nematodes, presentation of microfilarial and filarial larval antigens in the soft tissue via injection of irradiated larvae or abbreviated infection has been shown to elicit the most protective immune responses [67, 71, 78, 80, 89–93]. …”

Section: Administration To Filarial Wormsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was observed in human filarial worms placed in competent animal models and filarial worms in animals with naturally occurring amicrofilaremia, as well as animals vaccinated with microfilarial-based vaccines [67, 78, 80, 97–100]. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that antibodies created in response to the microfilariae differ in many respects from antibodies generated by larval and adult stages; therefore microfilarial antibodies would not be expected to confer immunity that protects against a new larval infection [12, 91, 101–107].…”

Section: Administration To Filarial Wormsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Examining the role of macrolides and host immunity in combatting filarial parasites

Carithers

2017

Parasites Vectors

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Macrocyclic lactones (MLs), specifically the avermectins and milbemycins, are known for their effectiveness against a broad spectrum of disease-causing nematodes and arthropods in humans and animals. In most nematodes, drugs in this class induce paralysis, resulting in starvation, impaired ability to remain associated with their anatomical environment, and death of all life stages. Initially, this was also thought to be the ML mode of action against filarial nematodes, but researchers have not been able to validate these characteristic effects of immobilization/starvation of MLs in vitro, even at higher doses than are possible in vivo. Relatively recently, ML receptor sites exclusively located proximate to the excretory-secretory (ES) apparatus were identified in Brugia malayi microfilaria and an ML-induced suppression of secretory protein release by B. malayi microfilariae was demonstrated in vitro. It is hypothesized here that suppression of these ES proteins prevents the filarial worm from interfering with the host’s complement cascade, reducing the ability of the parasite to evade the immune system. Live microfilariae and/or larvae, thus exposed, are attacked and presented to the host’s innate immune mechanisms and are ultimately killed by the immune response, not the ML drug. These live, exposed filarial worms stimulate development of innate, cellular and humoral immune responses that when properly stimulated, are capable of clearing all larvae or microfilariae present in the host, regardless of their individual sensitivity to MLs. Additional research in this area can be expected to improve our understanding of the relationships among filarial worms, MLs, and the host immune system, which likely would have implications in filarial disease management in humans and animals.

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