Rodent Models for the Study of Soil-Transmitted Helminths: A Proteomics Approach

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) affect hundreds of millions worldwide and are some of the most important neglected tropical diseases in terms of morbidity. Due to the difficulty in studying STH human infections, rodent models have become increasingly used, mainly because of their similarities in life cycle. Ascaris suum and Trichuris muris have been proven appropriate and low maintenance models for the study of ascariasis and trichuriasis. In the case of hookworms, despite most of the murine models do not fully reproduce the life cycle of Necator americanus, their proteomic similarity makes them highly suitable for the development of novel vaccine candidates and for the study of hookworm biological features. Furthermore, these models have been helpful in elucidating some basic aspects of our immune system, and are currently being used by numerous researchers to develop novel molecules with immunomodulatory proteins. Herein we review the similarities in the proteomic composition between Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri and Trichuris muris and their respective human counterpart with a focus on the vaccine candidates and immunomodulatory proteins being currently studied.

Transcriptional patterns of sexual dimorphism and in host developmental programs in the model parasitic nematodeHeligmosomoides bakeri

“…Cooperia punctata [37] and Trichinella spiralis [38], which both invade the intestinal mucosa during their development), migrate through aerobic host tissues (ex. Ascaris lumbricoides [39], Necator americanus [40], and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis [41], which all migrate through circulatory and pulmonary tissues), or actively seek host blood (ex. Haemonchus contortus [42] and Ancylostoma duodenale [40]), which would all provide a rich source of molecular oxygen for synthesis of the final cuticle regardless of where the adults ultimately reside in the host.…”

“Every cell is an immune cell; contributions of non-hematopoietic cells to anti-helminth immunity”

“…Further, these models may provide insight to allergic inflammation, given that they engage common mechanisms. While animal studies have advanced our understanding of helminth infection and host responses and led to vaccine candidates, 164 mice and humans do have some differences immune and sensory neuron function, 165,166 which will warrant future studies in culture systems derived from human tissues. As such, a deep appreciation of the communication pathways between 'traditional' and 'non-traditional' immune cells will provide critical insight(s) that could be translated into novel prevention and treatment strategies for helminth infections.…”

Prospects of Using High-Throughput Proteomics to Underpin the Discovery of Animal Host–Nematode Interactions

“…Most previous studies of hookworm secretomes were conducted using Nippostrongylus brasiliensis , Ancylostoma caninum and Ancylostoma celyanicum , which can readily be maintained in animal models [ 33 ], facilitating the production of parasite materials for analyses. However, it was not until 2020 that the first comprehensive proteomic analysis of a secretome of a human hookworm was reported [ 34 ].…”