Isolates of Trichuris muris vary in their ability to elicit protective immune responses to infection in mice.
Much of what is currently known of the host-parasite interaction between mice and the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris has come from experiments using a single parasite isolate (E/N). This isolate has been compared with 2 others which, on morphological criteria, belong to the same species. In 3 inbred strains of mouse that show distinct, genetically determined response phenotypes, there was a consistent pattern in terms of parasite survival time regardless of host strain, E/K worms being expelled early, E/N expelled later and S worms very late or not at all. High-responder CBA mice expelled E/K and E/N worms earlier than low-responder C57 B1/10 mice. B10.BR mice were permissive to S isolate infection, mounted a very late response to E/N worms but expelled E/K worms effectively by day 25. The differential response of mice to these isolates provides an experimental system for identifying the basis of variation in this host-parasite relationship.
Bellaby
T
T
Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park.
Robinson
K
K
Wakelin
D
D
Behnke
J M
JM
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D013045:Species Specificity; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014258:Trichuris / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification