Detection of serum IgG antibodies specific for Wolbachia surface protein in rhesus monkeys infected with Brugia malayi.
The mechanism of lymphedema development in individuals with lymphatic filariasis is presently poorly understood. To investigate whether Wolbachia, symbiotic bacteria living within filarial nematodes, may be involved in disease progression, Wolbachia-specific immune responses were assayed in a group of Brugia malayi-infected rhesus monkeys. Serum IgG antibodies specific for a major Wolbachia surface protein (WSP) were detected in 2 of 12 infected monkeys. It is interesting that both of these monkeys developed lymphedema after becoming amicrofilaremic. WSP-specific antibody responses were temporally associated with increases in antifilarial IgG1 antibodies as well as lymphedema development. These findings suggest that Wolbachia may be important in understanding disease caused by filarial worms.
Punkosdy
G A
GA
Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
Dennis
V A
VA
Lasater
B L
BL
Tzertzinis
G
G
Foster
J M
JM
Lammie
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins