Pathogenesis and host responses in human onchocerciasis: impact of Onchocerca filariae and Wolbachia endobacteria.
Onchocerca volvulus is a tissue-invasive parasitic nematode causing skin and eye pathology in human onchocerciasis. The filariae habour abundant intracellular Wolbachia bacteria, now recognised as obligatory symbionts, and therefore emerging as a novel target for chemotherapy. Recent research demonstrates that both the filariae and endobacteria contribute to the pathogenesis of onchocerciasis, and molecules have been identified that promote inflammatory or counter-inflammatory immune mechanisms, divert the host's immune response or procure evasion of the parasite.
Brattig
N W
NW
Tropical Medicine Section, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany. NBrattig@bni.uni-hamburg.de
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D013559:Symbiosis; D014774:Virulence; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000472:pathogenicity*