The bacteria Wolbachia in filariae, a biological Russian dolls' system: new trends in antifilarial treatments.
Filarial nematode species can host Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts. To understand the symbiosis, a higher level of complexity should be considered, taking in account the tripartite association between Wolbachia, filariae and mammals. This overview article discusses the biology of Wolbachia in filariae, including their distribution and phylogeny, mechanisms of action, inflammatory consequences on mammal host and biological control implications for filariases. Potential directions for future research are also discussed.
Martin
C
C
INSERM, USM 307, Parasitologie comparée et Modèles expérimentaux, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 61, rue Buffon, CP52, Paris Cedex 05, France. cmartin@mnhn.fr
Gavotte
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001181:Arthropods / Q000382:microbiology; D005368:Filariasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000469:parasitology; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000235:genetics*; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000382:microbiology
D000871:Anthelmintics