Cryptosporidiosis: host immune responses and the prospects for effective immunotherapies.
Cryptosporidium spp. that develop in intestinal epithelial cells are responsible for the diarrhoeal disease cryptosporidiosis, which is common in humans of all ages and in neonatal livestock. Following infection, parasite reproduction increases for a number of days before it is blunted and then impeded by innate and adaptive immune responses. Immunocompromised hosts often cannot establish strong immunity and develop chronic infections that can lead to death. Few drugs consistently inhibit parasite reproduction in the host, and chemotherapy might be ineffective in immunodeficient hosts. Future options for prevention or treatment of cryptosporidiosis might include vaccines or recombinant immunological molecules, but this will probably require a better understanding of both the mucosal immune system and intestinal immune responses to the parasite.
Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre for Digestive Diseases, Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary College University of London, Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK. v.mcdonald@qmul.ac.uk
Vincent
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McDonald
D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines