Immune recognition of Onchocerca volvulus proteins in the human host and animal models of onchocerciasis.
Onchocerca volvulus is a tissue-dwelling, vector-borne nematode parasite of humans and is the causative agent of onchocerciasis or river blindness. Natural infections of BALB/c mice with Litomosoides sigmodontis and of cattle with Onchocerca ochengi were used as models to study the immune responses to O. volvulus-derived recombinant proteins (OvALT-2, OvNLT-1, Ov103 and Ov7). The humoral immune response of O. volvulus-infected humans against OvALT-2, OvNLT-1 and Ov7 revealed pronounced immunoglobulin G (IgG) titres which were, however, significantly lower than against the lysate of O. volvulus adult female worms. Sera derived from patients displaying the hyperreactive form of onchocerciasis showed a uniform trend of higher IgG reactivity both to the single proteins and the O. volvulus lysate. Sera derived from L. sigmodontis-infected mice and from calves exposed to O. ochengi transmission in a hyperendemic area also contained IgM and IgG1 specific for O. volvulus-derived recombinant proteins. These results strongly suggest that L. sigmodontis-specific and O. ochengi-specific immunoglobulins elicited during natural infection of mice and cattle cross-reacted with O. volvulus-derived recombinant antigens. Monitoring O. ochengi-infected calves over a 26-month period, provided a comprehensive kinetic of the humoral response to infection that was strictly correlated with parasite load and occurrence of microfilariae.
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine,Hamburg,Germany.
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Manchang
Institute of Animal Physiology, University of Münster,Hindenburgplatz 55,48143Münster,Germany.
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Ajonina-Ekoti
Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere,PO Box 454,Ngaoundere,Cameroon.
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Ndjonka
Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Department of Comparative Zoology, University of Tübingen,Auf der Morgenstelle 28,D-72076Tübingen,Germany.
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Eisenbarth
Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Veterinary Research Laboratory, Wakwa Regional Center,PO Box 65,Ngaoundere,Cameroon.
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Achukwi
Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Department of Comparative Zoology, University of Tübingen,Auf der Morgenstelle 28,D-72076Tübingen,Germany.
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Renz
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine,Hamburg,Germany.
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Brattig
Institute of Animal Physiology, University of Münster,Hindenburgplatz 55,48143Münster,Germany.
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Liebau
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine,Hamburg,Germany.
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Breloer
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000276:immunology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D059208:Parasite Load
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M