title: In Vitro Study of Taenia solium Postoncospheral Form.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transitional period between the oncosphere and the cysticercus of Taenia solium is the postoncospheral (PO) form, which has not yet been completely characterized. The aim of this work was to standardize a method to obtain T. solium PO forms by in vitro cultivation. We studied the morphology of the PO form and compared the expression of antigenic proteins among the PO form, oncosphere, and cysticerci stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T. solium activated oncospheres were co-cultured with ten cell lines to obtain PO forms, which we studied at three stages of development--days 15, 30, and 60. A high percentage (32%) of PO forms was obtained using HCT-8 cells in comparison to the other cell lines. The morphology was observed by bright field, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Morphology of the PO form changed over time, with the six hooks commonly seen in the oncosphere stage disappearing in the PO forms, and vesicles and microtriches observed in the tegument. The PO forms grew as they aged, reaching a diameter of 2.5 mm at 60 days of culture. 15-30 day PO forms developed into mature cysticerci when inoculated into rats. Antigenic proteins expressed in the PO forms are also expressed by the oncosphere and cysticerci stages, with more cysticerci antigenic proteins expressed as the PO forms ages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of an in vitro production method of T. solium PO forms. The changes observed in protein expression may be useful in identifying new targets for vaccine development. In vitro culture of PO form will aid in understanding the host-parasite relationship, since the structural changes of the developing PO forms may reflect the parasite's immunoprotective mechanisms. A wider application of this method could significantly reduce the use of animals, and thus the costs and time required for further experimental investigations.
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Chile
authors: Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
authors: Taryn
authors: T
authors: Clark
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Yanina
authors: Y
authors: Arana
authors: Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, United States of America.
authors: Ynes R
authors: YR
authors: Ortega
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Palma
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Mejia
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Noelia
authors: N
authors: Angulo
authors: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Jon C
authors: JC
authors: Kosek
authors: Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Kosek
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Gomez-Puerta
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Hector H
authors: HH
authors: Garcia
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
authors: Cesar M
authors: CM
authors: Gavidia
authors: Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.|Asociación Benéfica PRISMA, San Miguel, Lima, Peru.
authors: Robert H
authors: RH
authors: Gilman
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Verastegui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth