title: Attempts to Image the Early Inflammatory Response during Infection with the Lymphatic Filarial Nematode Brugia pahangi in a Mouse Model.
abstract: Helminth parasites remain a major constraint upon human health and well-being in many parts of the world. Treatment of these infections relies upon a very small number of therapeutics, most of which were originally developed for use in animal health. A lack of high throughput screening systems, together with limitations of available animal models, has restricted the development of novel chemotherapeutics. This is particularly so for filarial nematodes, which are long-lived parasites with a complex cycle of development. In this paper, we describe attempts to visualise the immune response elicited by filarial parasites in infected mice using a non-invasive bioluminescence imaging reagent, luminol, our aim being to determine whether such a model could be developed to discriminate between live and dead worms for in vivo compound screening. We show that while imaging can detect the immune response elicited by early stages of infection with L3, it was unable to detect the presence of adult worms or, indeed, later stages of infection with L3, despite the presence of worms within the lymphatic system of infected animals. In the future, more specific reagents that detect secreted products of adult worms may be required for developing screens based upon live imaging of infected animals.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elmarie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2007-5902
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Myburgh
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goundry
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Devaney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D017179:Brugia pahangi / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000276:immunology*; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008165:Luminol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D008165:Luminol