Structural determination by X-ray crystallography reveals potential interaction with glycosaminoglycans and the host cytokine IL-13. Here we characterize the structure and function of p43, the single most abundant protein in secretions from adult T. trichiura often being the most persistent human STH following anthelmintic treatment 9, 10. Understanding how this group of parasites is able to achieve this, is vital to infection control, and potential elimination as current anthelmintic therapy in humans, is rarely completely effective, with T. Parasite survival, therefore, ultimately depends upon the ability of Trichuris to disrupt effective IL-13-mediated immunity. Under natural conditions, infection occurs by repeated low-level ingestion of eggs IL-13-dependent protective immunity is slow to develop and partial at best. In addition to underpinning the role of interleukin-13 (IL-13)-mediated protective immunity to gastrointestinal-dwelling nematode infections, 5, 6 the naturally rodent-infecting species, Trichuris muris, has been successfully used as an experimental model of chronic STH helminth infection 7, 8.
Little is known about how they maintain prolonged survival within the host, although there is remarkable genotypic and phenotypic similarity among Trichuris species 3, 4, regardless of the host, suggesting that common mechanisms underlying chronic infection may operate. As a member of the prevalent Trichuris genus, these parasites occupy a distinct niche, the epithelial layer of the cecum, and proximal colon of the large intestine 2, and parasites exist as long-lived, chronic infections. Infection with Trichuris trichiura, commonly known as whipworm (one of the four major STH), currently infects approximately 477 million people 1.
Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are responsible for infections that form part of the World Health Organization defined neglected tropical diseases, and as such present a considerable public health problem currently affecting around 1.9 billion people worldwide 1.
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