[Combatting river blindness by means of chemotherapy directed at the symbiotic Wolbachia bacteria in the causative filariae].

Abstract

In a mouse model of river blindness it was demonstrated that Wolbachia bacteria, endosymbionts of filarial nematodes, play an important role in the inflammatory process leading to the disease and that this process depends on Toll-like receptor 4. Wolbachia is found in many arthropods and in all filariae pathogenic for man. Treatment with doxycycline depletes female filariae of Wolbachia and renders them infertile for at least 18 months. Chemotherapy of filarial nematodes should be studied for the reduction and possibly prevention of pathology due to filariae, and for a contribution to control and eradication programmes.

• Authors: P A Kager
• Journal: Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde (Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd) Vol. 146 Issue 26 Pg. 1212-5 (Jun 29 2002) ISSN: 0028-2162 [Print] Netherlands
• Vernacular Title: Rivierblindheid bestrijden door chemotherapie gericht op de symbiontische Wolbachia-bacteriën in de oorzakelijke filariën.
• PMID: 12132134 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Drosophila Proteins
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• TLR4 protein, human
• Toll-Like Receptor 4
• Toll-Like Receptors
• Doxycycline

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Doxycycline (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Drosophila Proteins
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins (physiology)
• Mice
• Onchocerca (microbiology, physiology)
• Onchocerciasis, Ocular (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Receptors, Cell Surface (physiology)
• Symbiosis
• Toll-Like Receptor 4
• Toll-Like Receptors
• Wolbachia (drug effects, physiology)