Immune recognition of Onchocerca volvulus proteins in the human host and animal models of onchocerciasis.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: T K Manchang, I Ajonina-Ekoti, D Ndjonka, A Eisenbarth, M D Achukwi, A Renz, N W Brattig, E Liebau, M Breloer
• Journal: Journal of helminthology (J Helminthol) Vol. 89 Issue 3 Pg. 375-86 (May 2015) ISSN: 1475-2697 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24721822 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Helminth
• Antigens, Helminth
• Helminth Proteins
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Helminth (blood)
• Antigens, Helminth (immunology)
• Cattle
• Disease Models, Animal
• Helminth Proteins (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Immunoglobulin M (blood)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Onchocerca volvulus (immunology)
• Onchocerciasis (immunology, pathology)
• Parasite Load