A mucin-like peptide induces protection against Fasciola hepatica infection
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1
Facultad de Medicina, Inmunobiología, Uruguay
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2
Hospital Pereyra Rossell, Anatomía Patológica, Uruguay
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3
Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Higiene, Unidad de Biología Parasitaria, Uruguay
Fasciola hepatica is a worldwide distributed helminth pathogen that causes great economic losses in sheep and cattle. The appearance of F. hepatica populations that are resistant to common flukicidal drugs, along with the fact that these drugs do not avoid the hepatic damage in animals, means that new methods of treatment are required. The future prospect for the development of anti-liver fluke vaccines is optimistic and given their consumer acceptability and environmental friendliness, offer the best way forward.
Our group has recently identified a putative mucin-like protein, Fhmuc, expressed in the invasive newly excysted juvenile (NEJ). Mucins are highly O-Glycosylated proteins that are associated with evasion of immune response and adhesion of parasite and hence important for parasite survival in harmful host environment. Thus, this mucin might be a good vaccine candidate against fasciolosis
In this work we present data regarding the immune response induced by the mucin-like peptide Fhmuc. We observed that Fhmuc has pro-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo, leading to the production of high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When tested in a model of fasciolosis in mice, Fhmuc has proven to protect from infection, especially when administrated together with dendritic cells. These results open new horizons in the development of vaccines against Fasciola hepatica infection.
Acknowledgements
Funded by Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación, Uruguay
Keywords:
Vaccine,
mucin,
dendritic cell,
Fasciola hepatica,
fasciolosis
Conference:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Abstract
Topic:
Translational immunology and immune intervention
Citation:
Freire
T,
Noya
V,
Brossard
N,
Rodriguez
E,
Mazal
D,
Berasaín
P and
Carmona
C
(2013). A mucin-like peptide induces protection against Fasciola hepatica infection.
Front. Immunol.
Conference Abstract:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00734
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Received:
13 Jun 2013;
Published Online:
22 Aug 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Teresa Freire, Facultad de Medicina, Inmunobiología, Montevideo, 11800, Uruguay, tfreire@fmed.edu.uy