Vaccination with chimeric protein induces protection in murine model against ascariasis.

An estimated 400 million people are infected by parasites of the genus Ascaris and the existing control measures are inefficient. Vaccine development using B cell antigens is a promising strategy for increased protection against this parasite. The present study aimed at developing a chimeric protein capable of conferring protection against infection by Ascaris sp. For this purpose, we performed B-cell epitope predictions on previously described vaccine candidate proteins from Ascaris suum and the corresponding peptides were used to construct a chimeric protein. Female BALB / c mice were immunized subcutaneously in three doses at 10 day intervals with a vaccine formulation comprised of the chimeric protein together with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA). Control groups included protein alone, MPLA, or PBS. After challenge infection, animals vaccinated with chimeric protein plus MPLA showed a reduction of 73.54% of larval load in the lung compared to control group animals. Animals immunized with chimeric protein plus MPLA also display higher IgG response and a reduction in lung inflammation. Our study highlights how chimeric proteins containing more than one B cell epitope can enhance immune protection against helminthic infection and offer new approaches to the development of Ascaris vaccines.

African helminth infection out of Africa: Paleoparasitological and paleogenetic investigations in Pretos Novos cemetery, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1769-1830).

Pretos Novos cemetery (PNC), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1769-1830) was created exclusively to bury enslaved Africans who died upon arrival at the city or before being sold in the slave market. The PNC site may be unique in the Americas in allowing the study of African parasite infections acquired in Africa. We aimed to identify parasites infecting PNC individuals through paleoparasitological and paleogenetic analyses. The bodies had been dismembered, placed in mass graves, and burned, and most human remains collected from the site are highly fragmented and show extensive degradation. Sacrum and pelvic sediments were collected from five individuals along with seven samples of sediment from other areas of the body, as controls. Samples were submitted to three parasitological techniques and, in paleogenetic analysis, to four molecular targets. Larvae, mites, pollen grains, and structure suggestive of plants and fungus were observed, but we found no evidence of helminth infection. Ascaris sp. cytb sequence was recovered in one individual. We emphasize that, even with the extensive degradation of PNC human remains and the process of curation of samples, it was possible to recover helminth aDNA. The origin of PNC individuals confirms that these infections were brought to Brazil from western and central Africa during the colonial era.

Paleoparasitologic, paleogenetic and paleobotanic analysis of XVIII century coprolites from the church La Concepción in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

We present the results of a paleoparasitologic, paleogenetic and paleobotanic analysis of coprolites recovered during the excavation of the church La Concepción in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Coprolites (n = 4) were rehydrated and a multidisciplinary analysis was conducted. The paleobotanic analysis showed numerous silicates, seeds and fruits of the family Moraceae. In the paleoparasitologic study, Ascaris sp. eggs (n = 344) were identified. The paleogenetic results confirmed the Ascaris sp. infection as well as the European origin of human remains. These findings contribute to our knowledge of ancient helminthes infections and are the first paleoparasitological record of Ascaris sp. infection in Spain.

Asociación entre atopia, asma alérgica y anticuerpos IgE específicos para Áscaris en un grupo de niños de una ciudad de la Costa norte colombiana / Association between atopy, allergic asthma and specific IgE antibodies for Ascaris in a group of children of a city of the north coast of Colombia

Introducción: El asma es una enfermedad ampliamente distribuida en el mundo, con más de 400 millones de personas afectadas. Actualmente existe un gran interés por determinar el posible efecto protector de las geohelmintiosis en el desarrollo y expresión clínica del asma. Objetivo: Con el propósito de establecer la asociación entre la co-sensibilización al Áscaris(As) y al ácaro Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) con la severidad del asma bronquial se realizó un estudio analítico de casos y controles. Materiales y métodos: Un total de 227 sujetos, 97 casos y 130 controles participaron del estudio. A todos se les investigó por niveles séricos de IgE total, IgE específica anti-As y anti-Dpt, y se les practicó un examen coproparasitológico para detectar infestación por geohelmintos. Resultados: De la población estudiada, 211 (93%) presentaron IgE total elevada. En el grupo caso, 75.3% fueron IgE anti-Dpt (+) y 64.9% IgE anti-As (+); en el grupo control, el 76.2% fueron IgE anti- Dpt (+) y 74.6% IgE anti-As (+). El análisis de asociación estadística mostró que una IgE elevada se convierte en factor de riesgo, OR 5,73 (I.C.95%: 1.26 – 52.9) (p= 0,023), mientras que las parasitosis intestinales actúan como factor protector, OR 0,44 (I.C.95%: 0,24 – 0,80) (p= 0.0049). Los niveles de IgE anti-As mostraron asociación Conclusiones: Este resultado puede ser explicado por la presencia de reactividad cruzada entre los antígenos de Dpt y As. No se encontró asociación estadística entre la sensibilización a Dpt ó As y la severidad del asma...

Introduction: Asthma is a disease widely distributed in the world, with more than 400 million people affected. Actuality exist a great interest to determine the possible protective effect of geohelminthiasis in the asthma. Objetive: In order to establish the relationship between Áscaris (AS) and Dermatophoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) mites sensitization with the classification of the bronchial asthma severity an analytical study of cases and controls was done. Materials and methods: A total of 227 subjects, 97 cases and 130 controls participated in the study. Level of total IgE and specifics IgE anti-As and anti-Dpt were investigated in all the subjects enrolled in the study. Of the studied population, 211 children (93%) presented high total IgE. In the case group 75.3% were anti-Dpt IgE (+) and 64.9 % anti – As (+); in the control group the 76.2% were anti –Dpt IgE (+) and 74.6% anti – As IgE (+). The statistical association analysis showed that a high IgE becomes risk factor for asthmaticOR 5.73 (I.C 95%: 1.26 – 52.9) (p=0.023), whereas the intestinal parasite infection act like a protective factor, OR 0.44 (I.C. 95%: 0.24-0.80) (p=0.0049). Anti-As IgE levels were significantly associated with IgE anti-Dpt levels (p<0.0001). Conclusions: This result can be explained by the presence of cross reactivity between its antigens. Not significant statistical association was found between the sensitization to Dpt or As with the asthma severity...