H2020Индивидуална стипендия2015–2017

GUTWORM · Unravelling host intestine-parasite interactions that define immune responses to whipworms

„Хоризонт 2020“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2015-10-01 → 2017-11-20
Финансиране от ЕС: 183 455 €
Участници: 1
Схема: MSCA-IF-EF-ST

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Взаимодействията между червените паразити (трихинели) и имунните клетки в червата се анализират чрез мишарски модел. Разбирането на тези процеси и генните механизми помага за разработването на нови терапии и ваксини срещу това заболяване.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

Unravelling host intestine-parasite interactions that define immune responses to whipworms

Trichuriasis is a major Neglected Tropical Disease affecting hundreds of millions of people, mainly children, from low- and middle-income countries. This disease is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea and anemia and it is linked to physical and intellectual growth retardation. Trichuriasis is caused by infection with whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), which occurs upon ingestion of eggs of these parasites present on food or water. In the gut, the eggs hatch, liberating larvae that then burrow through the gut lining (epithelium) and cause inflammation. The interactions of whipworms with the gut epithelium and immune cells are thought to be crucial in determining if the parasite is expelled or if it remains in the gut causing a chronic disease. However, up to now, the details of these interactions are not understood, hampering the development of therapies to treat or vaccines to prevent whipworm infections. The ultimate goal of my research project is to investigate and understand these interactions in detail. To achieve this, I use T. muris, a mouse model of T. trichuira infection in humans. This research project has three key aims. First, to identify new parasite and host genes that could interplay and modulate immune responses. Second, to characterize the role of host genes in whipworm infection and immunity. Finally, upon identification of key genes regulating gut epithelium and immune responses to whipworms, to explore in great depth the mechanism of action of those genes and their effect on the parasite.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

Whipworms (Trichuris trichuira) are soil-transmitted helminths that infect about 700 million people in the tropicsand sub-tropics and cause the human disease, trichuriasis. Whipworms live preferentially in the cecum of theirhosts where they tunnel through epithelial cells and cause inflammation potentially resulting in colitis. Despiteextensive research, the role of whipworm interactions with epithelial and immune cells in triggering parasiteexpulsion remains unclear, hindering the development of anti-parasite therapies. The ultimate goal of my researchproposal is to investigate and understand this interaction in detail. To achieve this, I will use T. muris, a mousemodel of T. trichuira infection in humans. This research proposal has three key aims. First, to identify new parasiteand host genes that could interplay and modulate immunological outcomes. Second, to characterize the role of hostgenes in whipworm infection and immunity. Here, novel and known candidate mutations conferring susceptibilityto colitis identified through the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute - Mouse Genetics Project will be targeted. Thus, Iwill challenge mutant mouse lines with T. muris and evaluate the influence of these mutations on anti-parasiteimmunity and expulsion. Finally, upon identification of key genes regulating the immune response to whipworms, Iwill explore the mechanism of action of selected genes and their effect on the parasite. For this, I will takeadvantage of the vast range of ‘omic’ technologies and facilities available at the WTSI. This project will generatenovel fundamental data on host-whipworms interactions and also support future efforts to control these parasites bythe identification of potential new therapeutic targets. Moreover, resulting knowledge of the parasiteimmunologicalinterplay could be exploited to understand other intestinal inflammatory diseases such as ulcerativecolitis that have many similarities with trichuriasis.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED LBG · SAFFRON WALDENКоординаторОбединеното кралство