Innate and putative adaptive immunological responses of schistosome-parasitized snails

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Zayed K.M.

Journal: Acta Tropica

Publisher: Elsevier B.V.

Publication Date: January 2025

Volume / Issue: Volume 261

Article No.: 107503

ISSN: 0001706X

DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107503

Scopus: View on Scopus

PubMed: 39675412

Document Type: Review

Authors and Affiliations

Zayed K.M., Medical Malacology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El Nile St.,Warrak El-Haddar, Imbaba, Giza, 12411, Egypt

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by digenetic trematode from Schistosoma genus, as an etiological agent that uses snails as an intermediate host. In mollusc-trematode relationships, the miracidia attract in the aquatic media to a specific snail as an intermediate hosts, then penetrate its integument in the sporocyst form thereafter, the invasive sporocysts produce secreted/excreted products in order to survive and avoid the snails’ immune system. The next larval stage is the cercariae that developed by sporocysts. Subsequently, the snail intermediate host suffers from biological, physiological, biochemical and immunological changes during the development of these parasite larval stages within their tissues. Snails and their parasites engage in an interactive innate and putative adaptive immune response that involves many immune mechanisms, such as the production of nitric oxide, lysozymes, phagocytosis, lectin formation and phenol oxidase activity. Schistosomes have developed a variety of strategies to evade and counteract these deliberate host reactions. These strategies include the secretion of many strong proteases, the use of an immune-resistant outer tegument, the molecular mimicry of host antigens, and the controlled release of certain immunomodulatory substances that influence immune cell activities. This review aims to characterize these important immune evasion mechanisms in order to comprehend the many immunological molecular determinants in the snail/schistosome interaction and to develop alternate management measures for schistosomiasis control. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Cercariae; Encapsulation; Immune system; Miracidia; Molecular mimicry; Schistosomiasis; Snails; Sporocysts; Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immune Evasion; Immunity, Innate; Schistosoma; lectin; lysozyme; monophenol monooxygenase; nitric oxide; proteinase; antigen; immune response; larval development; parasite; snail; cell activity; cercaria; drug development; immunocompetent cell; intermediate host; miracidium; mollusc; nonhuman; phagocytosis; review; sporocyst; animal; host parasite interaction; human; immunology; innate immunity; parasitology; physiology

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 3

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