Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2018
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The study of Onchocerca volvulus has been limited by its host range, with only humans and non-human primates shown to be susceptible to the full life cycle infection. Small animal models that support the development of adult parasites have not been identified.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We hypothesized that highly immunodeficient NSG mice would support the survival and maturation of O. volvulus and alteration of the host microenvironment through the addition of various human cells and tissues would further enhance the level of parasite maturation. NSG mice were humanized with: (1) umbilical cord derived CD34+ stem cells, (2) fetal derived liver, thymus and CD34+ stem cells or (3) primary human skeletal muscle cells. NSG and humanized NSG mice were infected with 100 O. volvulus infective larvae (L3) for 4 to 12 weeks. When necropsies of infected animals were performed, it was observed that parasites survived and developed throughout the infection time course. In each of the different humanized mouse models, worms matured from L3 to advanced fourth stage larvae, with both male and female organ development. In addition, worms increased in length by up to 4-fold. Serum and urine, collected from humanized mice for identification of potential biomarkers of infection, allowed for the identification of 10 O. volvulus-derived proteins found specifically in either the urine or the serum of the humanized O. volvulus-infected NSG mice.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The newly identified mouse models for onchocerciasis will enable the development of O. volvulus specific biomarkers, screening for new therapeutic approaches and potentially studying the human immune response to infection with O. volvulus.
Recommended Citation
Patton, John B.; Bennuru, Sasisekhar; Eberhard, Mark L.; Hess Ligas, Jessica A.; Torigian, April R.; Lustigman, Sara; Nutman, Thomas B.; and Abraham, David, "Development of Onchocerca volvulus in humanized NSG mice and detection of parasite biomarkers in urine and serum." (2018). Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers. Paper 102.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/mifp/102
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 License.
PubMed ID
30540742
Language
English
Comments
This article has been peer reviewed. It is the author’s final published version in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, Volume 12, Issue 12, December 2018, Page e0006977.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006977. Copyright © Patton et al.