In vitro co-culture of <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> newly excysted juveniles (NEJs) with 3D HepG2 spheroids permits novel investigation of host-parasite interactions.

ABSTRACT: Fasciola hepatica, or liver fluke, causes fasciolosis in humans and livestock. Following ingestion of vegetation contaminated with encysted parasites, metacercariae, newly excysted juveniles (NEJ) excyst in the small intestine and cross the intestinal wall. After penetrating the liver, the parasite begins an intra-parenchymal migratory and feeding phase that not only drives their rapid growth and development but also causes extensive haemorrhaging and immune pathology. Studies on infection are hindered by the difficulty in accessing these microscopic juvenile parasites in vivo. Thus, a simple and scalable in vitro culture system for parasite development is needed. Here, we find that two-dimensional (2D) culture systems using cell monolayers support NEJ growth to a limi

SUBMITTER: Vitkauskaite A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11938319 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature