Altered patterns of gene expression underlying the enhanced immunogenicity of radiation-attenuated schistosomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Schistosome cercariae only elicit high levels of protective immunity against a challenge infection if they are optimally attenuated by exposure to ionising radiation that truncates their migration in the lungs. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the altered phenotype of the irradiated parasite that primes for protection have yet to be identified.

Methodology/principal findings

We have used a custom microarray comprising probes derived from lung-stage parasites to compare patterns of gene expression in schistosomula derived from normal and irradiated cercariae. These were transformed in vitro and cultured for four, seven, and ten days to correspond in development to the priming parasites, before RNA extraction. At these late times after th

SUBMITTER: Dillon GP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2375114 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature