Nitric oxide debilitates the neuropathogenic schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti in mice, partly by inhibiting its vital peptidases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Avian schistosomes, the causative agents of human cercarial dermatitis (or swimmer's itch), die in mammals but the mechanisms responsible for parasite elimination are unknown. Here we examined the role of reactive nitrogen species, nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite, in the immune response of mice experimentally infected with Trichobilharzia regenti, a model species of avian schistosomes remarkable for its neuropathogenicity.

Methods

Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was localized by immunohistochemistry in the skin and the spinal cord of mice infected by T. regenti. The impact of iNOS inhibition by aminoguanidine on parasite burden and growth was then evaluated in vivo. The vulnerability of T. regenti schistosomula to NO and peroxynitrite was assessed in vitro by via

SUBMITTER: Machacek T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7439556 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature