Wolbachia DNA recognition

Abstract

The detection of increased wolbachia DNA recognition by filariasis patients after diethylcarbamazine treatment reported by H F Cross and colleagues (Dec 1, p 1873)1Cross HF Haarbrink M Egerton G et al.Severe reactions to filarial chemotherapy and release of Wolbachia endosymbionts into blood.Lancet. 2001; 358: 1873-1875Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (106) Google Scholar raises new questions about the interpretation of former observations of antigen recognition after antifilarial treatment. After one treatment with ivermectin in onchocerciasis patients, polypeptides in the molecular-weight range 2·2–12·5 kD were recognised for the first time or with increased intensity in immunoblots.2Soboslay PT L'der CGK Hoffmann WH et al.Ivermectin-facilitated immunity in onchocerciasis: activation of parasite-specific Th1-type responses with subclinical Onchocerca volvulus-infection.Clin Exp Immunol. 1994; 96: 238-244Crossref PubMed Scopus (69) Google Scholar These polypeptides were derived from a crude adult worm extract and described in more detail later,3Hoffmann WH Blanke CH Maier JM et al.Antigenicity and specificity of very low molecular weight Onchocerca volvulus polypeptides in the range 2·2–12·5kD.Trop Med Int Health. 1997; 7: 635-645Crossref Scopus (2) Google Scholar including their expression with beginning patency in infected chimpanzees. So far, only one of these antigens has been sequenced and identified as human defensin,4Gallin MY Jacobi AB B'ttner DW et al.Human autoantibody to defensin: disease association with hyperreactive onchocerciasis (sowda).J Exp Med. 1995; 182: 41-47Crossref PubMed Scopus (67) Google Scholar playing a part in an IgG-3-mediated immune response in amicrofilaraemic filariasis patients3 and patients with chronic hyper-reactive onchodermatitis (sowda).4Gallin MY Jacobi AB B'ttner DW et al.Human autoantibody to defensin: disease association with hyperreactive onchocerciasis (sowda).J Exp Med. 1995; 182: 41-47Crossref PubMed Scopus (67) Google Scholar, 5Cabrera Z B'ttner DW Parkhouse RME Unique recognition of a low molecular weight Onchocerca volvulus antigen by IgG3 antibodies in chronic hyper-reactive onchodermatitis (sowda).Clin Exp Immunol. 1988; 74: 223-229PubMed Google Scholar To characterise better the human immunological response to filaria after treatment, the target antigens of known antibodies and cytokines must be identified in more detail. Wolbachia endobacteria are present in Onchocerca volvulus and Brugia malayi and other filarial species. Non-species-specific antigens, which are derived from filarial adult worm extracts, are not necessarily filarial antigens. Further identification and morphological localisation of antigens, which are recognised increasingly after filarial chemotherapy or doxycycline-treatment of wolbachia endobacteria, might help to find more evidence for the postulated links between filarial fertility, release of endosymbionts, and human immunoreaction.1Cross HF Haarbrink M Egerton G et al.Severe reactions to filarial chemotherapy and release of Wolbachia endosymbionts into blood.Lancet. 2001; 358: 1873-1875Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (106) Google Scholar