Filarial infections in humans are chronic infections that cause significant morbidity. The chronic nature of these infections with continuous antigen release is associated with a parasite-specific T cell hypo-responsiveness that may over time also affect the immune responses to bystander antigens. Previous studies have shown the filarial parasite antigen-specific T cells hypo-responsiveness is ...

The diagnosis of filarial infections among individuals residing in areas where the disease is not endemic requires both strong clinical suspicion and expert training in infrequently practiced parasitological methods. Recently developed filarial molecular diagnostic assays are highly sensitive and specific but have limited availability and have not been closely evaluated for clinical use outside...

Filarial nematodes are metazoan parasites with genome sizes of> 100 million base pairs, probably encoding 15 000-20 000 genes. Within this considerable gene complement, it seems likely that filariae have evolved a spectrum of immune evasion products which underpin their ability to live for many years within the human host. Moreover, no suitable vaccine currently exists for human filarial diseas...

Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria found in the majority of arthropods and filarial nematodes of medical and veterinary importance. They have evolved a wide range of symbiotic associations. In filarial nematodes that cause human lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi) or onchocerciasis (Onchocerca volvulus), Wolbachia are important for parasite development, reproduction and...

Both T cells and APC have been strongly implicated in the immune suppression observed during filarial nematode infections, but their relative roles are poorly understood, particularly in regard to timing and locality of action. Using Litomosoides sigmodontis infection of susceptible BALB/c mice, we have studied the progression of filarial immunosuppression leading to patent infection with blood...

Background Mild to moderate adverse events (AEs) are common after treatment of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and pose a major challenge for the global LF elimination program. We studied changes in cytokine levels and filarial worm components in plasma of subjects with and without AEs following treatment of LF. Methods Participants (n = 24) were hospitalized and monitored for AEs following treatme...

Filarial lymphatic pathology is of multifactorial origin, with inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, and innate immune responses all playing important roles. The role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the development of filarial pathology is well characterized. Similarly, the association of pathology with elevated levels of plasma angiogenic factors has also been documented. To examine the associatio...

Filariasis is a serious health hazard affecting millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions of developing countries including India. The specific diagnosis and control measures are essential for effective management of the disease. It has been shown earlier that the excretorysecretory products of filarial parasitescontain diagnostically important embryo antigens; therefore, it would ...

Human filarial helminth infections are characterized by type 2 immune responses to parasite Ag that can persist for the life of the individual; one possible cause for this may be prenatal exposure to the blood-borne microfilarial (Mf) stage of the parasite. To examine the relationship between early exposure to filarial Ag and subsequent immune responsiveness, CD45RA+ CD4+ cells frp, normal unse...

Wolbachia pipientis is a bacterial endosymbiont associated with arthropods and filarial nematodes. In filarial nematodes, W. pipientis has been shown to play an important role in the biology of the host and in the immuno-pathology of filariasis. Several species of filariae, including the most important parasites of humans and animals (e.g. Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti and Dirofilar...