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10:05
Trichuris muris Infection: A Model of Type 2 Immunity and Inflammation in the Gut
Published on: May 24, 2011
How does Trichinella spiralis make itself at home?
1Division of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Microbiology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th St, New York City, NY 10032, USA.
Parasitology Today (Personal Ed.)
|October 17, 2006
Summary
Trichinella spiralis larvae create a unique nurse cell-parasite complex within muscle cells. Secreted larval proteins are hypothesized to reprogram host cell gene expression, driving nurse cell development.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The nurse cell-parasite complex formed by Trichinella spiralis is a unique biological structure.
- This complex develops from striated skeletal muscle cells within 15-20 days post-larval invasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a hypothesis explaining the molecular mechanisms behind nurse cell-parasite complex formation.
- To investigate the role of secreted larval proteins in this process.
Main Methods:
- Hypothetical model proposed by Dickson Despommier.
- Focus on secreted tyvelosylated proteins from the larva.
Main Results:
- Secreted larval proteins are present in the intracellular niche from Day 7 post-infection.
- These proteins are hypothesized to redirect host genomic expression, initiating nurse cell formation.
Conclusions:
- Tyvelosylated proteins secreted by Trichinella spiralis larvae are central to nurse cell formation.
- These proteins likely reprogram host muscle cells to create a specialized intracellular niche.
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