Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
Isolation And Dendritic Cell-Uptake of Small Extracellular Vesicles from Echinococcus granulosus
Published on: March 28, 2025
[X-ray irradiation against Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces in vitro]
Yong-Xing Bao1, Rui Mao, Hong-Zhi Qi
1Cancer Center of the First Teaching Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.
Objective:
To explore the effect of X-ray irradiation on Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces in vitro.
Methods:
Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces were collected from cysts of infected Meriones meridianus and then cultured in RPMI 1640 medium. Protoscoleces were subpackaged into culture flasks at a density of about 10(4) per flask after culture for 3 days. Each group has 10 culture flasks. There were seven groups named as blank control group, low dose group (15 Gy and 30 Gy), medium dose group (45 Gy and 60 Gy), high dose group (75 Gy and 90 Gy), albendazole group (2 500 ng/ml), 45 Gy X-ray + 2 500 ng/ml albendazole group, and 75 Gy X-ray + 2 500 ng/ml albendazole group. Protoscoleces received three radiations on every other day with a source-skin distance of 100 cm and at a dose rate of 200 cGy/min after 3 days in culture. At each day after irradiation, protoscoleces were counted by light microscope with 0.1% eosin staining, and calculated mortality rate (per 100 protoscoleces) until all the parasites in experimental groups died. At the same time, the morphological changes of protoscoleces were observed.
Results:
There were significant differences in protoscolex mortality between X-ray groups and blank control group (P < 0.05), between X-ray + albendazole groups and albendazole group (P < 0.05). Protoscolex mortality in albendazole group were higher than that of blank control group (P < 0.05). Significant difference were also found in protoscolex mortality between albendazole combined with radiation and radiation only (P < 0.05). Before radiation, protoscoleces was normal with complete structure. After radiation, the parasites were mostly valgus type protoscoleces with disordered rostellar hooks and deformed acetabulum, and finally died.
Conclusion:
X-ray can kill Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces in vitro.
Insights
X-ray irradiation effectively kills Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces in vitro. This study demonstrates X-ray efficacy and its synergistic effect with albendazole in parasite eradication.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Radiation Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Echinococcus multilocularis poses a significant public health threat, causing cystic echinococcosis.
- Current treatments, like albendazole, have limitations, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic strategies.
- In vitro studies are crucial for evaluating the efficacy of potential treatments against parasitic organisms.
Purpose:
- To investigate the efficacy of X-ray irradiation as a standalone treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces.
- To assess the combined effect of X-ray irradiation and albendazole on Echinococcus multilocularis protoscolex viability.
- To observe morphological changes in protoscoleces following X-ray exposure.
Summary:
- Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces were exposed to varying doses of X-ray irradiation in vitro.
- Significant increases in protoscolex mortality were observed in X-ray treated groups compared to controls (P < 0.05).
- Combined X-ray and albendazole treatment showed enhanced mortality compared to albendazole alone or X-ray alone (P < 0.05), with observed morphological damage.
Impact:
- X-ray irradiation presents a potential adjunctive or alternative therapeutic modality for echinococcosis.
- Understanding the radiosensitivity of Echinococcus multilocularis can inform the development of radiation-based treatment protocols.
- This research contributes to the search for more effective methods to control parasitic infections.
