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Complement is a rat natural resistance factor to amoebic liver infection
Alfonso Olivos-García1, Mario Nequiz2, Scarlet Liceaga2
1Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, México olivosa@yahoo.com.
Bioscience Reports
|September 12, 2018
Summary
Rats possess natural resistance to amoebic liver abscesses, primarily due to their complement system
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Amoebiasis, caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is a significant global health concern, particularly in developing nations.
- Understanding natural resistance mechanisms against amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is crucial for developing new treatments.
- Rats exhibit natural resistance to ALA, offering insights into host-parasite interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the complement system in rat natural resistance to amoebic liver abscess (ALA).
- To compare the complement-mediated amoebicidal activity between rats and hamsters.
- To elucidate the specific complement pathway involved in E. histolytica killing.
Main Methods:
- Histologic analysis of rat livers post-infection with E. histolytica.
- In vitro experiments assessing rat complement's effect on E. histolytica trophozoites.
- In vivo studies administering rat serum to hamsters before infection.
- Inhibition assays using trypan blue to investigate complement pathway involvement.
Main Results:
- E. histolytica trophozoites were rapidly cleared from rat livers with minimal inflammation.
- Rat complement demonstrated potent in vitro amoebicidal activity against E. histolytica.
- Hamsters treated with rat serum showed resistance to ALA development.
- Rat complement's amoebicidal potency was significantly higher than hamster complement.
- The alternative complement pathway was identified as crucial for E. histolytica lysis.
Conclusions:
- The complement system, particularly the alternative pathway, plays a central role in rat resistance to amoebic liver abscess.
- Differences in complement activation, potentially due to parasite membrane affinity for complement components like C3b and Factor H, contribute to varying resistance levels.
- These findings highlight the complement system as a potential therapeutic target for amoebiasis.
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