Immunology of Parasitic Disease Flashcards
What is concomitant immunity?
What helminth has this immunity?
It is where the skin stage larval schistosomes are killed by Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity (ADCC) but the adult worms escape elimination
Schistosome = Blood fluke
What is ADCC?
Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity is an IgE mediated response against specific parasites. The response degranulates EOSINOPHILS
What is antigenic mimicry?
What is an example of a parasite that uses this immune evasion strategy?
It is when a parasite acquires host hemmaglutinins and MHC so the immune system perceives it as “self” and doesn’t attack it.
Schistosomes use this strategy
What isTra antigenic variation?
What parasite uses this strategy?
It is when the protozoa spontaneously changes its antigenic phenotype to escape immune destruction.
Trypanosomes (African Sleeping Sickness, Chaga’s) use this strategy
What is the larval stage of the schistosome (blood fluke)?
Where is it released from?
What is the infectious stage of the schistosome?
Where does it enter the host?
Cercaria is the schistosome larvae and it is released from FRESH water snails
The infectious stage of the schistosome is the schistosomula and it is the skin stage
What is the infectious stage of malaria? Where does it enter the host?
What is the dormant liver stage of malaria called?
What is the RBC stage of malaria called?
Sporozoite is the infectious stage that enters the host via mosquito bite
Hypnozoite = dormant liver
Merozoite = erythrocytic stage
What is the most important host mechanism (cell) for clearing parasite infection?
Which cells play the largest role for protozoa?
For helminths?
CD4 cells because they will release cytokines and activate cells to clear the parasite.
Th1- IFNg activates macrophages to clear protozoa
Th2 - eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia of IgE to clear helminths?
How do schistosomes enter the human host?
Where in the human host do schistosomes reside?
After what point will the schistosome be impervious to immune attack?
The schistosome enters through the skin and travels to the lungs. Once it enters the lungs it is impervious to immune attack.
Then they reside in the lumen of mesenteric blood vessels(blood fluke)
What four cells are the dominant effectors for clearing a schistosome?
IgE
mast cells
eosinophils
Th2
The hematological hallmark of a helminth infection is ____________ and __________________.
eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia of IgE
What allows for schistosome immune resistance?
Concomitant immunity where the mammalian host resist REINFECTION of the skin stages of a worm, but are unable to eradicate the original worm.
Describe the life cycle of the schistosome. Begin with the adult worm in the human vessels.
What is the infectious agent?
What part of the life cycle is susceptible to immune response?
Human vessels -> lay eggs-> urine/feces-> fresh water-> snails-> 1000s of offspring from single egg-> Cercaria (INFECTIOUS AGENT)-> penetrate skin-> Schistosoma (VULNERABLE TO IMMUNE ATTACK)–> 24-48 hours -> lung (IMPERVIOUS TO IMMUNE ATTACK)
How does concomitant immunity prevent reinfection by schistosome?
What Th plays a major role?
- The host has IgE antibodies anchored on mast cells and activated eosinophils.
- Cercaria sheds antigens that triggers degranulation of cutaneous mast cells by cross-linking
- Mast cells release ECF (eosinophil chemotactic factor) and histamine to vasodilate and increase vascular permeability
- IgE binds to schistosomula (skin stage) and acts as a ligand for the eosinophil which causes its degranulation
- MBP is released and disintegrates the schistomula (ADCC)
Th2 - IL4, IL5, IL13 play a major role
The process of ADCC against the schistosome is T-cell __________________ but not T-cell ______________.
T cell dependent (to activate and class switch B cells) But not T cell mediated (no CD8)
What type of hypersensitivity response is ADCC against the schistosome?
Type 1 immediate hypersensitivity
Toxoplasma is an obligate ___________ so it is sequestered from direct exposure to immune elements. Removal must be _______________.
Intracellular protozoa (sporozoa). Elimination depends on ACTIVATED MACROPHAGES and CD8 T cells
What cells do toxoplasma infect?
What species can it live in?
What percent of people are seropositive for toxoplasma?
Any nucleated cell
It is ubiquitous and can live in over 300 mammal species and 30 bird species
80-100% of us are seropositive but we are not all sick because healthy immune systems can clear it
What are we not able to eradicate toxoplasma infections?
Dormancy is a common problem where trophozoites stay in other cells and aren’t killed.
Immunosuppression reactivates latent infections.
What is the primary mechanism of resistance to a toxoplasma infection?
The phagocytic killing of toxoplasma by activated macrophages
(if the macrophage is not activated, it will phagocytose the Toxoplasma trophozoite but fail to kill the parasite
What Th cell is critical for immunity of intracellular sporozoa (toxoplasma) infections?
What Ab helps with clearing infection?
Th1 because it releases IFNg which activates macrophages. Activated macrophages are necessary to kill Toxo. Resting macrophages can phagocytose but NOT kill.
IgG opsonizes the parasite and contributes to activated macrophage killing