Université de Fribourg

Secreted venom allergen-like proteins of helminths: Conserved modulators of host responses in animals and plants

Wilbers, Ruud H. P. ; Schneiter, Roger ; Holterman, Martijn H. M. ; Drurey, Claire ; Smant, Geert ; Asojo, Oluwatoyin A. ; Maizels, Rick M. ; Lozano-Torres, Jose L.

In: PLOS Pathogens, 2018, vol. 14, no. 10, p. e1007300

Despite causing considerable damage to host tissue at the onset of parasitism, invasive helminths establish remarkably persistent infections in both animals and plants. Secretions released by these obligate parasites during host invasion are thought to be crucial for their persistence in infection. Helminth secretions are complex mixtures of molecules, most of which have unknown molecular...

Université de Fribourg

Heligmosomoides polygyrus venom allergen-like protein-4 (HpVAL-4) is a sterol binding protein

Asojo, Oluwatoyin A. ; Darwich, Rabih ; Gebremedhin, Selam ; Smant, Geert ; Lozano-Torres, José L. ; Drurey, Claire ; Pollet, Jeroen ; Maizels, Rick M. ; Schneiter, Roger ; Wilbers, Ruud H. P.

In: International Journal for Parasitology, 2018, vol. 48, no. 5, p. 359–369

Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri is a model parasitic hookworm used to study animal and human helminth diseases. During infection, the parasite releases excretory/secretory products that modulate the immune system of the host. The most abundant protein family in excretory/secretory products comprises the venom allergen-like proteins (VALs), which are members of the SCP/TAPS (sperm-coating ...

Université de Fribourg

Crystal structure of Brugia malayi venom allergen-like protein-1 (BmVAL-1), a vaccine candidate for lymphatic filariasis

Darwiche, Rabih ; Lugo, Fernanda ; Drurey, Claire ; Varossieau, Koen ; Smant, Geert ; Wilbers, Ruud H. P. ; Maizels, Rick M. ; Schneiter, Roger ; Asojo, Oluwatoyin A.

In: International Journal for Parasitology, 2018, vol. 48, no. 5, p. 371–378

Brugia malayi is a causative agent of lymphatic filariasis, a major tropical disease. The infective L3 parasite stage releases immunomodulatory proteins including the venom allergen-like proteins (VALs), which are members of the SCP/TAPS (Sperm-coating protein/Tpx/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1/Sc7) superfamily. BmVAL-1 is a major target of host immunity with >90% of infected B. malayi...

Université de Fribourg

Antibodies and IL-3 support helminth-induced basophil expansion

Herbst, Tina ; Esser, Julia ; Prati, Moira ; Kulagin, Manuel ; Stettler, Rebecca ; Zaiss, Mario M. ; Hewitson, James P. ; Merky, Patrick ; Verbeek, Joseph S. ; Bourquin, Carole ; Camberis, Mali ; Prout, Melanie ; Maizels, Rick M. ; Gros, Graham Le ; Harris, Nicola L.

In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012, vol. 109, no. 37, p. 14954-14959

Basophils are powerful mediators of Th2 immunity and are present in increased numbers during allergic inflammation and helminth infection. Despite their ability to potentiate Th2 immunity the mechanisms regulating basophil development remain largely unknown. We have found a unique role for isotype-switched antibodies in promoting helminth-induced basophil production following infection of mice...