Metabolism of steroid hormones by Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps cysticerci

2006 ◽  
Vol 99 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 203-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jiménez ◽  
R.A. Valdez ◽  
M.C. Romano
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Hormones ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Taenia Crassiceps

scholarly journals Hormones and Parasites, Their Role in Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps Physiology and Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta C. Romano ◽  
Ricardo A. Valdez ◽  
Martin Patricio ◽  
Alejandra Aceves-Ramos ◽  
Alex I. Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Hormones ◽  
Hormone Receptors ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
The Other ◽  
Reproductive Systems ◽  
Taenia Crassiceps ◽  
Host Environment ◽  
Reciprocal Interactions ◽  
Parasite Infections

The host’s hormonal environment determines the susceptibility, the course, and severity of several parasite infections. In most cases the infection disturbs the host environment, and activates immune responses that end up affecting the endocrine system. In the other hand, a number of reports indicate that parasites have reproductive systems, and some others have shown that these organisms synthetize sex steroid hormones. We have shown that cysticerci, the larval stage of Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps ORF and WFU, synthesize steroid hormones. This capacity was modified by drugs that act inhibiting the steroid synthesizing enzymes, or blocking the parasite’s hormone receptors. We have also shown that the cysticerci of T. crassiceps WFU and T. solium have the capacity to synthesize corticosteroids as deoxicorticosterone and corticosterone. We also reviewed the effects of insulin on these parasites, and the receptors found for this hormone. A deep knowledge of the parasite’s endocrine properties will contribute to understand their reproduction and the reciprocal interactions with the host. Likewise, may also help designing tools to combat the infection in clinical situations.

scholarly journals Taenia larvae possess distinct acetylcholinesterase profiles with implications for host cholinergic signalling

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0008966
Author(s):  
Anja de Lange ◽  
Ulrich Fabien Prodjinotho ◽  
Hayley Tomes ◽  
Jana Hagen ◽  
Brittany-Amber Jacobs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Activity ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Taenia Crassiceps ◽  
Human Sequence ◽  
Neuronal Signalling ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Acquired Epilepsy

Larvae of the cestodes Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps infect the central nervous system of humans. Taenia solium larvae in the brain cause neurocysticercosis, the leading cause of adult-acquired epilepsy worldwide. Relatively little is understood about how cestode-derived products modulate host neural and immune signalling. Acetylcholinesterases, a class of enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, are produced by a host of parasitic worms to aid their survival in the host. Acetylcholine is an important signalling molecule in both the human nervous and immune systems, with powerful modulatory effects on the excitability of cortical networks. Therefore, it is important to establish whether cestode derived acetylcholinesterases may alter host neuronal cholinergic signalling. Here we make use of multiple techniques to profile acetylcholinesterase activity in different extracts of both Taenia crassiceps and Taenia solium larvae. We find that the larvae of both species contain substantial acetylcholinesterase activity. However, acetylcholinesterase activity is lower in Taenia solium as compared to Taenia crassiceps larvae. Further, whilst we observed acetylcholinesterase activity in all fractions of Taenia crassiceps larvae, including on the membrane surface and in the excreted/secreted extracts, we could not identify acetylcholinesterases on the membrane surface or in the excreted/secreted extracts of Taenia solium larvae. Bioinformatic analysis revealed conservation of the functional protein domains in the Taenia solium acetylcholinesterases, when compared to the homologous human sequence. Finally, using whole-cell patch clamp recordings in rat hippocampal brain slice cultures, we demonstrate that Taenia larval derived acetylcholinesterases can break down acetylcholine at a concentration which induces changes in neuronal signalling. Together, these findings highlight the possibility that Taenia larval acetylcholinesterases can interfere with cholinergic signalling in the host, potentially contributing to pathogenesis in neurocysticercosis.

Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase: Cloning and analysis of the Taenia solium gene and Taenia crassiceps cDNA

2012 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Parra-Unda ◽  
Felipe Vaca-Paniagua ◽  
Lucia Jiménez ◽  
Abraham Landa
Keyword(s):  
Superoxide Dismutase ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Taenia Crassiceps

scholarly journals Neurocysticercosis: detection of IgG, IgA and IgE antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid, serum and saliva samples by ELISA with Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps antigens

2000 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
EDNÉIA CASAGRANDA BUENO ◽  
ADELAIDE JOSÉ VAZ ◽  
LUÍS DOS RAMOS MACHADO ◽  
JOSÉ ANTONIO LIVRAMENTO
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ige Antibodies ◽  
Taenia Crassiceps ◽  
Inactive Form

We assayed samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum and saliva from patients with neurocysticercoses, control group and individuals with other parasitoses, by ELISA with Taenia crassiceps vesicular fluid antigen (Tcra) and Taenia solium total antigen (Tso) for the detection of antibodies. The sensitivity for IgG-Tcra was 100% for CSF and serum, and 32.0% for saliva; and for IgG-Tso 100% for CSF, 80.0% for serum and 24.% for saliva. Specificity was 100% for CSF and 80.0% for serum with both antigens, and 100% for saliva with Tcra and 87.5% with Tso. The sensitivity and specificity for IgA-Tcra was, respectively, 40.0% and 100% for CSF, 36.0% and 97.1% for serum, and 4.0% and 90.0% for saliva. IgE detection showed 24.0% sensitivity and 97.1% specificity for serum, with no detection in CSF samples. The search for antibodies revealed the presence of IgG > IgA > IgE in CSF, serum and saliva samples, with IgG being present in all phases of the disease, while IgA/IgE were more frequent in the inactive form.

The effect of glucocorticoids on sex steroid synthesis in cultured Taenia crassiceps Wake Forest University (WFU) cysticerci

2011 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Hinojosa ◽  
R.A. Valdez ◽  
V. Salvador ◽  
A.G. Rodríguez ◽  
K. Willms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Steroid Synthesis ◽  
Infected Female ◽  
Taenia Crassiceps ◽  
The Media ◽  
First Time ◽  
Different Doses

AbstractWe have shown previously that cultured Taenia crassiceps Wake Forest University (WFU) and Taenia solium cysticerci, as well as the adult worms, synthesize sex steroid hormones from [3H]steroid precursors and that androgens and oestrogens influence the in vitro development of the parasites. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used to control the inflammation caused by T. solium cysticerci in the brain. These steroids stimulate oestrogen synthesis in several tissues. Since there is no information on the effect of GC on the endocrine function of cysticerci, we investigated the effect of natural and synthetic GCs on the synthesis of oestrogens in cultured T. crassiceps WFU cysticerci. The cysticerci were obtained from the peritoneal cavity of infected female BALB/c mice; the cysts were washed extensively and pre-cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) plus antibiotics for 5 days. The parasites were further cultured with different doses of corticosterone, dexamethasone or the vehicle for 5 days. [3H]Dehydroepiandrosterone (3H-DHEA) was added to the media and the cysticerci were further incubated for 6 or 24 h. Media were then removed and the steroids ether-extracted. Aliquots of the media were seeded on silica gel plates and developed in solvent systems. Parasites incubated in the presence of 3H-DHEA synthesized [3H]androstenediol, [3H]testosterone and [3H]17β-oestradiol ([3H]17β-E2). The addition of 100 nm or higher corticosterone doses to the media increased [3H]17β-E2 synthesis fourfold after 24 h. Dexamethasone also increased [3H]17β-E2 synthesis. The experiments presented here show for the first time that corticosterone and the synthetic GC dexamethasone modulate the synthesis of oestrogens by cysticerci.

scholarly journals Taenia solium Metacestode Factor as Probable Cause of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José L. Molinari
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy ◽  
Temporal Lobe ◽  
Hippocampal Sclerosis ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Taenia Crassiceps

This article analyzes data from scientific publications (mainly reviews) concerning the link between human neurocysticercosis and epilepsy. Along with data from our own studies on experimental hippocampal sclerosis induced by a Taenia crassiceps metacestode factor in mice, it explores the connection between mechanisms that likely favor the development of epilepsy in cases of human neurocysticercosis. The data from both sources suggest the idea that the T. solium metacestode factor causes hippocampal sclerosis and later epilepsy in humans with neurocysticercosis.

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