Host-protective antigen

Chow, C., Gauci, C.G., Cowman, A.F. and Lightowlers, M.W. (2001) A gene family expressing a host-protective antigen of Echinococcus granulosus. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 118, 83-88. 

Drew, D.R., Lightowlers, M.W. and Strugnell, R.A. (2000b) A comparison of DNA vaccines expressing the 45W, 18k and 16k host-protective antigens of Taenia ovis in mice and sheep. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 76, 171-181. 

Harrison, G.B.L., Heath, D.D., Dempster, R.P., Lawrence, S.B., Lightowlers, M.W. and Rickard, M.D. (1993) Identification of host-protective antigens of Taenia ovis oncospheres. International journal for Parasitology 23, 41-50. 

Table 15.2. Recombinant oncosphere antigens of taeniid cestodes, which have been shown to induce host-protective immune responses. ...

Precise definition of the host-protection epitope(s) of the Taenia and Echinococcus vaccine antigens would be valuable if it were to lead to the development of a synthetic vaccine or provide reagents to assist with quality control of vaccine production. Identification of a limited number of host-protective fragments may allow the recombinant antigen to be replaced by synthetic peptides. This would have significant advantages in the production... 

Gauci, C.G., Flisser, A. and Lightowlers, M.W. (1998) A Taenia solium oncosphere protein homologous to host-protective Taenia ovis and Taenia saginata 18 kDa antigens. International Journal for Parasitology 28, 757-760. 

Lightowlers, M.W., Waterkeyn, J.G., Rothel, J.S., Gauci, C.G. and Harrison, G.B. (1996c) Host-protective fragments and antibody binding epitopes of the Taenia ovis 45W recombinant antigen. Parasite Immunology 18, 507-513. 

Ectoparasites such as ticks, mites and haematophagous flies together with certain endoparasites may be "managed" by use of avermectins (macrocyclic lactones) or hormone analogues and by Immunization of the hosts with antigens derived from the vectors or parasites themselves. Recently this combined approach has been used most effectively against helminth infestations as well as against ticks and flies. Use of components of host odors and pheromones to trap, sterilize or kill tsetse flies is described as well as inexpensive methods of crop and livestock protection, such as oils and plant extracts, used traditionally in less developed countries. 

Potential host-protective mechanisms identitied from experimental animal models of Strongyloides infection include IL-5-dependent (53-55), IgM antibody-dependent (56), and mast cell-mediated (57) mechanisms. Studies of subjects with various clinical and parasitological forms of chronic infection do not support a role for specific IgE in host protection (58-60), although a recent study (60) demonstrated differential patterns of IgA- and IgE-specific antigen recognition between individuals with parasite-positive and parasite-negative stools. 

If the structure of protective antigens was known, it should be possible to develop effective vaccines for every pathogen, but this is certainly not the case, and infonnation is patchy. In the case of many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, there is evidence that the host responds to LPS, ECPs, OMPs and other surface proteins. Spedlic examples of protective antigens include ... 

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