Disease relevance of Dirofilaria

• Filarial paramyosin: cDNA sequences from Dirofilaria immitis and Onchocerca volvulus [1].
• Th1 response in BALB/c mice immunized with Dirofilaria immitis soluble antigens: a possible role for Wolbachia [2]?
• The immunopathogenesis of the anaphylactoid Mazzotti reactions has been studied by comparing physiologic and immunologic aspects of diethylcarbamazine-induced shock in Dirofilaria immitis infected dogs with antigen induced anaphylaxis in infected and uninfected controls [3].
• Dogs infected naturally or experimentally with Dirofilaria immitis were given levamisole resinate at the rate of 5.5 or 11 mg/kg of body weight/day for 10 days [4].

High impact information on Dirofilaria

• An ERp60-like protein from the filarial parasite Dirofilaria immitis has both transglutaminase and protein disulfide isomerase activity [5].
• Fourteen beagles infected with larvae (microfilariae) of Dirofilaria immitis, were randomly selected from another study in which the toxic effects of subfilaricidal doses of diethylcarbamazine were being evaluated [6].
• Dirofilaria immitis polyproteins (DiAgs) are found as 15-kDa monomeric and 30-kDa dimeric forms in excretory-secretory products of the adult worm [7].
• An rxr/usp homolog from the parasitic nematode, Dirofilaria immitis [8].
• Purification and partial characterization of a transglutaminase from dog filarial parasite, Dirofilaria immitis [9].

Chemical compound and disease context of Dirofilaria

• Inhibition of NADP-linked malic enzyme from Onchocerca volvulus and Dirofilaria immitis by suramin [10].
• We cloned and characterized cDNAs encoding beta-tubulin from 2 filariae, Dirofilaria immitis and Onchocerca volvulus, to explore possible explanations for benzimidazole insensitivity among adult filariae and the likelihood that epitopes of beta-tubulin could be used as antigens for a broad-spectrum filarial vaccine [11].
• Preliminary results on the effect of tetracycline on the embryogenesis and symbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia) of Dirofilaria immitis. An update and discussion [12].

Biological context of Dirofilaria

• Here we show that tetracycline treatment is very effective in blocking embryo development in two filarial nematodes, B. pahangi and Dirofilaria immitis [13].
• Preparation of a highly purified allergen from Dirofilaria immitis. Reaginic antibody formation in mice [14].
• A Dirofilaria immitis cDNA clone encoding a nucleic acid homolog of thioredoxin peroxidase (nDiTPx) was isolated from a fourth-stage larval cDNA library, using serum from dogs vaccinated by chemotherapeutically-abbreviated D. immitis larval infections [15].
• Ticlopidine hydrochloride was evaluated for its effectiveness in inhibiting platelet aggregation and serotonin release in 5 laboratory Beagles before and after heartworm implantation with 7 adult Dirofilaria immitis, and after embolization with 7 dead heartworms to mimic what happens after heartworm adulticide treatment [16].
• Some unwelcome cross-reactions were observed, however, with sera from individuals infected with Wuchereria bancrofti (three of 12 test-positive) and Dirofilaria (one of nine test-positive) [17].

Anatomical context of Dirofilaria

• Glutathione S-transferase was purified from the cytosol of adult Dirofilaria immitis by glutathione-agarose affinity chromatography and was reacted with 25 microM leukotriene A4 methyl ester and 10 mM glutathione [18].
• Increased rat alveolar macrophage expression of functional iNOS induced by a Dirofilaria immitis immunoglobulin superfamily protein [19].
• Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on vascular damage and myointimal proliferation in canine pulmonary arteries subjected to chronic injury by Dirofilaria immitis [20].
• Hemocyte monophenol oxidase activity in mosquitoes exposed to microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis [21].
• Two membrane-bound glutamate dehydrogenases were found in adult Dirofilaria immitis, an NAD-linked enzyme (EC 1.4.1.2) in the cytosol (C-GDH) and an enzyme equally reactive with NAD or NADP (EC 1.4.1.3) in the mitochondria (M-GDH) [22].

Associations of Dirofilaria with chemical compounds

• A highly purified allergen from excretory and secretory products of Dirofilaria immitis [23].
• Leukotriene C4 synthesis catalyzed by Dirofilaria immitis glutathione S-transferase [18].
• Homogenates of adult Dirofilaria immitis possess a microsomal enzyme system able to transfer mannose from GDPmannose to endogenous lipid intermediate(s) and exogenous dolichol monophosphate [24].
• Phosphofructokinase from Dirofilaria immitis: effect of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and AMP on the non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated forms of the enzyme [25].
• Identification of an asparagine amidohydrolase from the filarial parasite Dirofilaria immitis [26].

Gene context of Dirofilaria

• The factors that regulate interleukin-4 (IL-4)-induced IgE synthesis in helminthic infection were analysed by using an excretory-secretory component (ESC) of Dirofilaria immitis (DI) [27].
• Studies aimed at developing immunization strategies against Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs have shown that protection against larval challenge is of the Th2 type and that several proteins are recognized by immunized or infected animals [2].
• A lambda gt11 cDNA recombinant that encodes Dirofilaria immitis paramyosin [28].
• Identification and characterization of an aromatic amino acid decarboxylase from the filarial nematode, Dirofilaria immitis [29].
• Acid phosphatase activity demonstrated in the nematodes, Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus cantonensis with special reference to the characters and distribution [30].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Dirofilaria

• Molecular cloning, expression and enzymatic activity of a thioredoxin peroxidase from Dirofilaria immitis [15].
• The purified Dirofilaria allergen appeared as one band after sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel (SDS-gel) electrophoresis and one precipitin arc by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) [14].
• The occurrence of an adverse reaction in Dirofilaria immitis-infected dogs following an intramuscular injection of chloroquine is described [31].
• Evaluation of a 22 kDa Dirofilaria immitis antigen for the immunodiagnosis of human pulmonary dirofilariosis [32].
• The usefulness of excretory/secretory (E/S) products of adult Dirofilaria immitis for the diagnosis of human dirofilariosis was evaluated in 97 human sera using an ELISA and a Western Blot analysis with E/S antigens [33].

References