Disease relevance of Onchocerca

• Characterization of an immunodominant Onchocerca volvulus antigen with patient sera and a monoclonal antibody [1].
• Polymerase chain reaction-based diagnosis of Onchocerca volvulus infection: improved detection of patients with onchocerciasis [2].
• IL-4 and IL-13 regulation of ICAM-1 expression and eosinophil recruitment in Onchocerca volvulus keratitis [3].
• Characterization of enzymatically active Onchocerca volvulus Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase expressed in Escherichia coli [4].
• One hour of incubation with 20 micrograms/ml aqueous extract of Onchocerca gutturosa absorbed cross-reactive IgG in most filariasis and necatoriasis sera, reducing the proportion with IgG levels above the positivity threshold by more than one-half [5].

High impact information on Onchocerca

• Serological cross-reactivity between a human Ro/SS-A autoantigen (calreticulin) and the lambda Ral-1 antigen of Onchocerca volvulus [6].
• The reaction products are consistent with structures reported for C. elegans as well those found in the filarial nematodes Acanthocheilonema viteae, Onchocerca volvulus, and Brugia malayi, strongly supporting the concept that the phosphorylcholine oligosaccharide biosynthetic enzymes are conserved in this group of organisms [7].
• A novel filarial serine protease inhibitor (SPI) from the human parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus, Ov-SPI-1, was identified through the analysis of a molting third-stage larvae expressed sequence tag dataset [8].
• A highly diversified member of the cyclophilin family of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases has been isolated from the human parasite Onchocerca volvulus (OvCYP-16) [9].
• CXCR2(-/-) and CCR1(-/-) mice were immunized s.c. and injected into the corneal stroma with Ags from the parasitic helminth Onchocerca volvulus [10].

Chemical compound and disease context of Onchocerca

• The Ov20 protein of the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus. A structurally novel class of small helix-rich retinol-binding proteins [11].
• Molecular cloning and characterization of onchocystatin, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor of Onchocerca volvulus [12].
• FcgammaR(-/-) mice, C3(-/-) mice, and immunocompetent control (B6/129Sj) mice were immunized s.c. and injected intrastromally with Onchocerca volvulus Ags [13].
• Diethylcarbamazine is microfilaricidal against Onchocerca volvulus, but its use has been associated with major adverse effects resulting from its action on the microfilariae [14].
• A novel type of glutathione S-transferase in Onchocerca volvulus [15].

Biological context of Onchocerca

• We have investigated the involvement of a cysteine protease in the development of Onchocerca volvulus fourth stage larvae (L4) by testing the effect of cysteine protease inhibitors on the survival of third stage larvae (L3), and the molting of L3 to L4 in vitro [16].
• Since microfilariae are mobilized into the bloodstream following diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment, we have studied the effects of Onchocerca cervicalis cuticle preparations on equine platelet aggregation [17].
• We report here the molecular cloning and sequencing of SmIrV1 which contains a deduced amino acid sequence of 582 residues with similarity to three proteins: calnexin, calreticulin, and OvRal1, a surface antigen of the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus [18].
• This study examined the genomic organisation of the coding region of the glutathione S-transferase 3 (Ov-GST-3) from the human parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus; alternative splicing leads to three different transcripts (Ov-GST-3/1; Ov-GST-3/2 and Ov-GST-3/3) [19].
• Structural analysis and antibody response to the extracellular glutathione S-transferases from Onchocerca volvulus [20].

Anatomical context of Onchocerca

• Production of both IFN-gamma and IL-5 by Onchocerca volvulus S1 antigen-specific CD4+ T cells from putatively immune individuals [21].
• The susceptibility of Brugia malayi and Onchocerca lienalis microfilariae to H2O2 and NO either in cell-free culture or from IFN gamma-activated macrophages was examined [22].
• This study shows that Wolbachia endobacteria (detectable by polyclonal antibodies against endobacterial heat shock protein 60 and catalase and by polymerase chain reaction being sensitive to doxycycline treatment) are direct and indirect sources of signals accounting for neutrophil accumulation around adult Onchocerca volvulus filariae [23].

Associations of Onchocerca with chemical compounds

• A hydrophobic leader sequence of 32 amino acids was found, indicating a possible extracellular function of the onchocerca cysteine proteinase inhibitor [12].
• The present study deals with the discovery and partial characterization of specific binding proteins for retinol and retinoic acid from filarial parasites (worms of the superfamily Filarioidea), including those from two species of Onchocerca [24].
• This sequence is highly conserved when compared to calreticulin (a luminal ER protein), an Onchocerca surface antigen, and yeast and plant calnexin homologues [25].
• Excretory-secretory products (ES) of adult male Onchocerca gibsoni contain phosphorylcholine (PC) [26].
• Experimental describe the use of ethanediol to store Onchocerca microfilariae in liquid nitrogen [27].

Gene context of Onchocerca

• Before treatment, Onchocerca volvulus antigen (OvA) elicited interleukin (IL)-5 production but inhibited production of IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [28].
• Regulatory effects of Th1-type (IFN-gamma, IL-12) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-10, IL-13) on parasite-specific cellular responsiveness in Onchocerca volvulus-infected humans and exposed endemic controls [29].
• Regulatory effects of IL-12 and IL-18 on Onchocerca volvulus- and Entamoeba histolytica-specific cellular reactivity and cytokine profiles [30].
• A novel S100 ca2+-binding protein, termed calgranulin-related protein (CGRP), was purified to homogeneity from extracts of adult Onchocerca volvulus, a human tissue-dwelling parasite [31].
• cDNAs from Onchocerca sp. encoding members of the MRS3/MRS4 class of mitochondrial solute carriers [32].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Onchocerca

• A modification of the ELISA involved preincubation of sera with Onchocerca gutturosa phosphate-buffered saline-soluble extract to remove cross-reactivity with other helminths [33].
• Crystallization of the major cytosolic glutathione S-transferase from Onchocerca volvulus [34].
• Ivermectin (MK-933) has been compared with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and placebo in a double-blind study in 30 adult male Senegalese patients with Onchocerca volvulus infection [35].
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.49) was partially purified from the extracts of adult Onchocerca volvulus by affinity chromatography on 2'5'ADP-Sepharose-4B [36].
• An internal control for the detection of Onchocerca volvulus DNA by PCR-ELISA and rapid detection of specific PCR products by DNA Detection Test Strips [37].

References