Nematicidal activity of Paecilomyces marquandii proteases on infective larvae of Ancylostoma spp

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate the action of Paecilomyces marquandii proteases on Ancylostoma spp L3. White halos in the zymogram confirmed the proteolytic action. Difference (p <0.01) between the number of L3 in the differents groups was found, with 41.4% of reduction of Ancylostoma spp. L3 before 24 hours

Development of the magnetic capture system for recovery of Xiphinema americanum

Xiphinema americanum is listed as a quarantine nematode by The European Plant Protection Organisation because of its ability to transmit quarantine viruses. Detection of this nematode in soil samples, or in mixed nematode samples extracted from soil, is therefore of paramount importance. We recently described the use of magnetic beads (Dynabeads) in combination with probes such as lectins or antibodies for recovery of small endoparasitic nematodes including Meloidogyne spp. and Globodera rostochiensis from mixed nematode samples. Here we show that magnetic capture can be used with much larger nematodes such as X americanum. We describe lectins and antisera that bind to the surface of this nematode and show that the antisera can be used in the Dynabeads system to recover and enrich X americanum from mixed nematode samples

The effects of immunization with recombinant Sm14 (rSm14) in reducing worm burden and mortality of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni Os efeitos da imunização com Sm14 recombinante (Sm14r) na redução da carga de vermes e na mortalidade de camundongos infectados com Schistosoma mansoni

To investigate whether mice immunization with the recombinant form of a 14.7 KDa Schistosoma mansoni protein (rSm14) confers protection against a S. mansoni lethal challenge infection, rSm14-immunized mice were challenged with different cercarial burdens. A significant protection was detected in immunized mice challenged with 100 or 1,000 S. mansoni cercariae when compared with their controls (p< 0.004 and p< 0.01 respectively). Differently from previous report, none of the mice from the control group (not immunized and infected with 1000 cercariae) died before the 30th day post-infection. A direct correlation between the number of challenge cercariae and the precocity of mice death was found. IgM anti-rSm14 antibodies were significantly produced (p< 0.05) mainly in the groups of immunized mice infected with 500 or 1000 cercariae. IgG and IgA anti-rSm14 antibodies were not significantly detected. In Western immunoblots, all mice sera showed a specific antibody response with a 14.7 KDa antigen being reacted with particular intensity in sera from immunized mice. The results show that immunization with rSm14 reduced mice worm burden independently of the cercariae load of challenge infection. No correlation was found between serum antibodies and worm burden reduction. In relation to cercarial load and the rate and precocity of mice mortality a direct correlation was found.<br>A fim de investigar se a imunização de camundongos com a proteína recombinante de14,7 KDa (Sm14r) de Schistosoma mansoni confere proteção contra uma infecção letal por S. mansoni, camundongos imunizados com Sm14r foram infectados com diferentes cargas de vermes.Uma proteção significativa foi demonstrada nos camundongos imunizados e infectados com 100 ou 1.000 cercárias de S. mansoni quando comparados com os controles (p< 0,004 e p< 0,01 respectivamente). Diferentemente de resultados anteriores, nenhum camundongo do grupo controle (não imunizado e infectado com 1.000 cercárias) morreu antes do 30º dia após infecção. Uma correlação direta entre o número de cercárias e o tempo de morte dos camundongos foi detectada. Anticorpos IgM anti-Sm14r foram produzidos significativamente (p< 0,05), principalmente, nos grupos de camundongos imunizados e infectados com 500 ou 1.000 cercárias. Anticorpos IgG e IgA anti-Sm14r não foram produzidos em quantidades significativas. Os testes de immunoblots demonstraram que todos os soros de camundongos revelaram uma banda específica de aproximadamente 14,7 KDa, e com maior intensidade nos soros dos camundongos imunizados. A maior reatividade foi encontrada no soro no período da terceira imunização.Os resultados mostram que imunização com Sm14r reduz a carga de vermes independentemente da carga de cercárias da infecção. Nenhuma correlação foi encontrada entre tipos de anticorpos e redução da carga de vermes. Uma correlação direta foi encontrada em relação a carga de cercárias e a taxa e precocidade da mortalidade dos camundongos

Specific polyclonal antibodies for the obligate plant parasite Polymyxa - a targeted recombinant DNA approach

Highly specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies for the obligate sugar-beet root parasite, Polymyxa betae, were produced using a novel recombinant DNA approach. Parasite cDNA was selectively isolated from infected roots, expressed in vitro, and the purified protein used to raise antibodies. This produced clean, precisely targeted antibodies, and allowed for rigorous screening of candidate genes and their products at the molecular level prior to animal immunization. This approach selects for genes whose products are highly expressed by the parasite in planta, and five such candidate genes from Polymyxa betae were identified and cloned. Polyclonal antiserum developed using the product of one such gene was found to react specifically with P. betae in sugar-beet roots and with the closely related Polymyxa graminis in barley roots, and to cross-react with Plasmodiophora brassicae in cabbage roots, without the need for further purification. No cross-reaction was detected with protein extracts from potato roots infected by the plasmodiophoromycete Spongospora subterranea. In all cases, there was no interaction with proteins from host plants, or from other microorganisms found in association with uninoculated sugar-beet, barley, cabbage and potato rootsPeer reviewe