Modulação da infecção murina pelas enzimas recombinantes MTAP e APRT de Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

Schistosomiasis mansoni is a disease caused by Schistosoma mansoni, it affects about 8 million people in Brazil and it is a neglected disease. Moreover, it is necessary to develop new tools for its control, since for over 40 years the same drug has been used to treat it. Thus, the search for vaccines is of great value for the control of schistosomiasis. In this study, we evaluated two recombinant enzymes of S. mansoni, the MTAP and APRT as immunogens, and checked the antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory effects in the schistosomiasis murine model. By means of prior immunization with MTAP and/or APRT, we analyzed, after the infection with S. mansoni, the host response to parasite board determination, immunological cytokines and histopathological changes in the liver of these animals. Our data showed that the MTAP enzyme was able to decrease the number of adult worms in previously immunized animals; APRT enzyme and/or the mix of the two enzymes induced reduction of inflammation in the liver of animals and promoted collagen deposition control; and MTAP enzyme and the mix stimulated a humoral immune response with production of IgG1 and IgE antibodies. Hence we suggest that the enzymes have potential for new studies that would seek a future vaccine target for the control of schistosomiasis.