Immune response to infection

Abstract

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites, which can cause complications in immunocompromised individuals. Very little is known about the host immune response generated against these infectious agents. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is the best studied microsporidian and the protective immune response against this parasite is mediated by cytotoxic CD8 + T cells.

Microsporidial Keratitis in Patients with Hot Springs Exposure

“…Elements of innate immunity, including macrophages, immunoglobulin A, and neutrophils, are crucial in the defense against acanthamoebic keratitis (3,12,33). For microsporidial infection, a chain of immune responses triggered by host macrophages after microsporidial invasions is critical for host protection against parasite challenge (8,18,27). Epithelial barrier function is also an important host defense against parasite invasion.…”

Fatal Myositis Due to the MicrosporidianBrachiola algerae,a Mosquito Pathogen

“…28 Protective immunity against E. cuniculi a microsporidian, depends on the induction of type 1 helper T-cell cytokines such as interleukin-12 and interferon-γ. 29,30 The role of TNF-α has not been studied in animal models of microsporidiosis; however, elevated fecal levels of TNF-α have been detected in patients with AIDS and intestinal microsporidiosis. 31 Treatment of murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro with TNF-α inhibited the replication of E. cuniculi.…”

Humoral intestinal immunity against Encephalitozoon cuniculi (Microsporidia) infection in mice

“…The immune IELs exhibited significant Ag-specific ex vivo cytotoxicity and elevated cytokine messages during infection. It is generally agreed that protective immune response against microsporidia is mediated by cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (Braunfuchsová et al 2001, Khan et al 2001). However, the results of Braunfuchsová et al (2002) indicate that whereas CD8+ T cells are critical for the protection against an intraperitoneal E. cuniculi infection, both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subpopulations play a substantive protective role in a peroral infection, i.e.…”