Juvenile-specific cathepsin proteases in Fasciola spp.: their characteristics and vaccine efficacies

Abstract

Fasciolosis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, is one of the most neglected tropical zoonotic diseases. One sustainable control strategy against these infections is the employment of vaccines that target proteins essential for parasites' invasion and nutrition acquiring processes. Cathepsin proteases are the most abundantly expressed proteins in Fasciola spp. that have been tested successfully as vaccines against fasciolosis in experimental as well as large animals because of their important roles in digestion of nutrients, invasion, and migration. Specifically, juvenile-specific cathepsin proteases are the more effective vaccines because they could block the invasion and migration of juvenile parasites whose immune evasion mechanism has not yet been fully developed. Moreover, because of high sequence similarity and identity of cathepsins from juveniles with those of adults, the vaccines can attack both the juvenile and adult stages. In this article, the characteristics and vaccine potentials of juvenile-specific cathepsins, i.e., cathepsins L and B, of Fasciola spp. were reviewed.

NumerousFasciolaplasminogen-binding proteins may underlie blood-brain barrier leakage and explain neurological disorder complexity and heterogeneity in the acute and chronic phases of human fascioliasis

“…Although the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that occur between the host and the parasite are not fully understood, cathepsins and other proteases present in excretory/secretory extracts of F. hepatica have been related to tissue penetration (Robinson et al ., 2009; Meemon and Sobhon, 2015). Migration through host tissues and establishment have also been linked with the interaction between different groups of parasites and the final enzyme of the fibrinolytic system, the protease of serines, plasmin (González-Miguel et al ., 2016).…”

Modulation of the Functions of Goat Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells by Fasciola gigantica Thioredoxin Peroxidase In Vitro

“…The estimated economic loss every year due to fasciolosis is over 3 billion US dollars worldwide [ 2 ]. Also, fasciolosis has been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the neglected tropical human diseases [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]: at least 240 million people worldwide are readily infected, and 180 million people are at risk of infection [ 6 ]. Given this serious impact on both the human health and sustainable agricultural economy, and because of the increase of anthelmintic resistance, alternative control strategies, such as vaccination and understanding the genetic basis of the host’s innate resistance, have received increasing attention [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

A recombinant Fasciola gigantica 14-3-3 epsilon protein (rFg14-3-3e) modulates various functions of goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells

“…Infections with Fasciola spp. result in reduced meat, milk and wool production [ 2 ], with an estimated economic loss more than 3 billion USD per annum worldwide [ 3 , 4 ]. In addition, disease caused by Fasciola infection (known as fasciolosis) in humans is included in the WHO top listed neglected tropical diseases [ 5 , 6 ], and it is estimated that at least 2.4 million people are infected worldwide and 180 million are at risk of infections [ 2 ].…”