Organoids – New Models for Host–Helminth Interactions

Abstract

Organoids are multicellular culture systems that replicate tissue architecture and function, and are increasingly used as models of viral, bacterial, and protozoan infections. Organoids have great potential to improve our current understanding of helminth interactions with their hosts and to replace or reduce the dependence on using animal models. In this review, we discuss the applicability of this technology to helminth infection research, including strategies of co-culture of helminths or their products with organoids and the challenges, advantages, and drawbacks of the use of organoids for these studies. We also explore how complementing organoid systems with other cell types and components may allow more complex models to be generated in the future to further investigate helminth-host interactions.

Development of caecaloids to study host–pathogen interactions: new insights into immunoregulatory functions of Trichuris muris extracellular vesicles in the caecum

“…As the apical surface of the IECs in 3D caecaloids is facing the lumen (see microvilli (Villin) staining Fig. 2 B), microinjection is therefore required to mimic the interactions that naturally take place in the caecum ( Duque-Correa et al, 2020 ). PBS was microinjected in 3D caecaloids as a control.…”

Preliminary evaluations of 3-dimensional human skin models for their ability to facilitate in vitro the long-term development of the debilitating obligatory human parasite Onchocerca volvulus

“…Replacing the presently used surrogate filarial parasites for drug screening and validation in vivo with the target parasite for the development of novel macrofilaricidal drugs, O. volvulus, will also reduce the need of animal models for confirmatory testing of drug effects [16]. We assume that our in vitro tissues will be also applicable to studies with other filarial parasites and human helminths, contributing to the progress of anti-parasitic treatment strategies for various helminth infections [31]. The novel in vitro culturing system of O. volvulus could ultimately further support the better understanding of the biology of this obligate human parasite and the development of new interventional tools to fight this debilitating human disease.…”

“…volvulus , will also reduce the need of animal models for confirmatory testing of drug effects [ 16 ]. We assume that our in vitro tissues will be also applicable to studies with other filarial parasites and human helminths, contributing to the progress of anti-parasitic treatment strategies for various helminth infections [ 31 ]. The novel in vitro culturing system of O .…”

“…Thus, confirming that tissue-engineered in vitro skin equivalents can substitute the human skin for analyses of tissue-specific host-parasite interactions in situ. Moreover, multicellular tissue equivalents of various hosts and organs are expected to be of value for the progress of anti-parasitic prevention strategies, such as the development of drugs and vaccines [31].…”

Optimizing 3-dimensional human skin models to facilitate long-term development ofOnchocerca volvulus, a debilitating obligatory human parasite

“…By the replacement of surrogate filarial pathogens with the correct parasite O. volvulus, we also hope to reduce the need of animal models for confirmatory testing of drug effects [16]. We assume that our in vitro tissues are also applicable to other filarial parasites, contributing to the progress of anti-parasitic treatment strategies for various helminth infections [31].…”