Proteomics of Gnathostomiasis: A Way Forward for Diagnosis and Treatment Development

Abstract

Gnathostoma spinigerum is the most common cause of gnathostomiasis in humans. It has a complex life cycle, which requires two intermediate hosts and a definitive host, and poses a high risk for zoonosis. Definitive prognosis of gnathostomiasis relies mainly on the isolation of advanced-stage larvae (aL3), which is very challenging especially if the aL3 is sequestered in difficult-to-reach organs. There is also a lack of a confirmatory diagnostic test for gnathostomiasis. With the ongoing advancement of proteomics, a potential diagnostic approach is underway using immunoproteomics and immunodiagnostics. In addition to this, the employment of mass spectrometry could further elucidate not only understanding the biology of the parasite but also determining potential targets of prospective drugs and vaccines. This article reports the past, present, and future application of proteomics in the study of gnathostomiasis.

Detection of Gnathostoma spinigerum larva in the brain with complete follow-up after surgical treatment of human neurognathostomiasis

“…By reducing host protease activity and modifying host immunity, parasite protease inhibitors thus act to make a safer environment for the host ( Ranasinghe and McManus, 2017 ). Regarding serine proteases, several have been found in parasitic helminths that may contribute to immune evasion, host tissue and cell invasion, parasite growth and nutrition, and anticoagulation ( Thiangtrongjit et al, 2021 ). Consistent with the damage and invasion observed in the brain due to G. spinigerum , the leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein was the second most up-regulated protein.…”