1.

Dabir S, Dabir P, Reddy MVR. Isolation and characterization of a major form of superoxide dismutase from human lymphatic filarial parasite, brugia malayi. Biomedical Research, 2005; 16(1): 19-22.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that converts superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen and provides first line of defense against oxygen toxicity. We have isolated and characterized the extracellular form of superoxide dismutase from lymphatic filarial nematode parasite Brugia malayi. The enzyme activity was higher in adult worms (30.29 U/mg) than in microfilariae (23.19 U/mg). The parasite extracts were also analyzed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on 12% gel fallowed by staining for enzyme SOD activity using nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT), N, N, N, N tetra methyl ethylene diamine (TEMED) and riboflavin. A very broad band of enzyme activity was observed in both mf and adult worms extracts, with the latter showing more intense band. Fractionation of adult worm extracts by Fast Performance Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) using superdex 75 HR 10/30 column also showed polydispersed nature of SOD activity with 10 of the 15 fractions having varying levels of enzyme activity. The 9^th fraction with highest SOD activity was found to be a 29 kDa molecule having cross reactivity with SOD of B. pahangi. Further it was characterized as CuZn SOD based on significant inhibition of its activity by potassium cyanide.

Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Immunodiagnosis & Immunodiagnostics:

11416.     Dabir S, Dabir P, Reddy MVR. Isolation and characterization of a major form of superoxide dismutase from human lymphatic filarial parasite, brugia malayi. Biomedical Research, 2005; 16(1): 19-22.

11417.     Hussein O, Setouhy ME, Ahmed ES, Kandil AM, Ramzy RM, Helmy H, Weil GJ. Duplex Doppler sonographic assessment of the effects of diethylcarbamazine and albendazole therapy on adult filarial worms and adjacent host tissues in Bancroftian filariasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2004 Oct;71(4):471-7.

11418.     Oshiro Y, Murayama S, Sunagawa U, Nakamoto A, Owan I, Kuba M, Uehara T, Miyahira T, Kawabata T, Kuniyoshi M, Ishikawa K, Kinjyo T, Fujimoto K, Yamada K. Pulmonary dirofilariasis: computed tomography findings and correlation with pathologic features.J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2004 Nov-Dec;28(6):796-800.

11419.  Simonsen PE, Magesa SM. Observations on false positive reactions in the rapid NOW Filariasis card test. Trop Med Int Health. 2004 Nov;9(11):1200-2.

Pathogenesis:

11420.    Diaz LA, Arteaga LA, Hilario-Vargas J, Valenzuela JG, Li N, Warren S, Aoki V, Hans-Filho G, Eaton D, dos Santos V, Nutman TB, de Mayolo AA, Qaqish BF, Sampaio SA, Rivitti EA; Cooperative Group on Fogo Selvagem Research.  Anti-desmoglein-1 antibodies in onchocerciasis, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease suggest a possible etiological link to Fogo selvagem. J Invest Dermatol. 2004 Dec;123(6):1045-51.

11421.  Specht S, Volkmann L, Wynn T, Hoerauf A.  Interleukin-10 (IL-10) counterregulates IL-4-dependent effector mechanisms in Murine Filariasis. Infect Immun. 2004 Nov;72(11):6287-93.

1.

Dabir P, Dabir S, Krithika KN, Reddy MVR. Cloning and characterization of a small heat shock protein cDNA clone of Wuchereria bancrofti. Current Science, 2005 June 25;88(12):1962-1966.

Department of Biochemistry & J.B. Tropical Disease Research Centre, MGIMS, Sevagram-442102, Wardha, MS, India. mvrreddy_wda@sancharnet.in.

A 426 bp cDNA encoding a predicted small heat shock protein (smHSP) was isolated from Wuchereria bancrofti lambda zap L₃ cDNA expression library by immunoscreening with microfilaremic sera. The open reading frame of the cDNA clone encodes a predicted protein of 142 amino acids (aa), which had high sequence identity with other nematode smHSPs. The homologous regions conserved in several different nematodes species reflect its importance in parasites that require mammalian host as a part of their development. SmHSPs and alpha-crystallin constitute a family of related molecular chaperons that exhibit striking variability in size ranging from 10 to 43 kDa. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of this cDNA clone encoding predicted 15.5 kDa smHSP of W. bancrofti.

2.

Krithika KN, Dabir P, Kulkarni S, Anandharaman V, Reddy MVR. Identification of 38kDa Brugia malayi microfilarial protease as a vaccine candidate for lymphatic filariasis. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 2005; 43: 759-768.

Department of Biochemistry & J.B. Tropical Disease Research Centre, MGIMS, Sevagram-442102, Wardha, MS, India. mvrreddy_wda@sancharnet.in.

A FPLC purified 38kDa protease (Bm mf S-7) isolated from B. malayi microfilarial soluble antigen was identified. It showed pronounced reactivity with sera collected from 'putatively immune’ asymptomatic and amicrofilaraemic individuals residing in an endemic area for bancroftian filariasis. Further the immune protective activity of Bm mf S-7 antigen was evaluated in susceptible hosts, jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) against B. malayi filarial infection. The antigen showed 89% cytotoxicity against mf and 87-89% against infective (L₃) larvae in in vitro antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity Assay (ADCC) and in situ micropore chamber methods. Bm mf S-7 immunized jirds after challenge infection showed 81.5% reduction in the adult worm burden. The present study has shown that, the 38kDa microfilarial protease (Bm mf    S-7) could stimulate a strong protective immune response against microfilariae and infective larvae in jird model to block the transmission of filariasis.  Analysis of IgG subclasses against Bm mf S-7 revealed a significant increase in IgG2 and IgG3 antibodies in endemic normals. Lymphocyte proliferation to Bm mf S-7 was significantly high in endemic normal group as compared to that in clinical and microfilarial carriers. Significantly enhanced levels of IFN-γ in the culture supernatant of PBMC of endemic normals followed by stimulation with Bm mf S-7 suggest that the cellular response in this group is skewed towards Th 1 type.

3.

Kulkarni S, Krithika KN, Reddy MVR. Isolation and purification of circulating filarial antigens from microfilarial carriers. Biomedical Research 2005;16(2):101 – 106.

Department of Biochemistry & J.B. Tropical Disease Research Centre, MGIMS, Sevagram-442102, Wardha, MS, India. mvrreddy_wda@sancharnet.in.

Lymphatic filariasis caused by infection from Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi is characterized by wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that include microfilaraemic carriers with sub clinical infection and clinical cases with acute, chronic and occult presentations. The circulating filarial antigen (CFA) considered to be an indicator of active infection, was detected in most of the microfilaraemics, acute and occult filarial cases.  Circulating filarial antigen fraction was isolated from plasma of microfilaraemic (Mf) cases with W bancrofti infection by 36-75% ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by Ultrogel ACA-34 gel filtration chromatography. Further fractionation of CFA₂ by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) using resource ‘Q’ anion exchanger column yielded eight protein fractions of which two fractions (CFA₂-A & E) were positive for filarial antigen. By SDS PAGE analysis the unbound protein fraction CFA₂-A was found to be a 69 kDa protein while CFA2-E fractions showed eighteen protein bands. Analysis of filarial IgG antibody levels against both CFA₂-A and CFA₂-E showed significantly higher levels of mean antibody levels in microfilaraemics, chronic and occult filarial sera compared to the levels in sera of endemic normals (EN) or non endemic normals (NEN)(P < 0.001)  While 9 of 10 (90%) microfilaraemics, 1 of  10 (10%) acute cases, 16 of 30 (53%)  chronic filarial cases, 7 of 10 occult cases (70%) and none of the endemic (10) & non endemic normals (10) were positive for filarial antibodies against CFA₂-A, 90% of microfilaraemics, 20% of acute cases, 80% of chronic,  100% of occult cases and none of the endemic and non endemic normals had detectable filarial antibodies against CFA₂-E.

In immunoblot study CFA₂-A, was recognized by microfilaraemics, chronic and as well occult filarial sera. While three protein molecules of CFA₂-E with 29 kDa, 68 kDa and 70 kDa were identified by microfilaraemics and acute sera and low molecular weight protein (18 kDa) of CFA₂-E was identified by chronic filarial sera.  The present study helped to identify the different filarial antigens present in microfilaraemic stage of infection.

4.

Rwegoshora RT, Pedersen EM, Mukoko DA, Meyrowitsch DW, Masese N, Malecela-Lazaro MN, Ouma JH, Michael E, Simonsen PE. Bancroftian filariasis: patterns of vector abundance and transmission in two East African communities with different levels of endemicity. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2005 Apr;99(3):253-65.

National Institute for Medical Research, Ubwari Research Station, P. O. Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania. theophilr@hotmail.com

Intensive monitoring of Wuchereria bancrofti vector abundance and transmission intensity was carried out in two communities, one with high-level endemicity for bancroftian filariasis (Masaika, Tanzania) and the other with low-level (Kingwede, Kenya), on the East African coast. Mosquitoes were collected in light traps, from 50 randomly selected households in each community, once weekly for 1 year. They were identified, dissected and checked for parity and filarial larvae. Anopheles gambiae s. l., An. funestus and Culex quinquefasciatus transmitted W. bancrofti in the two communities but the importance of each of these taxa differed between the communities and by season. The overall vector densities and transmission intensities were significantly higher in Masaika than in Kingwede (the annual biting rate by 3.7 times and the annual transmission potential by 14.6 times), primarily because of differences in the available breeding sites for the vectors and in the vectorial capacity of the predominant vector species. A marked seasonal variation in vector abundance and transmission potential contributed to the complex transmission pattern in the communities. Generally, these indices were higher during and shortly after the rainy seasons than at other times of the year. Considerable differences in W. bancrofti transmission were thus observed between communities within a relatively small geographical area (mainly because of environmentally-determined differences in vector habitats), and these were reflected in the marked differences in infection level in the human populations. The variation in vector abundance, vector composition and transmission intensity in the two communities is discussed in respect to its cause, its effects, and its significance to those attempting to control bancroftian filariasis.

5.

 Vanamail P, Ramaiah KD, Subramanian S, Pani SP, Yuvaraj J, Das PK. Pattern of community compliance with spaced, single-dose, mass administrations of diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin, for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis from rural areas of southern India. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2005 Apr;99(3):237-42.

Vector Control Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Medical Complex, Indira Nagar, Pondicherry 605 006, India.

Current programmes to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) are largely based on annual mass administrations of single doses of antifilarial drugs. The level and pattern of compliance by the target population are important determinants of the success of such mass drug administrations (MDA). Community compliance was therefore investigated during a study in southern India of the effects, on Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia and transmission, of spaced MDA based on diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin (IVM). During six rounds of MDA, the frequency of compliance in the target populations, in the five study villages given DEC and the five given IVM, ranged from 55%-77%. Analysis of the relevant cohort data indicated that about 30% of the villagers had complied with treatment during all six rounds, but 3.5% of those in the DEC arm and 4.0% of those in the IVM arm had never complied with treatment. Most of the villagers (>90%) had received treatment at least once, however, and >60% had each received treatment in at least four of the six rounds. Overall, there was a significant negative correlation (r=-0.78; P=0.008) between the size of the village, in terms of the number of villagers, and the mean frequency of compliance over the six rounds of MDA. The pattern of community compliance was found to be 'semi-systematic', laying between random and systematic. In terms of the elimination of LF, a semi-systematic pattern of compliance is worse than random compliance but better than systematic. The relevance of the levels and patterns of compliance to LF control or elimination is discussed.

Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Immunodiagnosis & Immunodiagnostics:

12640.    Anosike JC, Onwuliri COE. Human filariasis in Dass local government area of Bauchi state, Nigeria. Trop Ecol 2003; 44(2):215-25.

12641.  Dabir P, Dabir S, Krithika KN, Reddy MVR. Cloning and characterization of a small heat shock protein cDNA clone of Wuchereria bancrofti. Current Science, 2005 June 25;88(12):1962-1966.

12642.  Fuller LC. Podoconiosis: endemic nonfilarial elephantiasis. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2005 Apr;18(2):119-22. Review.

12643.  Gbakima AA, Appawu MA, Dadzie S, Karikari C, Sackey SO, Baffoe-Wilmot A, Gyapong J, Scott AL. Lymphatic filariasis in Ghana: establishing the potential for an urban cycle of transmission. Trop Med Int Health. 2005 Apr;10(4):387-92.

12644.  Krithika KN, Dabir P, Kulkarni S, Anandharaman V, Reddy MVR. Identification of 38kDa Brugia malayi microfilarial protease as a vaccine candidate for lymphatic filariasis. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 2005; 43: 759-768.

12645.  Kulkarni S, Krithika KN, Reddy MVR. Isolation and purification of circulating filarial antigens from microfilarial carriers. Biomedical Research 2005;16(2):101 – 106.

Pathogenesis:

12646.  Babu S, Kumaraswami V, Nutman TB. Transcriptional control of impaired Th1 responses in patent lymphatic filariasis by T-box expressed in T cells and suppressor of cytokine signaling genes. Infect Immun. 2005 Jun;73(6):3394-401.

12647.   Duke BO. Evidence for macrofilaricidal activity of ivermectin against female Onchocerca volvulus: further analysis of a clinical trial in the Republic of Cameroon indicating two distinct killing mechanisms. Parasitology. 2005 Apr;130(Pt 4):447-53.

12648.  Faulkner H, Turner J, Behnke J, Kamgno J, Rowlinson MC, Bradley JE, Boussinesq M. Associations between filarial and gastrointestinal nematodes. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2005 Apr;99(4):301-12.

12649.  Grillet ME, Villamizar NJ, Cortez J, Frontado HL, Escalona M, Vivas-Martinez S, Basanez MG. Diurnal biting periodicity of parous Simulium (Diptera: Simuliidae) vectors in the onchocerciasis Amazonian focus. Acta Trop. 2005 May;94(2):139-58.

12650.  Rwegoshora RT, Pedersen EM, Mukoko DA, Meyrowitsch DW, Masese N, Malecela-Lazaro MN, Ouma JH, Michael E, Simonsen PE. Bancroftian filariasis: patterns of vector abundance and transmission in two East African communities with different levels of endemicity. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2005 Apr;99(3):253-65.

12651.  Sasisekhar B, Aparna M, Augustin DJ, Kaliraj P, Kar SK, Nutman TB, Narayanan RB. Diminished monocyte function in microfilaremic patients with lymphatic filariasis and its relationship to altered lymphoproliferative responses. Infect Immun. 2005 Jun;73(6):3385-93.

Therapy:

12652.  Fox LM, Furness BW, Haser JK, Brissau JM, Louis-Charles J, Wilson SF, Addiss DG, Lammie PJ, Beach MJ. Ultrasonographic examination of Haitian children with lymphatic filariasis: a longitudinal assessment in the context of antifilarial drug treatment. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2005 May;72(5):642-8. 

12653.  Katabarwa MN, Habomugisha P, Richards FO Jr, Hopkins D. Community-directed interventions strategy enhances efficient and effective integration of health care delivery and development activities in rural disadvantaged communities of Uganda. Trop Med Int Health. 2005 Apr;10(4):312-21.

12654.  Krishna Kumari A, Harichandrakumar KT, Das LK, Krishnamoorthy K. Physical and psychosocial burden due to lymphatic filariasis as perceived by patients and medical experts. Trop Med Int Health. 2005 Jun;10(6):567-73.

12655.  Rath K, Swain BK, Mishra S, Patasahani T, Kerketta AS, Babu BV. Peripheral health workers' knowledge and practices related to filarial lymphedema care: a study in an endemic district of Orissa, India. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2005 Apr;72(4):430-3.

12656.  Vanamail P, Ramaiah KD, Subramanian S, Pani SP, Yuvaraj J, Das PK. Pattern of community compliance with spaced, single-dose, mass administrations of diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin, for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis from rural areas of southern India. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2005 Apr;99(3):237-42.