Coordination of humoral immune factors dictates compatibility between < i > Schistosoma mansoni < /i > and < i > Biomphalaria glabrata < /i >

Immune factors in snails of the genusBiomphalaria are critical for combatingSchistosoma mansoni, the predominant cause of human intestinal schistosomiasis. Independently, many of these factors play an important role in, but do not fully define, the compatibility between the model snailB. glabrata, andS. mansoni. Here, we demonstrate association between four previously characterized humoral immune molecules;BgFREP3,BgTEP1,BgFREP2 and Biomphalysin. We also identify unique immune determinants in the plasma ofS. mansoni-resistantB. glabrata that associate with the incompatible phenotype. These factors coordinate to initiate haemocyte-mediated destruction ofS. mansoni sporocysts via production of reactive oxygen species. The inclusion ofBgFREP2 in aBgFREP3-initiated complex that also includesBgTEP1 almost completely explains resistance toS. mansoni in this model. Our study unifies many independent lines of investigation to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the snail immune system in the context of infection by this important human parasite.
Source: eLife - Category: Biomedical Science Tags: Microbiology and Infectious Disease Source Type: research