Adults from Kisumu, Kenya have robust γδ T cell responses to < i > Schistosoma mansoni < /i > , which are modulated by tuberculosis

by Taryn A. McLaughlin, Jeremiah Khayumbi, Joshua Ongalo, Daniel Matete, Joan Tonui, Benson Muchiri, Loren E. Sasser, Angela Campbell, Salim Allana, Samuel Gurrion Ouma, Felix Odhiambo Hayara, Neel R. Gandhi, Cheryl L. DaySchistosoma mansoni (SM) is a parasitic helminth that infects over 200 million people and causes severe morbidity. It undergoes a multi-stage life cycle in human hosts and as such stimulates a stage-specific immune response. The human T cell response to SM is complex and varies throughout the life cycle of SM. Relative to the wealth of information regarding the immune response to SM eggs, little is known about the immune response to the adult worm. In addition, while a great deal of research has uncovered mechanisms by which co-infection with helminths modulates immunity to other pathogens, there is a paucity of data on the effect of pathogens on immunity to helminths. As such, we sought to characterize the breadth of the T cell response to SM and determine whether co-infection withMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) modifies SM-specific T cell responses in a cohort of HIV-uninfected adults in Kisumu, Kenya. SM-infected individuals were categorized into three groups by Mtb infection status: active TB (TB), Interferon- γ Release Assay positive (IGRA+), and Interferon-γ Release Assay negative (IGRA-). U.S. adults that were seronegative for SM antibodies served as naïve controls. We utilized flow cytometry to characterize the T cell repertoire to SM egg and wor...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research