一提起寄生蟲(chóng)，人們通常會(huì)聯(lián)想到它們引發(fā)的各種疾病,，其實(shí)寄生蟲(chóng)有時(shí)也有巧用途。英國(guó)研究人員最近就利用一種在牛體內(nèi)生活的寄生蟲(chóng)為載體,，給牛接種了能預(yù)防相關(guān)疾病的疫苗,。
英國(guó)愛(ài)丁堡大學(xué)等機(jī)構(gòu)研究人員在新一期網(wǎng)絡(luò)期刊《科學(xué)公共圖書(shū)館—病原學(xué)》中報(bào)告說(shuō)，這種可用作疫苗載體的寄生蟲(chóng)名為“泰氏錐蟲(chóng)”,。它是一種無(wú)害寄生蟲(chóng),，研究人員對(duì)其進(jìn)行了基因改造，使它攜帶具有疫苗效果的物質(zhì)并能夠在牛體內(nèi)釋放,。由于它可以在牛的血液內(nèi)長(zhǎng)期繁衍,，這種“寄生蟲(chóng)疫苗”具有長(zhǎng)期的保護(hù)效果。
據(jù)介紹,，這種“寄生蟲(chóng)疫苗”能用于預(yù)防多種牛類(lèi)疾病,，比如口蹄疫和牛結(jié)核病等。
研究人員認(rèn)為,，寄生蟲(chóng)載體不僅能用來(lái)給牛打疫苗,，改進(jìn)后也許還可用于向牛體內(nèi)遞送藥物，直接治療某些疾病,。
領(lǐng)導(dǎo)此項(xiàng)研究的基斯·馬修斯教授說(shuō),，這種新方法在防治牛類(lèi)疾病方面具有很大潛力，希望能以此幫助控制甚至消滅一些常見(jiàn)牛類(lèi)疾病,。（生物谷 Bioon）
doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.100
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Targeting Cattle-Borne Zoonoses and Cattle Pathogens Using a Novel Trypanosomatid-Based Delivery System
G. Adam Mott1, Raymond Wilson1, Anuruddika Fernando1, Ailie Robinson1, Paula MacGregor1, David Kennedy2, Dick Schaap3, Jacqueline B. Matthews2, Keith R. Matthews1*
Trypanosomatid parasites are notorious for the human diseases they cause throughout Africa and South America. However, non-pathogenic trypanosomatids are also found worldwide, infecting a wide range of hosts. One example is Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri, a ubiquitous protozoan commensal of bovids, which is distributed globally. Exploiting knowledge of pathogenic trypanosomatids, we have developed Trypanosoma theileri as a novel vehicle to deliver vaccine antigens and other proteins to cattle. Conditions for the growth and transfection of T. theileri have been optimised and expressed heterologous proteins targeted for secretion or specific localisation at the cell interior or surface using trafficking signals from Trypanosoma brucei. In cattle, the engineered vehicle could establish in the context of a pre-existing natural T. theileri population, was maintained long-term and generated specific immune responses to an expressed Babesia antigen at protective levels. Building on several decades of basic research into trypanosomatid pathogens, Trypanosoma theileri offers significant potential to target multiple infections, including major cattle-borne zoonoses such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Brucella abortus and Mycobacterium spp. It also has the potential to deliver therapeutics to cattle, including the lytic factor that protects humans from cattle trypanosomiasis. This could alleviate poverty by protecting indigenous African cattle from African trypanosomiasis.
