一提起寄生蟲,，人們通常會聯(lián)想到它們引發(fā)的各種疾病，其實寄生蟲有時也有巧用途,。英國研究人員最近就利用一種在牛體內(nèi)生活的寄生蟲為載體,，給牛接種了能預防相關疾病的疫苗。
英國愛丁堡大學等機構(gòu)研究人員在新一期網(wǎng)絡期刊《科學公共圖書館—病原學》中報告說,，這種可用作疫苗載體的寄生蟲名為“泰氏錐蟲”。它是一種無害寄生蟲,，研究人員對其進行了基因改造,，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)長期繁衍,，這種“寄生蟲疫苗”具有長期的保護效果,。
據(jù)介紹，這種“寄生蟲疫苗”能用于預防多種牛類疾病,，比如口蹄疫和牛結(jié)核病等,。
研究人員認為，寄生蟲載體不僅能用來給牛打疫苗,，改進后也許還可用于向牛體內(nèi)遞送藥物,，直接治療某些疾病。
領導此項研究的基斯·馬修斯教授說,，這種新方法在防治牛類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牛類疾病。（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.
