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Innate immune responses against Cryptosporidium parvum infection
Author(s) -
McDonald V.,
Korbel D.S.,
Barakat F.M.,
Choudhry N.,
Petry F.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/pim.12020
Subject(s) - biology , innate immune system , cryptosporidium parvum , immunity , immunology , immune system , chemokine , tlr9 , antimicrobial peptides , microbiology and biotechnology , antimicrobial , gene , biochemistry , gene expression , dna methylation
Summary Cryptosporidium parvum infects intestinal epithelial cells and is commonly the parasite species involved in mammalian cryptosporidiosis, a major health problem for humans and neonatal livestock. In mice, immunologically mediated elimination of C. parvum requires CD 4 + T cells and IFN ‐γ. However, innate immune responses also have a significant protective role in both adult and neonatal mice. NK cells and IFN ‐γ have been shown to be important components in immunity in T and B cell‐deficient mice, but IFN ‐γ‐dependent resistance has also been demonstrated in alymphocytic mice. Epithelial cells may play a vital role in immunity as once infected these cells have increased expression of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines and demonstrate antimicrobial killing mechanisms, including production of NO and antimicrobial peptides. Toll‐like receptors facilitate the establishment of immunity in mice and are involved in the development of inflammatory responses of infected epithelial cells and also dendritic cells.