Ascariasis refers to the condition caused by the parasitic roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, especially when there is health malaise present, however, in more than 85% of the afflicted, there are no apparent symptoms, particularly in cases where the worm burden is too low. As a prominent company, we are focus on developing vaccines and therapies for ascariasis, providing high-quality services to support your research.
Overview of Ascariasis
Ascariasis is an affliction that is caused by roundworm Alexanderis lombricoides and remains a common parasitic roundworm infection in humans across the world where sanitation facilities are subpar. Approximately 1.2 Billions of people worldwide are said to be affected especially in hotter regions and, according to recent studies, Even given the significant prevalence of Ascaris, many studies confirm that even highly prevalent infections are often overlooked, the study did, however, note that in children, it does often result in intestinal blockage arising from malnutrition.
Fig.1 Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides infections in 2010. (Else, K. J., et al., 2020)
Pathology of Ascariasis
The host's inflammatory and mechanical damage induced by adult worms and larvae constitutes the pathology of ascariasis. The migration of the larvae through the lungs may cause eosinophilic pneumonia (Löffler's syndrome), and malnutrition, intestinal blockage, or biliary tract affection may result from adult worms residing in the intestines. Recent research indicates that chronic infection even if the primary inflammatory response has resolved may be able to cause a significant impact affecting growth and cognitive abilities in children due to the inflammation and nutrient absorption deficiency.
Fig.2 Ascaris male and female, reproductive systems, and zygote maturation within the uterus. (Wang, J., and R. E. Davis., 2020)
Specific Antigens Development for Ascaris
The analysis of Ascaris specific antigens play a crucial role in immunology and parasitology, especially in diagnosis, vaccines and immunodominant therapy areas.
Ascaris lumbricoides 14-3-3 Protein
The members of 14 3 3 proteins family are widely distributed among organisms. A new ELISA was reported using recombindant Ascaris lumbricoides 14-3-3 protein which has also a high specificity and sensitivity in identifying non Ascaris- infected from Ascaris-infected persons.
Ascaris lumbricoides C-type Lectin
C-type lectins constitute a diverse and the most common protein family which resides on the surface of parasites. An ELISA based on this antigen was able to demonstrate high specificity in detecting Ascaris infections through the response of anti C type lectin antibodies against peripheral serum of the moderately infected or the early stage individuals.
Vaccine Development for Ascariasis
- Subunit Vaccines: Based on some selected Ascaris proteins or peptides, subunit vaccines are very safe. Some subunit vaccines have good immunogenic potential in animal studies. For, example, the use of As16 or As37 as antigen in vaccine development has elicited considerable protective immune response in mice.
- DNA Vaccines: Another type of vaccine that has been investigated involves the injection of DNA (or RNA) encoding the respective target antigens. It has been shown that immunisation with DNA vaccines containing As14 and As37 genes is relatively efficient in mouse models.
- Recombinant Viral Vector Vaccines: One more prospective approach is to use recombinant viruses (viral vectors) for the delivery of Ascaris antigens. For example, this type of vaccine in which poxvirus or adenovirus vectors express As16 or As37 antigens has been shown to have some protective effects in mice.
Our Services
Here at our company where we provide a full range of services to assist our clients with pushing the boundaries of modern science further by creating new ascariasis vaccines and other innovative therapies. Our clients can rely on a team of experienced scientists, immunologists and pharmacologists as well as all necessary technologies and profound scientific knowledge to meet their project goals.
Animal Models of Ascariasis
With our vast knowledge, we figure out and create animal models closely related to ascaris disease and its treatment. Such models are essential for an accurate assessment of the pathophysiology of ascariasis as well as for a thorough assessment of the safety and efficacy of candidate drugs targeting this pathology.
| Pathogen Infection Models |
| These models involve infecting specific animal models with Ascaris species to study disease mechanisms, host immune responses, and evaluate potential therapeutics. |
| Optional Models |
- Ascaris suum-Infected Pig Model
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- Ascaris suum-Infected SCID Mouse Model
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| Humanized Models |
| Humanized models are engineered to express human tissues or immune components, providing a more accurate representation of human disease conditions and immune responses in ascariasis. |
| Optional Models |
- Humanized Immune System Mouse Model Infected with Ascaris lumbricoides Antigens
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- Human Intestinal Xenograft Mouse Model with Ascaris lumbricoides Infection
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| Optional Species |
Mice, Rats, Non-human primates, Others |
Ascaris therapy is part of our innovations where we seek out and sample new antimicrobials from small molecules, peptides, and biologics to combat virulence factors. Following this, we provide support to assist in the assessment, improvement, and development of your treatment pipeline.
If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.
References
- Else, K. J., et al. "Whipworm and Roundworm Infections." Nat Rev Dis Primers 6.1 (2020): 44. Print.
- Wang, J., and R. E. Davis. "Ascaris." Curr Biol 30.10 (2020): R423-R25. Print.
- de Castro, J. C., et al. "Vaccination with Chimeric Protein Induces Protection in Murine Model against Ascariasis." Vaccine 39.2 (2021): 394-401. Print.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
