Metagonimiasis is an ailment of the intestinal tract caused by the metacercariae of the fluke Metagonimus yokogawai. People get infected by eating fresh water fish which are raw or poorly cooked, and which have the metacercariae in them. Our company offers comprehensive services in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for metagonimiasis.
Overview of Metagonimiasis
Metagonimiasis is a parasitic disease of trematode infection which is caused mostly by Metagonimus yokogawai and sometimes by M. takahashii and M. miyatai, and is associated with gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, stomach ache and discomfort. These flukes, members of the Heterophyidae family, are some of the smallest species that can cause human infection. It is prevalent in cases of eating infected raw or incompletely cooked fish. The metacercariae are able to undergo development only in certain fish intermediate hosts. The life cycle of these trematodes and the disease is exceptionally wide spread because the intermediate host snails and most fishes are common in the regions where the disease is endemic.
Fig.1 Metacercariae of Metagonimus spp. in different fish hosts, Plecoglossus altivelis (A), Carassius auratus (B), and Zacco platypus (C) in Korea. (Sohn W. M., 2024)
Vaccine Development for Metagonimiasis
At the moment, there are no currently available vaccines for metagonimiasis. There is still a long way to go in developing vaccines for these organisms, particularly metagonimiasis, when compared to other parasitic diseases. The vast amount of detail related to the life cycle of the parasite and its immunologic escapes makes the designing of successful vaccines more challenging.
Vaccine Research and Development
Our focus is set on searching for antigens of interest and preparing vaccine candidates. Application of preclinical evaluations with respect to immunogenicity and safety is carried out by our group which allows the readying of these vaccine candidates for further evaluation.
Therapeutics Development for Metagonimiasis
- Anthelmintic Drugs
The use of anthelmintic drugs continues to remain the core tenet within the management practices for metagonimiasis. Praziquantel is a first choice therapeutic that is useful in remedial actions against adult worm infestations and detachment of worms from the intestinal lining. Its mode of action is through damage of the cell membranes of theparasite that leads to muscle contraction, paralysis and death.
- Novel Therapies
There are ongoing studies focusing on new possible therapeutic compounds. For instance, artemisinin derivatives are effective against different types of helminthes and attempts are being made to see if they can be used against metagonimus.
Our Services
Our company offers a wide range of services dedicated to the advancement of metagonimiasis vaccine and therapy development. These services encompass the following key areas:
- M.takahashii Infection Models
- M.yokogawai Infection Models
- M.miyatai Infection Models
- M.hakubaensis Infection Models
- M.katsuradai Infection Models
- M.otsurui Infection Models
In addition, we provide the following services to provide a solid foundation for vaccine and drug development.
- Biomarker Identification: Researching immune correlates of protection and potential biomarkers for monitoring therapeutic responses is a priority. These biomarkers are critical for assessing the effectiveness of new interventions and guiding future research directions.
- In Vitro Studies: We conduct laboratory studies to assess the efficacy of vaccine candidates and therapeutic agents against Metagonimus species. Our advanced laboratory facilities enable comprehensive evaluations that inform subsequent stages of development.
If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
- Sohn, Woon-Mok. "Infection characteristics of Metagonimus species (Digenea: Heterophyidae) metacercariae in fish from major rivers of Korea." Parasites, Hosts and Diseases 62.1 (2024): 1.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
