Analysis of the translationally controlled tumour protein in the nematodes Ostertagia ostertagi and Caenorhabditis elegans suggests a pivotal role in egg production.

The translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) is a conserved protein which has been described for a wide range of eukaryotic organisms including protozoa, yeasts, plants, nematodes and mammals. Several parasitic organisms have been shown to actively secrete TCTP during host infection as part of their immuno-evasive strategy. In this study, we have studied TCTP in Ostertagia ostertagi, a parasitic nematode of cattle, and in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Hybrid N-glycans on the host protective activation-associated secreted proteins of Ostertagia ostertagi and their importance in immunogenicity.

Previous vaccination trials with calves have shown that intramuscular immunization with natively purified activation-associated secreted proteins (ASPs) of Ostertagia ostertagi induces protection against a homologous challenge infection with a 74% reduction in cumulative faecal egg counts and a significant reduction in worm length. Recently, O. ostertagi ASP1 was recombinantly expressed using a baculovirus system and tested in a vaccination trial.

Pro-inflammatory properties of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (CXCL12) in collagen-induced arthritis.

CXCL12 (stromal cell-derived factor 1) is a unique biological ligand for the chemokine receptor CXCR4. We previously reported that treatment with a specific CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, exerts a beneficial effect on the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in the highly susceptible IFN-gamma receptor-deficient (IFN-gammaR KO) mouse. We concluded that CXCL12 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of CIA in IFN-gammaR KO mice by promoting delayed type hypersensitivity against the auto-antigen and by interfering with chemotaxis of CXCR4+ cells to the inflamed joints.