Schistosoma mansoni cercariae experience influx of macromolecules during skin penetration

Thornhill, J., Coelho, P.M.Z., McVeigh, P., Maule, A., Jurberg, A.D. and Kusel, J.R. (2009) Schistosoma mansoni cercariae experience influx of macromolecules during skin penetration. Parasitology, 136(11), pp. 1257-1267. (doi: 10.1017/S0031182009990692)

Abstract

We have observed that when cercariae penetrate the skin of mice, there is influx into their tissues of Lucifer Yellow and certain labelled molecules of up to 20 kDa molecular weight. This observation was made using a variety of fluorescent membrane-impermeant compounds injected into the skin before the application of cercariae. This unexpected phenomenon was investigated further by transforming cercariae in vitro in the presence of the membrane-impermeant compounds and examining the distribution by microscopy. In schistosomula derived from this procedure, the nephridiopore and surface membrane were labelled while the pre- and post-acetabular glands were not labelled. The region associated with the oesophagus within the pharyngeal muscle clearly contained the fluorescent molecules, as did the region adjacent to the excretory tubules and the germinal mass. We used cercariae stained with carmine to aid identification of regions labelled with Lucifer Yellow. Although the mechanism of this influx is unclear, the observation is significant. From it, we can suggest an hypothesis that, during skin penetration, exposure of internal tissues of the parasite to external macromolecules represents a novel host-parasite interface

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Cercaria, fluorescent dextrans, in vitro transformation, Lucifer Yellow, propidium iodide, schistosomulum, skin penetration
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kusel, Professor John and Thornhill, Mrs Joyce
• Authors: Thornhill, J., Coelho, P.M.Z., McVeigh, P., Maule, A., Jurberg, A.D., and Kusel, J.R.
• Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology; Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Parasitology
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0031-1820
• ISSN (Online): 1469-8161
• Published Online: 03 August 2009
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press
• First Published: First published in Parasitology 136(11):1257-1267
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher