Alex Loukas

Summary

Affiliation: Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Country: Australia

Publications

  1. ncbi Schistosomiasis vaccine discovery using immunomics
    Patrick Driguez
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, The Queensland Institute of Medical Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
    Parasit Vectors 3:4. 2010
  2. ncbi Characterization of SR3 reveals abundance of non-LTR retrotransposons of the RTE clade in the genome of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni
    Thewarach Laha
    Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
    BMC Genomics 6:154. 2005
  3. ncbi Gene discovery for the carcinogenic human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini
    Thewarach Laha
    Department of Parasitology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
    BMC Genomics 8:189. 2007
  4. ncbi Schistosome membrane proteins as vaccines
    Alex Loukas
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
    Int J Parasitol 37:257-63. 2007
  5. ncbi Hookworm vaccines: past, present, and future
    Alex Loukas
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
    Lancet Infect Dis 6:733-41. 2006
  6. ncbi Vaccination with recombinant aspartic hemoglobinase reduces parasite load and blood loss after hookworm infection in dogs
    Alex Loukas
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Med 2:e295. 2005
  7. ncbi Short report: Echinococcus granulosus from Xinjiang, PR China: cDNAS encoding the EG95 vaccine antigen are expressed in different life cycle stages and are conserved in the oncosphere
    Wenbao Zhang
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    Am J Trop Med Hyg 68:40-3. 2003
  8. ncbi Hookworm aspartic protease, Na-APR-2, cleaves human hemoglobin and serum proteins in a host-specific fashion
    Angela L Williamson
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia
    J Infect Dis 187:484-94. 2003
  9. ncbi Identification of membrane-bound and secreted proteins from Echinococcus granulosus by signal sequence trap
    Mara C Rosenzvit
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
    Int J Parasitol 36:123-30. 2006
  10. ncbi Vaccinomics for the major blood feeding helminths of humans
    Alex Loukas
    Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
    OMICS 15:567-77. 2011

Collaborators

Detail Information

Publications81

  1. ncbi Schistosomiasis vaccine discovery using immunomics
    Patrick Driguez
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, The Queensland Institute of Medical Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
    Parasit Vectors 3:4. 2010
    ..This highly innovative technology has the potential to transform vaccine research for schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases of humans and animals...
  2. ncbi Characterization of SR3 reveals abundance of non-LTR retrotransposons of the RTE clade in the genome of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni
    Thewarach Laha
    Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
    BMC Genomics 6:154. 2005
    ..Of more than 12 recognized clades of non-LTR retrotransposons, only members of the CR1, RTE, and R2 clades have been reported from the schistosome genome...
  3. ncbi Gene discovery for the carcinogenic human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini
    Thewarach Laha
    Department of Parasitology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
    BMC Genomics 8:189. 2007
    ..Despite being the only eukaryote that is designated as a 'class I carcinogen' by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, little is known about its genome...
  4. ncbi Schistosome membrane proteins as vaccines
    Alex Loukas
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
    Int J Parasitol 37:257-63. 2007
    ..With the recent advances in schistosome genomics and proteomics, a new suite of potential vaccine antigens are presented and these warrant detailed investigation and appropriate funding over the next few years...
  5. ncbi Hookworm vaccines: past, present, and future
    Alex Loukas
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
    Lancet Infect Dis 6:733-41. 2006
    ..The roadmap also addresses the obstacles facing development of a vaccine for developing countries, where there is no commercial market...
  6. ncbi Vaccination with recombinant aspartic hemoglobinase reduces parasite load and blood loss after hookworm infection in dogs
    Alex Loukas
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Med 2:e295. 2005
    ..The parasites subsequently digest hemoglobin in their intestines using a cascade of proteolysis that begins with the Ancylostoma caninum aspartic protease 1, APR-1...
  7. ncbi Short report: Echinococcus granulosus from Xinjiang, PR China: cDNAS encoding the EG95 vaccine antigen are expressed in different life cycle stages and are conserved in the oncosphere
    Wenbao Zhang
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    Am J Trop Med Hyg 68:40-3. 2003
    ..Very limited sequence variation was evident in the EG95 protein from oncospheres. This high degree of sequence conservation predicts that the vaccine will continue to be effective in China and elsewhere...
  8. ncbi Hookworm aspartic protease, Na-APR-2, cleaves human hemoglobin and serum proteins in a host-specific fashion
    Angela L Williamson
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia
    J Infect Dis 187:484-94. 2003
    ..americanus cathepsin D, Na-APR-1. Antiserum against Na-APR-2 inhibited migration of 50% of third-stage N. americanus larvae through skin, which suggests that aspartic proteases might be effective vaccines against human hookworm disease...
  9. ncbi Identification of membrane-bound and secreted proteins from Echinococcus granulosus by signal sequence trap
    Mara C Rosenzvit
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
    Int J Parasitol 36:123-30. 2006
    ..granulosus...
  10. ncbi Vaccinomics for the major blood feeding helminths of humans
    Alex Loukas
    Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
    OMICS 15:567-77. 2011
    ..This research has resulted in the discovery, development, and early stage clinical trials of subunit vaccines against hookworms and schistosomes...
  11. ncbi A family of cathepsin B cysteine proteases expressed in the gut of the human hookworm, Necator americanus
    Najju Ranjit
    School of Life Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
    Mol Biochem Parasitol 160:90-9. 2008
    ..These data show that N. americanus expresses a family of intestinal CatBs, many of which are likely to be involved in nutrient acquisition and therefore are potential targets for chemotherapies and vaccines...
  12. ncbi Enhanced protective efficacy of a chimeric form of the schistosomiasis vaccine antigen Sm-TSP-2
    Mark S Pearson
    Queensland Tropical Health Alliance and School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis 6:e1564. 2012
    ....
  13. ncbi Neutralizing antibodies to the hookworm hemoglobinase Na-APR-1: implications for a multivalent vaccine against hookworm infection and schistosomiasis
    Mark S Pearson
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, The Australian Centre for Vaccine Development, Queensland, Australia
    J Infect Dis 201:1561-9. 2010
    ..americanus Na-GST-1; antibodies against both chimeras neutralized the enzymatic activity of Na-APR-1. These findings support the incorporation of Na-APR-1 into a multivalent vaccine against hookworm and/or schistosomiasis...
  14. ncbi Exposed proteins of the Schistosoma japonicum tegument
    Jason Mulvenna
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, QLD 4006, Australia
    Int J Parasitol 40:543-54. 2010
    ..The ability of the parasite to rapidly internalise proteins at its surface has implications for the development of vaccines and may explain how these parasites are able to avoid the host immune system for long periods of time...
  15. ncbi A cytochrome b561 with ferric reductase activity from the parasitic blood fluke, Schistosoma japonicum
    Amber Glanfield
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis 4:e884. 2010
    ..The identification of the ferric reductase duodenal cytochrome b (dcytb) and recent observations that other cyts-b561 may be involved in iron metabolism have opened novel perspectives for elucidating their physiological function...
  16. ncbi An enzymatically inactivated hemoglobinase from Necator americanus induces neutralizing antibodies against multiple hookworm species and protects dogs against heterologous hookworm infection
    Mark S Pearson
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and The Australian Centre for Vaccine Development, Brisbane, Australia
    FASEB J 23:3007-19. 2009
    ..americanus, indicating that natural boosting may occur in exposed humans. Na-APR-1(mut) is now a lead antigen for the development of an antihematophagy vaccine for human hookworm disease...
  17. ncbi In vitro and in silico analysis of signal peptides from the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni
    Mark S Pearson
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the University of Queensland, 300 Herston Road, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
    FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 45:201-11. 2005
    ....
  18. ncbi The secreted and surface proteomes of the adult stage of the carcinogenic human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini
    Jason Mulvenna
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, QLD, Australia
    Proteomics 10:1063-78. 2010
    ....
  19. ncbi Suppression of mRNAs encoding tegument tetraspanins from Schistosoma mansoni results in impaired tegument turnover
    Mai H Tran
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Pathog 6:e1000840. 2010
    ..These results imply that tetraspanins play important structural roles impacting tegument development, maturation or stability...
  20. ncbi Transcriptional changes in Schistosoma mansoni during early schistosomula development and in the presence of erythrocytes
    Geoffrey N Gobert
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis 4:e600. 2010
    ..The newly transformed schistosomulum stage is susceptible to the immune response and is a target for vaccine development and rational drug design...
  21. ncbi Tetraspanins on the surface of Schistosoma mansoni are protective antigens against schistosomiasis
    Mai H Tran
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
    Nat Med 12:835-40. 2006
    ..When coupled with its selective recognition by naturally resistant people, TSP-2 seems to be an effective vaccine antigen against S. mansoni...
  22. ncbi Proteolytic degradation of hemoglobin in the intestine of the human hookworm Necator americanus
    Najju Ranjit
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia
    J Infect Dis 199:904-12. 2009
    ..americanus involves a network of distinct proteases, some of which act in an ordered fashion, providing a potential mechanism by which some of these hemoglobinases exert their efficacy as recombinant vaccines against hookworm infection...
  23. ncbi Saposin-like proteins are expressed in the gastrodermis of Schistosoma mansoni and are immunogenic in natural infections
    Tegan A Don
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Rd, Brisbane 4006, Queensland, Australia
    Int J Infect Dis 12:e39-47. 2008
    ..We now provide the first report of SAPLIPs from schistosomes and explore their role in host-parasite interactions...
  24. ncbi Hookworm SCP/TAPS protein structure--A key to understanding host-parasite interactions and developing new interventions
    Asiah Osman
    Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    Biotechnol Adv 30:652-7. 2012
    ..Understanding this interplay and the integration of structural and functional data could lead to the design of new approaches for the control of parasitic diseases, with biotechnological outcomes...
  25. ncbi Proteomic characterisation of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid from sheep, cattle and humans
    Ammar Aziz
    Qld Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Queensland, 4870, Australia
    J Proteomics 74:1560-72. 2011
    ....
  26. ncbi Insights into the membrane interactions of the saposin-like proteins Na-SLP-1 and Ac-SLP-1 from human and dog hookworm
    Charlene Willis
    Parasite Cell Biology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS ONE 6:e25369. 2011
    ..In case of the dimeric Ac-SLP-1, membrane interactions are most likely initiated by a unique tryptophan residue that has previously been implicated in membrane interactions in other SAPLIPs...
  27. ncbi Current status of vaccines for schistosomiasis
    Donald P McManus
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Brisbane Q4006, Australia
    Clin Microbiol Rev 21:225-42. 2008
    ..haematobium) and Asian (S. japonicum) schistosomes is then discussed, as are new approaches that may improve the efficacy of available vaccines and aid in the identification of new targets for immune attack...
  28. ncbi A granulin-like growth factor secreted by the carcinogenic liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, promotes proliferation of host cells
    Michael J Smout
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Pathog 5:e1000611. 2009
    ....
  29. ncbi Proteomics analysis of the excretory/secretory component of the blood-feeding stage of the hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum
    Jason Mulvenna
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
    Mol Cell Proteomics 8:109-21. 2009
    ..This work identified a suite of proteins important for the parasitic lifestyle and provides new insight into the biology of hookworm infection...
  30. ncbi Characterising the mucosal and systemic immune responses to experimental human hookworm infection
    Soraya Gaze
    Queensland Tropical Health Alliance and School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Pathog 8:e1002520. 2012
    ....
  31. ncbi Suppression of inflammatory immune responses in celiac disease by experimental hookworm infection
    Henry J McSorley
    Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS ONE 6:e24092. 2011
    ..Thus we hypothesise that hookworm-induced TH2 and IL-10 cross-regulation of the TH1/TH17 inflammatory response may be responsible for the suppression of these responses during experimental hookworm infection...
  32. ncbi Functional expression and characterization of Echinococcus granulosus thioredoxin peroxidase suggests a role in protection against oxidative damage
    Jun Li
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
    Gene 326:157-65. 2004
    ..Moreover, given that TPx from different parasitic phyla were phylogenetically distant from host TPx molecules, the development of antiparasite TPx inhibitors that do not react with host TPx might be feasible...
  33. ncbi Investigation of the regulation of transcriptional changes in Ancylostoma caninum larvae following serum activation, with a focus on the insulin-like signalling pathway
    Bennett J D Datu
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
    Vet Parasitol 159:139-48. 2009
    ..A larger number of mRNAs needs to be investigated in order to predict or identify regulatory mechanisms proposed to function in the insulin-like signalling pathway in A. caninum...
  34. ncbi SBAL: a practical tool to generate and edit structure-based amino acid sequence alignments
    Conan K Wang
    Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
    Bioinformatics 28:1026-7. 2012
    ..The algorithm implemented for automated and semi-automated secondary structure-based alignment calculations shows a comparable performance to existing software...
  35. ncbi Transcriptional changes in the hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum, during the transition from a free-living to a parasitic larva
    Bennett J D Datu
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2:e130. 2008
    ..The initial phase of mammalian host invasion by A. caninum L3 (herein termed "activation") can be mimicked in vitro by culturing L3 in serum-containing medium...
  36. ncbi Isolation of cDNAs encoding secreted and transmembrane proteins from Schistosoma mansoni by a signal sequence trap method
    Danielle Smyth
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
    Infect Immun 71:2548-54. 2003
    ..mansoni cDNAs. This is the first report describing the use of SST as a tool for identifying secreted proteins from any pathogenic organism...
  37. ncbi Immunobiology of hookworm infection
    Alex Loukas
    Helminth Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, 300 Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 43:115-24. 2005
    ..Significant progress has been made in the development of anti-hookworm recombinant vaccines, and clinical trials are expected to begin in the near future...
  38. ncbi A pore-forming haemolysin from the hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum
    Tegan A Don
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Helminth Biology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Rd, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
    Int J Parasitol 34:1029-35. 2004
    ..Red blood cell ghosts remained visible indicating that lysis was likely caused by pore formation and followed by osmotic disruption of the cell...
  39. ncbi Correlative and dynamic imaging of the hatching biology of Schistosoma japonicum from eggs prepared by high pressure freezing
    Malcolm K Jones
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2:e334. 2008
    ..In view of the lack of knowledge of the behaviour of egg hatching in schistosomes, we undertook a detailed dynamic and correlative study of the hatching biology of Schistosoma japonicum...
  40. ncbi Identification of an astacin-like metallo-proteinase transcript from the infective larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis
    Sara Gomez Gallego
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, 4029, Australia
    Parasitol Int 54:123-33. 2005
    ..stercoralis to penetrate human skin to initiate infection...
  41. ncbi Vaccination of dogs with a recombinant cysteine protease from the intestine of canine hookworms diminishes the fecundity and growth of worms
    Alex Loukas
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
    J Infect Dis 189:1952-61. 2004
    ..These results indicate that cysteine proteases involved in parasite nutrition are promising candidates as vaccines against hookworm disease...
  42. ncbi Venom proteome of the box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri
    Diane L Brinkman
    Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS ONE 7:e47866. 2012
    ..This study provides insight into the depth and diversity of protein toxins produced by harmful box jellyfish and represents the first description of a cubozoan jellyfish venom proteome...
  43. ncbi Peptide-based subunit vaccine against hookworm infection
    Mariusz Skwarczynski
    The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
    PLoS ONE 7:e46870. 2012
    ..This approach offers promise for the development of vaccines against helminth parasites of humans and their livestock and companion animals...
  44. ncbi A gene family from Echinococcus granulosus differentially expressed in mature adult worms
    Wenbao Zhang
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
    Mol Biochem Parasitol 126:25-33. 2003
    ..However, polypeptides encoded by egM4 and egM123 were recognised by antibodies in a serum pool from dogs experimentally infected with E. granulosus, suggesting they could prove of value in serodiagnosis of definitive hosts...
  45. ncbi Effect of hookworm infection on wheat challenge in celiac disease--a randomised double-blinded placebo controlled trial
    A James Daveson
    Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
    PLoS ONE 6:e17366. 2011
    ....
  46. ncbi Cleavage of hemoglobin by hookworm cathepsin D aspartic proteases and its potential contribution to host specificity
    Angela L Williamson
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, QLD, Australia
    FASEB J 16:1458-60. 2002
    ....
  47. ncbi Na-ctl-2, a cDNA encoding a C-type lectin expressed exclusively in adult Necator americanus hookworms
    Alex Loukas
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, QLD 4006, Australia
    DNA Seq 13:61-5. 2002
    ..The unusually skewed representation of this protein family within different nematode genera and its subsequent impact on the evolution of nematode parasitism is discussed...
  48. ncbi Reverse transcriptase activity and untranslated region sharing of a new RTE-like, non-long terminal repeat retrotransposon from the human blood fluke, Schistosoma japonicum
    Thewarach Laha
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
    Int J Parasitol 32:1163-74. 2002
    ..japonicum HSP-70, probably after the species diverged from S. mansoni...
  49. ncbi pido, a non-long terminal repeat retrotransposon of the chicken repeat 1 family from the genome of the Oriental blood fluke, Schistosoma japonicum
    Thewarach Laha
    Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
    Gene 284:149-59. 2002
    ..japonicum, indicating that the RT domain was transcribed and suggesting that pido was replicating actively and mobile within the S. japonicum genome...
  50. ncbi The evaluation of recombinant hookworm antigens as vaccines in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) challenged with human hookworm, Necator americanus
    Shuhua Xiao
    Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200025, China
    Exp Parasitol 118:32-40. 2008
    ..The hamster model of N. americanus provides useful information for the selection of antigens to be tested in downstream vaccine development...
  51. ncbi Biochemical characterization and vaccine potential of a heme-binding glutathione transferase from the adult hookworm Ancylostoma caninum
    Bin Zhan
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Infect Immun 73:6903-11. 2005
    ..7%) following challenge with heterologous Necator americanus larvae. These studies suggest that Ac-GST-1 is a possible drug and vaccine target for hookworm infection...
  52. ncbi Vaccination with irradiated Ancylostoma caninum third stage larvae induces a Th2 protective response in dogs
    Ricardo T Fujiwara
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street, Ross Hall Room 727, Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Vaccine 24:501-9. 2006
    ....
  53. ncbi Antibodies against a secreted protein from hookworm larvae reduce the intensity of hookworm infection in humans and vaccinated laboratory animals
    Jeffrey Bethony
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    FASEB J 19:1743-5. 2005
    ..These findings provide strong support for the development of an effective recombinant vaccine against hookworm infection in humans...
  54. ncbi X-ray structure of Na-ASP-2, a pathogenesis-related-1 protein from the nematode parasite, Necator americanus, and a vaccine antigen for human hookworm infection
    Oluwatoyin A Asojo
    Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 987696 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198 7696, USA
    J Mol Biol 346:801-14. 2005
    ..From these modeling studies, possible binding modes were predicted. In addition, this first structure of a PR-1 protein from parasitic helminths may shed light on the molecular basis of host-parasite interactions...
  55. ncbi Ac-SAA-1, an immunodominant 16 kDa surface-associated antigen of infective larvae and adults of Ancylostoma caninum
    Bin Zhan
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University and Sabin Vaccine Institute, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Int J Parasitol 34:1037-45. 2004
    ..7%) invasion of hookworm L(3) into dog skin in vitro. Together these results suggest that Ancylostoma caninum surface-associated antigen-1 offers promise as a protective vaccine antigen...
  56. ncbi Expression of the Necator americanus hookworm larval antigen Na-ASP-2 in Pichia pastoris and purification of the recombinant protein for use in human clinical trials
    Gaddam Narsa Goud
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Ross Hall 736, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Vaccine 23:4754-64. 2005
    ..The processes developed and tested for the high yield production of recombinant Na-ASP-2 provide a foundation for clinical vaccine development...
  57. ncbi A multi-enzyme cascade of hemoglobin proteolysis in the intestine of blood-feeding hookworms
    Angela L Williamson
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    J Biol Chem 279:35950-7. 2004
    ....
  58. ncbi Effect of vaccination with a recombinant fusion protein encoding an astacinlike metalloprotease (MTP-1) secreted by host-stimulated Ancylostoma caninum third-stage infective larvae
    Peter J Hotez
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine and Sabin Vaccine Institute, The George Washington University Medical Center, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    J Parasitol 89:853-5. 2003
    ..89; P = 0.04), suggesting that this molecule offers promise as a recombinant vaccine...
  59. ncbi Progress in the development of a recombinant vaccine for human hookworm disease: the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative
    Peter J Hotez
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
    Int J Parasitol 33:1245-58. 2003
    ..Another challenge will be to produce anti-hookworm vaccine antigens at high yield low cost suitable for immunising large impoverished populations living in the developing nations of the tropics...
  60. ncbi Ancylostoma caninum MTP-1, an astacin-like metalloprotease secreted by infective hookworm larvae, is involved in tissue migration
    Angela L Williamson
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
    Infect Immun 74:961-7. 2006
    ..The data strongly suggest that Ac-MTP-1 is critical for the invasion process of hookworm larvae, and moreover, that antibodies against the enzyme can neutralize its function and inhibit migration...
  61. ncbi Effect of vaccinations with recombinant fusion proteins on Ancylostoma caninum habitat selection in the canine intestine
    Peter J Hotez
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, Sabin Vaccine Institute, George Washington University Medical Center, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA
    J Parasitol 88:684-90. 2002
    ..Female adult hookworms were more likely to migrate into the colon than were males. Anti-enzyme and anti-enzyme inhibitor antibodies correlated with an alteration in adult hookworm habitat selection in the canine gastroinntestinal tract...
  62. ncbi New drugs for an ancient parasite
    Alex Loukas
    Nat Med 14:365-7. 2008
  63. ncbi Reduction of worm fecundity and canine host blood loss mediates protection against hookworm infection elicited by vaccination with recombinant Ac-16
    Ricardo T Fujiwara
    Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Ross Hall Room 727, 2300 Eye St NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Clin Vaccine Immunol 14:281-7. 2007
    ..Our data support the use of Ac-16 as a potential candidate for vaccination against hookworm infection...
  64. ncbi Can schistosomiasis really be consigned to history without a vaccine?
    Jeffrey M Bethony
    Vaccine 26:3373-6. 2008
    ..Funding bodies supporting research into the control of schistosomiasis should invest not only in mass drug administration but also in the development of new control strategies, including the development of vaccines...
  65. ncbi Multivalent anthelminthic vaccine to prevent hookworm and schistosomiasis
    Peter J Hotez
    Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University and Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington, DC, USA
    Expert Rev Vaccines 7:745-52. 2008
    ..A multivalent anthelminthic vaccine for hookworm infection and schistosomiasis would represent an important new tool for combating disease and poverty...
  66. ncbi Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Na-ASP-1, a multi-domain pathogenesis-related-1 protein from the human hookworm parasite Necator americanus
    Oluwatoyin A Asojo
    Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 987696 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198 7696, USA
    Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 61:391-4. 2005
    ..7, b = 74.27, c = 84.60 A, beta = 112.12 degrees. An initial molecular-replacement solution has been obtained with one monomer in the asymmetric unit...
  67. ncbi New technologies for the control of human hookworm infection
    Peter J Hotez
    Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, 2300 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Trends Parasitol 22:327-31. 2006
    ..g. tribendimidine) and a recombinant hookworm vaccine. It is hoped that, ultimately, anthelmintic vaccination will be linked to deworming as part of an expanded control package...
  68. ncbi Helminth vaccines: from mining genomic information for vaccine targets to systems used for protein expression
    John P Dalton
    School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
    Int J Parasitol 33:621-40. 2003
    ....
  69. ncbi Characterization of cysteine proteases from the carcinogenic liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini
    Natthawut Kaewpitoon
    Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
    Parasitol Res 102:757-64. 2008
    ..viverrini has a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease(s) and suggested that abundant cysteine protease activity was present in metacercariae where the hydrolase might be involved in cyst excystation during mammalian infection...
  70. ncbi Soil-transmitted helminth infections: ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm
    Jeffrey Bethony
    Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20037, USA
    Lancet 367:1521-32. 2006
    ..Concerns about the sustainability of periodic deworming with benzimidazole anthelmintics and the emergence of resistance have prompted efforts to develop and test new control tools...
  71. ncbi The innate allergenicity of helminth parasites
    Franco H Falcone
    Immune Modulation Research Group, Boots Science Building, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
    Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 26:61-72. 2004
    ..Subsequent immunological and physiological events seemingly protect the host from both the allergic sequelae of exposure to environmental allergens and, moreover, from the parasite itself...
  72. ncbi Cloning, yeast expression, isolation, and vaccine testing of recombinant Ancylostoma-secreted protein (ASP)-1 and ASP-2 from Ancylostoma ceylanicum
    Gaddam Narsa Goud
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine and Pathology, George Washington University, and The Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington, DC
    J Infect Dis 189:919-29. 2004
    ..These results indicate that ASP-2 is a promising molecule for the development of a hookworm vaccine...
  73. ncbi Molecular cloning and characterization of Ac-MTP-2, an astacin-like metalloprotease released by adult Ancylostoma caninum
    Jianjun Feng
    Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University and Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Mol Biochem Parasitol 152:132-8. 2007
    ..It is hypothesized that Ac-MTP-2 functions in the extracorporeal digestion of the intestinal mucosal plug lodged in the buccal capsule of the adult parasite...
  74. ncbi A secreted protein from the human hookworm necator americanus binds selectively to NK cells and induces IFN-gamma production
    George C-F Hsieh
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    J Immunol 173:2699-704. 2004
    ..Such an interaction could provide a means of cross-regulating deleterious Th2 immune responses in the host, thereby contributing to the long-term survival of N. americanus...
  75. ncbi Genomic organization of the Schistosoma mansoni aspartic protease gene, a platyhelminth orthologue of mammalian lysosomal cathepsin D
    Maria E Morales
    Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
    Gene 338:99-109. 2004
    ..Taken together, these features indicated that schistosome cathepsin D is a platyhelminth orthologue of mammalian lysosomal cathepsin D...
  76. ncbi Molecular characterisation of the Ancylostoma-secreted protein family from the adult stage of Ancylostoma caninum
    Bin Zhan
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, Ross Hall, Room 736, 2300 Eye Street NW, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Int J Parasitol 33:897-907. 2003
    ..The functions of the adult Ancylostoma-secreted proteins are unknown, although the secretion of multiple family members by the adult suggests an important role in the establishment or maintenance of the parasitic relationship...
  77. ncbi Hookworm infection
    Peter J Hotez
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    N Engl J Med 351:799-807. 2004
  78. ncbi The fugitive LTR retrotransposon from the genome of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni
    Thewarach Laha
    Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
    Int J Parasitol 34:1365-75. 2004
    ..mansoni, while bioinformatics approaches and Southern hybridisation analysis indicated that as many as 2000 copies of the fugitive were interspersed throughout the schistosome genome...
  79. ncbi Helminth infections of children: prospects for control
    Peter J Hotez
    Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Adv Exp Med Biol 568:135-44. 2005
  80. ncbi The cellular distribution and stage-specific expression of two dynein light chains from the human blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum
    Li-Hua Zhang
    Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Qld. 4029, Australia
    Int J Biochem Cell Biol 37:1511-24. 2005
    ..The data suggest that SjDLC1 is preferentially located to the host-interactive distal parasite membrane, and plays a role in surface membrane dynamics, while SjDLC3 is a ubiquitous motor component of schistosome epithelia of all stages...
  81. ncbi The dingo non-long terminal repeat retrotransposons from the genome of the hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum
    Thewarach Laha
    Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
    Exp Parasitol 113:142-53. 2006
    ..caninum. The dingo elements are the first retrotransposons to be characterized from a hookworm genome...