Human angiostrongyliasis, caused by the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis, has been documented worldwide. People become infected when they consume raw or undercooked snails, slugs, or paratenic hosts like prawns, or by eating contaminated vegetables that carry the worm's infective larvae. As a prominent company, we are focus on developing vaccines and therapies for angiostrongyliasis, providing high-quality services to support your research.
Overview of Angiostrongyliasis
Angiostrongyliasis, caused primarily by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is an emerging zoonotic disease that is becoming more prevalent globally, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The incidence is on the rise, with the disease now spreading to temperate zones as well. Human cases are often associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked snails, slugs, or other paratenic hosts that harbor the infective larvae.
Fig.1 Global distribution of assumed and confirmed paratenic hosts of A. cantonensis. (Turck, H.C., et al., 2022)
Pathogenesis of Angiostrongyliasis
Humans acquire the infection by ingesting raw or undercooked intermediate hosts, such as snails, or contaminated vegetables containing the larvae. Once ingested, the larvae migrate to the central nervous system, leading to eosinophilic meningitis, the primary clinical manifestation. The pathological changes primarily occur in the brain, where the presence of larvae can cause inflammation, cellular infiltration, and sometimes granulomas around dead worms.
Fig.2 The life cycle of A cantonensis. (Wang, Q.P., et al., 2008)
Diagnosis Development of Angiostrongyliasis
The development of immunological diagnosis for Angiostrongyliasis has primarily focused on the detection of antibodies and antigens.
Antibody Detection
ELISA has become the most widely used method for detecting antibodies in serum or cerebrospinal fluid. These methods often utilize crude or partially purified antigens extracted from adult worms, brain-stage larvae, or excretory-secretory products. Recently, an ELISA specifically targeting IgG1 antibodies has been developed to distinguish eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis.
Antigen Detection
Immunoassays, such as sandwich ELISA, using monoclonal antibodies against parasite-specific antigens, have shown promising results. For instance, the sandwich ELISA using the AW-3C2 monoclonal antibody has achieved 100% specificity and 50% sensitivity in detecting circulating antigens in the sera of angiostrongyliasis patients.
Vaccine Development for Angiostrongyliasis
Recent advancements in vaccine development for Angiostrongyliasis have identified several key targets and ongoing preclinical studies. Among the primary vaccine targets are protease inhibitors and surface antigens crucial for the parasite's survival and infectivity.
- Protease Inhibitors: Serine Protease Inhibitors block the digestive enzymes of the parasite, preventing it from processing host tissue proteins necessary for its growth and development.
- Surface Antigens: Galactose-Specific Lectin, this surface protein helps the parasite attach to host cells. N-Acetylgalactosamine-specific Lectin plays a role in the immune evasion process of the parasite.
Our Services
At our company, we are proud to offer a comprehensive suite of services to support our clients in the development of innovative angiostrongyliasis vaccines and therapies. Our team of seasoned scientists, immunologists, and pharmacologists leverages state-of-the-art technologies and deep domain expertise to accelerate the progress of your projects.
Animal Models of Angiostrongyliasis
Drawing on our extensive expertise, we develop and employ animal models that accurately replicate the disease characteristics and therapeutic responses of angiostrongyliasis. These models are crucial for precisely studying the pathophysiology of angiostrongyliasis and for rigorously evaluating the safety and efficacy of potential therapies.
| Pathogen Infection Models |
| These models involve infecting specific animal models with Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongylus costaricensis to study disease mechanisms, immune responses, and potential therapies. |
| Optional Models |
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis-Infected SCID Mouse Model
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- Angiostrongylus costaricensis -Infected SCID Mouse Model
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| Humanized Models |
| Humanized models are engineered to express human tissues or immune components, allowing for a more accurate representation of human disease conditions. |
| Optional Models |
- Humanized Immune System Mouse Model Infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis
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- Human Brain Tissue Xenograft Mouse Model with Angiostrongylus cantonensis Infection
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| Optional Species |
Mice, Rats, Non-human primates, Others |
In angiostrongyliasis therapy development, our team focuses on discovering and characterizing new antimicrobial agents, such as small molecules, peptides, and biologics, that target virulence factors. We also offer services to support the evaluation, optimization, and advancement of your therapeutic pipeline.
If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.
References
- Turck, H.C., et al., "Paratenic hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis and their relation to human neuroangiostrongyliasis globally." One Health, (2022). 15: p. 100426.
- Wang, Q.P., et al., "Human angiostrongyliasis." Lancet Infect Dis, (2008). 8(10): p. 621-630.
- Eamsobhana, P. and Yong, H.S., "Immunological diagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae)." Int J Infect Dis, (2009). 13(4): p. 425-431.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
