Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease that affects both humans and animals. It is caused by the larvae of tapeworms belonging to the Echinococcus genus. Our company is at the forefront of developing novel vaccines and therapeutics for echinococcosis. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and a deep understanding of the parasite's lifecycle, we aim to deliver innovative solutions to combat this neglected disease.
Overview of Echinococcosis
Echinococcosis, a zoonotic parasitic ailment, is instigated by tapeworms belonging to the Echinococcus genus, notably Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. This infection is distinguished by the development of cysts in various organs, commonly affecting the liver and lungs, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. The life cycle of Echinococcus involves definitive hosts, typically canines, and intermediate hosts like sheep, cattle, and humans. Human transmission occurs through the ingestion of eggs from contaminated sources, or via direct contact with infected animals.
Fig.1 Life cycles of Echinococcus spp. (Wen H., et al., 2019)
Vaccine Development for Echinococcosis
Vaccination of Intermediate Hosts: One of the most promising avenues for vaccine development is aimed at intermediate hosts, particularly livestock such as sheep and goats. The recombinant vaccine EG95 has emerged as a leading candidate, demonstrating significant efficacy in reducing CE in sheep. This vaccine targets the Echinococcus granulosus metacestode, inducing a strong immune response that protects against cyst formation.
Vaccination of Definitive Hosts: Vaccination strategies are also being explored for definitive hosts, particularly canids, which play a critical role in the transmission of Echinococcus species. Vaccines targeting definitive hosts aim to reduce the shedding of parasite eggs into the environment, thus breaking the transmission cycle.
Therapeutics Development for Echinococcosis
- Existing Therapeutics
The current pharmacological therapeutic for echinococcosis primarily relies on benzimidazole derivatives, with albendazole being the most widely used drug. Albendazole exhibits a parasitostatic effect, inhibiting glucose uptake and disrupting microtubule formation in the parasite. While effective in many cases, albendazole has limitations, including poor bioavailability and the potential for drug resistance to develop over prolonged use.
Mebendazole is another benzimidazole used in therapeutics; however, it is less effective compared to albendazole. Both drugs necessitate long-term administration, often leading to adverse effects such as liver dysfunction and leukopenia.
- Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Given the limitations of existing therapies, there is a pressing need for novel therapeutics. Recent studies have explored drug repurposing strategies, leveraging existing approved medications for new therapeutic applications against echinococcosis. For instance, mefloquine, traditionally used for malaria, has shown efficacy in reducing parasite load in preclinical models. Similarly, nitazoxanide, an anti-protozoal drug, has demonstrated potential in inhibiting Echinococcus growth.
Additionally, protease inhibitors such as bortezomib and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like sorafenib and imatinib are being investigated for their ability to target specific pathways in Echinococcus, potentially leading to enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
Table 1. Recent advances in drugs for hepatic echinococcosis. (Xu X., et al., 2022)
| Country or territory |
Drug type |
In vivo |
In vitro |
Anticancer ingredient |
| Switzerland |
Antibiotic |
|
ü |
Mefloquine |
| China |
Antibiotic |
ü |
ü |
Nitazoxanide |
| Germany |
Antibiotic |
|
ü |
Amphotericin B |
| Switzerland |
Proteasome inhibitor |
ü |
|
BTZ |
| China |
Multikinase inhibitor |
|
ü |
Sorafenib |
| Germany |
PTKI |
|
ü |
Imatinib |
| Switzerland |
PD-1 inhibitor |
ü |
ü |
PD-1 inhibitor |
| China |
TIGIT inhibitor |
ü |
ü |
TIGIT inhibitor |
Our Services
Through genomic studies of Echinococcus species, we are uncovering novel drug targets and vaccine antigens. Genomic data also provide insights into the parasite's biology, aiding in the design of more effective interventions. With a top-notch team and the latest technology platforms, our company provides reliable echinococcosis vaccine and therapeutic development solutions to global pharmaceutical companies.
- Cystic Echinococcosis Rodent Models
- Cystic Echinococcosis Mongolian Gerbil Models
- E. Multilocularis Oral Infection Vole Models
- Secondary Alveolar Echinococcosis Cotton Rat Models
Our bioinformatics team processes and analyzes vast datasets generated from our research, identifying patterns and correlations that inform our drug and vaccine development strategies. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Wen Hao, et al. "Echinococcosis: advances in the 21st century." Clinical microbiology reviews 32.2 (2019): 10-1128.
- Xu, Xiaolei, et al. "Advances in the pharmacological treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: From laboratory to clinic." Frontiers in microbiology 13 (2022): 953846.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
