Molecular interactions at the interface of parsitic nematodes with their hosts

寄生线虫在全世界约40亿人中造成慢性致残性疾病。此外，寄生线虫在世界各地造成了大量的牲畜生产损失。根除这种寄生虫病仍然是一项重大挑战。抗寄生虫药物对一些物种无效，许多其他寄生虫现在已经产生了抗药性。寄主-寄生虫关系的进化是一个引人入胜的研究课题。宿主免疫系统的功能是诱导进化衍生反应，这是最有效地对抗寄生虫并将对宿主的损害降至最低的反应。然而，寄生虫已经进化出自己有趣的方法来逃避宿主的免疫反应，以求生存和繁殖。我对宿主-寄生虫相互作用的兴趣主要集中在寄生虫分子，这些分子在感染过程中释放，以促进寄生。目前，所涉及的确切机制和分子在很大程度上是未知的。这项研究计划正在研究具有以下假定功能的分子：1)拟态-寄生虫用宿主分子装饰自己，从而避免被免疫系统检测；2)感染过程-寄生虫仅在进入新宿主期间产生的分子；以及3)传播-似乎产生的促进寄生虫从宿主释放以促进新宿主感染的分子。了解宿主-寄生虫关系界面上的分子相互作用有助于深入了解寄生虫用于免疫调节和免疫逃避的机制，以促进寄生虫进入宿主、在宿主内存活和从宿主传播。我的研究涉及寄生线虫生物学的基本问题，最终目标是为开发预防寄生虫感染和疾病的当代方法做出更广泛的贡献。这项研究计划对了解感染过程和涉及寄生的分子机制具有重要意义。

Parasitic nematodes cause chronic and disabling disease in approximately 4 billion people worldwide. In addition, parasitic nematodes are responsible for substantial livestock production losses throughout the world. Eradication of such parasitic diseases remains a major challenge. Anti-parasite drugs are ineffective against some species and many other parasites have now developed drug resistance. Evolution of the host-parasite relationship is a fascinating subject of study. The host immune system functions to elicit the evolutionary derived response that is most effective in combating the parasite and minimizing damage to the host. However, parasites have evolved their own interesting methods for evading the immune response of their host in order to survive and reproduce. My interests in host-parasite interactions focus on parasite molecules that are released during infective processes to facilitate parasitism. The precise mechanisms and molecules involved are largely unknown at present. This research program is investigating molecules with putative functions in: 1) mimicry - parasites decorate themselves with host molecules to thereby avoid detection by the immune system; 2) infective processes - molecules produced by parasites only during the period of entry into a new host; and, 3) transmission - molecules that appear to be produced to promote parasite release from their host to facilitate infection of new hosts. Understanding the molecular interactions at the interface of host-parasite relationships provides insight into the mechanisms that parasites use for immune modulation and immune evasion to promote parasite entry into a host, survival within a host, and transmission from a host. My research address basic questions on the biology of parasitic nematodes with the ultimate goal of broader contributions towards development of contemporary methods for prevention of parasitic infection and disease. This research program is of fundamental importance to understanding infective processes and the molecular mechanisms that are involved in parasitism.