Molecular interactions at the interface of parsitic nematodes with their hosts

寄生线虫导致全世界约40亿人患上慢性和致残疾病。此外，寄生线虫对世界各地的大量牲畜生产损失负有责任。根除这类寄生虫病仍然是一项重大挑战。抗寄生虫药物对某些物种无效，许多其他寄生虫现在已经产生耐药性。宿主-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引发进化衍生的反应，最有效地对抗寄生虫，最大限度地减少对宿主的损害。然而，寄生虫已经进化出了自己有趣的方法来逃避宿主的免疫反应，以生存和繁殖。我对宿主-寄生虫相互作用的兴趣集中在感染过程中释放的寄生虫分子，以促进寄生。确切的机制和所涉及的分子目前在很大程度上是未知的。这个研究项目正在研究在以下方面具有假定功能的分子：1)模仿——寄生虫用宿主分子修饰自己，从而避免被免疫系统发现；2)感染过程——寄生虫仅在进入新宿主期间产生的分子；3)传播——似乎是为了促进寄生虫从宿主中释放出来，从而促进新宿主感染而产生的分子。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利用免疫调节和免疫逃避促进寄生虫进入宿主、在宿主内存活和从宿主传播的机制。我的研究解决了寄生线虫生物学的基本问题，最终目标是为预防寄生虫感染和疾病的当代方法的发展做出更广泛的贡献。这一研究项目对了解感染过程和参与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.