Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2013
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Dr. Blaise Dondji, Biological Sciences
Second Committee Member
Dr. Gabrielle Stryker, Biological Sciences
Third Committee Member
Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program
Abstract
Hookworm infection is a major cause of anemia, malnutrition, growth delay and cognitive defects in resource poor countries. Human and animal studies suggest that infection with these intestinal nematodes is associated with impaired cellular immunity, characterized by reduced lymphocyte proliferation in response to both parasite and heterologous antigens. In vitro studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) is one of the leading agents causing impaired cellular responses, Spleenocytes from infected hamsters secreted more NO in culture than did those from naive animals. In order to further identify the role of NO in hookworm pathogenesis and pathology, we conducted an experiment where the production of NO was inhibited using N-Monomethyl-L-Arginine (L-NAME). Hamsters were infected with 100 third stage larvae of the hookworm, Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Hamsters that received L-NAME showed lower worm burden (4+2) at day 36 post infection (PI). The worm burden in the control group, with L-NAME was (21=4, p< 0.005). Similarly, the L-NAME group had lower egg count as from day 22 PI to day 36 PI. Anemia was assessed by measuring the hemoglobin levels and showed that the hamsters in the control group were more anemic. Together, these data suggest that NO modulates the clinical outcome of hookworm infection.
Recommended Citation
Berndt, Amanda, "Nitric Oxide as a Mediator of Hookworm Infection Ancylostoma Ceylanicum" (2013). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 63.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/undergrad_hontheses/63
Comments
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