Interaction of Biomphalaria cells in primary cultures with Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Aristeu Silva-Neto, Cristhiane Oliveira da Fonseca, Luciana Maria Silva, Paulo Marcos Zech Coelho, Consuelo Latorre Fortes-Dias
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2020
• Subjects: Biomphalaria tenagophila; Biomphalaria glabrata; Schistosoma mansoni; Digestive gland; Saccular kidney; Primary cell culture; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0257-2020; https://doaj.org/article/12f9f1d7436449d183a661c126fc4dfd

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Biomphalaria snails may display varying levels of susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni infection. We have been developing an in vitro model to study the interaction between the snail and the parasite, using tissue-derived cell cultures from Biomphalaria. METHODS: The digestive gland- and kidney-derived cells from primary cultures of resistant (B. tenagophila Taim) and susceptible (B. tenagophila HM and B. glabrata BH) strains of Biomphalaria were exposed to S. mansoni sporocysts. RESULTS: S. mansoni sporocysts were surrounded and encapsulated exclusively by cells derived from the digestive gland (DG) of B. tenagophila Taim. The process was followed by a marked decrease in the number of free sporocysts in the culture medium. The morphological characteristics of DG-derived cells in culture have been described. CONCLUSIONS: Cells derived from DG (but not SK) primary cultures of B. tenagophila Taim may participate in S. mansoni sporocyst control.