In mice infected with 10$ sp4$ Giardia muris cysts, a peak lymphocyte proliferation in the spleen and Peyer's patches in response to Giardia extract occurred during the elimination and latent phases, respectively. This shows that the Peyer's patch cells are more responsive than the spleen to Giardia infection. Th2-type cytokines produced by Peyer's patch cells may play a protective role during the latent and acute phases. Th1-type cytokines may contribute to this production during the elimination phase. Cytokine production in response to Giardia extract in vitro was observed in mice immunized with this extract, but not in control mice. Therefore, Giardia antigen can induce cytokine production in vitro in a specific manner.

Bibliography: leaves 183-228 / x, 228 leaves, [8] leaves of plates : ill. (1 col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 1989

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Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 S78 / Master of Science

Studies using Mongolian gerbils found that during a primary infection with Giardia lamblia trophozoites, disaccharidase activities were decreased from day 10 post-infection (p.i.) until well past elimination of the parasite. However, during a challenge infection, enzyme deficiencies were short-lived. A challenge with a soluble extract of G. lamblia trophozoites also resulted in reductions in disaccharidase activity. The degree of these reductions in enzyme activity was dependent on the extract dose. Gel filtration of the trophozoite crude extract resulted in fractions F1, F2, and F3. However, only a challenge with F1 led to disaccharidase deficiencies. Further separation of F1 resulted in fractions F1a and F1b. Impairments of enzyme activity were obtained only in gerbils challenged with F1b. Protein analysis of F1b revealed several high and low molecular weight bands. When gerbils previously exposed to G. lamblia were challenged with an extract of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites, disaccharidase activities remained comparable to controls. Moreover, enzyme levels in gerbils challenged with excretory/secretory G. lumblia products were affected in a manner which was inconsistent with the live parasitic challenge. Results suggest that the disaccharidase deficiencies in giardiasis are parasite-specific and are induced by a heat-stable constituent(s) of fraction F1b, possibly through an immune response to an antigenic component of this parasite fraction.

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