Areas of Interest
We focus our efforts on understanding the biology of human
lymphatic filariasis, using Brugia malayi as a model and
various deficient mice as hosts. We have found that a class of
poly-unsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic, linolenic and
arachidonic acids serve the nutritional/trophic needs of this
organism. This result has been quite surprising to us, since we
had initially anticipated that a protein might be the molecule
that is required. We have since determined that inhibitors of
leukotriene synthesis block molting, suggesting that B.
malayi requires a leukotriene to complete its development.
This observation opens novel avenues for therapy.
We have also been examining the factors determining host
immunity against this parasite. Using targeted mutations that
result in the lack of B lymphocytes, we have made the unexpected
observation that B lymphocytes appear to play a central role in
host defense. Reconstitution of SCID mice with purified
peritoneal exudate cells, which are enriched for a certain
subset of B lymphocytes known as the B1 B cells, we have
demonstrated that this subset of B lymphocytes is able to
mediate host protection. This observation opens the door to the
identification of parasite derived molecules that may be playing
critical role in host community.
Publications
Selected Publications
Spencer, L., Shultz, L. and Rajan, T.V. T cells are required
for host protection against Brugia malayi but need not
produce or respond to interleukin-4. Infect Immun.
71(6):3097-106, 2003.
Rajan, T.V. The Gell-Coombs classification of
hypersensitivity reactions: a re-interpretation. Trends
Immunol. 24(7):376-9, 2003.
Ramalingam, T., Rajan, B., Lee, J. and Rajan. T.V. Kinetics
of cellular responses to intraperitoneal Brugia pahangi
infections in normal and immunodeficient mice. Infect Immun.
71(8):4361-7.
Rajan TV, Paciorkowski N, Kalajzic I, McGuiness C. Ascorbic
acid is a requirement for the morphogenesis of the human
filarial parasite Brugia malayi. J Parasitol. 2003
Aug;89(4):868-70.
Rajan TV. The Gell-Coombs classification of hypersensitivity
reactions: a re-interpretation. Trends Immunol. 2003
Jul;24(7):376-9.
Rajan, T.V., Ganley, L., Paciorkowski, N., Spencer, L., Klei,
T.R. and Shultz, L.D. Brugian infections in the peritoneal
cavities of laboratory mice: kinetics of infection and cellular
responses. Exp Parasitol. 100(4):235-47, 2002.
Rajan, T.V., Tennen, H., Lindquist, R.L., Cohen, L. and
Clive, J. Effect of ingestion of honey on symptoms of
rhinoconjunctivitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.
88(2):198-203, 2002.
Clawson, M.L., Paciorkowski, N., Rajan, T.V., LaVake, C.,
Pope, C., LaVake, M., Wikel, S.K., Krause, P.J. and Radolf, J.D.
Cellular immunity, but not gamma interferon, is essential for
resolution of Babesia microti infection in BALB/c mice.
Infect Immun. 70(9):5304-06, 2002.
Rajan, T.V. East is East, etc. Cancer. 1(3):314-4,
2002.
Spencer, LA., Porte, P., Zetoff, C. and Rajan, T.V. Mice
genetically deficient in immunoglobulin E are more permissive
hosts than wild-type mice to a primary, but not secondary,
infection with filarial nematode Brugia malayi. Infect
Immun. 71(5):2462-7, 2002.
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