Acquired immunity mechanisms in sheep infected with : key genes and host responses.

BACKGROUND

Controlling gastrointestinal nematode infections poses a major challenge in intensive farming, worsened by rising anthelmintic resistance. Developing innovative control strategies is critical. Sheep acquired immunity to offers a valuable model for dissecting host-nematode interactions, though underlying immune mechanisms remain unclear.

METHODS

This study employed multi-omics analyses (transcriptome and proteome) of lamb duodenum across infection stages, validated by RT-qPCR, iELISA, histopathological staining (HE), and electron microscopy.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Infection triggered early immune activation mediated by intestinal epithelial cells. Key differentially expressed genes included , , , and , potentially linking to parasite expulsion. Early-stage pathway enrichment in cancer, chemokine signaling, and phagosome function enhanced intestinal barrier integrity and immune cell recruitment. Late-stage upregulation of chemokines directly impacted nematode survival. Intestinal villi shedding was also correlated with parasite clearance. These findings unravel potential mechanisms of acquired immunity against , highlighting novel therapeutic targets (e.g., epithelial barrier regulators, chemokine networks) and vaccine candidates for nematode control in livestock.