Ocular onchocerciasis [Elektronische Ressource] : the role of Toll-like receptor-2 and Interferon-γ [Interferon-gamma] / vorgelegt von Katrin Gentil

   Ocular Onchocerciasis –  The Role of Toll­Like Receptor­2  and Interferon­γ        Dissertation  zur  Erlangung des Doktorgrades (Dr. rer. nat.) der Mathematisch‐Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich‐Wilhelms‐Universität Bonn         vorgelegt von Dr. med. Katrin Gentil aus Suhl  Bonn 2009                              Gedruckt mit Genehmigung der mathematisch‐naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen‐Friedrich‐Wilhelms‐Universität Bonn     Referent: Prof. W. Kolanus Koreferent: Prof. A. Hoerauf Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 23.02.2010 Erscheinungsjahr: 2010 Ocular Onchocerciasis - the Role of Toll-Like Receptor 2 and Interferon-AbstractbyKATRIN GENTILRiver Blindness is still highly prevalent in subsaharan Africa with millions of peoplesuffering from the infection with Onchocerca volvulus. This filarial worm harbors theendosymbiont Wolbachia which was found to be essential for worm survival. The im-mune system of chronically infected individuals is constantly stimulated with wormproteins, lipids, carbohydrates and released Wolbachia from dying worms. In this study,I investigated the activation of the adaptive immune system by O. volvulus and Wol-bachia in a mouse model of onchocercal keratitis.Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are innate immune receptors that are activated by con-served bacterial and viral products.