Wolbachia bacteria in filarial immunity and disease

Lymphatic filarial nematodes are infected with endosymbiotic Wolbachia bact eria. Lipopolysaccharide from these bacteria is the major activator of inna te inflammatory responses induced directly by the parasite. Here, we propos e a mechanism by which Wolbachia initiates acute inflammatory responses ass ociated with death of parasites, leading to acute filarial lymphangitis and adverse reactions to antifilarial chemotherapy. We also speculate that rep eated exposure to acute inflammatory responses and the chronic release of b acteria, results in damage to infected lymphatics and desensitization of th e innate immune system. These events will result in an increased susceptibi lity to opportunistic infections, which cause acute dermatolymphangitis ass ociated with lymphoedema and elephantiasis. The recognition of the contribu tion of endosymbiotic bacteria to filarial disease could be exploited for c linical intervention by the targeting of bacteria with antibiotics in an at tempt to reduce the development of filarial pathology.