{
  "abstract": "Background: Protective immunity against reinfection with filarial nematodes remains poorly understood. We therefore investigated whether naturally acquired immunity following spontaneous parasite clearance modifies the outcome of reinfection using the permissive murine filarial model Litomosoides sigmodontis .\n\nMethods: Wildtype BALB/c mice were reinfected following natural clearance of a primary L. sigmodontis infection and compared with mice during patent primary infection and after parasite clearance. Parasitological parameters, local immune cell responses, lung pathology, and systemic cytokine levels were assessed.\n\nResults: Adult worms were detected in only 3 of 6 reinfected mice, indicating substantial inter-individual variation in parasite establishment. Among mice with detectable adult worms, reinfection resulted in significantly shorter adult worms, while microfilaremia, embryogenesis, and Wolbachia density were not significantly altered, indicating restricted parasite development at the time point examined without detectable effects on parasite reproductive capacity or Wolbachia density. Reinfected mice further exhibited significantly increased neutrophil accumulation and overall immune cell infiltration into the thoracic cavity, accompanied by modestly increased lung inflammation and elevated systemic levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, IL-22, and GM-CSF.\n\nConclusion: Naturally acquired immunity following primary L. sigmodontis infection does not confer sterilising protection against reinfection, but is associated with substantial heterogeneity in parasite establishment and restricted parasite development among mice with detectable adult worms together with local and systemic recall immune responses that selectively restrict parasite growth. These findings provide new insights into naturally acquired anti-filarial immunity and the mechanisms shaping host-parasite interactions during reinfection, thereby reflecting the repeated parasite exposure that is characteristic of human filarial infections in endemic settings.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology",
    "University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, GeoHealth Centre",
    "German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn",
    "German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alexander Palmen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lisa Marie Wadephul"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Melina Hader"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Severin Krayer"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kathrin Arndts"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Achim Hoerauf"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Manuel Ritter"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/avqff985dq5aa.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1961656",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "avqff985dq5aa",
  "issns": [
    "1664-3224"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1961656/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/avqff985dq5aa.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1961656",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1961656/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "issn:1664-3224",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Recall immunity limits Litomosoides sigmodontis growth without preventing reinfection",
  "title_text": "Recall immunity limits Litomosoides sigmodontis growth without preventing reinfection",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T00:20:59Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/avqff985dq5aa",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Immunology",
  "versions": []
}