Study of the cross-talk between Fasciola hepatica juveniles and the intestinal epithelial cells of the host by transcriptomics in an in vitro model

In this study, an in vitro model was used to unravel the early host-parasite interaction in fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica. F. hepatica metacercariae were in vitro excysted and the resulting Newly Excysted Juveniles (FhNEJ) were put into contact with a culture of Mouse Primary Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells (MPSIEC) for 3 hours. After that, both fractions were separated and subjected to RNA extraction and sequencing, thus comparing their expression profile with that of untreated FhNEJ/MPSIEC in order to explore the expression changes triggered by this early contact.