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Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2017Parasite infections affect billions of people and their domesticated animals worldwide, and remain as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, but such diseases... (Review)
Review
Parasite infections affect billions of people and their domesticated animals worldwide, and remain as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, but such diseases are still neglected in endemic countries. Therapeutic interventions consisted mostly of drugs, which are highly toxic and may lead to resistance. The immunopathology of parasites is very complex due to their multistage life cycles and long lifetime involving several hosts, leading many times to chronic infections and sometimes to death, by compromising nutritional status, affecting cognitive processes, and inducing severe tissue reactions. Vaccination is a challenge, and immunotherapy is completely disregarded because of their complex interactions with hosts and vectors. This review will bring concepts of immunological aspects for some important parasitic infections, and present the most recent phage display-derived antibodies or peptidomimetics for parasite targets. This chapter will also discuss the future perspectives of such potential anti-infective immunobiologicals for parasitic diseases.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Antiparasitic Agents; Cell Surface Display Techniques; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Peptide Library
PubMed: 29549639
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-72077-7_8 -
European Review For Medical and... Jul 2020Vorinostat is a drug used to treat cutaneous T cell lymphoma whose action mechanism is based on Histone Deacetylase inhibition. Histone Deacetylases are a family of... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Vorinostat is a drug used to treat cutaneous T cell lymphoma whose action mechanism is based on Histone Deacetylase inhibition. Histone Deacetylases are a family of enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histone and non-histone proteins that control many crucial processes, such as gene regulation, cell cycle progression, differentiation, and apoptosis. Histone Deacetylase homologues are also expressed in parasites of the genus Plasmodium, Leishmania, Cryptosporidium, Schistosoma, Entamoeba, and others. In this way, antiparasitic properties of Vorinostat have been explored. The aim of this review is to report the current state knowledge of Vorinostat as antiparasitic drug against Plasmodium, Leishmania, Cryptosporidium, Schistosoma and Entamoeba in order to support future investigation in this field.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The authors revised the recent and relevant literature concerning the topic and discussed advances and limitations of studies on Vorinostat as potential drug to treat human parasitic diseases.
RESULTS
Vorinostat has been efficient in vitro and, in some cases, in vivo, against parasites that cause parasitic diseases, such as malaria, leishmaniasis, cryptosporidiosis, amoebiasis, and schistosomiasis.
CONCLUSIONS
In vitro and in vivo models have demonstrated the antiparasitic activity of Vorinostat, however, the challenge is to assay its activity in animal models and to evaluate if Vorinostat is safe for humans as new alternative to treat human parasitic infections.
Topics: Animals; Antiparasitic Agents; Drug Repositioning; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Histone Deacetylases; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Proteins; Vorinostat
PubMed: 32706080
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202007_21909 -
Briefings in Functional Genomics Jan 2018Nematodes are highly abundant animals, and many species have a parasitic lifestyle. Nematode parasites are important pathogens of humans and other animals, and there is... (Review)
Review
Nematodes are highly abundant animals, and many species have a parasitic lifestyle. Nematode parasites are important pathogens of humans and other animals, and there is considerable interest in understanding their molecular and genomic adaptations to nematode parasitism. This has been approached in three main ways: comparing the genomes of closely related parasitic and free-living taxa, comparing the gene expression of parasitic and free-living life cycle stages of parasitic nematode species, and analysing the molecules that parasitic nematodes excrete and secrete. To date, these studies show that many species of parasitic nematodes have genomes that have large gene families coding for proteases/peptidases, protease inhibitors, SCP/TAPS proteins and acetylcholinesterases, and in many cases there is evidence that these appear to be used by parasitic stages inside hosts, and are often secreted. Many parasitic nematodes have taxa-restricted gene families that also appear to be involved in parasitism, emphasizing that there is still much to be discovered about what it takes to be a parasitic nematode.
Topics: Animals; Genome; Genomics; Life Cycle Stages; Nematoda; Parasites; Phylogeny
PubMed: 28472353
DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elx010 -
Trends in Parasitology Jul 2018Fifty years after anthelmintic resistance in livestock parasites was first reported, the prevalence of resistance has increased globally, and is of increasing... (Review)
Review
Fifty years after anthelmintic resistance in livestock parasites was first reported, the prevalence of resistance has increased globally, and is of increasing significance in animal industries. It is now timely to reflect on what we have learnt, how research has unfolded, and what we hope to learn in the future. This Opinion paper examines ten important research events that were pivotal in resistance research. The moments include the discovery, description, and diagnosis of parasite resistance, as well as important physiological and genetic findings, and the development of online tools to help manage resistance. Despite our efforts, resistance remains the greatest challenge in parasite control. The future directions for research, including people and funding, are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Resistance; Helminthiasis, Animal; Helminths; Parasitology; Research
PubMed: 29803755
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.05.001 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2021Parasites, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, helminths, and arthropods, are ubiquitous in the animal kingdom. Consequently, hosts are frequently infected... (Review)
Review
Parasites, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, helminths, and arthropods, are ubiquitous in the animal kingdom. Consequently, hosts are frequently infected with more than one parasite species simultaneously. The assessment of such co-infections is of fundamental importance for disease ecology, but relevant studies involving non-domesticated animals have remained scarce. Many amphibians are in decline, and they generally have a highly diverse parasitic fauna. Here we review the literature reporting on field surveys, veterinary case studies, and laboratory experiments on co-infections in amphibians, and we summarize what is known about within-host interactions among parasites, which environmental and intrinsic factors influence the outcomes of these interactions, and what effects co-infections have on hosts. The available literature is piecemeal, and patterns are highly diverse, so that identifying general trends that would fit most host-multiparasite systems in amphibians is difficult. Several examples of additive, antagonistic, neutral, and synergistic effects among different parasites are known, but whether members of some higher taxa usually outcompete and override the effects of others remains unclear. The arrival order of different parasites and the time lag between exposures appear in many cases to fundamentally shape competition and disease progression. The first parasite to arrive can gain a marked reproductive advantage or induce cross-reaction immunity, but by disrupting the skin and associated defences (i.e., skin secretions, skin microbiome) and by immunosuppression, it can also pave the way for subsequent infections. Although there are exceptions, detrimental effects to the host are generally aggravated with increasing numbers of co-infecting parasite species. Finally, because amphibians are ectothermic animals, temperature appears to be the most critical environmental factor that affects co-infections, partly via its influence on amphibian immune function, partly due to its direct effect on the survival and growth of parasites. Besides their importance for our understanding of ecological patterns and processes, detailed knowledge about co-infections is also crucial for the design and implementation of effective wildlife disease management, so that studies concentrating on the identified gaps in our understanding represent rewarding research avenues.
Topics: Amphibians; Animals; Animals, Wild; Coinfection; Host-Parasite Interactions; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases, Animal
PubMed: 34082796
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04796-1 -
Parasitology Dec 2022Fish (Elasmobranchia and Actinopterygii) inhabit the majority of aquatic habitats globally. They are crucial for human nutrition but they may be negatively affected by...
Fish (Elasmobranchia and Actinopterygii) inhabit the majority of aquatic habitats globally. They are crucial for human nutrition but they may be negatively affected by parasitic protists and metazoan parasites. Fish parasites are also an extraordinary group of animals because of their ecological and evolutionary importance and unique adaptations to parasitism. They also play a key role in ecosystem functioning. In the present special issue, 13 review and research articles on major groups of fish parasites are provided to document the current advancement in our understanding of different aspects of their biology, ecology and associations with their fish hosts. The existing gaps in our knowledge of these peculiar animals are mapped and future trends in their research outlined.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parasites; Ecosystem; Host-Parasite Interactions; Fishes; Biological Evolution; Fish Diseases
PubMed: 36226653
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022001433 -
Parasitology Research Nov 2022Global change in the Anthropocene has modified the environment of almost any species on earth, be it through climate change, habitat modifications, pollution, human... (Review)
Review
Global change in the Anthropocene has modified the environment of almost any species on earth, be it through climate change, habitat modifications, pollution, human intervention in the form of mass drug administration (MDA), or vaccination. This can have far-reaching consequences on all organisational levels of life, including eco-physiological stress at the cell and organism level, individual fitness and behaviour, population viability, species interactions and biodiversity. Host-parasite interactions often require highly adapted strategies by the parasite to survive and reproduce within the host environment and ensure efficient transmission among hosts. Yet, our understanding of the system-level outcomes of the intricate interplay of within host survival and among host parasite spread is in its infancy. We shed light on how global change affects host-parasite interactions at different organisational levels and address challenges and opportunities to work towards better-informed management of parasite control. We argue that global change affects host-parasite interactions in wildlife inhabiting natural environments rather differently than in humans and invasive species that benefit from anthropogenic environments as habitat and more deliberate rather than erratic exposure to therapeutic drugs and other control efforts.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Biodiversity; Ecosystem; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Parasites
PubMed: 36066742
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07649-7 -
Trends in Parasitology Jun 2019CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been developing rapidly in the field of parasitology, allowing for the dissection of molecular processes with unprecedented efficiency.... (Review)
Review
CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been developing rapidly in the field of parasitology, allowing for the dissection of molecular processes with unprecedented efficiency. Optimization and implementation of a new technology like CRISPR, especially in nonmodel organisms, requires communication and collaboration throughout the field. Recently, a 'CRISPR in Parasitology' symposium was held at the Institut Pasteur Paris, bringing together scientists studying Leishmania, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, and Anopheles. Here we share technological advances and challenges in using CRISPR/Cas9 in the parasite and vector systems that were discussed. As CRISPR/Cas9 continues to be applied to diverse parasite systems, the community should now focus on improvement and standardization of the technique as well as expanding the CRISPR toolkit to include Cas9 alternatives/derivatives for more advanced applications like genome-wide functional screens.
Topics: Animals; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Congresses as Topic; Humans; Parasites; Parasitology; Research
PubMed: 31006600
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.004 -
Trends in Parasitology Mar 2023Imaging of parasites is central to diagnosis of many parasitic diseases and has thus far played an important role in the development of antiparasitic strategies. The... (Review)
Review
Imaging of parasites is central to diagnosis of many parasitic diseases and has thus far played an important role in the development of antiparasitic strategies. The development of novel imaging technologies has revolutionized medicine in fields other than parasitology and has also opened up new avenues for the visualization of parasites. Here we review the role imaging technology has played so far in parasitology and how it may spur further advancement. We point out possibilities to improve current microscopy-based diagnostic methods and how to extend them with radiological imaging modalities. We also highlight in vivo tracking of parasites as a readout for efficacy of new antiparasitic strategies and as a source of fundamental insights for rational design.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parasitic Diseases; Parasites; Antiparasitic Agents; Diagnostic Imaging; Parasitology
PubMed: 36641293
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.12.008 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2016This chapter aims to provide some key points for researchers interested in the study of ancient gastrointestinal parasites. These few pages are dedicated to my colleague... (Review)
Review
This chapter aims to provide some key points for researchers interested in the study of ancient gastrointestinal parasites. These few pages are dedicated to my colleague and friend, Prof. Adauto Araújo (1951-2015), who participated in the writing of this chapter. His huge efforts in paleoparasitology contributed to the development and promotion of the discipline during more than 30 years.
Topics: Animals; Archaeology; Fossils; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Paleopathology; Parasites; Parasitology
PubMed: 27726811
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.PoH-0013-2015