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Neuroimaging Clinics of North America May 2015The imaging features of spinal parasitic diseases and other rare infections are herein discussed. These diseases are distributed worldwide, with increased prevalence in... (Review)
Review
The imaging features of spinal parasitic diseases and other rare infections are herein discussed. These diseases are distributed worldwide, with increased prevalence in areas with poor sanitary conditions and in developing countries. In nonendemic areas, sporadic cases may occur, consequent to increased international travel and immunocompromising conditions. Infectious diseases are usually treatable, and early detection is often crucial. A thorough comprehension of the imaging patterns associated with the clinical features, epidemiology, and laboratory results allows the radiologist to narrow down the options for differential diagnosis and facilitates the timely implementation of appropriate therapies.
Topics: Communicable Diseases; Developing Countries; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Parasitic Diseases; Rare Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Spine; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 25952177
DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2015.01.006 -
Parasite Immunology Jun 2019Brazil is a middle-income country undergoing the epidemiological transition. Effects of changes in daily life habits and access to clean water, sanitation and urban... (Review)
Review
Brazil is a middle-income country undergoing the epidemiological transition. Effects of changes in daily life habits and access to clean water, sanitation and urban services on a growing urban population have contributed to a double burden of both infectious and noncommunicable chronic diseases. Studies have indicated that parasite infections may modulate the human immune system and influence the development of allergic conditions such as asthma. However, there is no consensus in the published literature on the effects of parasitic infections on allergy, perhaps as a consequence of factors determining the epidemiology of these infections that vary between populations such as age of first infection, duration and chronicity of infections, parasite burden and species, and host genetic susceptibility. In this review, we discuss the observations from Brazil concerning the relationship between parasite infections and allergy.
Topics: Animals; Brazil; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Observational Studies as Topic; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 30188574
DOI: 10.1111/pim.12588 -
Cancer Investigation 2019Cancer is a proficient evader of the immune system and is responsible for a high number of deaths annually. Most of these cancer cases are associated with genetic... (Review)
Review
Cancer is a proficient evader of the immune system and is responsible for a high number of deaths annually. Most of these cancer cases are associated with genetic mutations, viruses, radiations or other carcinogenic substances like tobacco smoke. However, a significant number of cases arise as a result of infection by certain parasitic organisms other than viruses. This review tries to explore various less studied mechanisms by which these parasites induce cancer and lead to its progression. The changes brought by organisms in the genetic makeup are enumerated along with the effects of various protein products synthesised by these organisms.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Carcinogenesis; Disease Progression; Gene Regulatory Networks; Humans; Mycoses; Neoplasms; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 31469000
DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2019.1662918 -
Seminars in Immunopathology Aug 2021For a long time, host cell death during parasitic infection has been considered a reflection of tissue damage, and often associated with disease pathogenesis. However,... (Review)
Review
For a long time, host cell death during parasitic infection has been considered a reflection of tissue damage, and often associated with disease pathogenesis. However, during their evolution, protozoan and helminth parasites have developed strategies to interfere with cell death so as to spread and survive in the infected host, thereby ascribing a more intriguing role to infection-associated cell death. In this review, we examine the mechanisms used by intracellular and extracellular parasites to respectively inhibit or trigger programmed cell death. We further dissect the role of the prototypical "eat-me signal" phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) which, by being exposed on the cell surface of damaged host cells as well as on some viable parasites via a process of apoptotic mimicry, leads to their recognition and up-take by the neighboring phagocytes. Although barely dissected so far, the engagement of different PtdSer receptors on macrophages, by shaping the host immune response, affects the overall infection outcome in models of both protozoan and helminth infections. In this scenario, further understanding of the molecular and cellular regulation of the PtdSer exposing cell-macrophage interaction might allow the identification of new therapeutic targets for the management of parasitic infection.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Humans; Macrophages; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Phosphatidylserines
PubMed: 34279684
DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00875-8 -
Acta Tropica Jan 2018Galectins is a family of multifunctional lectins. Fifteen galectins have been identified from a variety of cells and tissues of vertebrates and invertebrates. Galectins... (Review)
Review
Galectins is a family of multifunctional lectins. Fifteen galectins have been identified from a variety of cells and tissues of vertebrates and invertebrates. Galectins have been shown to play pivotal roles in host-pathogen interaction such as adhesion of pathogens to host cells and activation of host innate and adaptive immunity. In recent years, the roles of galectins during parasite infections have gained increasing attention. Galectins produced by different hosts can act as pattern recognition receptors detecting conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns of parasites, while galectins produced by parasites can modulate host responses. This review summarizes some recent studies on the roles of galectins produced by parasitic protozoa, nematodes, and trematodes and their hosts. Understanding the roles of galectins in host-parasite interactions may provide targets for immune intervention and therapies of parasitic infections.
Topics: Animals; Galectins; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Nematode Infections; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Trematode Infections
PubMed: 28986248
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.09.027 -
Immunologic Research Aug 2014Parasitic diseases are a serious global health concern. Many of the most common and most severe parasitic diseases, including Chagas' disease, leishmaniasis, and... (Review)
Review
Parasitic diseases are a serious global health concern. Many of the most common and most severe parasitic diseases, including Chagas' disease, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis, are also classified as neglected tropical diseases and are comparatively less studied than infectious diseases prevalent in high income nations. The NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich-repeat-containing proteins) are cytosolic proteins known to be involved in pathogen detection and host response. The role of NLRs in the host response to parasitic infection is just beginning to be understood. The NLR proteins NOD1 and NOD2 have been shown to contribute to immune responses during Trypanosoma cruzi infection, Toxoplasma gondii infection, and murine cerebral malaria. The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by T. cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis but also induces pathology during infection with schistosomes or malaria. Both the NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes respond to T. gondii infection. The NLRs may play crucial roles in human immune responses during parasitic infection, usually acting as innate immune sensors and driving the inflammatory response against invading parasites. However, this inflammatory response can either kill the invading parasite or be responsible for destructive pathology. Therefore, understanding the role of the NLR proteins will be critical to understanding the host defense against parasites as well as the fine balance between homeostasis and parasitic disease.
Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Animals; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Carrier Proteins; Humans; Inflammasomes; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; NLR Proteins; Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; Portraits as Topic; Protozoan Infections
PubMed: 24989828
DOI: 10.1007/s12026-014-8544-x -
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology... Dec 2016The pathogenesis of infectious agents with human tropism can only be properly studied in an in vivo model featuring human cells or tissue. Humanized mice represent a... (Review)
Review
The pathogenesis of infectious agents with human tropism can only be properly studied in an in vivo model featuring human cells or tissue. Humanized mice represent a small animal model featuring human cells or tissue that can be infected by human-specific viruses, bacteria, and parasites and also providing a functional human immune system. This makes the analysis of a human immune response to infection possible and allows for preclinical testing of new vaccines and therapeutic agents. Results of various studies using humanized mice to investigate pathogens with human tropism are presented in this review. In addition, the limitations of humanized mice and methods to improve this valuable animal model are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Mice; Parasitic Diseases; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 27865261
DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2016.08.006 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Neuroinflammation is one of the most frequently studied topics of neurosciences as it is a common feature in almost all neurological disorders. Although the primary... (Review)
Review
Neuroinflammation is one of the most frequently studied topics of neurosciences as it is a common feature in almost all neurological disorders. Although the primary function of neuroinflammation is to protect the nervous system from an insult, the complex and sequential response of activated glial cells can lead to neurological damage. Depending on the type of insults and the time post-insult, the inflammatory response can be neuroprotective, neurotoxic, or, depending on the glial cell types, both. There are multiple pathways activated and many bioactive intermediates are released during neuroinflammation. One of the most common one is the kynurenine pathway, catabolizing tryptophan, which is involved in immune regulation, neuroprotection, and neurotoxicity. Different models have been used to study the kynurenine pathway metabolites to understand their involvements in the development and maintenance of the inflammatory processes triggered by infections. Among them, the parasitic infection could be used as a relevant model to study the role of the kynurenine pathway in the neuroinflammatory response and the subset of cells involved.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Inflammation; Kynurenine; Neospora; Nervous System Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 35154065
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.714248 -
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. :... Aug 2023The impact of endemic parasitic infection on vaccine efficacy is an important consideration for vaccine development and deployment. We have examined whether intestinal...
The impact of endemic parasitic infection on vaccine efficacy is an important consideration for vaccine development and deployment. We have examined whether intestinal infection with the natural murine helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri alters Ag-specific Ab and cellular immune responses to oral and parenteral vaccination in mice. Oral vaccination of mice with a clinically relevant, live, attenuated, recombinant Salmonella vaccine expressing chicken egg OVA (Salmonella-OVA) induced the accumulation of activated, OVA-specific T effector cells rather than OVA-specific regulatory T cells in the GALT. Intestinal helminth infection significantly reduced Th1-skewed Ab responses to oral vaccination with Salmonella-OVA. Activated, adoptively transferred, OVA-specific CD4+ T cells accumulated in draining mesenteric lymph nodes of vaccinated mice, regardless of their helminth infection status. However, helminth infection increased the frequencies of adoptively transferred OVA-specific CD4+ T cells producing IL-4 and IL-10 in the mesenteric lymph node. Ab responses to the oral Salmonella-OVA vaccine were reduced in helminth-free mice adoptively transferred with OVA-specific CD4+ T cells harvested from mice with intestinal helminth infection. Intestinal helminth infection also significantly reduced Th2-skewed Ab responses to parenteral vaccination with OVA adsorbed to alum. These findings suggest that vaccine-specific CD4+ T cells induced in the context of helminth infection retain durable immunomodulatory properties and may promote blunted Ab responses to vaccination. They also underscore the potential need to treat parasitic infection before mass vaccination campaigns in helminth-endemic areas.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Vaccine Efficacy; Helminthiasis; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Vaccines, Synthetic; Ovalbumin; Mice, Inbred BALB C
PubMed: 37272847
DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300084 -
Trends in Parasitology Dec 2020Wildlife vaccination is of urgent interest to reduce disease-induced extinction and zoonotic spillover events. However, several challenges complicate its application to... (Review)
Review
Wildlife vaccination is of urgent interest to reduce disease-induced extinction and zoonotic spillover events. However, several challenges complicate its application to wildlife. For example, vaccines rarely provide perfect immunity. While some protection may seem better than none, imperfect vaccination can present epidemiological, ecological, and evolutionary challenges. While anti-infection and antitransmission vaccines reduce parasite transmission, antidisease vaccines may undermine herd immunity, select for increased virulence, or promote spillover. These imperfections interact with ecological and logistical constraints that are magnified in wildlife, such as poor control and substantial trait variation within and among species. Ultimately, we recommend approaches such as trait-based vaccination, modeling tools, and methods to assess community- and ecosystem-level vaccine safety to address these concerns and bolster wildlife vaccination campaigns.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Biological Evolution; Ecosystem; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Vaccination; Vaccines
PubMed: 32952060
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.08.006