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Trends in Parasitology Dec 2017The importance of the gut microbiota for human health has sparked a strong interest in the study of the factors that shape its composition and diversity. Despite the... (Review)
Review
The importance of the gut microbiota for human health has sparked a strong interest in the study of the factors that shape its composition and diversity. Despite the growing evidence suggesting that helminths and protozoa significantly interact with gut bacteria, gut microbiome studies remain mostly focused on prokaryotes and on populations living in industrialized countries that typically have a low parasite burden. We argue that protozoa, like helminths, represent an important factor to take into account when studying the gut microbiome, and that their presence - especially considering their long coevolutionary history with humans - may be beneficial. From this perspective, we examine the relationship between the protozoa and their hosts, as well as their relevance for public health.
Topics: Eukaryota; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Intestines
PubMed: 28870496
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.08.005 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Feb 2013Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia duodenalis are human waterborne protozoa. These worldwide parasites had been detected in various watercourses as... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia duodenalis are human waterborne protozoa. These worldwide parasites had been detected in various watercourses as recreational, surface, drinking, river, and seawater. As of today, water protozoa detection was based on large water filtration and on sample concentration. Another tool like aquatic invertebrate parasitism could be used for sanitary and environmental biomonitoring. In fact, organisms like filter feeders could already filtrate and concentrate protozoa directly in their tissues in proportion to ambient concentration. So molluscan shellfish can be used as a bioindicator of protozoa contamination level in a site since they were sedentary. Nevertheless, only a few researches had focused on nonspecific parasitism like protozoa infection on aquatic invertebrates. Objectives of this review are twofold: Firstly, an overview of protozoa in worldwide water was presented. Secondly, current knowledge of protozoa parasitism on aquatic invertebrates was detailed and the lack of data of their biological impact was pointed out.
Topics: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Cryptosporidium; Environmental Monitoring; Giardia; Groundwater; Invertebrates; Shellfish; Toxoplasma; Water
PubMed: 23001759
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-1189-1 -
Biotechnology Advances 2016Lectins are proteins/glycoproteins of non-immune origin that agglutinate red blood cells, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, etc., and bind reversibly to carbohydrates present on... (Review)
Review
Lectins are proteins/glycoproteins of non-immune origin that agglutinate red blood cells, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, etc., and bind reversibly to carbohydrates present on the apposing cells. They have at least two carbohydrate binding sites and their binding can be inhibited by one or more carbohydrates. Owing to carbohydrate binding specificity of lectins, they mediate cell-cell interactions and play role in protozoan adhesion and host cell cytotoxicity, thus are central to the pathogenic property of the parasite. Several parasitic protozoa possess lectins which mediate parasite adherence to host cells based on their carbohydrate specificities. These interactions could be exploited for development of novel therapeutics, targeting the adherence and thus helpful in eradicating wide spread of protozoan diseases. The current review highlights the present state knowledge with regard to protozoal lectins with an emphasis on their haemagglutination activity, carbohydrate specificity, characteristics and also their role in pathogenesis notably as adhesion molecules, thereby aiding the pathogen in disease establishment.
Topics: Animals; Carbohydrates; Hemagglutination; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Lectins; Mice; Protozoan Infections; Protozoan Proteins
PubMed: 27268207
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.06.002 -
MBio Feb 2023Parasite infections affect human and animal health significantly and contribute to a major burden on the global economy. Parasitic protozoan viruses (PPVs) affect the... (Review)
Review
Parasite infections affect human and animal health significantly and contribute to a major burden on the global economy. Parasitic protozoan viruses (PPVs) affect the protozoan parasites' morphology, phenotypes, pathogenicity, and growth rates. This discovery provides an opportunity to develop a novel preventive and therapeutic strategy for parasitic protozoan diseases (PPDs). Currently, there is greater awareness regarding PPVs; however, knowledge of viruses and their associations with host diseases remains limited. Parasite-host interactions become more complex owing to PPVs; however, few studies have investigated underlying viral regulatory mechanisms in parasites. In this study, we reviewed relevant studies to identify studies that investigated PPV development and life cycles, the triangular association between viruses, parasites, and hosts, and the effects of viruses on protozoan pathogenicity. This study highlights that viruses can alter parasite biology, and viral infection of parasites may exacerbate the adverse effects of virus-containing parasites on hosts or reduce parasite virulence. PPVs should be considered in the prevention of parasitic epidemics and outbreaks, although their effects on the host and the complexity of the triangular association between PPVs, protozoans, and hosts remain unclear. PPVs-based regulation of parasitic protozoa can provide a theoretical basis and direction for PPD prevention and control, although PPVs and PPV regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this review, we investigated the differences between PPVs and the unique properties of each virus regarding virus discovery, structures, and life cycles, focused on the Trichomonas vaginalis virus, Giardia lamblia virus, RNA virus, and the Cryptosporidium parvum virus 1. The triangular association between PPVs, parasitic protozoa, and hosts reveals the "double-edged sword" property of PPVs, which maintains a balance between parasitic protozoa and hosts in both positive and negative respects. These studies discuss the complexity of parasitic protozoa and their co-existence with hosts and suggest novel pathways for using PPVs as tools to gain a deeper understanding of protozoal infection and treatment.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parasites; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium; Viruses; Protozoan Infections; RNA Viruses
PubMed: 36633419
DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02642-22 -
The European Respiratory Journal Nov 2008Among the micro-organisms that may affect the respiratory apparatus are the protozoa. The diseases they may give rise to constitute a relatively uncommon group of... (Review)
Review
Among the micro-organisms that may affect the respiratory apparatus are the protozoa. The diseases they may give rise to constitute a relatively uncommon group of respiratory ailments with, in the majority of cases, an underlying clinical situation corresponding to states of suppressed immunity (AIDS, transplants, malign haemopathies, corticotherapy, etc.). Other factors, such as visits to endemic areas and immigration, also have to be taken into account. In view of the probable increase in the number of cases and the appearance of new emerging diseases, it is the intention of the present work to review the publications available, in different fields of medicine, that refer to the principal kinds of protozoa (Entamoeba, Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Trichomonas, Lophomonas, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Babesia, Encephalitozoon, Enterocytozoon and Balantidium) and, at the same time, detail and comment on the latest findings on this subject.
Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Cryptosporidium; Entamoeba histolytica; Eukaryota; Humans; Immune System; Leishmania; Pulmonary Medicine; Respiratory Tract Infections; Trypanosoma
PubMed: 18978136
DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00022008 -
Advances in Parasitology 1980
Review
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Cattle; Ciliophora; DNA; Lipid Metabolism; Proteins; RNA; Rumen; Sheep; Starch
PubMed: 6159780
DOI: 10.1016/s0065-308x(08)60399-1 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Mar 2014Despite recent advances in diagnostic technology, microscopic examination of stool specimens remains central to the diagnosis of most pathogenic intestinal protozoa.... (Review)
Review
Despite recent advances in diagnostic technology, microscopic examination of stool specimens remains central to the diagnosis of most pathogenic intestinal protozoa. Microscopy is, however, labor-intensive and requires a skilled technologist. New, highly sensitive diagnostic methods have been developed for protozoa endemic to developed countries, including Giardia lamblia (syn. G. intestinalis/G. duodenalis) and Cryptosporidium spp., using technologies that, if expanded, could effectively complement or even replace microscopic approaches. To date, the scope of such novel technologies is limited and may not include common protozoa such as Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba histolytica, or Cyclospora cayetanensis. This minireview describes canonical approaches for the detection of pathogenic intestinal protozoa, while highlighting recent developments and FDA-approved tools for clinical diagnosis of common intestinal protozoa.
Topics: Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Cryptosporidium; Cyclospora; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Dientamoeba; Entamoeba histolytica; Giardia lamblia; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Parasitology; Protozoan Infections
PubMed: 24197877
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02877-13 -
Trends in Parasitology Jun 2022γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a nonstructural amino acid that serves diverse functions in unicellular and multicellular organisms. Besides its widely established role... (Review)
Review
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a nonstructural amino acid that serves diverse functions in unicellular and multicellular organisms. Besides its widely established role in mammals as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, the diverse biological roles and metabolism of GABA in protozoan parasites have begun to be unveiled. GABA acts as either the intracellular signal or cell-to-cell messenger to mediate a variety of cellular responses that protect the parasites from environmental and host-derived stress. Moreover, GABA metabolism was found to be tightly regulated, involving protein machinery confined to the protozoa lineage. Meanwhile, host-parasite GABAergic interaction plays a role in the pathogenesis and disease manifestation of protozoan infections. Therefore, the GABAergic system apparently is broadly involved in essential biological and pathophysiological processes and is well conserved in parasitic and free-living protozoa.
Topics: Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Mammals; Parasites; Protozoan Infections; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 35264298
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.02.004 -
Annals of Parasitology 2022Both roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) are wild ruminants that are present in large numbers in Poland. Although both are very often infected... (Review)
Review
Both roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) are wild ruminants that are present in large numbers in Poland. Although both are very often infected with parasitic protozoa, the species composition of these parasites and their prevalence are relatively poorly known. The aim of the present work is to gather existing data on the occurrence and species diversity of parasitic protozoa of the genus Eimeria, Babesia, Theileria, Giardia, Cryptosporidium and family Sarcocystidae in red deer and roe deer in Poland and compare the findings with those from other European countries.
Topics: Animals; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium; Deer; Parasites; Poland
PubMed: 35404806
DOI: 10.17420/ap6801.401 -
Water Research Sep 2016Outbreak incidents raise the question of whether the less frequent aetiological agents of outbreaks are really less frequent in water. Alternatively, waterborne... (Review)
Review
Outbreak incidents raise the question of whether the less frequent aetiological agents of outbreaks are really less frequent in water. Alternatively, waterborne transmission could be relevant, but the lack of attention and rapid, sensitive methods to recover and detect the exogenous stages in water may keep them under-recognized. High quality information on the prevalence and detection of less frequent waterborne protozoa, such as Cyclospora cayetanensis, Toxoplasma gondii, Isospora belli, Balantidium coli, Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and other free-living amoebae (FLA), are not available. This present paper discusses the detection tools applied for the water surveillance of the neglected waterborne protozoa mentioned above and provides future perspectives.
Topics: Animals; Cyclospora; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Parasites; Water; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 27281375
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.05.085