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Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. :... Jan 2022Maternal infection during pregnancy is known to alter the development and function of offspring's immune system, leading to inappropriate immune responses to common... (Review)
Review
Maternal infection during pregnancy is known to alter the development and function of offspring's immune system, leading to inappropriate immune responses to common childhood infections and immunizations. Although this is an expanding field, maternal parasitic infections remain understudied. Millions of women of reproductive age are currently at risk for parasitic infection, whereas many pregnant, chronically infected women are excluded from mass drug administration due partially to a lack of resources, as well as fear of unknown adverse fetal developmental outcomes. In areas endemic for multiple parasitic infections, such as sub-Saharan Africa, there are increased rates of morbidity and mortality for various infections during early childhood in comparison with nonendemic areas. Despite evidence supporting similar immunomodulatory effects between various parasite species, there is no clear mechanistic understanding of how maternal infection reprograms offspring immunity. This brief review will compare the effects of selected maternal parasitic infections on offspring immunity.
Topics: Adult; Africa South of the Sahara; Animals; Female; Fetal Development; Helminthiasis; Helminths; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Malaria, Falciparum; Parasitic Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; Soil
PubMed: 35017211
DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100708 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021As a relatively successful pathogen, several parasites can establish long-term infection in host. This "harmonious symbiosis" status relies on the "precise" manipulation... (Review)
Review
As a relatively successful pathogen, several parasites can establish long-term infection in host. This "harmonious symbiosis" status relies on the "precise" manipulation of host immunity and metabolism, however, the underlying mechanism is still largely elusive. Immunometabolism is an emerging crossed subject in recent years. It mainly discusses the regulatory mechanism of metabolic changes on reprogramming the key transcriptional and post-transcriptional events related to immune cell activation and effect, which provides a novel insight for understanding how parasites regulate the infection and immunity in hosts. The present study reviewed the current research progress on metabolic reprogramming mechanism exploited by parasites to modulate the function in various immune cells, highlighting the future exploitation of key metabolites or metabolic events to clarify the underlying mechanism of anti-parasite immunity and design novel intervention strategies against parasitic infection.
Topics: Animals; Dendritic Cells; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Parasitic Diseases; Plasmodium; Schistosoma; Trypanosoma
PubMed: 34122419
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.661241 -
Future Microbiology Feb 2017An exanthem is a skin rash that may be associated with mucous membrane eruption, fever or other symptoms. It may develop as manifestation of an infectious disease or as... (Review)
Review
An exanthem is a skin rash that may be associated with mucous membrane eruption, fever or other symptoms. It may develop as manifestation of an infectious disease or as adverse reaction to drugs. Beside the 'classical exanthems' commonly occurring in childhood, other exanthems, defined as 'atypical' for the different morphology and causal agents, may occur. Among the atypical exanthems with infectious etiology, viral, bacterial, parasitic and helminth infections are implicated. We describe herein etiology and epidemiology of the atypical exanthems caused by infectious agents. In case of exanthem, to make a correct etiological diagnosis is crucial for both the patient and community concerning issues such as time off school, immunizations and risk in pregnancy and immunocompromised individuals.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Exanthema; Helminthiasis; Helminths; Humans; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Virus Diseases; Viruses
PubMed: 27838923
DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0147 -
Seminars in Neurology Sep 2005Globalization has produced an increase in the number of people at risk for contracting parasitic infection. Central nervous system infection by nematodal parasites can... (Review)
Review
Globalization has produced an increase in the number of people at risk for contracting parasitic infection. Central nervous system infection by nematodal parasites can be devastating. Early recognition and treatment of infection can significantly decrease morbidity of the parasitic infection, as well as the risk of secondary superinfection. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment for five of the more common nematodal infections of the nervous system--Angiostrongylus spp., Baylisacaris procyonis, Gnathostoma spinigerum, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Toxocara spp.--is reviewed.
Topics: Angiostrongylus; Animals; Gnathostoma; Humans; Nematode Infections; Nervous System Diseases; Spirurida Infections; Strongyloides; Strongyloidiasis; Toxocara; Toxocariasis
PubMed: 16170738
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-917662 -
EBioMedicine Feb 2017Cancer may be induced by many environmental and physiological conditions. Infections with viruses, bacteria and parasites have been recognized for years to be associated... (Review)
Review
Cancer may be induced by many environmental and physiological conditions. Infections with viruses, bacteria and parasites have been recognized for years to be associated with human carcinogenicity. Here we review current concepts of carcinogenicity and its associations with parasitic infections. The helminth diseases schistosomiasis, opisthorchiasis, and clonorchiasis are highly carcinogenic while the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causing agent of Chagas disease, has a dual role in the development of cancer, including both carcinogenic and anticancer properties. Although malaria per se does not appear to be causative in carcinogenesis, it is strongly associated with the occurrence of endemic Burkitt lymphoma in areas holoendemic for malaria. The initiation of Plasmodium falciparum related endemic Burkitt lymphoma requires additional transforming events induced by the Epstein-Barr virus. Observations suggest that Strongyloides stercoralis may be a relevant co-factor in HTLV-1-related T cell lymphomas. This review provides an overview of the mechanisms of parasitic infection-induced carcinogenicity.
Topics: Animals; Carcinogenesis; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Neoplasms; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 27956028
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.11.034 -
Immunology Dec 2020The circadian clock provides organisms with the ability to track time of day, allowing them to predict and respond to cyclical changes in the external environment. In... (Review)
Review
The circadian clock provides organisms with the ability to track time of day, allowing them to predict and respond to cyclical changes in the external environment. In mammals this clock consists of multiple auto-regulatory feedback loops generated by a network of circadian clock proteins. This network provides the fundamental basis for rhythms in behaviour and physiology. This clockwork machinery exists in most cells, including those of the immune system. In recent years evidence has emerged highlighting the important role of molecular clocks in dictating the response of immune pathways. While initial work highlighted the effect of the clock in the 'first line of defence', the innate immune system, it has become increasingly apparent that it also plays a role in the more tailored, later-stage adaptive immune response. This review provides an overview of the role of the circadian cycle in the adaptive immune response. We interrogate the depth of knowledge on cell intrinsic clocks within adaptive immune cells and how these cells may be temporally directed by extrinsic rhythmic signals. We discuss the role of the circadian clock in diseases associated with adaptive immunity such as multiple sclerosis, asthma and parasitic infection. We also discuss the current knowledge on timing of vaccination, and the implications this may have on how we can harness and modulate temporal gating of the adaptive immune response in a clinical setting.
Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Asthma; Circadian Rhythm; Homeostasis; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 31837013
DOI: 10.1111/imm.13167 -
Impact of parasitic infection on mental health and illness in humans in Africa: a systematic review.Parasitology Jul 2022A growing body of research implicates inflammation as a potential pathway in the aetiology and pathophysiology of some mental illnesses. A systematic review was...
A growing body of research implicates inflammation as a potential pathway in the aetiology and pathophysiology of some mental illnesses. A systematic review was conducted to determine the association between parasitic infection and mental illnesses in humans in Africa and reviewed the state of the evidence available. The search focused on publications from Africa documenting the relationship between parasites from two parasite groups, helminths and protozoans, and four classifications of mental illness: mood affective disorders, neurotic and stress-related disorders, schizotypal disorders and unspecified mental illnesses. In the 26 reviewed papers, the prevalence of mental illness was significantly higher in people with parasitic infection compared to those without infection, i.e., 58.2% 41.8% ( < 0.001). An overall odds ratio found that the association of having a mental illness when testing positive for a parasitic infection was four times that of people without infection. Whilst the study showed significant associations between parasite infection and mental illness, it also highlights gaps in the present literature on the pathophysiology of mental illness in people exposed to parasite infection. This study highlighted the importance of an integrated intervention for parasitic infection and mental illness.
Topics: Africa; Animals; Helminthiasis; Humans; Inflammation; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Parasitic Diseases; Prevalence; Protozoan Infections
PubMed: 35549773
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022000166 -
Tropical Animal Health and Production Oct 2021Proper health management is essential for productivity in duck farming. However, there is limited information on the effect of management conditions on rates of...
Proper health management is essential for productivity in duck farming. However, there is limited information on the effect of management conditions on rates of metabolic problems and parasitic infections in anatids. We evaluated the rates of metabolic syndromes and gastrointestinal parasite involvement in Muscovy ducks up to 12 weeks of age, under 3 management conditions: backyard, organized, and organized with probiotics. Individuals under organized management developed 2 metabolic problems: ascites, which was rare (3.5%), fatal, and affected both males and females, and angel wing syndrome, which was more frequent (10.6%), has low impact on general health, and only affected males. The treatments do not have a significant effect on the development of ascites, but only individuals in controlled conditions presented this syndrome, and due to its low prevalence, further studies with a larger sample size are required. The risk of angel wing syndrome increased significantly with probiotic supplementation. Regarding to parasitic infection, the improvement of sanitary management and the use of probiotics supplementation reduced the occurrence of coccidiosis. Similarly organized management with probiotic supplementation showed a protective effect on helminthiasis by reducing the frequency of Heterakis gallinarum and greatly reducing the helminth egg load. Coccidiosis and helminthiasis infections were not significantly correlated with the final weight of the ducks. Therefore, organized management and the use of probiotics seems to reduce the impact of parasitic infection, although it increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
Topics: Animals; Coccidiosis; Communicable Diseases; Ducks; Female; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 34599403
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02944-4 -
Cell Reports Aug 2023Infections cause catabolism of fat and muscle stores. Traditionally, studies have focused on understanding how the innate immune system contributes to energy stores...
Infections cause catabolism of fat and muscle stores. Traditionally, studies have focused on understanding how the innate immune system contributes to energy stores wasting, while the role of the adaptive immune system remains elusive. In the present study, we examine the role of the adaptive immune response in adipose tissue wasting and cachexia using a murine model of the chronic parasitic infection Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness. We find that the wasting response occurs in two phases, with the first stage involving fat wasting caused by CD4+ T cell-induced anorexia and a second anorexia-independent cachectic stage that is dependent on CD8+ T cells. Fat wasting has no impact on host antibody-mediated resistance defenses or survival, while later-stage muscle wasting contributes to disease-tolerance defenses. Our work reveals a decoupling of adaptive immune-mediated resistance from the catabolic response during infection.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Cachexia; Anorexia; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Neoplasms; Adipose Tissue; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 37490905
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112814 -
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