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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 -
Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology 2009Since the advent of human immunodeficiency virus infection, with its profound and progressive effect on the cellular immune system, a group of human opportunistic... (Review)
Review
Since the advent of human immunodeficiency virus infection, with its profound and progressive effect on the cellular immune system, a group of human opportunistic pathogens has come into prominence. Opportunistic parasitic infection can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Because many of these infections are treatable, an early and accurate diagnosis is important. This can be accomplished by a variety of methods such as direct demonstration of parasites and by serological tests to detect antigen and/or specific antibodies. However, antibody response may be poor in these patients and therefore immunodiagnostic tests have to be interpreted with caution. Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Microsporidia, Entamoeba histolytica and Strongyloides stercoralis are the commonly detected parasites. Detection of these parasites will help in proper management of these patients because drugs are available for most of these parasitic infections.
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Animals; Diarrhea; Eukaryota; Helminths; Humans; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 19584497
DOI: 10.4103/0255-0857.53199 -
PLoS Pathogens 2012Explaining the contribution of host and pathogen factors in driving infection dynamics is a major ambition in parasitology. There is increasing recognition that analyses... (Review)
Review
Explaining the contribution of host and pathogen factors in driving infection dynamics is a major ambition in parasitology. There is increasing recognition that analyses based on single summary measures of an infection (e.g., peak parasitaemia) do not adequately capture infection dynamics and so, the appropriate use of statistical techniques to analyse dynamics is necessary to understand infections and, ultimately, control parasites. However, the complexities of within-host environments mean that tracking and analysing pathogen dynamics within infections and among hosts poses considerable statistical challenges. Simple statistical models make assumptions that will rarely be satisfied in data collected on host and parasite parameters. In particular, model residuals (unexplained variance in the data) should not be correlated in time or space. Here we demonstrate how failure to account for such correlations can result in incorrect biological inference from statistical analysis. We then show how mixed effects models can be used as a powerful tool to analyse such repeated measures data in the hope that this will encourage better statistical practices in parasitology.
Topics: Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Models, Biological; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 22511865
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002590 -
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 -
International Journal of Infectious... Jul 2020Parasitic infections of the eye are a major cause of ocular-surface diseases globally. While most infections are treatable, parasites can cause varying levels of damage...
INTRODUCTION
Parasitic infections of the eye are a major cause of ocular-surface diseases globally. While most infections are treatable, parasites can cause varying levels of damage mostly due to late diagnosis or misdiagnosis as a result of doctors' unfamiliarity with their characteristics of latency and crypsis, as well as lack of awareness by the patients.
CASE REPORTS
In this study, we present three cases of phthiriasis palpebrarum, thelaziasis, and ophthalmomyiasis, respectively. Two of the cases were treated at the clinic and did not recur. One patient refused treatment and was lost to follow-up.
DISCUSSION
By evaluating the natural histories, morphology, symptoms, clinical findings, and treatment of these parasitic diseases, we systematically analyzed several distinct and unique parasite characteristics, especially latency and crypsis. Furthermore, we have proposed specific examination techniques and methods as well as prevention and treatment strategies from these specific perspectives, aiming to prompt timely diagnoses and early interventions for these diseases by health care workers and improve the public's awareness of parasitic infections.
CONCLUSION
Parasitosis on the ocular surface is a global infectious disease, and prevention strategies include maintaining personal and environmental hygiene and limiting contact with animals. We recommend that health care workers should enhance their ability to detect and diagnose these diseases while promoting the public's awareness of them in the context of our new perspectives.
Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Child; Delayed Diagnosis; Diagnostic Errors; Eye Infections, Parasitic; Eyelashes; Female; Humans; Lice Infestations; Male; Middle Aged; Myiasis; Phthirus; Recurrence; Spirurida Infections; Thelazioidea
PubMed: 32447120
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.061 -
Experimental Biology and Medicine... Oct 2022Parasitic infections acquired by the population cause substantial morbidity worldwide, with individuals from developing countries being most affected. Some parasites... (Review)
Review
Parasitic infections acquired by the population cause substantial morbidity worldwide, with individuals from developing countries being most affected. Some parasites remain in the host for long periods, settling in different organs, manipulating the flow of nutrients and metabolites, and influencing the immune response, favoring their adaptation. The host attempts to counteract the metabolic and immunological alterations and the possible damage caused by infection. These metabolic and immunological changes experienced by the host can influence the progression of other existing morbidities or those that will be acquired in the future. Cancer and metabolic diseases are also frequent causes of morbidity in the world population. The large numbers of individuals affected by cancer and metabolic diseases and the high prevalence of morbidity caused by parasitic diseases favor the development of comorbidity involving these pathologies. This review provides an overview of major advances in research on cancer and metabolic diseases associated with parasitic infections. Information about hosts and parasites such as alterations of the immune response, metabolism and adaptation mechanisms of the parasites, and parasitic molecules with therapeutic potential is provided, as well as the beneficial results or complications related to the comorbidities discussed herein. We emphasize the need to conduct additional studies addressing comorbidities associated with parasitic infections to improve the understanding of the impact of this association on the progression of morbidities, as well as the possibility of the therapeutic use of and therapeutic approaches involving parasites.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parasitic Diseases; Parasites; Comorbidity; Prevalence
PubMed: 35876147
DOI: 10.1177/15353702221108387 -
Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology 2011Human host encounters a wide array of parasites; however, the crucial aspect is the failure of the host immune system to clear these parasites despite antigen... (Review)
Review
Human host encounters a wide array of parasites; however, the crucial aspect is the failure of the host immune system to clear these parasites despite antigen recognition. In the recent past, a new immunological concept has emerged, which provides a framework to better understand several aspects of host susceptibility to parasitic infection. It is widely believed that parasites are able to modulate the magnitude of effector responses by inducing regulatory T cell (Tregs) population and several studies have investigated whether this cell population plays a role in balancing protective immunity and pathogenesis during parasite infection. This review discusses the several mechanism of Treg-mediated immunosuppression in the human host and focuses on the functional role of Tregs and regulatory gene polymorphisms in infectious diseases.
Topics: Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; Polymorphism, Genetic; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
PubMed: 22262943
DOI: 10.1155/2011/520940 -
Parasites & Vectors Mar 2013Co-infection of tuberculosis and parasitic diseases in humans is an important public problem in co-endemic areas in developing countries. However, there is a paucity of... (Review)
Review
Co-infection of tuberculosis and parasitic diseases in humans is an important public problem in co-endemic areas in developing countries. However, there is a paucity of studies on co-infection and even fewer reviews. This review examines 44 appropriate papers by PRISMA from 289 papers searched in PubMed via the NCBI Entrez system (no grey literature) up to December 2012 in order to analyze the factors that influence epidemic and host's immunity of co-infection. The limited evidence in this review indicates that most common parasite species are concurrent with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in multiple organs; socio-demographics such as gender and age, special populations with susceptibility such as renal transplant recipients, patients on maintenance haemodialysis, HIV positive patients and migrants, and living in or coming from co-endemic areas are all likely to have an impact on co-infection. Pulmonary tuberculosis and parasitic diseases were shown to be risk factors for each other. Co-infection may significantly inhibit the host's immune system, increase antibacterial therapy intolerance and be detrimental to the prognosis of the disease; in addition, infection with parasitic diseases can alter the protective immune response to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Topics: Coinfection; Developing Countries; Humans; Immunity; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Parasitic Diseases; Risk Factors; Tuberculosis
PubMed: 23522098
DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-79 -
Veterinary Medicine and Science Nov 2021Food handlers regardless of whether preparing or serving food, play key roles in the transmission of food-borne infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Food handlers regardless of whether preparing or serving food, play key roles in the transmission of food-borne infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in food handlers in Iran. In the present study, a comprehensive literature search was carried out in electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Magiran, Scientific Information Database (SID), Iran Medex and Iran Doc, to identify all the published studies from 2000 to 31st April 2019. A total of 25 articles from different regions of Iran were identified and fulfilled our eligibility criteria. Totally, 140,447 cases were examined and 1163 cases were infected with intestinal parasites. Of all cases, 19,516 were male and 5901 were female with 1163 and 652 infected cases, respectively. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was evaluated 14.0% [95% CI: 11.0-17.0%]. It is revealed that protozoan, such as Giardia lamblia, with prevalence of 41.0% [95% CI: 25.0-59.0%], Blastosystis hominis with 28.0% [95% CI: 15.0-44.0%] and Entamoeba coli with 22.0% [95% CI: 16.0-29.0%] had the highest prevalence while, Dientamoeba fragilis 5.0% [95% CI: 4.0-7.0%], Iodamoeba bütschlii 5.0% [95% CI: 2.0-8.0%], Chilomastix mesnili 5.0% [95% CI: 2.0-9.0%] and Endolimax nana with 3.0% [95% CI: 1.0-7.0%], were less prevalent. Infection with Ascaris lumbricoides7.0% [95% CI: 0.0-29.0%] was more prevalent helminth followed with Enterobius vermicularis 3.0% [95% CI: 1.0-5.0%], Hymenolepis nana 2.0% [95% CI: 1.0-3.0%], Taenia spp. 2.0% [95% CI: 0.0-7.0%] and Trichuris trichiura 1.0% [95% CI: 0.0-1.0%]. The high prevalence of commensal parasites, such as Entamoeba coli, which does not need cure is indicating the importance of personal hygiene in food handlers. Our results revealed the high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in food handlers in Iran. Monitoring programs to prevent and controlling of transmission to individuals are needed.
Topics: Animals; Feces; Female; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Iran; Male; Prevalence
PubMed: 34358411
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.590