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The Journal of Infection Sep 2011Many fundamental patterns of coinfection (multi-species infections) are undescribed, including the relative frequency of coinfection by various pathogens, differences... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Many fundamental patterns of coinfection (multi-species infections) are undescribed, including the relative frequency of coinfection by various pathogens, differences between single-species infections and coinfection, and the burden of coinfection on human health. We aimed to address the paucity of general knowledge on coinfection by systematically collating and analysing data from recent publications to understand the types of coinfection and their effects.
METHODS
From an electronic search to find all publications from 2009 on coinfection and its synonyms in humans we recorded data on i) coinfecting pathogens and their effect on ii) host health and iii) intensity of infection.
RESULTS
The most commonly reported coinfections differ from infections causing highest global mortality, with a notable lack of serious childhood infections in reported coinfections. We found that coinfection is generally reported to worsen human health (76% publications) and exacerbate infections (57% publications). Reported coinfections included all kinds of pathogens, but were most likely to contain bacteria.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest differences between coinfected patients and those with single infections, with coinfection having serious health effects. There is a pressing need to quantify the tendency towards negative effects and to evaluate any sampling biases in the coverage of coinfection research.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Coinfection; Helminthiasis; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Mycoses; Prevalence; Protozoan Infections; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 21704071
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2011.06.005 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Protozoan parasite infection causes severe diseases in humans and animals, leading to tremendous economic and medical pressure. Natural immunity is the first line of... (Review)
Review
Protozoan parasite infection causes severe diseases in humans and animals, leading to tremendous economic and medical pressure. Natural immunity is the first line of defence against parasitic infection. Currently, the role of natural host immunity in combatting parasitic infection is unclear, so further research on natural host immunity against parasites will provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of related parasitic diseases. Extracellular traps (ETs) are an important natural mechanism of immunity involving resistance to pathogens. When immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages are stimulated by external pathogens, they release a fibrous network structure, consisting mainly of DNA and protein, that can capture and kill a variety of extracellular pathogenic microorganisms. In this review, we discuss the relevant recently reported data on ET formation induced by protozoan parasite infection, including the molecular mechanisms involved, and discuss the role of ETs in the occurrence and development of parasitic diseases.
Topics: Animals; Extracellular Traps; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Leishmania; Neutrophils; Plasmodium; Protozoan Infections; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Signal Transduction; Toxoplasma
PubMed: 34970259
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.770246 -
Genes Aug 2019The epithelium represents the first and most extensive line of defence against pathogens, toxins and pollutant agents in humans. In general, pathogens have developed... (Review)
Review
The epithelium represents the first and most extensive line of defence against pathogens, toxins and pollutant agents in humans. In general, pathogens have developed strategies to overcome this barrier and use it as an entrance to the organism. , and spp. are amoebae mainly responsible for intestinal dysentery, meningoencephalitis and keratitis, respectively. These amoebae cause significant morbidity and mortality rates. Thus, the identification, characterization and validation of molecules participating in host-parasite interactions can provide attractive targets to timely intervene disease progress. In this work, we present a compendium of the parasite adhesins, lectins, proteases, hydrolases, kinases, and others, that participate in key pathogenic events. Special focus is made for the analysis of assorted molecules and mechanisms involved in the interaction of the parasites with epithelial surface receptors, changes in epithelial junctional markers, implications on the barrier function, among others. This review allows the assessment of initial host-pathogen interaction, to correlate it to the potential of parasite invasion.
Topics: Acanthamoeba; Animals; Entamoeba histolytica; Epithelial Cells; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Naegleria fowleri; Protozoan Infections
PubMed: 31416298
DOI: 10.3390/genes10080618 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Jan 2024Human infections with the protozoan have been increasingly reported in the medical literature over the past three decades. Initial reports were based on microscopic... (Review)
Review
Human infections with the protozoan have been increasingly reported in the medical literature over the past three decades. Initial reports were based on microscopic identification of the purported pathogen in respiratory specimens. Later, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect , following which there has been a significant increase in reports. In this minireview, we thoroughly examine the published reports of infection to evaluate its potential role as a human pathogen. We examined the published images and videos of purported compared its morphology and motility characteristics with host bronchial ciliated epithelial cells and true derived from cockroaches, analyzed the published PCR that is being used for its diagnosis, and reviewed the clinical data of patients reported in the English and Chinese literature. From our analysis, we conclude that the images and videos from human specimens do not represent true and are predominantly misidentified ciliated epithelial cells. Additionally, we note that there is insufficient clinical evidence to attribute the cases to infection, as the clinical manifestations are non-specific, possibly caused by other infections and comorbidities, and there is no associated tissue pathology attributable to . Finally, our analysis reveals that the published PCR is not specific to and can amplify DNA from commensal trichomonads. Based on this thorough review, we emphasize the need for rigorous scientific scrutiny before a microorganism is acknowledged as a novel human pathogen and discuss the potential harms of misdiagnoses for patient care and scientific literature.
Topics: Humans; Protozoan Infections; Parabasalidea; Diagnostic Errors
PubMed: 37902329
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00845-23 -
Infection and Immunity Aug 2017Parasitic protozoan infections represent a major health burden in the developing world and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. These infections are... (Review)
Review
Parasitic protozoan infections represent a major health burden in the developing world and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. These infections are often associated with considerable variability in clinical presentation. An emerging body of work suggests that the intestinal microbiota may help to explain some of these differences in disease expression. The objective of this minireview is to synthesize recent progress in this rapidly advancing field. Studies of humans and animals and studies of the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to infectious disease are discussed. We hope to provide an understanding of the human-protozoal pathogen-microbiome interaction and to speculate on how that might be leveraged for treatment.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Parasites; Protozoan Infections
PubMed: 28584161
DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00101-17 -
Molecular Immunology Sep 2015The lectin pathway of the complement system has a pivotal role in the defense against infectious organisms. After binding of mannan-binding lectin (MBL), ficolins or... (Review)
Review
The lectin pathway of the complement system has a pivotal role in the defense against infectious organisms. After binding of mannan-binding lectin (MBL), ficolins or collectin 11 to carbohydrates or acetylated residues on pathogen surfaces, dimers of MBL-associated serine proteases 1 and 2 (MASP-1 and MASP-2) activate a proteolytic cascade, which culminates in the formation of the membrane attack complex and pathogen lysis. Alternative splicing of the pre-mRNA encoding MASP-1 results in two other products, MASP-3 and MAp44, which regulate activation of the cascade. A similar mechanism allows the gene encoding MASP-2 to produce the truncated MAp19 protein. Polymorphisms in MASP1 and MASP2 genes are associated with protein serum levels and functional activity. Since the first report of a MASP deficiency in 2003, deficiencies in lectin pathway proteins have been associated with recurrent infections and several polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility or protection to infectious diseases. In this review, we summarize the findings on the role of MASP polymorphisms and serum levels in bacterial, viral and protozoan infectious diseases.
Topics: Bacterial Infections; Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin; Complement System Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Mannose-Binding Lectin; Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases; Polymorphism, Genetic; Protozoan Infections; Signal Transduction; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 25862418
DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2015.03.245 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2021Leishmaniasis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and acanthamoebiasis are protozoan parasitic infections. They remain important contributors to the development of kidney disease,... (Review)
Review
Leishmaniasis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and acanthamoebiasis are protozoan parasitic infections. They remain important contributors to the development of kidney disease, which is associated with increased patients' morbidity and mortality. Kidney injury mechanisms are not fully understood in protozoan parasitic diseases, bringing major difficulties to specific therapeutic interventions. The aim of this review is to present the biochemical and molecular mechanisms in kidneys infected with spp., spp., , and spp. We present available mechanisms of an immune response, oxidative stress, apoptosis process, hypoxia, biomarkers of renal injury in the serum or urine, and the histopathological changes of kidneys infected with the selected parasites. Pathomechanisms of spp. and spp. infections have been deeply investigated, while and spp. infections in the kidneys are not well known yet. Deeper knowledge of kidney involvement in leishmaniasis and malaria by presenting their mechanisms provides insight into how to create novel and effective treatments. Additionally, the presented work shows gaps in the pathophysiology of renal toxoplasmosis and acanthamoebiasis, which need further research.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Humans; Kidney; Leishmaniasis; Malaria; Oxidative Stress; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Transforming Growth Factor beta
PubMed: 33921746
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084209 -
Journal of the American Veterinary... Dec 2016
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Female; Male; Poultry Diseases; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Turkeys
PubMed: 27901459
DOI: 10.2460/javma.249.12.1371 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Oct 2017Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging infectious disease that affects wild felids as well as the domestic cat; it is caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasites belonging to... (Review)
Review
Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging infectious disease that affects wild felids as well as the domestic cat; it is caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasites belonging to the genus . is the species of major concern, whose transmission occurs via the bite of an infected tick. Cytauxzoonosis of the domestic cat has historically been considered uniformly fatal, with a short course of illness, and most domestic cats die within 9 to 15 days postinfection. However, increasing evidence of domestic cats surviving infection suggests the existence of different strains with various levels of pathogenicity. Although wild felids are considered natural reservoirs for this parasite, a number of studies suggest that domestic cats that have survived nonlethal infections may serve as an additional reservoir. The current article comprehensively reviews the parasite and its life cycle, geographic distribution, genetic variability, and pathogenesis, as well as host immunology and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infection in the domestic cat. This information should provide a basis for better understanding the parasite as well as the pathogenesis of the disease.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Cat Diseases; Cats; Disease Reservoirs; Piroplasmida; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Ticks
PubMed: 28637681
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00010-17 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2019Protozoan diseases continue to be a worldwide social and economic health problem. Increased drug resistance, emerging cross resistance, and lack of new drugs with novel... (Review)
Review
Protozoan diseases continue to be a worldwide social and economic health problem. Increased drug resistance, emerging cross resistance, and lack of new drugs with novel mechanisms of action significantly reduce the effectiveness of current antiprotozoal therapies. While drug resistance associated to anti-infective agents is a reality, society seems to remain unaware of its proportions and consequences. Parasites usually develops ingenious and innovative mechanisms to achieve drug resistance, which requires more research and investment to fight it. In this review, drug resistance developed by protozoan parasites , and will be discussed.
Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Humans; Leishmania; Malaria; Plasmodium; Protozoan Infections
PubMed: 31731801
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225748