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Current Protocols in Bioinformatics Jun 2016Comparative protein structure modeling predicts the three-dimensional structure of a given protein sequence (target) based primarily on its alignment to one or more...
Comparative protein structure modeling predicts the three-dimensional structure of a given protein sequence (target) based primarily on its alignment to one or more proteins of known structure (templates). The prediction process consists of fold assignment, target-template alignment, model building, and model evaluation. This unit describes how to calculate comparative models using the program MODELLER and how to use the ModBase database of such models, and discusses all four steps of comparative modeling, frequently observed errors, and some applications. Modeling lactate dehydrogenase from Trichomonas vaginalis (TvLDH) is described as an example. The download and installation of the MODELLER software is also described. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Models, Molecular; Protein Conformation; Proteins; Sequence Alignment; Software; Trichomonas vaginalis
PubMed: 27322406
DOI: 10.1002/cpbi.3 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021The etiology of periodontitis remains unclear, as is the place of gingivitis in its pathophysiology. A few studies linked the colonization by oral parasites ( and ) to...
BACKGROUND
The etiology of periodontitis remains unclear, as is the place of gingivitis in its pathophysiology. A few studies linked the colonization by oral parasites ( and ) to periodontal disease and its severity. The aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of these oral parasites among healthy individuals, and in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis in Jordan.
METHODS
The study was conducted during July 2019-December 2019. Samples were composed of saliva and periodontal material including dental plaque sampled with probes. The detection of oral parasites was done using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
RESULTS
The total number of study participants was 237: healthy (n=94), gingivitis (n=53) and periodontitis (n=90). The prevalence of was 88.9% among the periodontitis patients, 84.9% among the gingivitis patients and 47.9% in the healthy group. For , the prevalence was 25.6% among the periodontitis patients, 5.7% among the gingivitis patients and 3.2% in the heathy group. Positivity for was significantly correlated with the presence of periodontal disease compared to the healthy group with odds ratio (OR) of 6.6. Periodontal disease was also correlated with lower monthly income (OR=8.2), lack of dental care (OR=4.8), and history of diabetes mellitus (OR=4.5). Colonization by was correlated with gingivitis (OR=6.1) compared to the healthy group. Colonization by and were significantly correlated with periodontitis (OR=6.4 for , and OR=4.7, for ) compared to the healthy group. was only detected among individuals with generalized periodontal disease compared to its total absence among those with localized disease (19.6% vs. 0.0%; p=0.039). The co-infection rate by the two oral parasites was 11.0%.
CONCLUSIONS
The higher prevalence of human oral parasites in periodontal disease compared to healthy individuals appears to be more than a mere marker for the disease and might also be associated with disease severity and potential for progression. Thus, the dogmatic view of and as commensals needs to be re-evaluated and their contribution to pathophysiology of periodontal diseases cannot be neglected.
Topics: Entamoeba; Gingivitis; Humans; Periodontitis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Trichomonas; Trichomonas Infections
PubMed: 34950608
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.782805 -
Trends in Parasitology Jul 2014Trichomonads are common parasites of many vertebrate and invertebrate species, with four species classically recognized as human parasites: Dientamoeba fragilis,... (Review)
Review
Trichomonads are common parasites of many vertebrate and invertebrate species, with four species classically recognized as human parasites: Dientamoeba fragilis, Pentatrichomonas hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Trichomonas tenax. The latter two species are considered human-specific; by contrast, D. fragilis and P. hominis have been isolated from domestic and farm mammals, demonstrating a wide host range and potential zoonotic origin. Several new studies have highlighted the zoonotic dimension of trichomonads. First, species typically known to infect birds and domestic mammals have been identified in human clinical samples. Second, several phylogenetic analyses have identified animal-derived trichomonads as close sister taxa of the two human-specific species. It is our opinion, therefore, that these observations prompt further investigation into the importance of zoonotic trichomonads for human health.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Humans; Phylogeny; Trichomonas Infections; Trichomonas vaginalis; Zoonoses
PubMed: 24951156
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2014.05.005 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Jul 2011Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted disease, caused by a motile flagellate non-invasive parasitic protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis).... (Review)
Review
Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted disease, caused by a motile flagellate non-invasive parasitic protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis). More than 160 million people worldwide are annually infected by this protozoan. T. vaginalis occupies an extracellular niche in the complex human genito-urinary environment (vagina, cervix, penis, prostate gland, and urethra) to survive, multiply and evade host defenses. T. vaginalis (strain G3) has a ∼160 megabase genome with 60,000 genes, the largest number of genes ever identified in protozoans. The T. vaginalis genome is a highly conserved gene family that encodes a massive proteome with one of the largest coding (expressing ∼4000 genes) capacities in the trophozoite stage, and helps T. vaginalis to adapt and survive in diverse environment. Based on recent developments in the field, we review T. vaginalis structure, patho-mechanisms, parasitic virulence, and advances in diagnosis and therapeutics.
Topics: Antitrichomonal Agents; Female; Humans; Male; Nitroimidazoles; Trichomonas Infections; Trichomonas Vaginitis; Trichomonas vaginalis
PubMed: 21440359
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.02.024 -
International Journal For Parasitology.... Apr 2021The parasitic diseases represent the most important health risk, especially in underdeveloped countries where they have a deep impact on public health. Trichomoniasis is... (Review)
Review
The parasitic diseases represent the most important health risk, especially in underdeveloped countries where they have a deep impact on public health. Trichomoniasis is a prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted disease, and a significant amount of new cases are identified each year globally. Furthermore, the infection is linked with serious concerns such as pregnancy outcomes, infertility, predisposition to cervical and prostate cancer, and increased transmission and acquisition of HIV. The therapy is restricted, adverse effects are often observed, and resistance to the drugs is emerging. Based on this, a new treatment for trichomoniasis is necessary. Natural products represent a rich source of bioactive compounds, and even today, they are used in the search for new drugs. Additionally, natural products provide a wide variety of leadership structures that can be used by the pharmaceutical industry as a template in the development of new drugs that are more effective and have fewer or no undesirable side effects compared to current treatments. This review focuses on the medicinal plants that possess anti-trichomonal activity in vitro or in vivo. An electronic database search was carried out covering the last three decades, i.e., 1990-2020. The literature search revealed that almost a dozen isolated phytoconstituents are being explored globally for their anti-trichomonal activity. Simultaneously, many countries have their own traditional or folk medicine for trichomoniasis that utilizes their native plants, as a whole, or even extracts. This review focuses mainly on the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. However, at some points mention is also made to Tritrichomonas foetus that causes trichomoniasis in animals of high veterinary and economical interest. We will focus on the plants and plant-based compounds and their anti-trichomonal activity. The literature search highlighted that there are abundant compounds that possess anti-trichomonal activity; however, in-depth in-vivo evaluation of compounds and their clinical evaluation has not been undertaken. There is a critical need for new anti-trichomonal compounds, and focused research on phytoconstituents can provide the way forward.
Topics: Animals; Biological Products; Humans; Plants, Medicinal; Trichomonas; Trichomonas Infections; Trichomonas vaginalis
PubMed: 33610966
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.01.002 -
Sexually Transmitted Infections Dec 2017(TV) is a highly prevalent parasitic infection worldwide. It is associated with many adverse reproductive health outcomes. Many infections are asymptomatic and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
(TV) is a highly prevalent parasitic infection worldwide. It is associated with many adverse reproductive health outcomes. Many infections are asymptomatic and syndromic management leads to underdetection of TV. Traditional methods of TV detection such as wet preparation are insensitive. New rapid, point-of-care (POC) tests can enhance the diagnosis of trichomoniasis.
METHODS
The authors reviewed the literature and discuss older POC tests for TV detection, as well as the OSOM lateral flow test, the AmpliVue test, the Solana test and the GeneXpert test as well as the limitations of wet preparation and culture for detection of TV.
RESULTS
The OSOM test is easy to perform, compared with other POC tests, and is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived, equipment-free, has sensitivities of 83%-86% compared with nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and can be performed in 15 min. The AmpliVue and the Solana tests are not CLIA waived and require small pieces of equipment. They are molecular amplified assays and can be completed in <1 hour. AmpliVue demonstrated a sensitivity for vaginal swabs of 100% compared with wet preparation/culture and 90.7% compared with NAATs. Solana demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.6%-100% for vaginal swabs and 92.9%-98% for female urines, compared with wet preparation/culture. Compared with other NAATs, the sensitivity for Solana was 89.7% for swabs and 100% for urine. The GeneXpert TV test for women and men is a moderately complex test, requires a small platform and can be performed in <1 hour. The sensitivity compared with wet preparation/culture for self-collected vaginal swabs was 96.4%, 98.9% for endocervical specimens and 98.4% for female urine. For men, sensitivity for urines was excellent (97.2%). The specificity for all assays was excellent.
CONCLUSIONS
Several rapid POC tests have the potential to rapidly diagnose trichomoniasis in women and one is available for detection of TV in men.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Point-of-Care Testing; Prevalence; Sensitivity and Specificity; Trichomonas Infections; Trichomonas vaginalis
PubMed: 28684611
DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2016-053063 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2020The protozoon is responsible for trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted infection associated with an increased risk of HIV infection and adverse pregnancy... (Review)
Review
The protozoon is responsible for trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted infection associated with an increased risk of HIV infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The protozoon has the surprising ability to establish a symbiotic relationship with other microorganisms. In fact, most isolates intracellularly host the vaginal bacterium and can harbor up to four dsRNA viruses. Moreover, a novel species named has been recently described as associated with trichomonad cells. colonizes the human vagina and its presence causes profound alterations of the resident microbiota, leading to dysbiosis. In healthy women, vaginal microbiota is characterized by the presence of a complex population of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms living in a physiologically dynamic system dominated by bacteria of the genera . The most common microbial vaginal imbalance is bacterial vaginosis, a polymicrobial disease associated with several adverse reproductive outcomes and increased risk of HIV infection. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the interactions between both and and the vaginal microbiota, and we discuss the possibility of a cooperation between and its symbionts in the development of vaginal dysbiosis.
Topics: Dysbiosis; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Mycoplasma hominis; Pregnancy; Symbiosis; Trichomonas vaginalis; Vagina
PubMed: 32457847
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00179 -
Biomedical Journal Aug 2016Innate and adaptive immunity play a significant role in trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. In the urogenital tract, innate... (Review)
Review
Innate and adaptive immunity play a significant role in trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. In the urogenital tract, innate immunity is accomplished by a defense physical barrier constituted by epithelial cells, mucus, and acidic pH. During infection, immune cells, antimicrobial peptides, cytokines, chemokines, and adaptive immunity evolve in the reproductive tract, and a proinflammatory response is generated to eliminate the invading extracellular pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis. However, the parasite has developed complex evolutionary mechanisms to evade the host immune response through cysteine proteases, phenotypic variation, and molecular mimicry. The purinergic system constitutes a signaling cellular net where nucleotides and nucleosides, enzymes, purinoceptors and transporters are involved in almost all cells and tissues signaling pathways, especially in central and autonomic nervous systems, endocrine, respiratory, cardiac, reproductive, and immune systems, during physiological as well as pathological processes. The involvement of the purinergic system in T. vaginalis biology and infection has been demonstrated and this review highlights the participation of this signaling pathway in the parasite immune evasion strategies.
Topics: Cytokines; Humans; Immune Evasion; Immunity, Innate; Signal Transduction; Trichomonas vaginalis
PubMed: 27793265
DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2016.06.007 -
Biomedical Journal Aug 2016In this issue of the Biomedical Journal, we learn how bacteria and parasites alike counteract inflammatory signaling by manipulating purinergic signaling. We also focus...
In this issue of the Biomedical Journal, we learn how bacteria and parasites alike counteract inflammatory signaling by manipulating purinergic signaling. We also focus on an original article shedding light on the role of an Epstein-Barr virus encoded gene in metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Finally, we learn about a possible link between Trichomonas vaginalis and recurrent urinary tract infection.
Topics: Humans; Leishmania; Porphyromonas; Purinergic Agents; Trichomonas
PubMed: 27793264
DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2016.09.001 -
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy Feb 2012
Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Adult; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Antiprotozoal Agents; Drug Resistance; Female; Humans; Metronidazole; Povidone-Iodine; Tinidazole; Trichomonas Infections; Trichomonas vaginalis
PubMed: 22339182
DOI: 10.1586/eri.11.159