Pub Date : 2024-11-12DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108861
Xinru Meng , Xiaofeng Gan , Yingbo Wang , Qiang Zhang , Xinran Duan , Yanchun Wang , Quan Zhao , Yanan Cai
Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) is an intestinal parasite that not only endangers the health of broiler chickens but may also cause death in severe cases. However, the growing critical problem of drug resistance in E. tenella complicates therapy. Consequently, a more natural and safer technique for treating E. tenella is urgently warranted. Saikosaponin (SS) is a saponin component extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Chaihu that has been demonstrated to treat various diseases. However, little is known regarding the function of SS in E. tenella treatment. In the present investigation, SS lowered the weight loss rate and increased the survival rate of broiler chickens infected with E. tenella. SS inhibited the NF-κB pathway and regulated the gut microbiota structure to inhibit E. tenella-induced inflammatory damage in broiler chickens. In addition, 16S high-throughput sequencing results demonstrated that SS reconstructed the gut microbiota of E. tenella infected broilers, preserving gut microbial balance, increasing the production of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), repairing intestinal villi and intestinal wall integrity, and decreasing inflammatory cell infiltration in the cecum. Overall, these findings show that SS could prevent E. tenella-induced inflammatory damage in broiler chickens by blocking the NF-κ B pathway and regulating the gut microbiota composition.
{"title":"Saikosaponin inhibits Eimeria tenella infection by modifying the NF-κB pathway and regulating cytokines and the intestinal microbial community","authors":"Xinru Meng , Xiaofeng Gan , Yingbo Wang , Qiang Zhang , Xinran Duan , Yanchun Wang , Quan Zhao , Yanan Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108861","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108861","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Eimeria tenella</em> (<em>E. tenella</em>) is an intestinal parasite that not only endangers the health of broiler chickens but may also cause death in severe cases. However, the growing critical problem of drug resistance in <em>E. tenella</em> complicates therapy. Consequently, a more natural and safer technique for treating <em>E. tenella</em> is urgently warranted. Saikosaponin (SS) is a saponin component extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Chaihu that has been demonstrated to treat various diseases. However, little is known regarding the function of SS in <em>E. tenella</em> treatment. In the present investigation, SS lowered the weight loss rate and increased the survival rate of broiler chickens infected with <em>E. tenella</em>. SS inhibited the NF-κB pathway and regulated the gut microbiota structure to inhibit <em>E. tenella</em>-induced inflammatory damage in broiler chickens. In addition, 16S high-throughput sequencing results demonstrated that SS reconstructed the gut microbiota of <em>E. tenella</em> infected broilers, preserving gut microbial balance, increasing the production of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), repairing intestinal villi and intestinal wall integrity, and decreasing inflammatory cell infiltration in the cecum. Overall, these findings show that SS could prevent <em>E. tenella</em>-induced inflammatory damage in broiler chickens by blocking the NF-κ B pathway and regulating the gut microbiota composition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108861"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142617233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The primary treatment for cysts is surgery, including removing the cyst and administering the appropriate chemical drugs. Herbal remedies have gained popularity as a viable and secure alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals. It may be advantageous to use nanocapsules to overcome the bioavailability challenges associated with herbal remedies like curcumin. The present study aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of curcumin nanocapsules in treating hydatid infections.
Methods
Curcumin-loaded oil-in-water surfactant-based biocompatible nanomicelles were developed from dissolving Curcumin in 1% (w/w) solutions of ethyl butyrate oil by dissolving an amount of fatty acid sodium caprylate (SC, 0.09 g) and F127 (0.009 g), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS at pH 7.4) under vigorous stirring at a fixed ethyl butyrate-to-surfactant molar ratio of 10 and final total volume of 50 mL. The excess of free PHT was eliminated by dialysis for 24 h. Following five months after infection, 45 mice were divided into six groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were treated daily with curcumin nanocapsules (0.5, 0.25, 0.125 mg/ml) for one month. Group 4 was treated with curcumin (0.5 mg/ml), group 5 was treated with albendazole (150 mg/kg), and group 6 was the negative control group without treatments (only received saline). A detailed analysis of the cysts' physical characteristics, including their size and weight, has been conducted.
Results
The mean zeta potential spectrum of the nanocapsules was −33.96 mV. Regarding the total cyst numbers, all three nanocapsule groups had significantly lower total cyst numbers than the curcumin, albendazole, and negative control groups. Regarding the total cyst weight, all three nanocapsule groups had a significantly lower total cyst weight than the curcumin and negative control groups. Regarding the cyst with the maximum size, nanocapsules groups 1 and 2 had a significantly smaller size than the curcumin, albendazole, and negative control groups.
Conclusion
The current study found that encapsulation positively affects curcumin efficacy as a superior alternative to chemical drugs, offering both biological advantages and environmental benefits.
{"title":"Investigating the therapeutic effects of curcumin nanocapsules in hydatid cyst-infected mice","authors":"Negar Sorouri , Nooshinmehr Soleymani , Soheil Sadr , Abbas Rahdar , Elahe Ebrahimzadeh , Hassan Borji","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background/objective</h3><div>The primary treatment for cysts is surgery, including removing the cyst and administering the appropriate chemical drugs. Herbal remedies have gained popularity as a viable and secure alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals. It may be advantageous to use nanocapsules to overcome the bioavailability challenges associated with herbal remedies like curcumin. The present study aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of curcumin nanocapsules in treating hydatid infections.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Curcumin-loaded oil-in-water surfactant-based biocompatible nanomicelles were developed from dissolving Curcumin in 1% (w/w) solutions of ethyl butyrate oil by dissolving an amount of fatty acid sodium caprylate (SC, 0.09 g) and F127 (0.009 g), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS at pH 7.4) under vigorous stirring at a fixed ethyl butyrate-to-surfactant molar ratio of 10 and final total volume of 50 mL. The excess of free PHT was eliminated by dialysis for 24 h. Following five months after infection, 45 mice were divided into six groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were treated daily with curcumin nanocapsules (0.5, 0.25, 0.125 mg/ml) for one month. Group 4 was treated with curcumin (0.5 mg/ml), group 5 was treated with albendazole (150 mg/kg), and group 6 was the negative control group without treatments (only received saline). A detailed analysis of the cysts' physical characteristics, including their size and weight, has been conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean zeta potential spectrum of the nanocapsules was −33.96 mV. Regarding the total cyst numbers, all three nanocapsule groups had significantly lower total cyst numbers than the curcumin, albendazole, and negative control groups. Regarding the total cyst weight, all three nanocapsule groups had a significantly lower total cyst weight than the curcumin and negative control groups. Regarding the cyst with the maximum size, nanocapsules groups 1 and 2 had a significantly smaller size than the curcumin, albendazole, and negative control groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The current study found that encapsulation positively affects curcumin efficacy as a superior alternative to chemical drugs, offering both biological advantages and environmental benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108860"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142617283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<div><div>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a zoonotic and neglected disease, is prevalent in numerous regions, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In Iran, endemic foci of leishmaniasis exist in specific regions, with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by <em>Leishmania major</em> being common in most rural areas. Toll-like receptors (<em>TLRs</em>) play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunities, and the investigation of <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 and <em>TLR4</em> (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in parasitic diseases can have significant implications for patient treatment. In the present study, a total of 88 leishmaniasis patients using the patients' lesions from Khuzestan province health-treatment centers, Iran, including 50 cases (56.8%; Central region) and 38 cases (43.2%; Western region) underwent examination between the years 2022 and 2023. Two direct smears from the lesions of each patient were prepared and one of the smears was stained with Giemsa for parasitological examination. Among the 88 patients, the highest frequency was observed in the 21–30 years' age group (35.2%), while the lowest was in the 11–20 years’ age group (10.2%). No statistically significant relationship was found between gender and age (<em>P</em> > 0.05). Following disease confirmation via microscopic examination, <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 and <em>TLR4</em> (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in the patients were assessed using PCR-RFLP. Fragments of 264, 249, and 406 base pairs were successfully amplified, targeting the <em>TLR2</em> and <em>TLR4</em> genes, respectively. Out of the 88 leishmaniasis patients, 14 cases (15.9%) exhibited polymorphisms. Notably, all individuals in the polymorphism group carried both the <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 homozygous and the <em>TLR4</em> rs4986791 heterozygous genotype combinations. There were no observations of <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 heterozygous, <em>TLR4</em> rs4986790 heterozygous and homozygous and <em>TLR4</em> rs4986791 homozygous genotypes within the polymorphism group. Biopsies from lesions for all contributors were prepared for histopathological examination. All patients with polymorphism showed larger lesions than patients without polymorphism (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Histophatological study showed abnormal cases in patients with polymorphism including mild hyperkeratosis, mild acanthosis, focal parakeratosis in the epithelium surface and mild hyperpigmentation of melanocytes in the basal layer. Furthermore, a strong infiltration of immune cells such as PMNs and a small number of lymphocytes was observed in the epidermal region of patients with polymorphisms. There was no statistically significant relationship between age and the quantity of lesions (<em>P</em> > 0.05). Additionally, some regions of the epidermal surface layer displayed pustule formation in patients with polymorphisms. No significant difference was discerned in the dermal layers of patients with polymor
{"title":"The molecular and histopathological investigations of TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms effects on cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions","authors":"Mohammad-Hossein Feiz-Haddad , Mohammad-Ali Moradkhani , Farshid Sefat , S.A. Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a zoonotic and neglected disease, is prevalent in numerous regions, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In Iran, endemic foci of leishmaniasis exist in specific regions, with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by <em>Leishmania major</em> being common in most rural areas. Toll-like receptors (<em>TLRs</em>) play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunities, and the investigation of <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 and <em>TLR4</em> (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in parasitic diseases can have significant implications for patient treatment. In the present study, a total of 88 leishmaniasis patients using the patients' lesions from Khuzestan province health-treatment centers, Iran, including 50 cases (56.8%; Central region) and 38 cases (43.2%; Western region) underwent examination between the years 2022 and 2023. Two direct smears from the lesions of each patient were prepared and one of the smears was stained with Giemsa for parasitological examination. Among the 88 patients, the highest frequency was observed in the 21–30 years' age group (35.2%), while the lowest was in the 11–20 years’ age group (10.2%). No statistically significant relationship was found between gender and age (<em>P</em> > 0.05). Following disease confirmation via microscopic examination, <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 and <em>TLR4</em> (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in the patients were assessed using PCR-RFLP. Fragments of 264, 249, and 406 base pairs were successfully amplified, targeting the <em>TLR2</em> and <em>TLR4</em> genes, respectively. Out of the 88 leishmaniasis patients, 14 cases (15.9%) exhibited polymorphisms. Notably, all individuals in the polymorphism group carried both the <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 homozygous and the <em>TLR4</em> rs4986791 heterozygous genotype combinations. There were no observations of <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 heterozygous, <em>TLR4</em> rs4986790 heterozygous and homozygous and <em>TLR4</em> rs4986791 homozygous genotypes within the polymorphism group. Biopsies from lesions for all contributors were prepared for histopathological examination. All patients with polymorphism showed larger lesions than patients without polymorphism (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Histophatological study showed abnormal cases in patients with polymorphism including mild hyperkeratosis, mild acanthosis, focal parakeratosis in the epithelium surface and mild hyperpigmentation of melanocytes in the basal layer. Furthermore, a strong infiltration of immune cells such as PMNs and a small number of lymphocytes was observed in the epidermal region of patients with polymorphisms. There was no statistically significant relationship between age and the quantity of lesions (<em>P</em> > 0.05). Additionally, some regions of the epidermal surface layer displayed pustule formation in patients with polymorphisms. No significant difference was discerned in the dermal layers of patients with polymor","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108857"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142617297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The use of conventional drugs is not a satisfactory treatment for the disease. Therefore, there is a crucial need for alternative therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-leishmanial activity of Gossypium hirsutum niosomes against cutaneous leishmaniasis in a murine model and evaluate their effectiveness by assessing parasite burden, immunomodulatory gene expression, and histopathological profile. We prepared G. hirsutum niosomes and characterized their morphology, size, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and encapsulation efficiency. The in vivo anti-leishmanial activity of the niosomes was evaluated by assessing parasite burden, histopathological profile, and gene expression level. The spleen parasite load in BALB/c mice treated with different groups of G. hirsutum niosomes and G. hirsutum extracts (30%), demonstrated a significant decrease compared to Glucantime®. The least number of leishmanial parasites was observed in H and E-stained histological sections (grade+1), followed by G. hirsutum niosomes or G. hirsutum crude extract (grade+3), Glucantime® (grade+4) and the highest number in the untreated control group (grade+6). There was a substantial difference (P < 0.001) among various treatment groups. Moreover, G. hirsutum niosomes up-regulated the levels of the gene (particularly IFN-γ, P < 0.001) compared to the extract form and Glucantime®. In contrast, IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-β were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in comparison to untreated control. These results suggest that G. hirsutum niosomes have the potential to be considered a promising alternative therapy for leishmaniasis. Further research is warranted to explore their mechanism of action and optimize their formulation for clinical use.
使用传统药物治疗这种疾病的效果并不理想。因此,迫切需要替代治疗方法。本研究旨在通过评估寄生虫负担、免疫调节基因表达和组织病理学特征,研究在小鼠模型中使用长柄格桑子(Gossypium hirsutum niosomes)对皮肤利什曼病的潜在抗利什曼病活性,并评估其有效性。我们制备了长春花苷胶囊,并对其形态、大小、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)和封装效率进行了表征。通过评估寄生虫载量、组织病理学特征和基因表达水平,评价了大花蓟黄酮胶囊的体内抗利什曼病活性。与 Glucantime® 相比,用不同组的 G. hirsutum niosomes 和 G. hirsutum 提取物(30%)处理 BALB/c 小鼠的脾脏寄生虫量显著减少。在 H 和 E 染色的组织学切片中观察到的利什曼寄生虫数量最少(+1 级),其次是 G. hirsutum niosomes 或 G. hirsutum 粗提取物(+3 级)、Glucantime®(+4 级),而未经处理的对照组数量最多(+6 级)。各处理组之间存在显著差异(P < 0.001)。此外,与提取物和 Glucantime® 相比,G. hirsutum niosomes 能上调基因水平(尤其是 IFN-γ,P < 0.001)。相反,与未处理的对照组相比,IL-4、IL-10 和 TNF-β 的水平明显下降(P < 0.001)。这些结果表明,G. hirsutum niosomes 有可能被视为治疗利什曼病的一种有前途的替代疗法。有必要进一步研究其作用机制,并优化其临床应用配方。
{"title":"Preparation, characterization, and in vivo activity of Gossypium hirsutum niosomes against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in a murine model: Parasite burden, gene expression, and histopathological profiling","authors":"Iraj Sharifi , Ehsan Salarkia , Shahriar Dabiri , Abbas Pardakhty , Fatemeh Sharifi , Neda Mohamadi","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108859","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108859","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of conventional drugs is not a satisfactory treatment for the disease. Therefore, there is a crucial need for alternative therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-leishmanial activity of <em>Gossypium hirsutum</em> niosomes against cutaneous leishmaniasis in a murine model and evaluate their effectiveness by assessing parasite burden, immunomodulatory gene expression, and histopathological profile. We prepared <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes and characterized their morphology, size, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and encapsulation efficiency. The <em>in vivo</em> anti-leishmanial activity of the niosomes was evaluated by assessing parasite burden, histopathological profile, and gene expression level. The spleen parasite load in BALB/c mice treated with different groups of <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes and <em>G. hirsutum</em> extracts (30%), demonstrated a significant decrease compared to Glucantime®. The least number of leishmanial parasites was observed in H and E-stained histological sections (grade+1), followed by <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes or <em>G. hirsutum</em> crude extract (grade+3), Glucantime® (grade+4) and the highest number in the untreated control group (grade+6). There was a substantial difference (<em>P</em> < 0.001) among various treatment groups. Moreover, <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes up-regulated the levels of the gene (particularly IFN-γ, <em>P</em> < 0.001) compared to the extract form and Glucantime®. In contrast, IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-β were significantly decreased (<em>P</em> < 0.001) in comparison to untreated control. These results suggest that <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes have the potential to be considered a promising alternative therapy for leishmaniasis. Further research is warranted to explore their mechanism of action and optimize their formulation for clinical use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108859"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142587413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-29DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108858
Jelin Vilvest , M.C. John Milton , Alex Yagoo , Kedike Balakrishna
Both human beings and animals around the globe are vulnerable to the transmission of infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes. They have the ability to transmit a diverse array of pathogenic agents, such as viruses and parasites, while feeding on blood. The objective of this research is to investigate andrographolide isolation, characterization, and structure elucidation from Andrographis paniculata. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the activity of andrographolide against the immature stages of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The fractions obtained from A. paniculata extracts underwent further purification and analysis to identify the most active ones. To confirm the structure of andrographolide, spectroscopic methods including IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and GC-MS were used. Biological assays were conducted to assess its ovicidal, larvicidal, and pupicidal activities. Importantly, andrographolide demonstrated moderate ovicidal activity, resulting in mortality rates of 36% and 32% in Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus eggs, respectively, at a concentration of 2 ppm. Additionally, it exhibited strong larvicidal and pupicidal efficacy, with LC50 values of 2.02 ppm and 3.19 ppm against Ae. aegypti larvae and pupae, and 2.14 ppm and 2.73 ppm against Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae and pupae. These findings highlight the potential of andrographolide as a powerful natural compound in mosquito control efforts. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of natural products as viable alternatives to synthetic insecticides in managing vector-borne diseases.
{"title":"Structural elucidation of andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata and its ovicidal, larvicidal and pupicidal activities against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)","authors":"Jelin Vilvest , M.C. John Milton , Alex Yagoo , Kedike Balakrishna","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Both human beings and animals around the globe are vulnerable to the transmission of infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes. They have the ability to transmit a diverse array of pathogenic agents, such as viruses and parasites, while feeding on blood. The objective of this research is to investigate andrographolide isolation, characterization, and structure elucidation from <em>Andrographis paniculata</em>. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the activity of andrographolide against the immature stages of <em>Aedes aegypti</em> and <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em>. The fractions obtained from <em>A. paniculata</em> extracts underwent further purification and analysis to identify the most active ones. To confirm the structure of andrographolide, spectroscopic methods including IR, <sup>1</sup>H-NMR, <sup>13</sup>C-NMR, and GC-MS were used. Biological assays were conducted to assess its ovicidal, larvicidal, and pupicidal activities. Importantly, andrographolide demonstrated moderate ovicidal activity, resulting in mortality rates of 36% and 32% in <em>Ae. aegypti</em> and <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> eggs, respectively, at a concentration of 2 ppm. Additionally, it exhibited strong larvicidal and pupicidal efficacy, with LC<sub>50</sub> values of 2.02 ppm and 3.19 ppm against <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae and pupae, and 2.14 ppm and 2.73 ppm against <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> larvae and pupae. These findings highlight the potential of andrographolide as a powerful natural compound in mosquito control efforts. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of natural products as viable alternatives to synthetic insecticides in managing vector-borne diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142557432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108856
Thaise Lara Teixeira , Samuel Cota Teixeira , Bruna Cristina Borges , João Paulo Silva Servato , Elida Cristina Monteiro de Oliveira , Teresiama Velikkakam , Claudio Vieira da Silva
The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments rely on drugs effective only in the acute phase, making the search for new therapeutic targets a priority. While a recombinant protein based on T. cruzi P21 (rP21) exhibits immunomodulatory properties and contributes to controlling parasitism and inflammation during T. cruzi infection, its efficacy against other trypanosomatids remains unexplored. This study investigated the impact of rP21 on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis infection in a murine model. Contrary to our expectations, treatment with rP21 did not ameliorate L. (L.) amazonensis infection. Instead, rP21 treatment resulted in increased parasite load in the paws of infected BALB/c mice, evidenced by larger lesion sizes and higher parasite burdens, accompanied by an intensified inflammatory infiltrate in the paw tissue. These findings suggest that despite its promising effects in the context of T. cruzi infection, rP21 may not be a suitable therapeutic candidate for L. amazonensis infection and might even exacerbate disease.
南美锥虫病的病原体--南美锥虫是一种原生寄生虫,影响着全球数百万人。目前的治疗方法依赖于仅在急性期有效的药物,因此寻找新的治疗靶点成为当务之急。基于克鲁兹锥虫 P21(rP21)的重组蛋白具有免疫调节特性,有助于控制克鲁兹锥虫感染期间的寄生和炎症,但它对其他锥虫的疗效仍有待探索。本研究调查了 rP21 在小鼠模型中对亚马逊利什曼病(L. amazonensis)感染的影响。与我们的预期相反,用 rP21 治疗并不能改善亚马逊利什曼原虫感染。相反,rP21 治疗导致受感染的 BALB/c 小鼠爪子中的寄生虫数量增加,表现为病变面积增大、寄生虫数量增加,同时爪子组织中的炎症浸润加剧。这些研究结果表明,尽管 rP21 对 T. cruzi 感染有很好的疗效,但它可能不是治疗 L. amazonensis 感染的合适候选药物,甚至可能加重病情。
{"title":"Trypanosoma cruzi P21 protein exacerbates Leishmania (L.) amazonensis infection","authors":"Thaise Lara Teixeira , Samuel Cota Teixeira , Bruna Cristina Borges , João Paulo Silva Servato , Elida Cristina Monteiro de Oliveira , Teresiama Velikkakam , Claudio Vieira da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108856","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108856","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The protozoan parasite <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em>, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments rely on drugs effective only in the acute phase, making the search for new therapeutic targets a priority. While a recombinant protein based on <em>T. cruzi</em> P21 (rP21) exhibits immunomodulatory properties and contributes to controlling parasitism and inflammation during <em>T. cruzi</em> infection, its efficacy against other trypanosomatids remains unexplored. This study investigated the impact of rP21 on <em>Leishmania (L.) amazonensis</em> infection in a murine model. Contrary to our expectations, treatment with rP21 did not ameliorate <em>L. (L.) amazonensis</em> infection. Instead, rP21 treatment resulted in increased parasite load in the paws of infected BALB/c mice, evidenced by larger lesion sizes and higher parasite burdens, accompanied by an intensified inflammatory infiltrate in the paw tissue. These findings suggest that despite its promising effects in the context of <em>T. cruzi</em> infection, rP21 may not be a suitable therapeutic candidate for <em>L. amazonensis</em> infection and might even exacerbate disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108856"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-18DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108849
Elwin K , Robinson G , G. Perez-Cordon , Chalmers Rm
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Development and evaluation of a real-time PCR for genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. from water monitoring slides” [Experiment. Parasitol. 242 (2022) 108366]","authors":"Elwin K , Robinson G , G. Perez-Cordon , Chalmers Rm","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108849","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108849","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 108849"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108845
Jiayan Pu, Ge Hao, Hao Chen, Wei He, Changming Xiong, Jie Xiao, Guangyou Yang
Eimeria intestinalis is one of the most pathogenic coccidia species in rabbits. Anticoccidial treaments are the main measures to control rabbit coccidiosis now, but there are drug resistance and residues concerns. Therefore, vaccine has been used as an alternative strategy. The surface antigens (SAGs) of apicomplexan protozoa play a role in adhesion and invasion of host intestinal cells, and are considered to be potential candidate antigens for vaccines. In this study, transcriptional analysis of 5 Ei-SAGs genes at four developmental stages was conducted, then the Ei-SAG19 gene were screened out for prokaryotic expression and the reactogenicity of recombinant SAG19 (rEi-SAG19) was investigated by immunoblotting. To assessment the protective effects of rEi-SAG19, rabbits (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups (Blank control, PBS-infected, Trx-His-S-Quil-A-infected and rEi-SAG19 immunized groups), the rEi-SAG19 immunized group was subcutaneously immunized with 100 μg rEi-SAG19 in the neck with an interval of two weeks, and challenged with 5 × 104 homologous oocysts two weeks after the second immunization. Two weeks after the challenge, all rabbits were sacrificed. After that, the level of serum specific IgG antibody was detected weekly and the level of cytokines in serum before the challenge were determined. At the end of the experiment, the weight gain, oocyst reduction rate, lesion score and anticoccidial index (ACI) were calculated. The results showed that rEi-SAG19 has a good reactogenicity. The relative weight gain rate, oocyst reduction rate and ACI of the rabbits in rEi-SAG19 immunized group were 80.51%, 72.6%, and 165.1, respectively, which has a moderate protective effect. The level of serum specific IgG antibody and IL-4 rised significantly (P < 0.05), but the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-10 had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Our results indicated that rEi-SAG19 could provides moderate protective effect against E. intestinalis infection in rabbits (ACI = 165.1). Therefore, rEi-SAG19 could be used as a vaccine candidate antigen for E. intestinalis.
{"title":"Preliminary evaluation of the protective effect of rEi-SAG19 on Eimeria intestinalis infection in rabbits","authors":"Jiayan Pu, Ge Hao, Hao Chen, Wei He, Changming Xiong, Jie Xiao, Guangyou Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108845","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108845","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Eimeria intestinalis</em> is one of the most pathogenic coccidia species in rabbits. Anticoccidial treaments are the main measures to control rabbit coccidiosis now, but there are drug resistance and residues concerns. Therefore, vaccine has been used as an alternative strategy. The surface antigens (SAGs) of apicomplexan protozoa play a role in adhesion and invasion of host intestinal cells, and are considered to be potential candidate antigens for vaccines. In this study, transcriptional analysis of 5 <em>Ei</em>-SAGs genes at four developmental stages was conducted, then the <em>Ei-SAG19</em> gene were screened out for prokaryotic expression and the reactogenicity of recombinant SAG19 (r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19) was investigated by immunoblotting. To assessment the protective effects of r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19, rabbits (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups (Blank control, PBS-infected, Trx-His-S-Quil-A-infected and r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 immunized groups), the r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 immunized group was subcutaneously immunized with 100 μg r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 in the neck with an interval of two weeks, and challenged with 5 × 10<sup>4</sup> homologous oocysts two weeks after the second immunization. Two weeks after the challenge, all rabbits were sacrificed. After that, the level of serum specific IgG antibody was detected weekly and the level of cytokines in serum before the challenge were determined. At the end of the experiment, the weight gain, oocyst reduction rate, lesion score and anticoccidial index (ACI) were calculated. The results showed that r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19 has a good reactogenicity. The relative weight gain rate, oocyst reduction rate and ACI of the rabbits in r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19 immunized group were 80.51%, 72.6%, and 165.1, respectively, which has a moderate protective effect. The level of serum specific IgG antibody and IL-4 rised significantly (P < 0.05), but the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-10 had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Our results indicated that r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 could provides moderate protective effect against <em>E. intestinalis</em> infection in rabbits (ACI = 165.1). Therefore, r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 could be used as a vaccine candidate antigen for <em>E. intestinalis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108845"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108847
Jose Jesús Flores-Vega , Jonathan Puente-Rivera , Sharon Itzel Sosa-Mondragón , Minerva Camacho-Nuez , María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez
The DNA of protozoan parasites is highly susceptible to damage, either induced by environmental agents or spontaneously generated during cellular metabolism through reactive oxygen species (ROS). Certain phases of the cell cycle, such as meiotic recombination, and external factors like ionizing radiation (IR), ultraviolet light (UV), or chemical genotoxic agents further increase this susceptibility. Among the various types of DNA damage, double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are the most critical, as they are challenging to repair and can result in genetic instability or cell death. DSBs caused by environmental stressors are primarily repaired via one of two major pathways: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). In multicellular eukaryotes, NHEJ predominates, but in unicellular eukaryotes such as protozoan parasites, HR seems to be the principal mechanism for DSB repair. The HR pathway is orchestrated by proteins from the RAD52 epistasis group, including RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, RAD55, and the MRN complex. This review focuses on elucidating the diverse roles and significance of RAD51 recombinase and its paralogs in protozoan parasites, such as Acanthamoeba castellanii, Entamoeba histolytica (Amoebozoa), apicomplexan parasites (Chromalveolata), Naegleria fowleri, Giardia spp., Trichomonas vaginalis, and trypanosomatids (Excavata), where they primarily function in HR. Additionally, we analyze the diversity of proteins involved in HR, both upstream and downstream of RAD51, and discuss the implications of these processes in parasitic protozoa.
原生动物寄生虫的 DNA 极易受到损伤,这种损伤可能是环境因素诱发的,也可能是细胞代谢过程中通过活性氧(ROS)自发产生的。细胞周期的某些阶段,如减数分裂重组,以及电离辐射(IR)、紫外线(UV)或化学基因毒性物质等外部因素,都会进一步增加这种易感性。在各种类型的 DNA 损伤中,双链断裂(DSB)最为关键,因为它们难以修复,可能导致基因不稳定或细胞死亡。环境应激因素造成的 DSB 主要通过两种主要途径之一进行修复:非同源末端连接(NHEJ)或同源重组(HR)。在多细胞真核生物中,NHEJ占主导地位,但在原生动物寄生虫等单细胞真核生物中,HR似乎是DSB修复的主要机制。HR途径由RAD52外显子组的蛋白质协调,包括RAD51、RAD52、RAD54、RAD55和MRN复合体。本综述重点阐明了 RAD51 重组酶及其旁系亲属在原生动物寄生虫(如棘阿米巴、组织溶解恩塔米巴虫(阿米巴原虫)、阿米巴复合寄生虫(Chromalveolata)、福氏瑙格勒氏虫、贾第鞭毛虫属、阴道毛滴虫和锥虫(Excavata))中的不同作用和意义,它们在这些寄生虫中主要发挥 HR 功能。此外,我们还分析了 RAD51 上下游参与 HR 的蛋白质的多样性,并讨论了这些过程对寄生原生动物的影响。
{"title":"RAD51 recombinase and its paralogs: Orchestrating homologous recombination and unforeseen functions in protozoan parasites","authors":"Jose Jesús Flores-Vega , Jonathan Puente-Rivera , Sharon Itzel Sosa-Mondragón , Minerva Camacho-Nuez , María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108847","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108847","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The DNA of protozoan parasites is highly susceptible to damage, either induced by environmental agents or spontaneously generated during cellular metabolism through reactive oxygen species (ROS). Certain phases of the cell cycle, such as meiotic recombination, and external factors like ionizing radiation (IR), ultraviolet light (UV), or chemical genotoxic agents further increase this susceptibility. Among the various types of DNA damage, double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are the most critical, as they are challenging to repair and can result in genetic instability or cell death. DSBs caused by environmental stressors are primarily repaired via one of two major pathways: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). In multicellular eukaryotes, NHEJ predominates, but in unicellular eukaryotes such as protozoan parasites, HR seems to be the principal mechanism for DSB repair. The HR pathway is orchestrated by proteins from the RAD52 epistasis group, including RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, RAD55, and the MRN complex. This review focuses on elucidating the diverse roles and significance of RAD51 recombinase and its paralogs in protozoan parasites, such as <em>Acanthamoeba castellanii</em>, <em>Entamoeba histolytica</em> (Amoebozoa), apicomplexan parasites (Chromalveolata), <em>Naegleria fowleri</em>, <em>Giardia</em> spp., <em>Trichomonas vaginalis</em>, and trypanosomatids (Excavata), where they primarily function in HR. Additionally, we analyze the diversity of proteins involved in HR, both upstream and downstream of RAD51, and discuss the implications of these processes in parasitic protozoa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108847"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108846
Y. Ajith , Sasi Adithya , K.S. Athira , V. Beena , M. Saifudeen Safeer , Sabu Mathews Mevin , P. Preena , A.R. Nisha , Mathew Manju , George Arun , S. Ajithkumar
The environment is the most important stratum in the epidemiological triad of a parasitic disease and any variations in the environmental factors may decide the dynamic occurrence and existence of different lifecycle stages of these parasites. The present study investigated the correlations between key biometeorological and demographical parameters with the incidence of different gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites among goats. Four hundred and thirty-two goats were screened for parasitic infection in a yearlong survey conducted from July 2022 to June 2023 in the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, Kerala, India. The weather parameters (Tmax, Tmin, RH, THI, and bright sunshine hours), air quality parameters [AQI, PM2.5, and PM10], and demographic parameters (gender and age) were recorded along with the test positivity of different categories of gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites in goats by routine fecal sample examination and blood smear examination, respectively. The infection level was ranked based on the severity of the infection. The mean and daily variations in biometeorological parameters were calculated and the data were statistically analyzed to figure out the pertinent correlations in host-parasite-environment interaction patterns. High levels of parasitic infections with significant month-wise variations and climate-correlated peak infection patterns were noticed. The incidence of parasites was negatively correlated to all parameters except humidity, indicating more severe parasitism during monsoon months. The significant variations in the host-parasite interaction dynamics point towards the need for detailed explorations concerning the lifecycle of each specific parasite with a focus on the possible environment-favourable and resistant lifecycle stages. Future studies may be designed from a biometeorological perspective to develop a crucial understanding of host-parasite-environment interactions in goats ensuring sustainable goat farming.
{"title":"Effects of environmental factors on host-parasite interaction patterns in backyard-tethered goats of Kerala, India","authors":"Y. Ajith , Sasi Adithya , K.S. Athira , V. Beena , M. Saifudeen Safeer , Sabu Mathews Mevin , P. Preena , A.R. Nisha , Mathew Manju , George Arun , S. Ajithkumar","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environment is the most important stratum in the epidemiological triad of a parasitic disease and any variations in the environmental factors may decide the dynamic occurrence and existence of different lifecycle stages of these parasites. The present study investigated the correlations between key biometeorological and demographical parameters with the incidence of different gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites among goats. Four hundred and thirty-two goats were screened for parasitic infection in a yearlong survey conducted from July 2022 to June 2023 in the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, Kerala, India. The weather parameters (T<sub>max</sub>, T<sub>min</sub>, RH, THI, and bright sunshine hours), air quality parameters [AQI, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>10</sub>], and demographic parameters (gender and age) were recorded along with the test positivity of different categories of gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites in goats by routine fecal sample examination and blood smear examination, respectively. The infection level was ranked based on the severity of the infection. The mean and daily variations in biometeorological parameters were calculated and the data were statistically analyzed to figure out the pertinent correlations in host-parasite-environment interaction patterns. High levels of parasitic infections with significant month-wise variations and climate-correlated peak infection patterns were noticed. The incidence of parasites was negatively correlated to all parameters except humidity, indicating more severe parasitism during monsoon months. The significant variations in the host-parasite interaction dynamics point towards the need for detailed explorations concerning the lifecycle of each specific parasite with a focus on the possible environment-favourable and resistant lifecycle stages. Future studies may be designed from a biometeorological perspective to develop a crucial understanding of host-parasite-environment interactions in goats ensuring sustainable goat farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 108846"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142441554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}