Experimental parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Expression pattern of ARG1 and iNOS genes in macrophages of Rhombomys opimus, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice exposed to Leishmania major and salivary gland homogenates of Phlebotomus papatasi.","authors":"Maryam Shirazian, Niloofar Taghipour, Amir Ahmad Akhavan, Seyyed Javad Seyyed Tabaei, Mohammad Reza Abaei, Fahimeh Firouzjaie, Mahboubeh Fatemi, Nariman Mosaffa, Vahideh Moin Vaziri","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Early interactions between Leishmania-macrophages (MQ) of host and effect of sand fly saliva are central to leishmaniasis outcome. Macrophages are able to kill or act as long-term hosts of parasite depending on host immunity. It proved that immunogenic proteins in sand fly saliva mostly have an exacerbating effect on leishmaniasis by up-regulating cytokines. We have explored expression of Arginase 1 (ARG1) and inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) genes in macrophages of three different rodents, BALB/c (susceptible), C57BL/6 (resistant) and Rhombomys opimus (R. opimus, natural reservoir) in presence of Leishmania major (L. major), salivary gland homogenate (SGH) of Phlebotomus papatasi ( Ph. papatasi) and finally L. major + SGH. Stationary phase of promastigotes was used; salivary glands were extracted from female of Ph. papatasi (3 to 5 day-old/non-blood fed). SGH prepared by sonication. Macrophages harvested from the peritoneal cavity of each rodent and grouped as follow; 1) macrophage (control group), 2) MQ+L.major 3) MQ+SGH 4) MQ+L.major+SGH. After 6 hours of incubation, culture medium supernatant collected, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis performed, expression level of desired genes checked by Real-time PCR. ARG1 expression pattern in MQ+SGH and MQ+L.major group showed the highest and lowest expressions level respectively in BALB/c and C57BL/6. But, in MQ+L.major+SGH, although the highest ARG1 expression happened in BALB/c again, the lowest one observed in R. opimus. On the other hand, iNOS expression showed significant increase in all treated group of C57BL/6 macrophages. Interestingly, iNOS expression showed significant differences in MQ+L.major group of C57BL/6 in comparison to other rodents. Expression of ARG1 and iNOS in macrophages of BALB/c and C57BL/6 and R. opimus are different and can justify their clinical outcome of disease. The difference in gene expression pattern is related to the genetics of host and shows that genetic differences between hosts can affect the immune responses caused by saliva proteins even of the same species of sand fly.</p>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"108863"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142709684","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}

{"title":"THE ROLE OF NF-κB TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR IN THE REGULATION OF CYTOKINE INDUCED THERMAL HYPERALGESIA IN A LEISHMANIA MAJOR MODEL IN BALB/c MICE.","authors":"Reem Hoblos, Karl Khalil, Marc Karam, Samer Bazzi","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108864","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108864","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused mainly by Leishmania major (L. major) is one of the trending models used to investigate induced hyperalgesia and the involved cytokines. Previous studies approached the role of several cytokines in the observed hyperalgesia, but the molecular mechanisms orchestrating such a response still needed to be addressed. In this study, we inspect the role of the NF-κB in the modulation of L. major-prompted hyperalgesia and cytokine expression in BALB/c mice by administering celastrol, a potent blocker of this transcription factor. Intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg of celastrol attenuated the L. major-induced thermal hyperalgesia in BALB/c mice for 15 days and 21 days, respectively, as detected by hot plate and tail flick behavioral assessments. Cytokine levels were quantified in the infected paws of BALB/c mice using Sandwich ELISA. The administration of 1 mg/kg celastrol decreased TNF-α levels in L. major infected mice for 23 days, and IL-1β expression declined significantly for 23 days using both celastrol dosages. However, no significant change was observed in the levels of IL-10 in our experimental groups. The activation of NF-κB was detected by observing the phosphorylation levels of the p65 subunit using PathScan phospho-ELISA. The level of NF-κB phosphorylation was elevated in L. major infected BALB/c mice. Only administering 1 mg/kg celastrol suppressed the phosphorylation of p65, thus inactivating NF-kB. In conclusion, our results provide new insights into the correlation between the activation of NF-kB, the induction of thermal hyperalgesia, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the L. major-induced hyperalgesia model.</p>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"108864"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142692833","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}

{"title":"A rapid and simple micro-assay to assess catalase activity in individual mosquito tissues","authors":"Mikkel C.E. Ward,&nbsp;Ann M. Fallon","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108862","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108862","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oxidative stress generated as a normal byproduct of aerobic metabolism is minimized by the enzyme catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), which reduces hydrogen peroxide to molecular oxygen and water. In various mosquitoes, hydrogen peroxide and/or CAT activity have been implicated in oxidative responses to viral and protozoal pathogens as well as in ovarian maturation and insecticide resistance. We combined features of various CAT assays to develop a simple micro-assay that enables comparison of enzyme activities in individual mosquito tissues on a microscope slide. Activity recovered in the supernatant of mosquito whole body homogenates was inhibited by the CAT-specific inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. Activity was higher in blood-fed mosquitoes, consistent with exogenous enzyme in vertebrate blood. Triton X-100 improved evaluation of dissected organs, and accurate comparisons required careful removal of extraneous tissues. In unfed mosquitoes baseline CAT activity was lower in ovaries than in midgut or fatbody, but increased as oocytes matured after a blood meal, and was detectable in a single mature egg. CAT has unusual kinetics and can be difficult to assay directly. Our observations provide a simple approach for direct evaluation of CAT activity independent of changes in transcript levels and results of RNAi-based interference.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108862"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142617226","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}

{"title":"Saikosaponin inhibits Eimeria tenella infection by modifying the NF-κB pathway and regulating cytokines and the intestinal microbial community","authors":"Xinru Meng ,&nbsp;Xiaofeng Gan ,&nbsp;Yingbo Wang ,&nbsp;Qiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinran Duan ,&nbsp;Yanchun Wang ,&nbsp;Quan Zhao ,&nbsp;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}

{"title":"Investigating the therapeutic effects of curcumin nanocapsules in hydatid cyst-infected mice","authors":"Negar Sorouri ,&nbsp;Nooshinmehr Soleymani ,&nbsp;Soheil Sadr ,&nbsp;Abbas Rahdar ,&nbsp;Elahe Ebrahimzadeh ,&nbsp;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}

{"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 ,&nbsp;Mohammad-Ali Moradkhani ,&nbsp;Farshid Sefat ,&nbsp;S.A. Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108857","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;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 &lt;em&gt;Leishmania major&lt;/em&gt; being common in most rural areas. Toll-like receptors (&lt;em&gt;TLRs&lt;/em&gt;) play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunities, and the investigation of &lt;em&gt;TLR2&lt;/em&gt; rs5743708 and &lt;em&gt;TLR4&lt;/em&gt; (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 (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &gt; 0.05). Following disease confirmation via microscopic examination, &lt;em&gt;TLR2&lt;/em&gt; rs5743708 and &lt;em&gt;TLR4&lt;/em&gt; (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 &lt;em&gt;TLR2&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;TLR4&lt;/em&gt; genes, respectively. Out of the 88 leishmaniasis patients, 14 cases (15.9%) exhibited polymorphisms. Notably, all individuals in the polymorphism group carried both the &lt;em&gt;TLR2&lt;/em&gt; rs5743708 homozygous and the &lt;em&gt;TLR4&lt;/em&gt; rs4986791 heterozygous genotype combinations. There were no observations of &lt;em&gt;TLR2&lt;/em&gt; rs5743708 heterozygous, &lt;em&gt;TLR4&lt;/em&gt; rs4986790 heterozygous and homozygous and &lt;em&gt;TLR4&lt;/em&gt; 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 (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 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 (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &gt; 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}

{"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 ,&nbsp;Ehsan Salarkia ,&nbsp;Shahriar Dabiri ,&nbsp;Abbas Pardakhty ,&nbsp;Fatemeh Sharifi ,&nbsp;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> &lt; 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> &lt; 0.001) compared to the extract form and Glucantime®. In contrast, IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-β were significantly decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 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}

{"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 ,&nbsp;M.C. John Milton ,&nbsp;Alex Yagoo ,&nbsp;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, 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 <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 LC₅₀ 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}

{"title":"Trypanosoma cruzi P21 protein exacerbates Leishmania (L.) amazonensis infection","authors":"Thaise Lara Teixeira ,&nbsp;Samuel Cota Teixeira ,&nbsp;Bruna Cristina Borges ,&nbsp;João Paulo Silva Servato ,&nbsp;Elida Cristina Monteiro de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Teresiama Velikkakam ,&nbsp;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}

{"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 ,&nbsp;Robinson G ,&nbsp;G. Perez-Cordon ,&nbsp;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}