Parasite Immunology最新文献

{"title":"Protoscolex Maturation in Echinococcus multilocularis Is Controlled by Host Genetic Factors Independent of Initial Development.","authors":"Moe Kogawa, Keisuke Sato, Teppei Nakamura, Naoki Hayashi, Hirokazu Kouguchi, Ryo Nakao, Masahito Hidaka, Hiroyuki Matsuyama, Nariaki Nonaka, Osamu Ichii, Takashi Agui, Masami Morimatsu","doi":"10.1111/pim.70065","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, poses a serious public health concern. This parasite requires rodents as intermediate hosts for protoscolex maturation in the liver and subsequent transmission to definitive hosts. We aimed to identify the host genetic factors controlling protoscolex development and maturation in congenic mice carrying susceptible DBA/2 genomic segments on a resistant C57BL/6N background. We assessed the hepatic protoscoleces and immune-related gene expression levels 16 weeks post-oral infection. All congenic strains developed protoscoleces; however, the number and proportion of mature forms decreased as C57BL/6N-derived genomic contribution on chromosome 1 increased. Differences in DBA/2-derived segments revealed two loci, E. multilocularis protoscolex maturation 1 (Empmat1) and 2 (Empmat2), as regulators of protoscolex maturation, but not early development, where immune involvement was limited. T-box transcription factor 21 expression was correlated with protoscolex maturation; however, it lay outside Empmat1 and Empmat2 and was unlikely to be the responsible gene. Therefore, protoscolex maturation is potentially regulated by multiple host genetic factors distinct from those involved in early development, with B6-derived alleles exerting inhibitory effects, possibly via non-immune host mechanisms. Elucidation of these genetic pathways can reveal novel targets to disrupt the life cycle and reduce the zoonotic transmission of E. multilocularis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 2","pages":"e70065"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146207107","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":"Alternate-Day Fasting Exacerbates Lung Inflammatory Disease Compared to High-Sucrose Diet in Experimental Schistosomiasis Mansoni.","authors":"Victoria Nascimento Guimarães Mattar, Michele Oliveira Carvalho, Laís de Castro Carvalho Silva, Luís Gustavo Argero Corbera Noles Pereira, Lara Kramer Chiomark Malaquias, Renato Rizo Ventura, Túlio de Almeida Hermes, Rômulo D Novaes, Marcos José Marques, Luis Felipe Cunha Dos Reis","doi":"10.1111/pim.70068","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heterogeneous nutrient distribution, metabolic demand and immune responses can influence extrahepatic manifestations of Schistosoma mansoni infection. This study evaluated the effects of alternate-day fasting (ADF), high-sucrose diet (HSD) and praziquantel (PZQ) treatment on feeding motivation, anxiety-like behaviour and lung pathology in infected BALB/c mice. Infected animals received a standard diet (INF), or PZQ (300 mg/kg for 3 days), ADF, ADF + PZQ, HSD or HSD + PZQ. After 15 weeks of infection, behavioural parameters, parasite egg load, inflammatory infiltrate, macrophage accumulation and lung structure were analysed. Uninfected was used as control (Wild Type). ADF impaired motor and feeding-related behaviours compared to other groups. Infected mice under a standard diet or ADF showed higher egg deposition and larger pulmonary granulomas than HSD or PZQ-treated animals. Inflammatory infiltrate and alveolar collapse were more intense in INF and ADF groups, while macrophage accumulation increased with ADF but decreased after PZQ. Pulmonary fibrosis was reduced in ADF, HSD and PZQ groups compared to INF, though higher in ADF than in HSD or PZQ. Overall, ADF worsened lung pathology, promoting egg accumulation, granulomatous inflammation, fibrosis and alveolar collapse. These findings suggest that caloric restriction through ADF aggravates pulmonary disease in schistosomiasis, possibly by enhancing ectopic egg dissemination.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 2","pages":"e70068"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146258834","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":"Cortisol Regulates PD-1 and IL-12 in Canine Leishmaniasis.","authors":"Lucas Takeshi Siqueira Ito, Gisele Mitsue Umino, Mayla Abbas Guimarães, Bianca Maciel Marques de Souza, Sofia Furrier Soares, Luiz Eduardo Amador Loiola Pereira, Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima","doi":"10.1111/pim.70062","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL) is a tropical zoonosis caused by Brazil's protozoan Leishmania (L.) infantum. Disorders in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been reported in human and experimental visceral leishmaniasis, but not yet in canine leishmaniasis. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that regulates several processes, including immune responses. This study investigated HPA axis disorders in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis and their link to clinical and immunological parameters. ELISA quantified serum levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in 12 healthy dogs and 13 dogs with leishmaniasis. The expression of the enzymes inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1 and programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) were evaluated by flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Additionally, serum levels of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were quantified by capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Parasite load was quantified in peripheral blood and conjunctival swabs by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). All parameters evaluated were correlated with serum cortisol. We observed an increase in cortisol, while ACTH levels were reduced in dogs with leishmaniasis. The expression of iNOS, arginase-1 and PD-1 was higher in the PBMC of dogs with leishmaniasis. Serum levels of the cytokines IL-10, IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ were increased in dogs with leishmaniasis. Cortisol showed a negative correlation with PD-1 and IL-12. Our findings suggest that infection natural with L. infantum in dogs may induce dysregulation of the HPA axis, leading to elevated serum cortisol levels and modulation of the immune response, as it is associated with immunological markers involved in disease pathogenesis. These results contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 2","pages":"e70062"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12862539/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146100443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study of Interleukin 1β Gene Polymorphisms in Tunisian Paediatric Population With Cystic Echinococcosis.","authors":"Amira Rjibi, Eya Ben Salah, Sana Mosbahi, Sameh Belgacem, Amine Ksiaa, Mongi Mekki, Lasaad Sahnoun, Hamouda Babba, Wahiba Sakly","doi":"10.1111/pim.70064","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a highly common zoonosis worldwide and Tunisia remains the most endemic country in North Africa. The variability of clinical manifestations of CE depends on predisposing factors related to the interaction between host genetic and immunological factors. This study investigates the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IL-1β (rs16944 and rs1143634), an important pro-inflammatory cytokine in the CE immune response and susceptibility to CE in a Tunisian population. The case group included 152 paediatric patients diagnosed with CE, whereas the control group included 152 healthy individuals. The DNA was extracted via the salting-out method and genotyped via polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The -511C/T genotype is more frequent in the control group than in patients (OR = 0,57, p = 0.03, CI = 0.3418-0.96). The haplotype -511C/+3954T was higher in the case group compared to the control group (OR = 2.6, p = 0.00011, CI = 1.62-4.31). The SNP -511C/T in IL-1β gene was associated with CE protection in our paediatric population. The haplotype -511C/+3954T might be considered as the influential factor for resistance to the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 2","pages":"e70064"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113942","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 Influence of Innate Immunity, Adaptive Immunity and Diet on Intestinal Microbiota Following Trichuris muris Infection.","authors":"Bridgious Walusimbi, Kelly S Hayes, Melissa A E Lawson, Seona Thompson, Allison J Bancroft, Alison M Elliott, Richard K Grencis","doi":"10.1111/pim.70060","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trichuris trichiura infects nearly 500 million people worldwide, causing intestinal inflammation, malnutrition, and growth impairment, particularly in children from low-resource settings. While host immunity is central to parasite clearance, diet and the gut microbiota may also modulate infection. Using the Trichuris muris model, we examined how immune competence and diet interact to influence worm burden, antibody responses, and gut microbiota composition. Wild-type (WT), RAG1-deficient (lacking adaptive immunity), and RAG1/γc-deficient (lacking both adaptive and innate lymphoid immunity) mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) and infected with a low dose of T. muris. WT mice on ND developed chronic infection with strong IgG2a/c responses, consistent with Th1-biased immunity. In contrast, WT mice on HFD achieved near-complete parasite clearance, accompanied by elevated IgG1 and reduced IgG2a/c titres, indicating diet-induced Th2 bias. In RAG1- and RAG1/γc-deficient mice, infection persisted under a normal diet but worm burdens were partially reduced on HFD, indicating that diet enhances parasite control through immune-independent, possibly microbiota-mediated pathways. Microbiota clustered by genotype and diet, with HFD-associated enrichment of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Blautia. These findings demonstrate that diet and immune status jointly shape helminth susceptibility through coordinated effects on host immunity and the gut microbiota.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 2","pages":"e70060"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12865144/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146106813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immune Modulation by Plasmodium yoelii: Insights From Lethal and Non-Lethal Strains.","authors":"Sharoen Yu Ming Lim","doi":"10.1111/pim.70045","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria pathogenesis is driven by intricate host-parasite interactions that determine immune balance and clinical outcome. The Plasmodium yoelii model, particularly its lethal (17XL) and non-lethal (17XNL) strains, provides a robust framework to investigate these dynamics. This review integrates recent findings demonstrating that 17XL infections trigger excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine release and immune exhaustion, while 17XNL infections sustain regulated Th1/Th2 responses enabling parasite control and survival. Emerging pathways involving MIF, TLR7 signalling, and immune checkpoints (PD-1, LAG-3) underscore the immunological divergence between strains. Evidence converges on a central concept: malaria severity reflects not parasite load but the timing and resolution of host immune responses. Future research using humanised models, single-cell profiling, and immunomodulatory interventions will deepen our understanding of immune regulation and guide novel therapeutic and vaccine strategies against malaria.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 1","pages":"e70045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12747817/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145857386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Essential Trace Elements and Their Impact on Immune Response and Disease Severity in Malaria Infection: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Haleh Hanifian, Mehdi Nateghpour, Maziar Naderi","doi":"10.1111/pim.70046","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria remains a major global health challenge, profoundly influencing host nutritional and immune status. Essential trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper and magnesium play pivotal roles in immune regulation, antioxidant defence, and pathogen control. However, their alterations during malaria infection and implications for disease outcome have been inconsistently reported. This systematic review aimed to synthesise current evidence on serum and plasma concentrations of key trace elements in malaria-infected individuals and experimental models, and to evaluate their relationship with immune responses, disease severity, and treatment outcomes. A systematic search was conducted in various academic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published from January 2010 to November 2025. The quality assessment of the studies was done using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure a comprehensive and transparent process. Across human and experimental studies, malaria infection was consistently associated with reduced serum concentrations of iron, zinc, and magnesium, while copper levels showed variable trends, often elevated in acute infection, reflecting an inflammatory response. These alterations were linked to dysregulated cytokine production, particularly increased TNF-α and IL-10, higher parasitemia, and worsened clinical outcomes. Zinc supplementation improved micronutrient status but showed limited impact on malaria incidence. Emerging spectrometric approaches demonstrated utility in trace element profiling for malaria diagnosis and prognosis. Malaria-induced disturbances in trace element homeostasis, notably reduced iron, zinc, and magnesium, and altered copper levels, contribute to immune dysfunction and oxidative stress, aggravating disease severity. Integrating targeted micronutrient interventions with antimalarial therapy may enhance host immune competence and improve treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 1","pages":"e70046"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145850629","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 Innate Lymphoid Cells in the Pathogenesis of Hepatic Echinococcosis: A Literature Review.","authors":"Wei Ma, Dian Wang, Chuanchuan Liu, Haining Fan","doi":"10.1111/pim.70039","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatic echinococcosis (HE), a major zoonotic disease, remains endemic in pastoral regions of Western China, where its incidence is closely linked to geographical, livestock and sanitary conditions. The disease presents a significant clinical challenge due to the complexity of host-parasite interactions and a high recurrence rate. To date, the underlying pathogenesis and effective prevention and control strategies remain inadequately studied. Particularly, it is still unclear how innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) affect disease progression and therapeutic intervention. This review focuses on ILCs and their emerging role in the pathogenesis of HE. Through an in-depth analysis of the biological characteristics of ILCs, we revealed their significant role in immune responses and therapeutic mechanisms. Additionally, we also investigated their dynamic involvement in the development of HE. Furthermore, the specific role of gene editing in modulating ILC function was examined. Clinically, we assessed the distribution and functional status of ILCs in patients with HE and analysed their association with hepatic fibrosis and other complications. Finally, we explored novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on ILC functional modulation. In short, this review highlights the critical role of ILCs in shaping the immunological landscape of HE, offering a theoretical basis for the development of ILC-targeted diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Through ILC functional modulation, the intervention of fibrotic progression and immune imbalance holds promise for overcoming current therapeutic limitations and advancing clinical translation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 1","pages":"e70039"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12777645/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145912651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms of Immune Evasion, Dissemination, and Persistence in Leishmania amazonensis Infection.","authors":"Arieli Bernardo Portugal, Renato Augusto DaMatta, Edézio Ferreira da Cunha Júnior, João Luiz Mendes Wanderley","doi":"10.1111/pim.70044","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leishmania amazonensis is one of the etiological agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in its localised form. Moreover, this parasite can cause more severe disease conditions, such as diffuse and disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis. The development of more severe clinical manifestations is associated with the parasite's ability to establish a chronic infection and disseminate to cutaneous tissues distal to the site of primary infection. This ability is dependent on host immune factors but is also influenced by intrinsic factors of the parasite related to pathogenicity and evasion of the immune system. This review discusses immunological and parasitological factors associated with the latency and dissemination of L. amazonensis infection and the consequent development of severe forms of cutaneous disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 1","pages":"e70044"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12779597/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Irradiated Toxocara Canis Embryonated Eggs: A Promising Vaccination Strategy.","authors":"Shreen F Ammar, Sanaa N Antonios, Rasha A Elmahy, Radwa Ismail, Amina M Salama","doi":"10.1111/pim.70059","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pim.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxocariasis is a global zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxocara canis that poses significant public health challenges. The development of a vaccine would provide a promising method to control toxocariasis. This study aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of gamma- and UV-irradiated embryonated T. canis eggs in mice. Seventy Swiss albino mice were classified into four groups: Group (I) the normal control; Group (II) was subdivided into a positive control once (IIA) and positive control twice (IIB); Group (III) was subdivided into a gamma-vaccinated control (IIIA) and gamma-vaccinated challenged (IIIB); and Group (IV) was subdivided into a UV-vaccinated control (IVA) and UV-vaccinated challenged (IVB). On the 28th day post-infection (dpi), scanning electron microscopy, parasitological, histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses were performed. Larval counts in the brains and livers of vaccinated mice were significantly decreased. Compared to the positive control groups, vaccinated groups exhibited fewer histopathological alterations, a reduced immunohistochemical expression of IL-1β in the brain and CD68 in the liver, and lower IL-4, IL-10 and IgE levels in both the gamma- and UV-vaccinated challenged groups. Among the two approaches, the UV-irradiated vaccine demonstrated superior protective effects. These findings suggest that vaccination with irradiated T. canis eggs, particularly with UV treatment, is a safe, efficient and cost-effective method for immunoprophylaxis against human toxocariasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19931,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Immunology","volume":"48 1","pages":"e70059"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145966800","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}