Parasitic Diseases Commons^™

Comparative Antiscabies Efficacy Of Sonneratia Alba Extracts: Evaluation Of Plant Parts And Concentrations In Mice, Delima Engga Maretha, Lara Mukti Taresha, Karina Yuliana, Iis Ariska, Silvia Diah Lestari

Makara Journal of Science

This study evaluated the antiscabies efficacy of 70% ethanol extracts from various parts of the mangrove Sonneratia alba (leaves, flowers, bark, and roots) as a potential alternative therapy. The primary objective was to compare the healing effects of the extracts at different concentrations on scabies lesions in mice (Mus musculus). Using a completely randomized design, 24 male Swiss Webster mice were assigned to four groups: a control (K0) group and three treatment groups to receive 10% (K1), 20% (K2), and 30% (K3) extract concentrations topically twice daily. The results demonstrated that the S. alba extracts had significant effects …

Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection-Induced Changes In Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cell Morphology And Function, Lyndsey N. Gisclair, Douglas A. Johnston

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Introduction. Six to seven million individuals are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. With 12,000 deaths annually, chronic Chagas disease remains a significant global health challenge due to persistent vector transmission, increasing non-vector transmission and limited therapeutic options. Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.Gap Statement. Since its initial description more than 100 years ago, research efforts into the cardiomyopathy found in chronic Chagas disease have primarily focused on the contributions of immune cells, cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, leaving a significant gap in understanding the …

Cerebral Malaria In Chad- A Case Report Series, Megan W. Szobody, Blaise Djomg Yang, Noel Johnson, Kelsey Potter-Baker

Research Colloquium

Malaria is a serious disease caused by various species of the Plasmodium genus. Among these, Plasmodium falciparum is widely considered the most dangerous, due to its ability to infect both young and mature red blood cells (RBCs). Malarial disease, caused primarily by P. falciparum, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, and notably in Chad, accounting for over 10,000 deaths each year and with an incidence rate of over 3 million. Anyone can acquire falciparum malaria after being bitten by infected anopheles mosquitoes, but in pregnant women and young children, this disease is often deadly. A …

Rwanda's Natural Remedies: A Fresh Look At The Fight Against Malaria, Leandre Nsabimana Ndisanze

Pomona Senior Theses

Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan Africa, where Rwanda continues to face high transmission rates and rising resistance to conventional interventions. Despite decades of control efforts, the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes threatens to reverse recent gains. This research responds to the urgent need for sustainable and culturally relevant alternatives by exploring the therapeutic potential of Rwandan traditional medicinal plants. These indigenous remedies, long used by local healers, offer an underexplored reservoir of bioactive compounds that may provide the basis for novel antimalarial drugs.

The central hypothesis of this …

Review Of The Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, And Treatment Of Naegleria Fowleri-Induced Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, Terrance Zhang

MCB Articles

Naegleria fowleri is a thermophilic, ubiquitous, free-living amoeba, but is also known as the “brain-eating” amoeba. This is the etiological agent of a rare and fulminant waterborne disease known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) that is acutely fatal in 90-99% of reported cases. Those who come into contact with infested waters are at risk of introducing the amoeba into their upper nasal canal, whence the trophozoite form is known to migrate along the olfactory nerve, through the cribriform plate, and enter the central nervous system. Although the exact pathogenesis of N. fowleri is not known, studies have demonstrated contact-dependent and …

Targeting Cyp51 In The Treatment Of Acanthamoeba Keratitis, Ashkan Hassani, Vineet Sadarangani, Brad Haubrich

Annual Research Symposium

Acanthamoeba castellanii causes a rare but serious ocular infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Risk factors for infection include contact with contaminated water and poor hygiene of contact lenses. The first-line treatment is comprised of a months-long schedule of antibiotics. However, in cases where pharmacological interventions fail to address the infection, surgery may be necessary, with the continued risk of potential vision loss. Consequently, new treatments are needed, whether new pharmacological agents or new combination therapies with current agents. As an aerobic parasite, Acanthamoeba synthesizes ergosterol as a cell membrane insert, and ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (EBIs), common in antifungal pharmaceuticals, could potentially …

Microsporidiosis: Reviewing Clinical Presentation And Treatment Strategies, Julienne Zhou, Belinda Liu, Megan Dearmond, David Banach, Brad Haubrich

Annual Research Symposium

Microsporidiosis is an opportunistic infection caused by obligate intracellular pathogens within the taxon Microsporidia. Infection is zoonotic and has been associated with patients experiencing immunodeficiency, though incidence is increasing among other populations. Most commonly, the disease is gastrointestinal, typically by Enterocytozoon bieneusi and less commonly by Encephalitozoon intestinalis. Symptoms present with diarrhea and vomiting, and severe cases can lead to wasting and mortality. While the incorporation of anti-retroviral therapy for HIV patients has significantly decreased mortality in a subset of the vulnerable populations, treatment for microsporidiosis is still not standardized or well explored. Resistance to first-line treatment albendazole is increasing, …

การแยกและการเพาะเลี้ยงสาหร่ายขนาดเล็กและความหลากหลายของจุลินทรีย์ที่อาศัยอยู่ในกระเพาะอาหารของลูกน้ำและแหล่งเพาะพันธุ์ของยุงลายบ้าน Aedes Aegypti, จีริสุดา พรหมเพรา

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ยุงลายบ้านเป็นพาหะสำคัญของโรคที่เกิดจากไวรัส เช่น โรคไข้เลือดออก โรคชิคุนกุนยา และโรคซิกา ก่อให้เกิดการเจ็บป่วยและเสียชีวิตทั่วโลก ไม่กี่ปีที่ผ่านมามีรายงานว่าสาหร่ายขนาดเล็กสามารถยับยั้งการเจริญของลูกน้ำยุงและส่งผลต่อจุลินทรีย์ในกระเพาะอาหารของยุง ซึ่งเป็นแนวทางในการพัฒนากลยุทธ์ใหม่สำหรับควบคุมพาหะนำโรค เพื่อแยก เพาะเลี้ยง และตรวจสอบความสัมพันธ์และความหลากหลายของสาหร่ายขนาดเล็กและจุลินทรีย์ในกระเพาะอาหารของลูกน้ำยุงและน้ำจากแหล่งเพาะพันธุ์ยุงลายบ้าน จากจังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช โดยใช้กล้องจุลทรรศน์แบบใช้แสงและเทคนิคเมตาบาร์โค้ด พบสาหร่ายขนาดเล็ก 10 สกุล ด้วยกล้องจุลทรรศน์แบบใช้แสง และด้วยเทคนิคเมตาบาร์โค้ด 25 สกุล รวมถึงไดอะตอมในอันดับ Achnanthales โดยพบสาหร่ายขนาดเล็กจากทั้ง 2 วิธี 4 สกุล ได้แก่ Tetradesmus, Nannochloropsis, Monoraphidium และ Leptolyngbya และมี 2 สกุล คือ Tetradesmus และ Leptolyngbya ที่พบจากทั้งกระเพาะอาหารและแหล่งเพาะพันธุ์ของยุงลายบ้าน ส่วนจุลินทรีย์พบทั้งหมด 18 ไฟลัม โดยพบมากที่สุดทั้งในกระเพาะอาหารลูกน้ำและในน้ำจากแหล่งเพาะพันธุ์ยุงเดียวกัน ได้แก่ ไฟลัม Proteobacteria, Planctomycetota และ Actinobacteriota ตามลำดับ สะท้อนถึงความสอดคล้องขององค์ประกอบจุลินทรีย์ระหว่างสิ่งแวดล้อมและตัวอ่อนของยุง บ่งชี้ถึงความเชื่อมโยงทางชีวภาพระหว่างสิ่งแวดล้อมและลูกน้ำยุงลายบ้าน ซึ่งนำไปประยุกต์ใช้ในการพัฒนาวิธีควบคุมลูกน้ำยุงอย่างยั่งยืนและเป็นมิตรต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมได้

Autochthonous Plasmodium Vivax Infections, Florida, Usa, 2023, Swamy Rakesh Adapa, Kami Kim, Liwang Cui

College of Medicine & TGH Faculty Publications

During May–July 2023, a cluster of 7 patients at local hospitals in Florida, USA, received a diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Whole-genome sequencing of the organism from 4 patients and phylogenetic analysis with worldwide representative P. vivax genomes indicated probable single parasite introduction from Central/South America.

Effect Of Temperature On The Microbiome Of A Laboratory Reared Colony Of Haemaphysalis Longicornis Ticks, Brianna Mitchell

Poster Presentations

Honors research poster.

Haemaphysalis longicornis is a species of tick native to eastern Asia, including eastern China, Japan, eastern Russia, and Korea. To date, it has invaded and has now established its existence in Australia, New Zealand, and several of the Pacific Islands. This species of tick has recently been introduced to the United States, having a confirmed sighting in November 2017 on a sheep farm in New Jersey and since establishing populations in 18 states along the east coast and Appalachia. Based on the existing locations of H. longicornis in its native regions, as well as in the United …

Investigating Novel Chemotherapeutics Against The Parasite Toxoplasma Gondii, Braydon Dreher

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan, is a globally prevalent parasite due to the infectivity of T. gondii with nearly 2.5 billion people affected worldwide. Toxoplasma gondii can cause toxoplasmosis, which is a disease acquired through the consumption of undercooked meat or found in the feces of felines, and often leads to profound neuropathology and potentially death. Currently, acute toxoplasmosis is treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which is a combination of an antiprotozoal and a sulfonamide. This combination of drugs directly targets the acute stage of infection but has failed to eliminate or impact the chronic carriage of bradyzoites while …

Effect Of Temperature On The Microbiome Of A Laboratory-Reared Colony Of Haemaphysalis Longicornis Ticks, Brianna L. Mitchell

Honors Theses

Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks are invasive to the United States with potential to transmit several tick-borne pathogens that are native to the United States. Based on existing locations of H. longicornis in its native regions in Asia, as well as its invasive populations that are established in the United States, several geographic range prediction models have been produced to help understand future range expansion and distribution of this invasive tick in North America. Unfortunately, these models do not all agree and there is uncertainty associated with the potential geographic range expansion of H. longicornis ticks in North America. Climate can affect …

A Systematic Review: Toxoplasma Gondii Infection And Drugs Of Abuse, Amani Sastry

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Transmission Competence Of B. Burgdorferi Infected Ixodes Ticks And Development Of An Ospc-Based Lyme Disease Vaccine, Samanta Kamalika

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Lyme disease, otherwise called Lyme borreliosis, is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Studying the increase in overall Lyme disease incidence requires understanding the role of the vector Ixodes scapularis (I. scapularis) as the agent that carries the spirochete which is important to limit the occurrence of Lyme disease. Once we understand the vector-pathogen response, it also becomes important to determine the remedies for Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics if detected early, but the major obstacle lies in the early detection process. Therefore, it is important to investigate alternative preventive …

A Reactivation Of Ocular Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy, Brett Garee Od, Ms, Sarah Dieter Od, Pete Liette Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite estimated to affect over 500 million people worldwide. The feline is the definitive host for the parasite and infection may be acquired or congenital via maternal transmission. Humans may acquire the infection by ingestion of raw or undercooked meats and vegetables, contaminated water, or exposure to infected cat feces. The infection is often benign, self-limiting, and asymptomatic for humans, but potentially life threatening to infants or the immunocompromised patient.

Case Report: A 22 year-old Caucasian female, pregnant at 12 weeks gestation, presented to the optometry service with acute symptoms of hazy vision …

Infection And Transmission Determinants Of Flea-Borne Rickettsioses, Hanna J. Laukaitis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

The genus Rickettsia is comprised of Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria that are spread by hematophagous arthropods. Elucidating the factors conferring rickettsial virulence has perplexed investigators for decades, complicated by the lack of efficient genetic tools necessary to uncover rickettsial- and vector-specific factors contributing to persistence. The advent of transposon mutagenesis has enabled the field to make vast developments in uncovering novel rickettsial mechanisms utilized in various host backgrounds. Thus, the aim of this study was to generate Rickettsia felis transposon mutants and characterize novel phenotypes associated with genetic disruption in an arthropod background. Distribution of rickettsiae is reliant on the …

Trypanosoma Cruzi Modulates Piwi-Interacting Rna Expression In Primary Human Cardiac Myocytes During The Early Phase Of Infection, Kayla J. Rayford, Ayorinde Cooley, Ashutosh Arun, Girish Rachakonda, Yulia Kleschenko, Fernando Villalta, Siddharth Pratap, Maria F. Lima, Pius N. Nde

Publications and Research

Trypanosoma cruzi dysregulates the gene expression profile of primary human cardiomyocytes (PHCM) during the early phase of infection through a mechanism which remains to be elucidated. The role that small non-coding RNAs (sncRNA) including PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) play in regulating gene expression during the early phase of infection is unknown. To understand how T. cruzi dysregulate gene expression in the heart, we challenged PHCM with T. cruzi trypomastigotes and analyzed sncRNA, especially piRNA, by RNA-sequencing. The parasite induced significant differential expression of host piRNAs, which can target and regulate the genes which are important during the early infection phase. An …

Plasmodium Impairs Antibacterial Innate Immunity To Systemic Infections In Part Through Hemozoin-Bound Bioactive Molecules., Christopher Lynn Harding

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite efforts to decrease the global health burden of malaria, infections with Plasmodium species continue to cause over 200 million episodes of malaria each year which resulted in 405,000 deaths in 2018 [1]. One complication of malaria is increased susceptibility to invasive bacterial infections. Plasmodium infections impair host immunity to non-Typhoid Salmonella (NTS) through activities of heme oxygenase I (HO-I) )-induced release of immature granulocytes and myeloid cell-derived IL-10. Yet, it is not known if these mechanisms are specific to NTS. We show here, that Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL (Py) infected mice had impaired clearance of systemic Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) during …

Tick-Borne Infections In New Hampshire: An Evaluation Of The Diagnostic Process In A Local Patient Population, Katherine Anderson

Honors Theses and Capstones

Overall, approximately 95 percent of reported cases of vector-borne disease were associated with ticks, making these the most medically important group of arthropods in the United States.¹ Despite the prevalence of tick-borne infections, the process for the diagnosis of this condition is not well studied. This study aims to analyze data from a pool of 100 patients who underwent testing for tick-borne disease in the same institution in Dover, New Hampshire during the most recent peak tick season of 2019. Information utilized in this study included: patient age, sex, location of testing (inpatient versus outpatient), diagnostic testing methods used …

Bridging The Gap On Schistosomiasis: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining The Knowledge Gap And Common Attitudes And Practices Regarding S. Mansoni Infections Among Varying Education Levels In Luanda K’Otieno, Western Kenya, Kathy Zhang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most effective strategy for schistosomiasis control is through preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel (PZQ). In order to successfully control morbidity rates, the WHO recommends mass treatment targeting high risk groups, such as school-age children and adults considered to be at risk.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the effects of the National School-Based Deworming Programme (NSBDP) on knowledge of schistosomiasis and subsequent prevalence rates and intensity. A total of 43 residents in Luanda K’Otieno were interviewed, and 34 of …

Improving Access To Clean Water In Rural Ecuador: The Connection Between Willingness To Pay And Population Health, Micalea Leaska

Capstone Collection

Climate change is affecting social and environmental determinants of health through access to safe drinking water, safely managed sanitation systems, and access to health care services and the ability for individuals to break free from unsuitable circumstances. Ecological disturbances such as those caused by climate change can cause a shift in host vectors or a change in habitat that results in a greater likelihood of the pathogen coming in contact with humans. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and their accessibility to populations can directly impact a community’s vulnerability to diseases and limiting factors to increase economic growth. If rural …

การตรวจทางอณูชีววิทยาของเชื้อลิชมาเนียและทริพาโนโซมในจิ้งจกจากแหล่งระบาดของโรคลิชมาเนียในภาคใต้ของประเทศไทย, ประพิมพร ตุ่นทอง

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

จิ้งจกเป็นสัตว์เลื้อยคลานขนาดเล็กที่จัดอยู่ในสกุล Hemidactylus สามารถพบได้ในที่อยู่อาศัยของมนุษย์ ได้มีการรายงานว่าจิ้งจกสามารถเป็นแหล่งกักเก็บโรคได้ เช่น แบคทีเรีย และโปรโตซัว สำหรับในประเทศไทยเชื้อ Leishmania spp. และ Trypanosoma spp. มีการติดต่อสู่คนและสัตว์โดยการกัดของริ้นฝอยทรายเพศเมีย อย่างไรก็ตามข้อมูลในสัตว์ที่เป็นแหล่งกักเก็บโรคของเชื้อโปรโตซัวดังกล่าวในประเทศไทยยังมีอยู่อย่างจำกัด ในการศึกษาครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อตรวจหาเชื้อ Leishmania และ Trypanosoma DNA ในจิ้งจกที่เก็บจากบ้านของผู้ป่วย leishmaniasis ในภาคใต้ของประเทศไทย จากตัวอย่างจำนวน 57 ตัวอย่างซึ่งได้จากจิ้งจกทั้งหมด 19 ตัว ประกอบด้วยตับ ม้าม และหัวใจ ตัวอย่างทั้งหมดถูกนำมาใช้ในการตรวจหา DNA ของเชื้อ Leishmania spp. และ Trypanosoma spp. โดยเทคนิค Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) จากตำแหน่งยีน ITS1 และ SSU rRNA ตามลำดับ โดยผลการทดลองพบว่า มี 15 ตัวอย่างที่ตรวจพบเชื้อ Trypanosoma spp. ประกอบไปด้วย ตับ 4 ตัวอย่าง ม้าม 5 ตัวอย่าง และหัวใจ 6 ตัวอย่างจากตัวอย่างจิ้งจกทั้งหมด 9 ตัว แต่ไม่สามารถตรวจพบเชื้อ Leishmania spp. ในการศึกษาครั้งนี้ จากผลแผนภูมิวิวัฒนาการที่ตำแหน่งยีน ITS1 แสดงให้เห็นว่า เชื้อ Trypanosoma spp. จัดอยู่ใน An04/Frog1 ของกลุ่ม Anura clade และผลแผนภูมิวิวัฒนาการของจิ้งจกที่ตำแหน่งยีน cytb แสดงให้เห็นว่าจิ้งจกทั้งหมดในการศึกษาครั้งนี้มีความเหมือนกับจิ้งจกสายพันธุ์ Hemidactylus platyurus ที่จัดอยู่ในกลุ่ม tropical asian clade โดยการศึกษานี้เป็นการตรวจพบเชื้อ Trypanosoma spp.ในจิ้งจกเป็นครั้งแรก ซึ่งข้อมูลที่ได้จากการศึกษาครั้งนี้แสดงให้เห็นว่าจิ้งจกอาจมีศักยภาพเป็นแหล่งเก็บโรคของเชื้อ Trypanosoma spp. นอกจากนี้การศึกษาอาจเป็นประโยขน์ในการป้องกันและควบคุมโรค Trypanosomiasis …

Reversible Manifestations Of Extraparenchymal Neurocysticercosis, Edison M. Campos, Flavius D. Raslau, Robert Salinas, Daniela Di Capua, John T. Slevin, Mauricio F. Villamar

Neurology Faculty Publications

Movement disorders are uncommon manifestations of neurocysticercosis. When present, most are secondary to parenchymal lesions in the basal ganglia. Rarely, movement disorders can occur in racemose/extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis, an aggressive variant frequently associated with cerebrospinal fluid outflow obstruction and hydrocephalus. Appropriate treatment can reverse neurological manifestations.

The Small Rna Complement Of Adult Schistosoma Haematobium., Andreas J Stroehlein, Neil D Young, Pasi K Korhonen, Ross S Hall, Aaron R Jex, Bonnie L Webster, David Rollinson, Paul J Brindley, Robin B Gasser

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma cause schistosomiasis-a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Studies of schistosome genomes have improved our understanding of the molecular biology of flatworms, but most of them have focused largely on protein-coding genes. Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) have been explored in selected schistosome species and are suggested to play essential roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes, and in modulating flatworm-host interactions. However, genome-wide small RNA data are currently lacking for key schistosomes including Schistosoma haematobium-the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis of humans.

METHODOLOGY: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and other …

Drug Repurposing For Schistosomiasis: Combinations Of Drugs Or Biomolecules., Maria João Gouveia, Paul J Brindley, Fátima Gärtner, José M Correia Da Costa, Nuno Vale

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease. Control of schistosomiasis currently relies on a single drug, praziquantel, and despite its efficacy against the all schistosome species that parasitize humans, it displays some problematic drawbacks and alone is ineffective in counteracting adverse pathologies associated with infection. Moreover, due to the development of the potential emergence of PZQ-resistant strains, the search for additional or alternative antischistosomal drugs have become a public health priority. The current drug discovery for schistosomiasis has been slow and uninspiring. By contrast, repurposing of existing approved drugs may offer a safe, rapid and cost-effective alternative. Combined treatment with …

Sertraline, Paroxetine, And Chlorpromazine Are Rapidly Acting Anthelmintic Drugs Capable Of Clinical Repurposing., Janis C Weeks, William M Roberts, Caitlyn Leasure, Brian M Suzuki, Kristin J Robinson, John M Hawdon, +Several Additional Authors

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Parasitic helminths infect over 1 billion people worldwide, while current treatments rely on a limited arsenal of drugs. To expedite drug discovery, we screened a small-molecule library of compounds with histories of use in human clinical trials for anthelmintic activity against the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. From this screen, we found that the neuromodulatory drugs sertraline, paroxetine, and chlorpromazine kill C. elegans at multiple life stages including embryos, developing larvae and gravid adults. These drugs act rapidly to inhibit C. elegans feeding within minutes of exposure. Sertraline, paroxetine, and chlorpromazine also decrease motility of adult Trichuris muris whipworms, prevent hatching …

Granulin Secreted By The Food-Borne Liver Fluke, Brandon Haugen, Shannon E Karinshak, Victoria H Mann, Anastas Popratiloff, Alex Loukas, Paul J Brindley, Michael J Smout

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

The liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is a food-borne, zoonotic pathogen endemic to Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia. The adult developmental stage of the O. viverrini parasite excretes and secretes numerous proteins within the biliary tract including the gall bladder. Lesions caused by the feeding activities of the liver fluke represent wounds that undergo protracted cycles of healing and re-injury during chronic infection, which can last for decades. Components of the excretory/secretory (ES) complement released by the worms capably drive proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and are implicated in establishing the oncogenic milieu that leads to bile duct …

Granulin Secreted By The Food-Borne Liver Fluke Opisthorchis Viverrini Promotes Angiogenesis In Human Endothelial Cells, Brandon Haugen, Shannon Karinshak, Victoria H. Mann, Anastas Popratiloff, Alex Loukas, Paul J. Brindley, Michael J. Smout

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

The liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is a food-borne, zoonotic pathogen endemic to Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia. The adult developmental stage of the O. viverrini parasite excretes and secretes numerous proteins within the biliary tract including the gall bladder. Lesions caused by the feeding activities of the liver fluke represent wounds that undergo protracted cycles of healing and re-injury during chronic infection, which can last for decades. Components of the excretory/secretory (ES) complement released by the worms capably drive proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and are implicated in establishing the oncogenic milieu that leads to bile duct …

Controlled Human Hookworm Infection: Accelerating Human Hookworm Vaccine Development, David Diemert, Doreen Campbell, Jill Brelsford, Caitlyn Leasure, Guangzhao Li, Naji Younes, +Several Additional Authors

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Controlled human hookworm infection (CHHI) is a central component of a proposed hookworm vaccination-challenge model (HVCM) to test the efficacy of candidate vaccines. Critical to CHHI is the manufacture of Necator americanus infective larvae (NaL3) according to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and the determination of an inoculum of NaL3 that is safe and reliably induces patent infection. Methods

cGMP-grade NaL3 were produced for a phase 1 trial in 20 healthy, hookworm-naïve adults in the United States, who received either 25 or 50 NaL3. Participants were monitored for 12–18 weeks postinfection for safety, tolerability, …

Transplantation Of Schistosome Sporocysts Between Host Snails: A Video Guide., Gabriel Mouahid, Anne Rognon, Ronaldo De Carvalho Augusto, Patrick Driguez, Kathy Geyer, Shannon Karinshak, Nelia Luviano, Victoria Mann, Thomas Quack, Kate Rawlinson, George Wendt, Christoph Grunau, Hélène Moné

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease, touching roughly 200 million people worldwide. The causative agents are different Schistosoma species. Schistosomes have a complex life cycle, with a freshwater snail as intermediate host. After infection, sporocysts develop inside the snail host and give rise to human dwelling larvae. We present here a detailed step-by-step video instruction in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese that shows how these sporocysts can be manipulated and transferred from one snail to another. This procedure provides a technical basis for different types of ex vivo modifications, such as those used in functional genomics studies.