Imunomodulative effect of liposomized muramyltripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (L-MTP-PE) on mice with alveolar echinococcosis and treated with albendazole

Immunogenic molecules associated with gut bacterial cell walls: chemical structures, immune-modulating functions, and mechanisms

Interactions between gut microbiome and host immune system are fundamental to maintaining the intestinal mucosal barrier and homeostasis. At the host-gut microbiome interface, cell wall-derived molecules from gut commensal bacteria have been reported to play a pivotal role in training and remodeling host immune responses. In this article, we review gut bacterial cell wall-derived molecules with characterized chemical structures, including peptidoglycan and lipid-related molecules that impact host health and disease processes via regulating innate and adaptive immunity. Also, we aim to discuss the structures, immune responses, and underlying mechanisms of these immunogenic molecules. Based on current advances, we propose cell wall-derived components as important sources of medicinal agents for the treatment of infection and immune diseases.

Probiotic Bacteria can Modulate Murine Macrophage's Superoxide Production in Trichinella Spiralis Infection

The effect of probiotic strains (Enterococcus faecium EF55, E. faecium CCM7420, E. faecium CCM8558, E. durans ED26E/7, Lactobacillus fermentum CCM7421, L. plantarum 17L/1) on the production of superoxide anion (O₂^-) in peritoneal macrophages of Trichinella spiralis infected mice was examined. E. faecium EF55 and E. faecium CCM8558 strains increased the O₂^-production prior to parasitic infection,at the day7of application.A significant inhibition of the O₂^- production caused by T. spiralis infection on day 5 post infection (p.i.) was prevented by all examined strains. Lactobacilli stimulated metabolic activity of macrophages during intestinal and early muscular phase (from day 5 to 25 p.i.) of trichinellosis. Enterococci increased the O₂^- production in early intestinal phase (day 5 p.i.) and during the muscular phase of trichinellosis (days 25 and 32 p.i.). Respected increase in macrophage’s metabolic activity induced by probiotic treatment in the intestinal phase of trichinellosis augmented the host antiparasite defence (damage and killing of newborn larvae with reactive oxygen species from macrophages).

Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO)-mebendazole as an anti-cancer agent

Mebendazole, a well-known anti-helminthic drug in wide clinical use, has anti-cancer properties that have been elucidated in a broad range of pre-clinical studies across a number of different cancer types. Significantly, there are also two case reports of anti-cancer activity in humans. The data are summarised and discussed in relation to suggested mechanisms of action. Based on the evidence presented, it is proposed that mebendazole would synergise with a range of other drugs, including existing chemotherapeutics, and that further exploration of the potential of mebendazole as an anti-cancer therapeutic is warranted. A number of possible combinations with other drugs are discussed in the Appendix.

Immune response of mice with alveolar echinococcosis to therapy with transfer factor, alone and in combination with albendazole

The effect of dialysable leucocyte extract (transfer factor TF) on immune response of mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis and treated with albendazole (ABZ) was observed. TF administration increased the parasite-suppressed proliferative response of T and B lymphocytes of infected mice from weeks 8 to 12 or 14 post infection (p.i.), respectively, with the most stimulative effect after TF+ABZ therapy. The CD4 T cell presence in the spleen of infected mice with TF or TF+ABZ therapy was increased from weeks 6 to 12 or 14 p.i., respectively. The production of IFN-gamma (Th1 cytokine) after TF or TF+ABZ therapy was significantly higher from weeks 6 to 12 p.i., and during this time, the significantly inhibited IL-5 synthesis (Th2 cytokine) was detected, particularly after TF+ABZ therapy. The superoxide anion (O2-) production in peritoneal macrophages of infected mice treated with TF or TF+ABZ was stimulated from weeks 8 to 18 p.i. The immunomodulative effect of TF reduced the growth of larval cysts till week 14 p.i. with a comparable intensity to the anthelmintic drug ABZ. Combined therapy TF+ABZ resulted in the greatest parasite restriction and reduced the cyst development till the end of the experiment.