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Petakh P, Behzadi P, Oksenych V, Kamyshnyi O. Current treatment options for leptospirosis: a mini-review. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1403765. [PMID: 38725681 PMCID: PMC11081000 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1403765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, one of the most common global zoonotic infections, significantly impacts global human health, infecting more than a million people and causing approximately 60,000 deaths annually. This mini-review explores effective treatment strategies for leptospirosis, considering its epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and current therapeutic approaches. Emphasis is placed on antibiotic therapy, including recommendations for mild and severe cases, as well as the role of probiotics in modulating the gut microbiota. Furthermore, novel treatment options, such as bacteriophages and newly synthesized/natural compounds, are discussed, and the findings are expected to provide insights into promising approaches for combating leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Petakh
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Ukraine
- Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Payam Behzadi
- Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Valentyn Oksenych
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Oleksandr Kamyshnyi
- Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
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Fattori ACM, Montija EDA, Fragelli BDDL, Correia RDO, de Castro CA, Romanello L, Nogueira CT, Allegretti SM, Soares EG, Pereira HD, Anibal FDF. Effects of Immunization with Recombinant Schistosoma mansoni Enzymes AK and HGPRT: Murine Infection Control. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12010069. [PMID: 36678417 PMCID: PMC9866087 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is one of the most important human helminthiases worldwide. Praziquantel is the current treatment, and no vaccine is available until the present. Thus, the presented study aimed to evaluate the immunization effects with recombinant Schistosoma mansoni enzymes: Adenosine Kinase (AK) and Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), as well as a MIX of the two enzymes. Female Balb/c mice were immunized in three doses, and 15 days after the last immunization, animals were infected with S. mansoni. Our results showed that the group MIX presented a reduction in the eggs in feces by 30.74% and 29%, respectively, in the adult worms. The groups AK, HGPRT and MIX could produce IgG1 antibodies, and the groups AK and MIX produced IgE antibodies anti-enzymes and anti-S. mansoni total proteins. The groups AK, HGPRT and MIX induced a reduction in the eosinophils in the peritoneal cavity. Besides, the group AK showed a decrease in the number of hepatic granulomas (41.81%) and the eggs present in the liver (42.30%). Therefore, it suggests that immunization with these enzymes can contribute to schistosomiasis control, as well as help to modulate experimental infection inducing a reduction of physiopathology in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Maragno Fattori
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
- Correspondence: (A.C.M.F.); (F.d.F.A.)
| | - Elisandra de A. Montija
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Bruna D. de L. Fragelli
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Ricardo de O. Correia
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Cynthia Aparecida de Castro
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Larissa Romanello
- Departamento de Saúde e Psicologia, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Ituiutaba 38302-192, Brazil
| | - Camila T. Nogueira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Silmara M. Allegretti
- Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Edson G. Soares
- Laboratório de Citopatologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Humberto D. Pereira
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Fernanda de F. Anibal
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
- Correspondence: (A.C.M.F.); (F.d.F.A.)
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Ficenec SC, Grant DS, Sumah I, Alhasan F, Yillah MS, Brima J, Konuwa E, Gbakie MA, Kamara FK, Bond NG, Engel EJ, Shaffer JG, Fischer WA, Wohl DA, Emmett SD, Schieffelin JS. The prevalence of Post-Ebola Syndrome hearing loss, Sierra Leone. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:624. [PMID: 35850699 PMCID: PMC9290210 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, hearing loss is the second leading cause of disability, affecting approximately 18.7% of the world's population. However, the burden of hearing loss is unequally distributed, with the majority of affected individuals located in Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa. Following the 2014 West African Ebola Outbreak, disease survivors began to describe hearing loss as part of the constellation of symptoms known as Post-Ebola Syndrome. The goal of this study was to more fully characterize hearing loss among Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) survivors. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS EVD survivors and their household contacts were recruited (n = 1,12) from Eastern Sierra Leone. Each individual completed a symptom questionnaire, physical exam, and a two-step audiometry process measuring both air and bone conduction thresholds. In comparison to contacts, EVD survivors were more likely to have complaints or abnormal findings affecting every organ system. A significantly greater percentage of EVD survivors were found to have hearing loss in comparison to contacts (23% vs. 9%, p < 0.001). Additionally, survivors were more likely to have bilateral hearing loss of a mixed etiology. Logistic regression revealed that the presence of any symptoms of middle or inner ear (p < 0.001), eye (p = 0.005), psychiatric (p = 0.019), and nervous system (p = 0.037) increased the odds of developing hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE This study is the first to use an objective and standardized measurement to report hearing loss among EVD survivors in a clinically meaningful manner. In this study it was found that greater than 1/5th of EVD survivors develop hearing loss. The association between hearing impairment and symptoms affecting the eye and nervous system may indicate a similar mechanism of pathogenesis, which should be investigated further. Due to the quality of life and socioeconomic detriments associated with untreated hearing loss, a greater emphasis must be placed on understanding and mitigating hearing loss following survival to aid in economic recovery following infectious disease epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C Ficenec
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Donald S Grant
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Ibrahim Sumah
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Foday Alhasan
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed S Yillah
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Jenneh Brima
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Edwin Konuwa
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Michael A Gbakie
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Fatima K Kamara
- Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Nell G Bond
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Emily J Engel
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - William A Fischer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David A Wohl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Susan D Emmett
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - John S Schieffelin
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Liver Injury in US Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127515. [PMID: 35742764 PMCID: PMC9223808 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a ubiquitous obligatory intracellular parasite which infects over 40 million Americans and causes toxoplasmosis. Inside the human body, T. gondii can damage tissues and invade vital organs. Methods: This study evaluated the association of T. gondii infection and liver disease using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2010, with a sample size of 3371 participants (age 20–80 years). Toxoplasma infection was determined by the level of T. gondii IgG antibody in serum samples. Liver disease was assessed by liver injury biomarkers and the Fatty Liver Index (US-FLI). The evaluation of the association between T. gondii infection and liver disease included the calculation of the Mantel–Haenszel risk ratio (RRMH), Rho-Scott chi-square bivariate analyses, design-based t-tests, and linear and logistic regression models which were adjusted for demographic and anthropometric covariates. Results: Mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly more elevated in the T. gondii IgG-positive (IgG+) participants as compared to T. gondii-negative (IgG−) participants, p = 0.0435 and 0.0310, respectively. In linear regression analysis, exposure to T. gondii IgG+ had statistically significant positive associations with AST (p = 0.0211), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p = 0.0221), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p = 0.0258) after adjusting for BMI, age, gender, and race. T. gondii exposure was associated with an elevated relative risk of chronic liver disease (CLD) (RRMH = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.51). This association was more pronounced in certain occupations, such as construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing, where Toxoplasma infection is more common (p = 0.0477). Moreover, Toxoplasma infection increased the odds of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (OR = 6.99, 95% CI = 1.85–26.32, p = 0.0237). Conclusion: T. gondii IgG+ antibody was significantly associated with liver injury biomarkers (ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP) and an increased risk of CLD and NAFLD. Moreover, the association of Toxoplasma with CLD was more evident in specific occupations where the prevalence of Toxoplasma was high. The findings of this study provide insight into utilizing liver biomarkers and US-FLI to assess the health complications of Toxoplasma when imaging tests are not accessible.
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Decouttere C, De Boeck K, Vandaele N. Advancing sustainable development goals through immunization: a literature review. Global Health 2021; 17:95. [PMID: 34446050 PMCID: PMC8390056 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-021-00745-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunization directly impacts health (SDG3) and brings a contribution to 14 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as ending poverty, reducing hunger, and reducing inequalities. Therefore, immunization is recognized to play a central role in reaching the SDGs, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite continuous interventions to strengthen immunization systems and to adequately respond to emergency immunization during epidemics, the immunization-related indicators for SDG3 lag behind in sub-Saharan Africa. Especially taking into account the current Covid19 pandemic, the current performance on the connected SDGs is both a cause and a result of this. METHODS We conduct a literature review through a keyword search strategy complemented with handpicking and snowballing from earlier reviews. After title and abstract screening, we conducted a qualitative analysis of key insights and categorized them according to showing the impact of immunization on SDGs, sustainability challenges, and model-based solutions to these challenges. RESULTS We reveal the leveraging mechanisms triggered by immunization and position them vis-à-vis the SDGs, within the framework of Public Health and Planetary Health. Several challenges for sustainable control of vaccine-preventable diseases are identified: access to immunization services, global vaccine availability to LMICs, context-dependent vaccine effectiveness, safe and affordable vaccines, local/regional vaccine production, public-private partnerships, and immunization capacity/capability building. Model-based approaches that support SDG-promoting interventions concerning immunization systems are analyzed in light of the strategic priorities of the Immunization Agenda 2030. CONCLUSIONS In general terms, it can be concluded that relevant future research requires (i) design for system resilience, (ii) transdisciplinary modeling, (iii) connecting interventions in immunization with SDG outcomes, (iv) designing interventions and their implementation simultaneously, (v) offering tailored solutions, and (vi) model coordination and integration of services and partnerships. The research and health community is called upon to join forces to activate existing knowledge, generate new insights and develop decision-supporting tools for Low-and Middle-Income Countries' health authorities and communities to leverage immunization in its transformational role toward successfully meeting the SDGs in 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Decouttere
- KU Leuven, Access-To-Medicines research Center, Naamsestraat 69, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kim De Boeck
- KU Leuven, Access-To-Medicines research Center, Naamsestraat 69, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nico Vandaele
- KU Leuven, Access-To-Medicines research Center, Naamsestraat 69, Leuven, Belgium
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Molyneux DH, Asamoa-Bah A, Fenwick A, Savioli L, Hotez P. The history of the neglected tropical disease movement. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:169-175. [PMID: 33508096 PMCID: PMC7842098 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The history of the neglected tropical disease movement is seen through the lens of authors who worked during the last 4 decades in different roles and in different settings, from Western-based laboratories to clinical roles in endemic countries and in critical policy roles in the World Health Organization (WHO). The authors seek to identify key players from the introduction of the word 'neglected' by the late Kenneth Warren in his Rockefeller Foundation-supported Great Neglected Diseases of Mankind movement through to the more recent developments after the London Declaration of 2012. The role of the various actors-endemic countries, major pharmaceutical companies, the WHO, non-government development organizations, bilateral donors and academia-are discussed. The critical events and decisions are highlighted that were essential enabling factors in creating a viable and successful movement and with a resultant massive global public health and antipoverty impact. The importance of advocacy is emphasized in creating the momentum to establish a globally recognized public health 'brand' as a target in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Molyneux
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | | | - Alan Fenwick
- School of Public Health Imperial College Norfolk Place W2 1PG, UK
| | - Lorenzo Savioli
- P.O. Box 267, Chake Chake, Pemba Island, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Peter Hotez
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Hyder AA, Hyder MA, Nasir K, Ndebele P. Inequitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution and its effects. Bull World Health Organ 2021; 99:406-406A. [PMID: 34108746 PMCID: PMC8164189 DOI: 10.2471/blt.21.285616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adnan A Hyder
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20052, United States of America (USA)
| | | | - Khurram Nasir
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, USA
| | - Paul Ndebele
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20052, United States of America (USA)
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Babekir A, Mostafa S, Obeng-Gyasi E. The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Cardiovascular Biomarkers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4908. [PMID: 34062965 PMCID: PMC8125424 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite with high prevalence worldwide. More than 40 million individuals in the United States carry this parasite. T. gondii infection causes toxoplasmosis, which is the leading cause of death associated with foodborne diseases in the United States. T. gondii infects humans through different routes, and it is capable of invading a wide range of tissues in the human body following the infection. Methods: The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of T. gondii among adults in the United States and its association with cardiovascular health using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2009-2010). Considering the limitation of studies investigating the relationship between T. gondii and cardiovascular biomarkers, this study was focused on assessing the association of T. gondii to nine cardiovascular biomarkers. First, those biomarkers were investigated individually using several statistical tests and models. Second, we developed an overall cardiovascular biomarker index (OCBI) from eight critical biomarkers to better explain the T. gondii potential cumulative effect on the cardiovascular system. These analyses were adjusted for demographic, behavioral, and anthropometric factors. Results:T. gondii IgG antibody-positive participants had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.0022), triglycerides (p = 0.0399), C-reactive protein (p = 0.0422), gamma glutamyl transferase (p = 0.0400), and fasting glucose (p = 0.0213) than the negative participants. In addition, the positive participants had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0431) than the negative participants. Adjusting for age, T. gondii positive had a significant negative association with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0026) and a significant positive association with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0179), triglycerides (p = 0.0154), and gamma glutamyl transferase (p = 0.0026). With the exception of the low-density lipoprotein, these associations remained statistically significant when adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and anthropometric factors. These results potentially indicate the role of T. gondii in driving cardiovascular-related biomarkers toward dysfunction. The analysis also revealed a significant difference in the OCBI among positive and negative participants (p = 0.0020), with the (cumulative) odds of positive participants having a higher level of OCBI being 0.71 times lower than the odds for negative participants (OR = 0.29). Conclusions: Positive T. gondii IgG antibody was significantly associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular-related biomarkers, including systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and gamma glutamyl transferase. T. gondii-positive individuals were more likely to have a lower cardiovascular biomarkers index than the negative individuals. Finally, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among U.S. adults was associated with demographic characteristics including age, ethnicity, country of birth, and occupation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani Babekir
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA;
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Sayed Mostafa
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA;
| | - Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA;
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
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Gotlib A. Letting Go of Familiar Narratives as Tragic Optimism in the Era of COVID-19. THE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2021; 42:81-101. [PMID: 33620597 PMCID: PMC7900379 DOI: 10.1007/s10912-021-09680-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing trauma of COVID-19 will no doubt mark entire generations in ways inherent in an unmanaged global pandemic. The question that I ask is why this ongoing trauma seems so particularly profound and so uniquely shattering, and whether there is anything that we could do now, while still in the midst of disaster, to begin the process of social and moral repair? I will begin by considering the trauma of isolation with unknown time-horizons, and argue that it not only damages our experiences as social selves, but its languages of overwhelming grief rob us of hope of self-restoration. Second, I will examine some reasons for the "why us"-type of trauma experienced by so many in the Global North, and suggest that such laments are predicated on the misalignment among our socio-historical awareness, disaster-imagination, and our sense of ourselves as uniquely unfortunate. Finally, relying in part on Viktor Frankl's notion of "tragic optimism," I conclude by considering how we may begin to reconsider our traumas as not just endings of what is, but beginnings of what still might be -as repair without a master plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gotlib
- Brooklyn College CUNY, 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA.
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Abstract
The number of global COVID19 cases has just exceeded 15 million, and there is mounting evidence for a devastating economic impact from this illness. Although COVID19 affected primarily China, Europe, and North America during the first half of 2020, now this disease is accelerating in the resource-poor nations of the Global South. Across Latin America, South Asia, and Africa, COVID19 is expected to push up to 100 million people into extreme poverty, eroding many of the economic gains achieved over the last five years. COVID19 vaccines will be required to help control the pandemic, especially in low- and middle-income nations. These will have important health benefits, but might also prevent further economic devastation. The term “antipoverty vaccines” has been used to refer to vaccines to prevent neglected tropical diseases that affect worker productivity, child development, and the health of girls and women. COVID19 vaccines could also become important antipoverty technologies provided we find ways to scale and distribute them as affordable vaccines. Two vaccines now being accelerated for global health include whole inactivated virus and recombinant protein vaccines. These might become essential tools for combating global poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Studies at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Scowcroft Institute of International Studies, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- James A Baker III Institute of Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
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Fanelli S, Salvatore FP, De Pascale G, Faccilongo N. Insights for the future of health system partnerships in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:571. [PMID: 32571317 PMCID: PMC7310020 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05435-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite growing support for the private sector involvement in the provision of public health services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), a lack of clear information on the future of the provision of such services restricts the ability of managers and policy-makers to assess how feasible integration between public and private actors may be in these countries. This paper presents a systematic literature review which traces the dynamics and boundaries of public-private partnerships for the healthcare sector in LMICs. METHODS A total of 723 articles indexed in Scopus were initially submitted to bibliometric analysis. Finally, 148 articles published in several academic journals were selected for independent full-text review by two researchers. Content analysis was made in order to minimise mistakes in interpreting the findings of studies in the sample. RESULTS Public-private partnerships identified through the content analysis were categorised into four research areas: 1) Transfer of resources; 2) Co-production of health goods and services; 3) Governance networks; 4) Criteria for successful partnership development. CONCLUSIONS The four main research areas supply suggestions for a future research agenda, and managerial and policy implications for partnerships in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Fanelli
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Parma, Via J. F. Kennedy, 6, Parma, Italy.
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12
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Ficenec SC, Schieffelin JS, Emmett SD. A Review of Hearing Loss Associated with Zika, Ebola, and Lassa Fever. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:484-490. [PMID: 31333155 PMCID: PMC6726950 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The neglected tropical diseases Zika, Ebola, and Lassa fever (LF) have all been noted to cause some degree of hearing loss (HL). Hearing loss is a chronic disability that can lead to a variety of detrimental effects, including speech and language delays in children, decreased economic productivity in adults, and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults. The objective of this review is to summarize what is known regarding HL secondary to these viruses. Literature for this review was gathered using the PubMed database. Articles were excluded if there were no data of the respective viruses, postinfectious complications, or conditions related to survivorship. A total of 50 articles were included in this review. Fourteen articles discussing Zika virus and subsequent complications were included. Across these studies, 56 (21.2%) of 264 Zika-infected individuals were found to have HL. Twenty-one articles discussing Ebola virus and subsequent complications were included, with 190 (5.7%) of 3,350 Ebola survivors found to have HL. Fifteen additional articles discussing LF and subsequent complications were included. Of 926 individuals with LF, 79 (8.5%) were found to have HL. These results demonstrate a relationship between HL and infection. The true prevalence is likely underestimated, however, because of lack of standardization of reporting and measurement. Future studies of viral sequelae would benefit from including audiometric evaluation. This information is critical to understanding pathophysiology, preventing future cases of this disability, and improving quality of life after survival of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Susan D Emmett
- Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.,Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
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Caffrey CR, El‐Sakkary N, Mäder P, Krieg R, Becker K, Schlitzer M, Drewry DH, Vennerstrom JL, Grevelding CG. Drug Discovery and Development for Schistosomiasis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/9783527808656.ch8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ. "Running the Gauntlet": Formidable challenges in advancing neglected tropical diseases vaccines from development through licensure, and a "Call to Action". Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:2235-2242. [PMID: 31180271 PMCID: PMC6816440 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1629254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Translational science for new biotechnologies (e.g. drugs, vaccines, devices, or diagnostics) depend on the development of a robust ‘business case’. This is driven by complex scientific, technical, logistical, financial and operational elements to determine the feasibility and probability of traversing the “valleys of death” leading to licensure. The potential results in terms of profitability and financial realization, called ‘product value proposition’ play a crucial role in establishing incentives for investment during and after development. With this review, our goal is to summarize the challenges in taking vaccines against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) from development through licensure and provide a perspective that these vaccines can have measurable public health and economic profitability and market success. Understanding these processes and its challenges would open the opportunity to accelerate and advance these essential NTD vaccines through the last mile towards licensure and for the delivery to afflicted populations in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA.,Department of Biology, Baylor University , Waco , TX , USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA.,Department of Biology, Baylor University , Waco , TX , USA.,James A. Baker III Institute of Public Policy, Rice University , Houston , TX , USA.,Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Policy, Texas A&M University , College Station , TX , USA
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15
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Abstract
Just 2 Miles northeast of sleek downtown skyscrapers, across the Buffalo Bayou River from the Houston Astros' Minute Maid Park, lies a landscape greener than most of the urban sprawl, but absent the charm of typical Southern suburbia. The Fifth Ward of Houston, TX, is dotted with a patchwork of homes with screenless windows, many desperately clinging to their beams, surrounded by twisted chain link fences patrolled by trotting packs of skeletal stray dogs. Broken roads are lined with piles of abandoned tires, and pools of stagnant, dirty water. It is here that Dr. Peter Hotez (Figure 1) illustrates one of the wealthiest countries in the world is not immune to poverty and its associated medical crises.
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Dos Santos JC, Vilela Teodoro Silva M, Ribeiro-Dias F, Joosten LAB. Non-specific effects of BCG in protozoal infections: tegumentary leishmaniasis and malaria. Clin Microbiol Infect 2019; 25:1479-1483. [PMID: 31212075 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis and malaria are major causes of illness in the poorest countries. In the absence of efficient strategies to prevent infections and to control the transmission of the parasites by insect vectors, treatment relies on drug therapy. Vaccine development continues on several fronts; however none of the candidates developed has so far been shown to provide long-lasting protection at a population level. Because the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine can induce heterologous protective effects, we hypothesize that BCG has beneficial effects in the control of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and malaria. AIMS In this review we describe evidence for the protective efficacy of BCG against tegumentary leishmaniasis and malaria in humans. SOURCES Relevant data from peer-reviewed scientific literature published on Pubmed up to January 2019 were examined. CONTENT From experimental animal and various human studies with BCG and one recent randomized malaria trial there is evidence that BCG has beneficial effects in Leishmania spp. and Plasmodium falciparum infections. Although the precise mechanisms remain unknown, BCG can activate innate immune responses, and an increasing body of evidence demonstrates that the induction of trained innate immunity could explain its non-specific protective effects. IMPLICATIONS Despite many years of research to prevent and treat TL and malaria, these diseases remain a public health problem in tropical countries. Future studies are required to examine if BCG vaccination could be used as an effective treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Dos Santos
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Centre of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Laboratório de Imunidade Natural (LIN), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
| | - M Vilela Teodoro Silva
- Laboratório de Imunidade Natural (LIN), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - F Ribeiro-Dias
- Laboratório de Imunidade Natural (LIN), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - L A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Centre of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Hotez PJ. Science tikkun: A framework embracing the right of access to innovation and translational medicine on a global scale. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007117. [PMID: 31170155 PMCID: PMC6553693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Goel P, Parvez S, Sharma A. Genomic analyses of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases from human-infecting helminths. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:333. [PMID: 31046663 PMCID: PMC6498573 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5679-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helminth infections affect ~ 60% of the human population that lives in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. These infections result in diseases like schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, river blindness and echinococcosis. Here we provide a comprehensive computational analysis of the aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) enzyme family from 27 human-infecting helminths. Our analyses support the idea that several helminth aaRSs can be targeted for drug repurposing or for development of new drugs. For experimental validation, we focused on Onchocerciasis (also known as "river blindness"), a filarial vector-borne disease that is prevalent in Africa and Latin America. We show that halofuginone (HF) can act as a potent inhibitor of Onchocerca volvulus prolyl tRNA synthetase (OvPRS). RESULTS The conserved enzyme family of aaRSs has been validated as druggable targets in numerous eukaryotic parasites. We thus embarked on assessing aaRSs from the genomes of 27 helminths that cause infections in humans. In order to delineate the distribution of aaRSs per genome we utilized Hidden Markov Models of aaRS catalytic domains to identify all orthologues. We note that Fasciola hepatica genome encodes the highest number of aaRS-like proteins (69) whereas Taenia asiatica has the lowest count (32). The number of genes for any particular aaRS-like protein varies from 1 to 8 in these 27 studied helminths. Sequence alignments of helminth-encoded lysyl, prolyl, leucyl and threonyl tRNA synthetases suggest that various known aaRS inhibitors like Cladosporin, Halofuginone, Benzoborale and Borrelidin may be of utility against helminths. The recombinantly expressed Onchocerca volvulus PRS was used as proof of concept for targeting aaRS with drug-like molecules like HF. CONCLUSIONS Systematic analysis of unique subdomains within helminth aaRSs reveals the presence of a number of non-canonical domains like PAC3, Utp-14, Pex2_Pex12 fused to catalytic domains in the predicted helminth aaRSs. We have established a platform for biochemical validation of a large number of helminth aaRSs that can be targeted using available inhibitors to jump-start drug repurposing against human helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Goel
- 0000 0004 0498 7682grid.425195.eStructural Parasitology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, 110067 India ,0000 0004 0498 8167grid.411816.bDepartment of Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110063 India
| | - Suhel Parvez
- 0000 0004 0498 8167grid.411816.bDepartment of Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110063 India
| | - Amit Sharma
- 0000 0004 0498 7682grid.425195.eStructural Parasitology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, 110067 India
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19
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Hegazy-Hassan W, Zepeda-Escobar JA, Ochoa-García L, Contreras-Ortíz JME, Tenorio-Borroto E, Barbabosa-Pliego A, Aparicio-Burgos JE, Oros-Pantoja R, Rivas-Santiago B, Díaz-Albiter H, Garg NJ, Vázquez-Chagoyán JC. TcVac1 vaccine delivery by intradermal electroporation enhances vaccine induced immune protection against Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice. Vaccine 2018; 37:248-257. [PMID: 30497833 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.11.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The efforts for the development and testing of vaccines against Trypanosoma cruzi infection have increased during the past years. We have designed a TcVac series of vaccines composed of T. cruzi derived, GPI-anchored membrane antigens. The TcVac vaccines have been shown to elicit humoral and cellular mediated immune responses and provide significant (but not complete) control of experimental infection in mice and dogs. Herein, we aimed to test two immunization protocols for the delivery of DNA-prime/DNA-boost vaccine (TcVac1) composed of TcG2 and TcG4 antigens in a BALB/c mouse model. Mice were immunized with TcVac1 through intradermal/electroporation (IDE) or intramuscular (IM) routes, challenged with T. cruzi, and evaluated during acute phase of infection. The humoral immune response was evaluated through the assessment of anti-TcG2 and anti-TcG4 IgG subtypes by using an ELISA. Cellular immune response was assessed through a lymphocyte proliferation assay. Finally, clinical and morphopathological aspects were evaluated for all experimental animals. Our results demonstrated that when comparing TcVac1 IDE delivery vs IM delivery, the former induced significantly higher level of antigen-specific antibody response (IgG2a + IgG2b > IgG1) and lymphocyte proliferation, which expanded in response to challenge infection. Histological evaluation after challenge infection showed infiltration of inflammatory cells (macrophages and lymphocytes) in the heart and skeletal tissue of all infected mice. However, the largest increase in inflammatory infiltrate was observed in TcVac1_IDE/Tc mice when compared with TcVac1_IM/Tc or non-vaccinated/infected mice. The extent of tissue inflammatory infiltrate was directly associated with the control of tissue amastigote nests in vaccinated/infected (vs. non-vaccinated/infected) mice. Our results suggest that IDE delivery improves the protective efficacy of TcVac1 vaccine against T. cruzi infection in mice when compared with IM delivery of the vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Hegazy-Hassan
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 15.5 Carretera Panamericana Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México C.P. 50200, Mexico
| | - José Antonio Zepeda-Escobar
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 15.5 Carretera Panamericana Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México C.P. 50200, Mexico
| | - Laucel Ochoa-García
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 15.5 Carretera Panamericana Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México C.P. 50200, Mexico; Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Pública del Instituto de Salud del Estado de México, Independencia Oriente #1310 Colonia: Reforma y FFCC, CP. 50070 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - J M Eloy Contreras-Ortíz
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 15.5 Carretera Panamericana Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México C.P. 50200, Mexico
| | - Esvieta Tenorio-Borroto
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 15.5 Carretera Panamericana Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México C.P. 50200, Mexico
| | - Alberto Barbabosa-Pliego
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 15.5 Carretera Panamericana Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México C.P. 50200, Mexico
| | - José Esteban Aparicio-Burgos
- Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Escuela Superior de Apan, Carretera Apan-Calpulalpan, Km. 8, Chimalpa Tlalayote S/N, Colonia Chimalpa, Apan, C.P. 43920 Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Rigoberto Oros-Pantoja
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Departamento de Neurociencias, Tollocan esq. Jesus Carranza S/N, Colonia Moderna de la Cruz, C.P. 50180 Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico
| | - Bruno Rivas-Santiago
- Unidad de Investigación Médica Zacatecas-IMSS, Interior de la Alameda, 45, Centro, C.P. 98000 Zacatecas, Mexico
| | - Héctor Díaz-Albiter
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom; El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Villahermosa-Reforma Km 15.5, Ranchería Guineo, sección II, CP 86280 Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
| | - Nisha Jain Garg
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, United States; Departments of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Vázquez-Chagoyán
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 15.5 Carretera Panamericana Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México C.P. 50200, Mexico.
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20
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Abstract
Antipoverty vaccines are the vaccines targeting a group of approximately 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), as currently defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The “antipoverty” moniker refers to the fact that NTDs trap populations in poverty due to their chronic and deleterious effects on child intellect and worker productivity. Therefore, NTD vaccines can be expected to promote both global health and economic advancement. Unfortunately, antipoverty vaccine development has lagged behind vaccines for major childhood infections and pandemic threats, despite evidence for their cost-effectiveness and cost-savings. Currently, the only licensed vaccines for NTDs include those for yellow fever, dengue, and rabies, although several other NTD vaccines for hookworm disease, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and Zika and Ebola virus infections are in different stages of clinical development, while others are at the preclinical development stage. With the exception of the viral NTD vaccines there so far has been minimal industry interest in the antipoverty vaccines, leaving their development to a handful of non-profit product development partnerships. The major scientific and geopolitical hurdles to antipoverty vaccine development are discussed, including a rising antivaccine (“antivax”) movement now entering highly populated low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hotez
- a Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , Texas , USA.,b Departmentof Biology , Baylor University , Waco , Texas , USA.,c James A Baker III Institute of Public Policy, Rice University , Houston , Texas , USA.,d Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Policy, Texas A&M University , College Station , Texas , USA
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas; James A Baker III Institute of Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Policy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
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22
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Dikhit MR, Kumar A, Das S, Dehury B, Rout AK, Jamal F, Sahoo GC, Topno RK, Pandey K, Das VNR, Bimal S, Das P. Identification of Potential MHC Class-II-Restricted Epitopes Derived from Leishmania donovani Antigens by Reverse Vaccinology and Evaluation of Their CD4+ T-Cell Responsiveness against Visceral Leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1763. [PMID: 29312304 PMCID: PMC5735068 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most neglected tropical diseases for which no vaccine exists. In spite of extensive efforts, no successful vaccine is available against this dreadful infectious disease. To support vaccine development, an immunoinformatics approach was applied to screen potential MHC class-II-restricted epitopes that can activate the immune cells. Initially, 37 epitopes derived from six stage-dependent, overexpressed antigens were predicted, which were presented by at least 26 diverse MHC class-II allele. Based on a population coverage analysis and human leukocyte antigen cross-presentation ability, six of the 37 epitopes were selected for further analysis. Stimulation with synthetic peptide alone or as a cocktail triggered intracellular IFN-γ production. Moreover, specific IgG antibodies were detected in the serum of active VL cases against P1, P4, P5, and P6 in order to evaluate the peptide effect on the humoral immune response. Additionally, most of the peptides, except P2, were found to be non-inducers of CD4+ IL-10 against both active VL as well as treated VL subjects. This finding suggests there is no role of these peptides in the pathogenesis of Leishmania. Peptide immunogenicity was validated in BALB/c mice immunized with a cocktail of synthetic peptide emulsified in complete Freund’s adjuvant/incomplete Freund’s adjuvant. The immunized splenocytes induced strong spleen cell proliferation upon parasite re-stimulation. Furthermore, increased IFN-γ, interleukin-12, IL-17, and IL-22 production augmented with elevated nitric oxide (NO) synthesis is thought to play a crucial role in macrophage activation. In this investigation, we identified six MHC class-II-restricted epitope hotspots of Leishmania antigens that induce CD4+ Th1 and Th17 responses, which could be used to potentiate a human universal T-epitope vaccine against VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas Ranjan Dikhit
- BioMedical Informatics Division, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India.,Department of Immunology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Akhilesh Kumar
- Department of Immunology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Sushmita Das
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Budheswar Dehury
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Odisha, India
| | - Ajaya Kumar Rout
- Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Fauzia Jamal
- Department of Microbiology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Ganesh Chandra Sahoo
- BioMedical Informatics Division, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Roshan Kamal Topno
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Krishna Pandey
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - V N R Das
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Sanjiva Bimal
- Department of Immunology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
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Bangert M, Molyneux DH, Lindsay SW, Fitzpatrick C, Engels D. The cross-cutting contribution of the end of neglected tropical diseases to the sustainable development goals. Infect Dis Poverty 2017; 6:73. [PMID: 28372566 PMCID: PMC5379574 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-017-0288-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for an integrated response, the kind that has defined Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) efforts in the past decade.NTD interventions have the greatest relevance for SDG3, the health goal, where the focus on equity, and its commitment to reaching people in need of health services, wherever they may live and whatever their circumstances, is fundamentally aligned with the target of Universal Health Coverage. NTD interventions, however, also affect and are affected by many of the other development areas covered under the 2030 Agenda. Strategies such as mass drug administration or the programmatic integration of NTD and WASH activities (SDG6) are driven by effective global partnerships (SDG17). Intervention against the NTDs can also have an impact on poverty (SDG1) and hunger (SDG2), can improve education (SDG4), work and economic growth (SDG8), thereby reducing inequalities (SDG10). The community-led distribution of donated medicines to more than 1 billion people reinforces women's empowerment (SDG5), logistics infrastructure (SDG9) and non-discrimination against disability (SDG16). Interventions to curb mosquito-borne NTDs contribute to the goals of urban sustainability (SDG11) and resilience to climate change (SDG13), while the safe use of insecticides supports the goal of sustainable ecosystems (SDG15). Although indirectly, interventions to control water- and animal-related NTDs can facilitate the goals of small-scale fishing (SDG14) and sustainable hydroelectricity and biofuels (SDG7).NTDs proliferate in less developed areas in countries across the income spectrum, areas where large numbers of people have little or no access to adequate health care, clean water, sanitation, housing, education, transport and information. This scoping review assesses how in this context, ending the epidemic of the NTDs can impact and improve our prospects of attaining the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Bangert
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David H. Molyneux
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Christopher Fitzpatrick
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Engels
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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24
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The Role of Natural Products in Drug Discovery and Development against Neglected Tropical Diseases. Molecules 2016; 22:molecules22010058. [PMID: 28042865 PMCID: PMC6155950 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Endemic in 149 tropical and subtropical countries, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect more than 1 billion people annually, including 875 million children in developing economies. These diseases are also responsible for over 500,000 deaths per year and are characterized by long-term disability and severe pain. The impact of the combined NTDs closely rivals that of malaria and tuberculosis. Current treatment options are associated with various limitations including widespread drug resistance, severe adverse effects, lengthy treatment duration, unfavorable toxicity profiles, and complicated drug administration procedures. Natural products have been a valuable source of drug regimens that form the cornerstone of modern pharmaceutical care. In this review, we highlight the potential that remains untapped in natural products as drug leads for NTDs. We cover natural products from plant, marine, and microbial sources including natural-product-inspired semi-synthetic derivatives which have been evaluated against the various causative agents of NTDs. Our coverage is limited to four major NTDs which include human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis.
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25
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Loukas A, Hotez PJ, Diemert D, Yazdanbakhsh M, McCarthy JS, Correa-Oliveira R, Croese J, Bethony JM. Hookworm infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2016; 2:16088. [PMID: 27929101 DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hookworms are soil-transmitted nematode parasites that can reside for many years in the small intestine of their human hosts; Necator americanus is the predominant infecting species. Adult worms feed on the blood of a host and can cause iron deficiency anaemia, especially in high-risk populations (children and women of childbearing age). Almost 500 million people in developing tropical countries are infected, and simulation models estimate that hookworm infection is responsible for >4 million disability-adjusted life years lost annually. Humans mount an immune response to hookworms, but it is mostly unsuccessful at removing adult worms from the bowel. Accordingly, the host switches to an immune-tolerant state that enables hookworms to reside in the gut for many years. Although anthelmintic drugs are available and widely used, their efficacy varies and the drugs do not prevent reinfection. Thus, other control strategies aimed at improving water quality, sanitation and hygiene are needed. In addition, efforts are underway to develop a human hookworm vaccine through public-private partnerships. However, hookworms could also be a resource; as hookworms have the capability to regulate the host's inflammation, researchers are experimentally infecting patients to treat some inflammatory diseases as an approach to discover new anti-inflammatory molecules. This area of endeavour might well yield new biotherapeutics for autoimmune and allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Loukas
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Building E4, James Cook University, McGregor Rd, Smithfield, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College Of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Sabin Vaccine Institute, Houston, Texas, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David Diemert
- Department of Microbiology, Tropical Medicine and Immunology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.,Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington DC, USA
| | - Maria Yazdanbakhsh
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - James S McCarthy
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - John Croese
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Building E4, James Cook University, McGregor Rd, Smithfield, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology, Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jeffrey M Bethony
- Department of Microbiology, Tropical Medicine and Immunology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
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E Silva RDF, Ferreira LFGR, Hernandes MZ, de Brito MEF, de Oliveira BC, da Silva AA, de-Melo-Neto OP, Rezende AM, Pereira VRA. Combination of In Silico Methods in the Search for Potential CD4(+) and CD8(+) T Cell Epitopes in the Proteome of Leishmania braziliensis. Front Immunol 2016; 7:327. [PMID: 27621732 PMCID: PMC5002431 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases widespread throughout the globe, which are caused by protozoans from the genus Leishmania and are transmitted by infected phlebotomine flies. The development of a safe and effective vaccine against these diseases has been seen as the best alternative to control and reduce the number of cases. To support vaccine development, this work has applied an in silico approach to search for high potential peptide epitopes able to bind to different major histocompatibility complex Class I and Class II (MHC I and MHC II) molecules from different human populations. First, the predicted proteome of Leishmania braziliensis was compared and analyzed by modern linear programs to find epitopes with the capacity to trigger an immune response. This approach resulted in thousands of epitopes derived from 8,000 proteins conserved among different Leishmania species. Epitopes from proteins similar to those found in host species were excluded, and epitopes from proteins conserved between different Leishmania species and belonging to surface proteins were preferentially selected. The resulting epitopes were then clustered, to avoid redundancies, resulting in a total of 230 individual epitopes for MHC I and 2,319 for MHC II. These were used for molecular modeling and docking with MHC structures retrieved from the Protein Data Bank. Molecular docking then ranked epitopes based on their predicted binding affinity to both MHC I and II. Peptides corresponding to the top 10 ranked epitopes were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their capacity to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from post-treated cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, with PBMC from healthy donors used as control. From the 10 peptides tested, 50% showed to be immunogenic and capable to stimulate the proliferation of lymphocytes from recovered individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael de Freitas E Silva
- Department of Natural Sciences, Universidade de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil; Department of Immunology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Zaldini Hernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco , Recife, Pernambuco , Brazil
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27
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Hotez PJ, Beaumier CM, Gillespie PM, Strych U, Hayward T, Bottazzi ME. Advancing a vaccine to prevent hookworm disease and anemia. Vaccine 2016; 34:3001-3005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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28
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Hotez PJ. Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Anthropocene: The Cases of Zika, Ebola, and Other Infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004648. [PMID: 27058728 PMCID: PMC4825952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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29
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Campbell SJ, Nery SV, McCarthy JS, Gray DJ, Soares Magalhães RJ, Clements ACA. A Critical Appraisal of Control Strategies for Soil-Transmitted Helminths. Trends Parasitol 2016; 32:97-107. [PMID: 26795294 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 10/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Interventions that lead to reductions in soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) include chemotherapy with anthelmintic drugs and improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). In this opinion article we aim to determine the evidence for optimal approaches for STH control. First we explore the evidence for the above interventions. We then appraise two integration strategies: current chemotherapy-oriented integrated neglected tropical disease (NTD) control and expanded 'multicomponent integration', which includes integrated chemotherapy, WASH, and other intervention strategies. While multicomponent integrated control may be an effective approach to sustainably reduce STH transmission, there is a need for evidence to prove the feasibility of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzy J Campbell
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Susana V Nery
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - James S McCarthy
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Darren J Gray
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ricardo J Soares Magalhães
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - Archie C A Clements
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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30
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Schistosomes Enhance Plasminogen Activation: The Role of Tegumental Enolase. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005335. [PMID: 26658895 PMCID: PMC4676649 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni is a blood fluke parasite that causes schistosomiasis, a debilitating disease of global public health importance. These relatively large parasites are able to survive prolonged periods in the human vasculature without inducing stable blood clots around them. We show here that the intravascular life stages (schistosomula and adult males and females) can all promote significant plasminogen (PLMG) activation in the presence of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). This results in the generation of the potent fibrinolytic agent plasmin which could degrade blood clots forming around the worms in vivo. We demonstrate that S. mansoni enolase (SmEno) is a host-interactive tegumental enzyme that, in recombinant form, can bind PLMG and promote its activation. Like classical members of the enolase protein family, SmEno can catalyze the interconversion of 2-phospho-D-glycerate (2-PGA) and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). The enzyme has maximal activity at pH 7.5, requires Mg2+ for optimal activity and can be inhibited by NaF but not mefloquin. Suppressing expression of the SmEno gene significantly diminishes enolase mRNA levels, protein levels and surface enzyme activity but, surprisingly, does not affect the ability of the worms to promote PLMG activation. Thus, while SmEno can enhance PLMG activation, our analysis suggests that it is not the only contributor to the parasite’s ability to perform this function. We show that the worms possess several other PLMG-binding proteins in addition to SmEno and these may have a greater importance in schistosome-driven PLMG activation. Schistosomiasis affects more than 200 million people worldwide and causes up to 280,000 deaths per year. In terms of global mortality and morbidity, this disease is the most important human helminth infection. Schistosoma mansoni parasites can live for years within human blood vessels and seem to be refractory to intravascular thrombus formation. We hypothesize that the parasites are able to promote fibrinolysis in order to avoid firm clot formation around them. In this work, we characterize S. mansoni enolase (SmEno), an enzyme that is found both inside and at the surface of the intravascular worms, and we evaluate its involvement in plasminogen (PLMG) activation. We demonstrate that SmEno is highly expressed in schistosomula, the larval intravascular stages of S. mansoni, as well as adult worms and eggs. We confirm the localization of SmEno within the parasites and at the host/parasite interface. We demonstrate that tegumental SmEno is enzymatically functional and it is able to bind to and enhance the activation of human PLMG. Live parasites whose SmEno gene has been suppressed using RNAi display lower surface enolase activity, but their ability to activate PLMG is unchanged compared to control parasites. Thus, our data show that SmEno can contribute to PLMG activation, although it is not the only schistosome molecule responsible for this activity.
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31
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Hotez PJ, Herricks JR. Impact of the Neglected Tropical Diseases on Human Development in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Nations. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003782. [PMID: 26606509 PMCID: PMC4659667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jennifer R. Herricks
- Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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32
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Abstract
The 2000 Millennium Development Goals helped stimulate the development of life-saving childhood vaccines for pneumococcal and rotavirus infections while greatly expanding coverage of existing vaccines. However, there remains an urgent need to develop new vaccines for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as for respiratory syncytial virus and those chronic and debilitating (mostly parasitic) infections known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The NTDs represent the most common diseases of people living in extreme poverty and are the subject of this review. The development of NTD vaccines, including those for hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease, is being led by nonprofit product development partnerships (PDPs) working in consortia of academic and industrial partners, including vaccine manufacturers in developing countries. NTD vaccines face unique challenges with respect to their product development and manufacture, as well as their preclinical and clinical testing. We emphasize global efforts to accelerate the development of NTD vaccines and some of the hurdles to ensuring their availability to the world's poorest people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; .,Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; , .,Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030.,Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington, DC and Houston, Texas.,Baker Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77030.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76706
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; .,Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; , .,Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030.,Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington, DC and Houston, Texas.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76706
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; .,Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
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33
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Dengue Vaccines: A Perspective from the Point of View of Intellectual Property. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2015; 12:9454-74. [PMID: 26274968 PMCID: PMC4555291 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120809454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Dengue is a serious infectious disease and a growing public health problem in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. To control this neglected tropical disease (NTD), vaccines are likely to be the most cost-effective solution. This study analyzed dengue vaccines from both a historical and longitudinal perspective by using patent data, evaluating the geographic and time coverage of innovations, the primary patent holders, the network of cooperation and partnership for vaccine research and development (R &amp; D), the flow of knowledge and the technological domain involved. This study can be seen as an example of the use of patent information to inform policy discussions, strategic research planning, and technology transfer. The results show that 93% of patents were granted since 2000, the majority belonging to the United States and Europe, although the share of patents from developing countries has increased. Unlike another NTDs, there is great participation of private companies in R &amp; D of dengue vaccines and partnerships and collaboration between public and private companies. Finally, in this study, the main holders showed high knowledge absorption and generated capabilities. Therefore, this issue suggests that to overcome the difficulty of translational R &amp; D it is necessary to stimulate the generation of knowledge and relevant scientific research, to enable the productive sector to have the capacity to absorb knowledge, to turn it into innovation, and to articulate partnerships and collaboration.
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34
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Hotez PJ, Herricks JR. Helminth elimination in the pursuit of sustainable development goals: a "worm index" for human development. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003618. [PMID: 25928617 PMCID: PMC4415765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jennifer R. Herricks
- Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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35
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Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Gorham KM. Economic and financial evaluation of neglected tropical diseases. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2015; 87:329-417. [PMID: 25765199 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Economic and financing studies are particularly important for decision-making when resources are scarce or considerably limited. This is the case for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In fact, the definition of NTDs is an economic one. The shortage of resources for NTD control may be due in large part to the fact that the burden of NTDs and economic value of control measures have not been fully characterized. A number of economic study methodologies are available: cost of illness can quantify the extent, magnitude, and change of a problem; cost of intervention studies can outline the feasibility and guide the design of a policy or intervention; and cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and return-on-investment studies can determine the potential value of different interventions and policies. NTDs have unique characteristics that require special consideration in such analyses. Hence, approaches used for other diseases may need modifications to capture the full impact of NTDs. While the existing literature has made important findings, there is a need for substantially more work, as many NTDs and their associated interventions and policies require more evaluation. With increasing work in this area, NTDs may not be as 'neglected' in the future as they are now.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Y Lee
- Public Health Computational and Operations Research (PHICOR) and International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah M Bartsch
- Public Health Computational and Operations Research (PHICOR) and International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katrin M Gorham
- Public Health Computational and Operations Research (PHICOR) and International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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36
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Freitas-Silva R, Brelaz-de-Castro MCA, Rezende AM, Pereira VR. Targeting Dendritic Cells as a Good Alternative to Combat Leishmania spp. Front Immunol 2014; 5:604. [PMID: 25505469 PMCID: PMC4245024 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Freitas-Silva
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Pernambuco , Garanhuns , Brazil ; Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Recife , Brazil
| | | | - Antônio Mauro Rezende
- Department of Microbiology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Recife , Brazil
| | - Valéria Rêgo Pereira
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Recife , Brazil
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37
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Pereira AC, Esperandim VR, Ferreira da Silva D, Magalhães LG, Lima TC, Nanayakkara DNP, Cunha WR, Bastos JK, Andrade e Silva ML. Furofuran lignans display schistosomicidal and trypanocidal activities. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2014; 107:119-125. [PMID: 25200100 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases continue to be a major worldwide health problem, and there is an urgent need for development of therapeutic drugs. This paper describes synthesis of dehydrodiferulic acid dilactone 1 and dehydrodisinapic acid dilactone 2 furofuran lignans by oxidative coupling of ferulic and sinapic acids, respectively. Their schistosomicidal, trypanocidal, and leishmanicidal activities were evaluated in vitro against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms, trypomastigote and amastigotes forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, and promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. Compound 1 did not display significant schistosomicidal activity, but it presented potent trypanocidal activity, since it induced death of trypomastigotes and amastigotes with IC50/24h of 9.3μM and 7.3μM, respectively. Compound 2 had slight trypanocidal and schistosomicidal activities. None of the compounds were active against L. amazonensis. These results demonstrated that furofuran lignans are potentially useful for anti-parasitic drugs development and should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Pereira
- Grupo de Pesquisas em Produtos Naturais, Núcleo de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, Avenida Dr. Armando Salles de Oliveira, 2001, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil
| | - Viviane Rodrigues Esperandim
- Grupo de Pesquisas em Produtos Naturais, Núcleo de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, Avenida Dr. Armando Salles de Oliveira, 2001, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Lizandra Guidi Magalhães
- Grupo de Pesquisas em Produtos Naturais, Núcleo de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, Avenida Dr. Armando Salles de Oliveira, 2001, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil
| | - Thais Coelho Lima
- Grupo de Pesquisas em Produtos Naturais, Núcleo de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, Avenida Dr. Armando Salles de Oliveira, 2001, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil
| | - Dhammika N P Nanayakkara
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
| | | | - Jairo Kenupp Bastos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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38
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Blood-Siegfried J, Zeantoe GC, Evans LJ, Bondo J, Forstner JR, Wood K. The Impact of Nurses on Neglected Tropical Disease Management. Public Health Nurs 2014; 32:680-701. [PMID: 25229995 DOI: 10.1111/phn.12149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are largely endemic in the developing nations of Africa, Asia, and South and Central America, they are reemerging with increasing frequency in developed countries. Their diagnosis, treatment, and control are an increasing public health concern that requires a different awareness by health care providers. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are chronic infectious diseases which disproportionately burden poor, rural, and marginalized populations with significant mortality and high morbidity (disability, disfigurement, impaired childhood growth and cognitive development, increased vulnerability to coinfection) that reinforces their poverty. What can we learn from the nurses in developing countries already battling NTD's that could be useful in the developed world? This article provides an overview of distribution, pathophysiology, symptoms, and management of 13 NTDs, with particular attention to the role of nurses in delivering cost-effective integrated interventions. Case studies of schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis address recognition and treatment of infected individuals in developed nations where NTD infection is limited primarily to immigrants and travelers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - G Clinton Zeantoe
- Winifred J. Harley College of Health Sciences, United Methodist University, Ganta, Liberia
| | | | - John Bondo
- Mother Patern School of Health Sciences, Monrovia, Liberia
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39
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Luyai AE, Heimburg-Molinaro J, Prasanphanich NS, Mickum ML, Lasanajak Y, Song X, Nyame AK, Wilkins P, Rivera-Marrero CA, Smith DF, Van Die I, Secor WE, Cummings RD. Differential expression of anti-glycan antibodies in schistosome-infected humans, rhesus monkeys and mice. Glycobiology 2014; 24:602-18. [PMID: 24727442 PMCID: PMC4038252 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwu029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a debilitating parasitic disease of humans, endemic in tropical areas, for which no vaccine is available. Evidence points to glycan antigens as being important in immune responses to infection. Here we describe our studies on the comparative humoral immune responses to defined schistosome-type glycan epitopes in Schistosoma mansoni-infected humans, rhesus monkeys and mice. Rhesus anti-glycan responses over the course of infection were screened on a defined glycan microarray comprising semi-synthetic glycopeptides terminating with schistosome-associated or control mammalian-type glycan epitopes, as well as a defined glycan microarray of mammalian-type glycans representing over 400 glycan structures. Infected rhesus monkeys generated a high immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response to the core xylose/core α3 fucose epitope of N-glycans, which peaked at 8-11 weeks post infection, coinciding with maximal ability to kill schistosomula in vitro. By contrast, infected humans generated low antibody levels to this epitope. At 18 months following praziquantel therapy to eliminate the parasite, antibody levels were negligible. Mice chronically infected with S. mansoni generated high levels of anti-fucosylated LacdiNAc (GalNAcβ1, 4(Fucα1, 3)GlcNAc) IgM antibodies, but lacked a robust response to the core xylose/core α3 fucose N-glycan antigens compared with other species studied, and their sera demonstrated an intermediate level of schistosomula killing in vitro. These differential responses to parasite glycan antigens may be related to the ability of rhesus monkeys to self-cure in contrast to the chronic infection seen in humans and mice. Our results validate defined glycan microarrays as a useful technology to evaluate diagnostic and vaccine antigens for schistosomiasis and perhaps other infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony E Luyai
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jamie Heimburg-Molinaro
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Nina Salinger Prasanphanich
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Megan L Mickum
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yi Lasanajak
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Xuezheng Song
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - A Kwame Nyame
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
| | - Patricia Wilkins
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Carlos A Rivera-Marrero
- Division of Select Agents and Toxins, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333
| | - David F Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Irma Van Die
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W Evan Secor
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Richard D Cummings
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, 1510 Clifton Road, Suite 4001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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40
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Departments of Medical Humanities and Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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41
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Sacks DL. Vaccines against tropical parasitic diseases: a persisting answer to a persisting problem. Nat Immunol 2014; 15:403-5. [PMID: 24747701 PMCID: PMC4814932 DOI: 10.1038/ni.2853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Live and live-attenuated whole organism vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major remain the most uniformly effective vaccines against human parasitic diseases. These vaccines are discussed in terms of the nature of the T cell populations that mediate the strong and durable localized immunity to these infections, and the requirement for persisting antigen to generate and maintain the protective response. The difficulties in developing subunit vaccines that fulfill this requirement argue that despite their own formidable problems in manufacture and delivery, live and live- attenuated whole organism vaccines against human parasitic diseases should be vigorously pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Sacks
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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42
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Bolivar-Mejia A, Alarcón-Olave C, Calvo-Betancourt LS, Paniz-Mondolfi A, Delgado O, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. Toxocariasis in the Americas: Burden and Disease Control. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-013-0010-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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43
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Hotez PJ, Bethony JM, Oliveira SC, Brindley PJ, Loukas A. Multivalent anthelminthic vaccine to prevent hookworm and schistosomiasis. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 7:745-52. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.7.6.745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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44
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De Maio FG, Llovet I, Dinardi G. Chagas disease in non-endemic countries: ‘sick immigrant’ phobia or a public health concern? CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2013.836589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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45
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Barry MA, Simon GG, Mistry N, Hotez PJ. Global trends in neglected tropical disease control and elimination: impact on child health. Arch Dis Child 2013; 98:635-41. [PMID: 23793132 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of 17 lesser known chronic infections which predominantly affect poor and disenfranchised communities. There are a number of NTDs that cause significant global morbidity in children, including the three major soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections (ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection), schistosomiasis and trachoma. These NTDs, together with lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, are currently being targeted for global control and elimination through mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns. They represent the most common NTDs and share significant geographical overlap. Additionally, many individuals are polyparasitised with more than a single NTD. Integrated NTD control and elimination MDA programmes offer safe and efficacious treatments for all seven NTDs. However, the current global level of MDA coverage for the leading childhood NTDs, that is, STH infections, schistosomiasis and trachoma, remains well under 50%. Limiting factors for global coverage include insufficient global financial support, drug donation capacity of pharmaceutical companies and targeting school age children to the exclusion of other age groups in need of treatment, such as preschool age children. There is also a need for development of novel prevention and treatment modalities, such as next-generation small molecule drugs and vaccines. Efforts are underway to harness the momentum of a 2012 London Declaration on NTDs and a 2013 World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution as a means to control or in some cases eliminate by 2020 these NTDs that affect children worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan A Barry
- Interdepartmental Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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46
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Moura MLN, Dupnik KM, Sampaio GAA, Nóbrega PFC, Jeronimo AK, do Nascimento-Filho JM, Miranda Dantas RL, Queiroz JW, Barbosa JD, Dias G, Jeronimo SMB, Souza MCF, Nobre ML. Active surveillance of Hansen's Disease (leprosy): importance for case finding among extra-domiciliary contacts. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2093. [PMID: 23516645 PMCID: PMC3597486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hansen's disease (leprosy) remains an important health problem in Brazil, where 34,894 new cases were diagnosed in 2010, corresponding to 15.3% of the world's new cases detected in that year. The purpose of this study was to use home visits as a tool for surveillance of Hansen's disease in a hyperendemic area in Brazil. A total of 258 residences were visited with 719 individuals examined. Of these, 82 individuals had had a previous history of Hansen's disease, 209 were their household contacts and 428 lived in neighboring residences. Fifteen new Hansen's disease cases were confirmed, yielding a detection rate of 2.0% of people examined. There was no difference in the detection rate between household and neighbor contacts (p = 0.615). The two groups had the same background in relation to education (p = 0.510), household income (p = 0.582), and the number of people living in the residence (p = 0.188). Spatial analysis showed clustering of newly diagnosed cases and association with residential coordinates of previously diagnosed multibacillary cases. Active case finding is an important tool for Hansen's disease control in hyperendemic areas, enabling earlier diagnosis, treatment, decrease in disability from Hansen's disease and potentially less spread of Mycobacterium leprae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L. N. Moura
- Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Kathryn M. Dupnik
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases (INCT-DT), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Gabriel A. A. Sampaio
- Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Priscilla F. C. Nóbrega
- Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Ana K. Jeronimo
- Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jose M. do Nascimento-Filho
- Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Roberta L. Miranda Dantas
- Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jose W. Queiroz
- Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases (INCT-DT), Natal, RN, Brazil
- Health Post-Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - James D. Barbosa
- Health Post-Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Gutemberg Dias
- State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Selma M. B. Jeronimo
- Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
- Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases (INCT-DT), Natal, RN, Brazil
- Health Post-Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Maurício L. Nobre
- Post-Graduate Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Hospital Giselda Trigueiro, Natal, RN, Brazil
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Tapia-Conyer R, Betancourt-Cravioto M, Saucedo-Martínez R, Motta-Murguía L, Gallardo-Rincón H. Strengthening vaccination policies in Latin America: an evidence-based approach. Vaccine 2013; 31:3826-33. [PMID: 23357196 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Revised: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite many successes in the region, Latin American vaccination policies have significant shortcomings, and further work is needed to maintain progress and prepare for the introduction of newly available vaccines. In order to address the challenges facing Latin America, the Commission for the Future of Vaccines in Latin America (COFVAL) has made recommendations for strengthening evidence-based policy-making and reducing regional inequalities in immunisation. We have conducted a comprehensive literature review to assess the feasibility of these recommendations. Standardisation of performance indicators for disease burden, vaccine coverage, epidemiological surveillance and national health resourcing can ensure comparability of the data used to assess vaccination programmes, allowing deeper analysis of how best to provide services. Regional vaccination reference schemes, as used in Europe, can be used to develop best practice models for vaccine introduction and scheduling. Successful models exist for the continuous training of vaccination providers and decision-makers, with a new Latin American diploma aiming to contribute to the successful implementation of vaccination programmes. Permanent, independent vaccine advisory committees, based on the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), could facilitate the uptake of new vaccines and support evidence-based decision-making in the administration of national immunisation programmes. Innovative financing mechanisms for the purchase of new vaccines, such as advance market commitments and cost front-loading, have shown potential for improving vaccine coverage. A common regulatory framework for vaccine approval is needed to accelerate delivery and pool human, technological and scientific resources in the region. Finally, public-private partnerships between industry, government, academia and non-profit sectors could provide new investment to stimulate vaccine development in the region, reducing prices in the long term. These reforms are now crucial, particularly as vaccines for previously neglected, developing-world diseases become available. In summary, a regionally-coordinated health policy will reduce vaccination inequality in Latin America.
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Hotez PJ, Bethony JM. Parasitic disease vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4557-0090-5.00059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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49
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Hotez PJ, Dumonteil E, Heffernan MJ, Bottazzi ME. Innovation for the 'bottom 100 million': eliminating neglected tropical diseases in the Americas. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2013; 764:1-12. [PMID: 23654053 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-4726-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
An estimated 100 million people in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region live on less than US$2 per day, while another 46 million people in the US live below that nation's poverty line. Almost all of the 'bottom 100 million' people suffer from at least one neglected tropical disease (NTD), including one-half of the poorest people in the region infected with hookworms, 10% with Chagas disease, and up to 1-2% with dengue, schistosomiasis, and/or leishmaniasis. In the US, NTDs such as Chagas disease, cysticercosis, toxocariasis, and trichomoniasis are also common among poor populations. These NTDs trap the poorest people in the region in poverty, because of their impact on maternal and child health, and occupational productivity. Through mass drug administration (MDA), several NTDs are on the verge of elimination in the Americas, including lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, trachoma, and possibly leprosy. In addition, schistosomiasis may soon be eliminated in the Caribbean. However, for other NTDs including hookworm infection, Chagas disease, dengue, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, a new generation of 'anti-poverty vaccines' will be required. Several vaccines for dengue are under development by multinational pharmaceutical companies, whereas others are being pursued through non-profit product development partnerships (PDPs), in collaboration with developing country manufacturers in Brazil and Mexico. The Sabin Vaccine Institute PDP is developing a primarily preventive bivalent recombinant human hookworm vaccine, which is about to enter phase 1 clinical testing in Brazil, as well as a new therapeutic Chagas disease vaccine in collaboration with several Mexican institutions. The Chagas disease vaccine would be administered to seropositive patients to delay or prevent the onset of Chagasic cardiomyopathy (secondary prevention). Together, MDA and the development of new anti-poverty vaccines afford an opportunity to implement effective control and elimination strategies for the major NTDs in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hotez
- Sabin Vaccine Institute, Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
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50
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Periago MV, Bethony JM. Hookworm virulence factors: making the most of the host. Microbes Infect 2012; 14:1451-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Revised: 07/16/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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