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Toychiev A, Gafner N, Belotserkovets V, Sekler D, Tashpulatova S, Osipova S. Impact of Ascaris lumbricoides infection on the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with COPD. Trop Doct 2024; 54:149-156. [PMID: 38291709 DOI: 10.1177/00494755241226488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The aetiopathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the possible influence of Ascaris lumbricoides on the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in patients with COPD. The prevalence of A. lumbricoides in patients with COPD with CPA (19.05%) was significantly higher than that in those without (9.20%) and controls (4.9%) (p < 0.05). Trends in levels of Interleukin-1β and of tumour necrosis factor α suggest ascariasis increases susceptibility to Aspergillus sp. in patients with COPD and can be considered an additional risk factor for CPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdurakhim Toychiev
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Immunology of Parasitic and Fungal Diseases, Republican Specialized Research and Practical Medical Center of Epidemiology, Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Natalya Gafner
- Pulmonologist, Department of Therapy, Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Tuberculosis and Pulmonology, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Vera Belotserkovets
- Pulmonologist, Department of Therapy, Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Tuberculosis and Pulmonology, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Dildora Sekler
- Senior Researcher, Department of Immunology of Parasitic and Fungal Diseases, Republican Specialized Research and Practical Medical Center of Epidemiology, Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Shakhnoza Tashpulatova
- Associate Professor, Department of Infectious and Child Infectious Diseases, Tashkent Medical Academy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Svetlana Osipova
- Principal Investigator, Department of Immunology of Parasitic and Fungal Diseases, Republican Specialized Research and Practical Medical Center of Epidemiology, Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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Souza JLN, Lopes CDA, Leal-Silva T, Vieira-Santos F, Amorim CCO, Padrão LDLS, Antunes Porto AR, Fujiwara RT, Russo RC, Bueno LL. Evaluation of reference genes for gene expression analysis by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in different tissues from mice infected by Ascaris suum. Microb Pathog 2024; 189:106567. [PMID: 38364877 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Human ascariasis is the most prevalent helminth infection, affecting 445 million people worldwide. To better understand the impact of the immune system on the pathophysiology of individuals infected with Ascaris suum, mice have been used as experimental models. The RT-qPCR technique is a critical auxiliary tool of investigation used to quantify mRNA levels. However, proper normalization using reference genes is essential to ensure reliable outcomes to avoid analytical errors and false results. Despite the importance of reference genes for experimental A. suum infection studies, no specific reference genes have been identified yet. Therefore, we conducted a study to assess five potential reference genes (GAPDH, 18s, ACTB, B2M, and HPRT1) in different tissues (liver, lungs, small and large intestines) affected by A. suum larval migration in C57BL/6j mice. Tissue collection was carried out to analyze parasite burden and confirm the presence of larvae during the peak of migration in each tissue. Upon confirmation, we analyzed different genes in the tissues and found no common gene with stable expression. Our results highlight the importance of analyzing different genes and using different software programs to ensure reliable relative expression results. Based on our findings, B2M was ranked as the ideal reference gene for the liver, while 18S was the most stable gene in the lung and small intestine. ACTB, or a combination of ACTB with GAPDH, was deemed suitable as reference genes for the large intestine due to their stable expression and less variation between the control and infected groups. To further demonstrate the impact of using different reference genes, we normalized the expression of a chemokine gene (CXCL9) in all tissues. Significant differences in CXCL9 expression levels were observed between different groups in all tissues except for the large intestine. This underscores the importance of selecting appropriate reference genes to avoid overestimating target gene expression levels and encountering normalization-related issues that can lead to false results. In conclusion, our study highlights the significance of using reliable reference genes for accurate RT-qPCR analysis, especially in the context of A. suum infection studies in different tissues. Proper normalization is crucial to ensure the validity of gene expression data and avoid potential pitfalls in interpreting results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Lucas Nascimento Souza
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Mechanics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Camila de Almeida Lopes
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thais Leal-Silva
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Flaviane Vieira-Santos
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Chiara Cássia Oliveira Amorim
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Luiza de Lima Silva Padrão
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Rafaela Antunes Porto
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Remo Castro Russo
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Mechanics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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Wu Y, Adeniyi-Ipadeola G, Adkins-Threats M, Seasock M, Suarez-Reyes C, Fujiwara R, Bottazzi ME, Song L, Mills JC, Weatherhead JE. Host gastric corpus microenvironment facilitates Ascaris suum larval hatching and infection in a murine model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011930. [PMID: 38324590 PMCID: PMC10878500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascariasis (roundworm) is the most common parasitic helminth infection globally and can lead to significant morbidity in children including chronic lung disease. Children become infected with Ascaris spp. via oral ingestion of eggs. It has long been assumed that Ascaris egg hatching and larval translocation across the gastrointestinal mucosa to initiate infection occurs in the small intestine. Here, we show that A. suum larvae hatched in the host stomach in a murine model. Larvae utilize acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase; acid chitinase; Chia) from chief cells and acid pumped by parietal cells to emerge from eggs on the surface of gastric epithelium. Furthermore, antagonizing AMCase and gastric acid in the stomach decreases parasitic burden in the liver and lungs and attenuates lung disease. Given Ascaris eggs are chitin-coated, the gastric corpus would logically be the most likely organ for egg hatching, though this is the first study directly evincing the essential role of the host gastric corpus microenvironment. These findings point towards potential novel mechanisms for therapeutic targets to prevent ascariasis and identify a new biomedical significance of AMCase in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Grace Adeniyi-Ipadeola
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mahliyah Adkins-Threats
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Departments of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Matthew Seasock
- Department of Medicine, Immunology, Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Charlie Suarez-Reyes
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ricardo Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lizhen Song
- Department of Medicine, Immunology, Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jason C. Mills
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Departments of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jill E. Weatherhead
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Oliveira FMS, Kraemer L, Vieira-Santos F, Leal-Silva T, Gazzinelli-Guimarães AC, Lopes CA, Amorim CCO, Pinheiro GRG, Moura MS, Matias PHP, Barbosa FS, Caliari MV, Weatherhead JE, Bueno LL, Russo RC, Fujiwara RT. The long-lasting Ascaris suum antigens in the lungs shapes the tissue adaptation modifying the pulmonary architecture and immune response after infection in mice. Microb Pathog 2024; 186:106483. [PMID: 38092133 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Ascariasis is the most prevalent helminth affecting approximately 819 million people worldwide. The acute phase of Ascariasis is characterized by larval migration of Ascaris spp., through the intestinal wall, carried to the liver and lungs of the host by the circulatory system. Most of the larvae subsequently transverse the lung parenchyma leading to tissue injury, reaching the airways and pharynx, where they can be expectorated and swallowed back to the gastrointestinal tract, where they develop into adult worms. However, some larvae are trapped in the lung parenchyma inciting an inflammatory response that causes persistent pulmonary tissue damage long after the resolution of infection, which returns to tissue homeostasis. However, the mechanism by which chronic lung disease develops and resolves remains unknown. Here, using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that small fragments and larval antigens of Ascaris suum are deposited and retained chronically in the lung parenchyma of mice following a single Ascaris infection. Our results reveal that the prolonged presence of Ascaris larval antigens in the lung parenchyma contributes to the persistent immune stimulation inducing histopathological changes observed chronically following infection, and clearly demonstrate that larval antigens are related to all phases of tissue adaptation after infection: lung injury, chronic inflammation, resolution, and tissue remodeling, in parallel to increased specific humoral immunity and the recovery of lung function in mice. Additional insight is needed into the mechanisms of Ascaris antigen to induce chronic immune responses and resolution in the host lungs following larval migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrício M S Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Cellular and Molecular Immunology Group, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1.715, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lucas Kraemer
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Flaviane Vieira-Santos
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thaís Leal-Silva
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana C Gazzinelli-Guimarães
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Camila A Lopes
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Chiara C O Amorim
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Guilherme R G Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Matheus S Moura
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Pablo H P Matias
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo V Caliari
- Laboratory of Protozooses, Department of General Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jill E Weatherhead
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lilian L Bueno
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Remo C Russo
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Mechanics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo T Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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5
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Atwell J, Chico M, Vaca M, Arévalo‐Cortes A, Karron R, Cooper PJ. Effect of infant viral respiratory disease on childhood asthma in a non-industrialized setting. Clin Transl Allergy 2023; 13:e12291. [PMID: 37632244 PMCID: PMC10408584 DOI: 10.1002/clt2.12291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are limited data from non-industrialized settings on the effects of early life viral respiratory disease on childhood respiratory illness. We followed a birth cohort in tropical Ecuador to understand how early viral respiratory disease, in the context of exposures affecting airway inflammation including ascariasis, affect wheezing illness, asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis in later childhood. METHODS A surveillance cohort nested within a birth cohort was monitored for respiratory infections during the first 2 years in rural Ecuador and followed for 8 years for the development of wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis. Nasal swabs were examined for viruses by polymerase chain reaction and respiratory symptom data on recent wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis were collected by periodic questionnaires at 3, 5, and 8 years. Stools from pregnant mothers and periodically from children aged 2 years were examined microscopically for soil-transmitted helminths. Atopy was measured by allergen skin prick testing at 2 years. Spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement, and nasal washes were performed at 8 years. Associations between clinically significant respiratory disease (CSRD) and wheezing or rhinoconjunctivitis at 3, 5, and 8 years were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Four hundred and twenty six children were followed of which 67.7% had at least one CSRD episode; 12% had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)+CSRD and 36% had rhinovirus (RHV)+CSRD. All-cause CSRD was associated with increased wheeze at 3 (OR 2.33 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.23-4.40]) and 5 (OR: 2.12 [95% CI 1.12-4.01]) years. RHV+CSRD was more strongly associated with wheeze at 3 years in STH-infected (STH-infected [OR 13.41, 95% CI 1.56-115.64] vs. uninfected [OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.73-3.84]) and SPT+ (SPT+ [OR 9.42, 95% CI 1.88-47.15] versus SPT- [OR 1.92, 95% CI 0.84-4.38]) children. No associations were observed between CSRD and rhinoconjunctivitis. DISCUSSION CSRD was significantly associated with childhood wheeze with stronger associations observed for RHV+CSRD in SPT+ and STH-infected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Atwell
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Martha Chico
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para la Investigacion en SaludQuitoEcuador
| | - Maritza Vaca
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para la Investigacion en SaludQuitoEcuador
| | | | - Ruth Karron
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Philip J. Cooper
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana Para la Investigacion en SaludQuitoEcuador
- Escuela de MedicinaUniversidad Internacional del EcuadorQuitoEcuador
- Institute of Infection and ImmunitySt George's University of LondonLondonUK
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Cooper PJ, Figueiredo CA, Rodriguez A, Dos Santos LM, Ribeiro-Silva RC, Carneiro VL, Costa G, Magalhães T, Dos Santos de Jesus T, Rios R, da Silva HBF, Costa R, Chico ME, Vaca M, Alcantara-Neves N, Rodrigues LC, Cruz AA, Barreto ML. Understanding and controlling asthma in Latin America: A review of recent research informed by the SCAALA programme. Clin Transl Allergy 2023; 13:e12232. [PMID: 36973960 PMCID: PMC10041090 DOI: 10.1002/clt2.12232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma is an important health concern in Latin America (LA) where it is associated with variable prevalence and disease burden between countries. High prevalence and morbidity have been observed in some regions, particularly marginalized urban populations. Research over the past 10 years from LA has shown that childhood disease is primarily non-atopic. The attenuation of atopy may be explained by enhanced immune regulation induced by intense exposures to environmental factors such as childhood infections and poor environmental conditions of the urban poor. Non-atopic symptoms are associated with environmental and lifestyle factors including poor living conditions, respiratory infections, psychosocial stress, obesity, and a diet of highly processed foods. Ancestry (particularly African) and genetic factors increase asthma risk, and some of these factors may be specific to LA settings. Asthma in LA tends to be poorly controlled and depends on access to health care and medications. There is a need to improve management and access to medication through primary health care. Future research should consider the heterogeneity of asthma to identify relevant endotypes and underlying causes. The outcome of such research will need to focus on implementable strategies relevant to populations living in resource-poor settings where the disease burden is greatest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Cooper
- Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Camila A Figueiredo
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Gustavo Costa
- Center for Data Knowledge and Integration for Health (CIDACS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Universidade Salvador (UNIFACS), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Thiago Magalhães
- Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Raimon Rios
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Ryan Costa
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Martha E Chico
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana para la Investigacion en Salud (FEPIS), Esmeraldas, Ecuador
| | - Maritza Vaca
- Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Fundacion Ecuatoriana para la Investigacion en Salud (FEPIS), Esmeraldas, Ecuador
| | | | - Laura C Rodrigues
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alvaro A Cruz
- Universidade Federal da Bahia and Fundação ProAR, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Mauricio L Barreto
- Center for Data Knowledge and Integration for Health (CIDACS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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7
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Wu Y, Duffey M, Alex SE, Suarez-Reyes C, Clark EH, Weatherhead JE. The role of helminths in the development of non-communicable diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:941977. [PMID: 36119098 PMCID: PMC9473640 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.941977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, and neuropsychiatric diseases cause significant global morbidity and mortality which disproportionately affect those living in low resource regions including low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In order to reduce NCD morbidity and mortality in LMIC it is imperative to understand risk factors associated with the development of NCDs. Certain infections are known risk factors for many NCDs. Several parasitic helminth infections, which occur most commonly in LMICs, have been identified as potential drivers of NCDs in parasite-endemic regions. Though understudied, the impact of helminth infections on the development of NCDs is likely related to helminth-specific factors, including species, developmental stage and disease burden. Mechanical and chemical damage induced by the helminth in combination with pathologic host immune responses contribute to the long-term inflammation that increases risk for NCD development. Robust studies from animal models and human clinical trials are needed to understand the immunologic mechanisms of helminth-induced NCDs. Understanding the complex connection between helminths and NCDs will aid in targeted public health programs to reduce helminth-induced NCDs and reduce the high rates of morbidity that affects millions of people living in parasite-endemic, LMICs globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Megan Duffey
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Saira Elizabeth Alex
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Charlie Suarez-Reyes
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Eva H. Clark
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jill E. Weatherhead
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Jill E. Weatherhead,
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8
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Castañeda S, Paniz-Mondolfi A, Ramírez JD. Detangling the Crosstalk Between Ascaris, Trichuris and Gut Microbiota: What´s Next? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:852900. [PMID: 35694539 PMCID: PMC9174645 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.852900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminth infections remain a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where roundworms from theTrichuris and Ascaris genera are most prevalent. These geohelminths not only impact human health but most importantly also affect animal well-being, in particular the swine industry. Host-helminth parasite interactions are complex and at the same time essential to understand the biology, dynamics and pathophysiology of these infections. Within these interactions, the immunomodulatory capacity of these helminths in the host has been extensively studied. Moreover, in recent years a growing interest on how helminths interact with the intestinal microbiota of the host has sparked, highlighting how this relationship plays an essential role in the establishment of initial infection, survival and persistence of the parasite, as well as in the development of chronic infections. Identifying the changes generated by these helminths on the composition and structure of the host intestinal microbiota constitutes a field of great scientific interest, since this can provide essential and actionable information for designing effective control and therapeutic strategies. Helminths like Trichuris and Ascaris are a focus of special importance due to their high prevalence, higher reinfection rates, resistance to anthelmintic therapy and unavailability of vaccines. Therefore, characterizing interactions between these helminths and the host intestinal microbiota represents an important approach to better understand the nature of this dynamic interface and explore novel therapeutic alternatives based on management of host microbiota. Given the extraordinary impact this may have from a biological, clinical, and epidemiological public health standpoint, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and future perspectives examining the parasite-microbiota interplay and its impact on host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Castañeda
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Juan David Ramírez, ;
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