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Asghari A, Nourmohammadi H, Majidiani H, Shariatzadeh SA, Anvari D, Shamsinia S, Ghasemi E, Shams M, Basati G. Promising effects of parasite-derived compounds on tumor regression: a systematic review of in vitro and in vivo studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:32383-32396. [PMID: 35146610 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17090-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The parasites are repeatedly confronting their host to take advantage of nutrients for multiplication and survival. In this sense, a wide spectrum of molecules is released from both sides, with immune-regulatory activity, accompanying this biological battle. Such parasites and their valuable molecules can be directed toward microbial-based cancer therapy. Herein, we contrived a systematic review to gather information on the antitumor activity of parasite-derived compounds. Following systematic search in Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest and Embase until 31 December 2019, a total number of 51 articles (54 datasets) were finally included in this review. Thirteen parasitic agents were found to possess possible antitumor activity, comprising protozoan species Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trichomonas vaginalis, Acanthamoeba castellanii, Besnoitia jellisoni, Leishmania major, Plasmodium yoelii, and Plasmodium lophurae, as well as parasitic helminths Toxocara canis, Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia crassiceps, Trichinella spiralis, and Schistosoma mansoni. Most experiments were done based on antigenic preparations from T. gondii (16 studies), E. granulosus (10 studies), T. spiralis (8 studies), and T. cruzi (6 studies). Possible antitumor properties of the selected parasites were revealed in this review. However, precise molecular basis of anticancer activity for each parasite remains to be elucidated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Asghari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hassan Nourmohammadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Majidiani
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Seyyed Ali Shariatzadeh
- Department of Parasitology, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Davood Anvari
- Department of Parasitology, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
| | - Sadegh Shamsinia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ezatollah Ghasemi
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Gholam Basati
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
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Jenkins TP, Formenti F, Castro C, Piubelli C, Perandin F, Buonfrate D, Otranto D, Griffin JL, Krause L, Bisoffi Z, Cantacessi C. A comprehensive analysis of the faecal microbiome and metabolome of Strongyloides stercoralis infected volunteers from a non-endemic area. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15651. [PMID: 30353019 PMCID: PMC6199319 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33937-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Data from recent studies support the hypothesis that infections by human gastrointestinal (GI) helminths impact, directly and/or indirectly, on the composition of the host gut microbial flora. However, to the best of our knowledge, these studies have been conducted in helminth-endemic areas with multi-helminth infections and/or in volunteers with underlying gut disorders. Therefore, in this study, we explore the impact of natural mono-infections by the human parasite Strongyloides stercoralis on the faecal microbiota and metabolic profiles of a cohort of human volunteers from a non-endemic area of northern Italy (S+), pre- and post-anthelmintic treatment, and compare the findings with data obtained from a cohort of uninfected controls from the same geographical area (S-). Analyses of bacterial 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing data revealed increased microbial alpha diversity and decreased beta diversity in the faecal microbial profiles of S+ subjects compared to S-. Furthermore, significant differences in the abundance of several bacterial taxa were observed between samples from S+ and S- subjects, and between S+ samples collected pre- and post-anthelmintic treatment. Faecal metabolite analysis detected marked increases in the abundance of selected amino acids in S+ subjects, and of short chain fatty acids in S- subjects. Overall, our work adds valuable knowledge to current understanding of parasite-microbiota associations and will assist future mechanistic studies aimed to unravel the causality of these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Formenti
- Centre for Tropical Diseases, IRCCS Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Cecilia Castro
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Piubelli
- Centre for Tropical Diseases, IRCCS Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Perandin
- Centre for Tropical Diseases, IRCCS Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Dora Buonfrate
- Centre for Tropical Diseases, IRCCS Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Julian L Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lutz Krause
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Zeno Bisoffi
- Centre for Tropical Diseases, IRCCS Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Novel Therapeutics for Multiple Sclerosis Designed by Parasitic Worms. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18102141. [PMID: 29027962 PMCID: PMC5666823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary response to endemic infections with parasitic worms (helminth) was the development of a distinct regulatory immune profile arising from the need to encapsulate the helminths while simultaneously repairing tissue damage. According to the old friend's hypothesis, the diminished exposure to these parasites in the developed world has resulted in a dysregulated immune response that contributes to the increased incidence of immune mediated diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Indeed, the global distribution of MS shows an inverse correlation to the prevalence of helminth infection. On this basis, the possibility of treating MS with helminth infection has been explored in animal models and phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials. However, the possibility also exists that the individual immune modulatory molecules secreted by helminth parasites may offer a more defined therapeutic strategy.
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Fleming JO, Weinstock JV. Clinical trials of helminth therapy in autoimmune diseases: rationale and findings. Parasite Immunol 2015; 37:277-92. [PMID: 25600983 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Some helminths are major human pathogens. Recently, however, increased understanding of the immunoregulatory responses induced by this class of parasites, in combination with epidemiologic and animal studies, suggests that helminths may have therapeutic potential in autoimmune diseases (AD) and other conditions. This article reviews the rationale for and results of clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of helminth therapy in AD. Also discussed are future prospects for investigation and the possibility that helminth treatment may serve as a probe to help reveal the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- J O Fleming
- Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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Abstract
In the last 50 years, environmental factors such as helminth infections have been proposed to explain why autoimmunity is less prevalent in the developing world; this proposal has been termed the hygiene or old friends hypothesis. The epidemiology of MS shows an inverse correlation with helminth infections. Positive effects of helminths in animal models of MS and observational studies in people with MS naturally infected with helminths suggest that those organisms can act as immune regulators and led to clinical trials of helminth therapy. The goal of helminth therapy is to introduce parasitic organisms into people with MS in a controlled and predictable fashion, and to prevent immune-mediated disease without increasing the risk of pathology with high parasite load. This chapter focuses on intestinal worms as they are the current choice as a therapeutic strategy in a number of autoimmune diseases, including MS. Here we review current data regarding the rationale and the current state of research in the field of helminth therapies in MS.
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