Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Karlo Jelicic, Neven Papic, Klaudija Viskovic, Adriana Vince
Summary: A patient with advanced alveolar echinococcosis was effectively treated with a combination regimen of amphotericin B deoxycholate and mefloquine as a rescue therapy due to albendazole intolerance.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Bei Chen, Mingzhi Yan, Huijing Gao, Qin Ma, Lihua Li, Guodong Lue, Yuehong Gong, Limei Wen, Shaoquan Xu, Jianhua Wang, Jun Zhao
Summary: In this study, the effects of 7 harmine derivatives on Echinococcus granulosus s.s. were evaluated. It was found that H-2-168 and DH-004 exhibited significant antiparasitic effects and satisfactory therapeutic outcomes in vivo. These compounds induced DNA damage in E. granulosus s.s., which may contribute to their therapeutic effects. Overall, H-2-168 and DH-004 are highly effective candidate compounds with low toxicity for the treatment of CE.
DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yanmin Hu, Anthony Coates
Summary: The combination of mefloquine and colistin showed synergistic activity against multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its potential for rejuvenating the activity of colistin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Haijun Gao, Lele Huo, Xiaojin Mo, Bin Jiang, Yanping Luo, Bin Xu, Jingzhong Li, Xingming Ma, Tao Jing, Zheng Feng, Ting Zhang, Wei Hu
Summary: This study found that Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) has a potent anti-echinococcal effect with lower toxicity compared to albendazole, making it a potential chemotherapeutic agent for alveolar echinococcosis. The suppressive effect of PAB on the parasite may involve down-regulation of the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shuai Yan, Dong Wang, Junrui Zhang, Xiaojin Mo, Yu Feng, Liling Duan, Deyu Liu, Fan Li, Yongchun Dao, Ting Zhang, Wei Hu, Zheng Feng, Bin Zheng
Summary: The study in east Gansu province of China found that the prevalence of echinococcosis is associated with gender, age, and education level. The cross-sectional survey and prevalence surveillance both showed fluctuating rates of infection over different years.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medical Informatics
Yongfeng Yang, Yangdan Cairang, Tian'an Jiang, Jianhua Zhou, Li Zhang, Baowen Qi, Shumei Ma, Lina Tang, Dong Xu, Lingdai Bu, Rui Bu, Xiang Jing, Hui Wang, Zubang Zhou, Cheng Zhao, Baoming Luo, Liwen Liu, Jianqin Guo, Yuzhen Nima, Guoyong Hua, Zengcheng Wa, Yuying Zhang, Guoyi Zhou, Wen Jiang, Changcheng Wang, Yang De, Xiaoling Yu, Zhigang Cheng, Zhiyu Han, Fangyi Liu, Jianping Dou, Hui Feng, Chong Wu, Ruifang Wang, Jie Hu, Qi Yang, Yanchun Luo, Jiapeng Wu, Haining Fan, Ping Liang, Jie Yu
Summary: This study aimed to develop a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model based on ultrasonography to identify and classify liver lesions, including echinococcosis. The results showed that the DCNN model demonstrated high accuracy and robustness in diagnosing echinococcosis and its types.
LANCET DIGITAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Limei Wen, Jiawei Zhang, Jun Zhao, Yuehong Gong, Haibo Zhang, Jianhua Yang, Jianhua Wang
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) against cystic echinococcosis (CE) through in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results showed that DHA exhibited antiparasitic effects on CE by increasing ROS levels and inducing oxidative DNA damage to destroy hydatid cysts. DHA also dose-dependently inhibited cyst growth, reduced liver injury-related biochemical parameters, and reversed oxidative stress in CE mice. Oxidative stress-induced DNA damage played an important role in the antiparasitic process of DHA.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dario Silva, Marcio V. C. Lopes, Zeljko Petrovski, Miguel M. Santos, Jussevania P. Santos, Sueli F. Yamada-Ogatta, Marcelle L. F. Bispo, Marcus V. N. de Souza, Ana Rita C. Duarte, Maria C. S. Lourenco, Raoni Schroeder B. Goncalves, Luis C. Branco
Summary: The urgent need for novel pharmaceutical tools to combat tuberculosis is highlighted by the rapid development of resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, a repurposed antimalarial drug, mefloquine, was combined with organic anions as chemical adjuvants to create novel formulations. These formulations exhibited improved water solubility, permeability, and antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Li Wan, Bo Ran, Tuerganaili Aji, Yingmei Shao, Tiemin Jiang, Hao Wen
Summary: The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy in treating hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. Laparoscopic surgery was found to be safe and effective, with superior outcomes in terms of postoperative complications, catheterization time, and hospital stay compared to open surgery. Prospective, randomized trials are needed to confirm the superiority of laparoscopic surgery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Tian Ma, Qian Wang, Mengmeng Hao, Chuizhao Xue, Xu Wang, Shuai Han, Qian Wang, Jiangshan Zhao, Xiao Ma, Xianglin Wu, Xiaofeng Jiang, Lei Cao, Yaming Yang, Yu Feng, Quzhen Gongsang, Juergen Scheffran, Liqun Fang, Richard James Maude, Canjun Zheng, Fangyu Ding, Weiping Wu, Dong Jiang
Summary: This study used the national echinococcosis survey data from 2012 to 2016 to investigate the spatial prevalence, demographic characteristics, and risk factors of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in China. The results showed that female gender, older age, occupation as a herdsman or religious worker, and illiteracy were identified as risk factors for both types of echinococcosis. The prevalence of the diseases varied geographically, with high endemicity observed in the Tibetan Plateau region. Various environmental, biological, and social factors were found to be associated with the diseases. The findings will contribute to the development of targeted prevention measures and disease control strategies.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Tanja Karpstein, Sheena Chaudhry, Solange Bresson-Hadni, Michael Hayoz, Ghalia Boubaker, Andrew Hemphill, Reto Rufener, Marc Kaethner, Isabelle Schindler, Yolanda Aebi, Antonio Sa Cunha, Carlo R. Largiader, Britta Lundstroem-Stadelmann
Summary: While Maca itself did not directly act on the parasite, it enhanced the efficacy of albendazole in reducing parasite burden in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. This could be due to potential immunomodulatory effects of Maca, as it induced proliferation of murine spleen cells in vitro.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Erik Koehne, Nina Zander, Miriam Rodi, Jana Held, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Rella Zoleko-Manego, Michael Ramharter, Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, Peter G. Kremsner, Andrea Kreidenweiss
Summary: The study results indicate that pyronaridine and methylene blue have potential for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Both drugs show certain efficacy against different physiological stages of schistosomes, with the combination drug pyronaridine-artesunate already demonstrating treatment potential in clinical settings.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Weili Tian, Jun Li, Wenya Liu, Wenchao Ji
Summary: The study aimed to explore the feasibility of establishing a cell model with high expression of Echinococcus protoscolex calcium binding protein 1 (EPC1) in vitro. The target gene EPC1 was synthesized and connected to the expression vector pcDNA3.4 to construct the positive plasmid EPC1-pcDNA3.4. The constructed plasmid was transfected into different cell groups for analysis of mRNA and protein expression using qPCR and western blotting. The results showed that EPC1 mRNA was detected in certain groups, but the EPC1 protein was not expressed in any group.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS AND HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ting Sun, Tao Wang, Yiwen Qiu, Shu Shen, Xianwei Yang, Yi Yang, Bin Huang, Wentao Wang
Summary: This study evaluated the risk of major postoperative complications in end-stage HAE patients undergoing ELRA using a sarcopenia score and identified independent risk factors for predicting these complications. The findings provide valuable information for the development of relevant interventions for high-risk patients postoperatively.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yiwen Qiu, Bin Huang, Xianwei Yang, Tao Wang, Shu Shen, Yi Yang, Wentao Wang
Summary: This study analyzed the benefits and risks of ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA) in end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). The long-term overall survival of the ELRA group was superior to that of the nonsurgical group, and patients with a predicted 12-month mortality risk >75% would significantly benefit from ELRA.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Azadeh Nasuhidehnavi, Yanlin Zhao, Ankita Punetha, Andrew Hemphill, Hong Li, Tyler J. Bechtel, Theresa Rager, Bingcong Xiong, Vasileios Petrou, Marc-Jan Gubbels, Eranthie Weerapana, George S. Yap
Summary: The host cell surface receptor, basigin, and its related immunoglobulin family members play an important role in mediating the attachment of Toxoplasma gondii to host cells.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Dennis Imhof, William Robert Pownall, Carling Schlange, Camille Monney, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Kayode K. Ojo, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Anna Oevermann, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: This study investigated the safety and efficacy of a combined vaccination-drug treatment approach in a pregnant neosporosis mouse model. The results showed that the combination treatment was more effective in reducing infection and improving pup survival compared to vaccination or drug treatment alone. Further evaluation is recommended.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sheena Chaudhry, Raphael Zurbriggen, Matias Preza, Tobias Kampfer, Marc Kaethner, Roman Memedovski, Nathalie Scorrano, Andrew Hemphill, Joseph Stone Doggett, Britta Lundstrom-Stadelmann
Summary: Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the zoonotic parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, could potentially be treated through a novel approach targeting the mitochondrial energy metabolism of the parasite, specifically the oxidative phosphorylation and the anaerobic malate dismutation pathways.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oksana Desiatkina, Ghalia Boubaker, Nicoleta Anghel, Yosra Amdouni, Andrew Hemphill, Julien Furrer, Emilia Paunescu
Summary: This study reports the synthesis, photophysical properties, and antiparasitic efficacy of a series of 15 new conjugates that are fluorescent markers against Toxoplasma gondii beta-gal. The influence of different bond types and lengths on fluorescence and biological activity was evaluated. The compounds show limited antiparasitic activity but potential as fluorescent probes.
Article
Immunology
Monireh Khordadmehr, Alireza Sazmand, Pardis Almasi, Parisa Shahbazi, Vahidreza Ranjbar, Domenico Otranto, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: This study provides an overview of the prevalence and exposure to tissue cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites in Iranian domestic rock pigeons through molecular, serological, and histopathological examination. The results demonstrate that pigeons in Iran are infected, particularly with T. gondii, and suggest the need for control strategies to minimize the risk of infection in both pigeons and humans.
COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabelle Holzer, Oksana Desiatkina, Nicoleta Anghel, Serena K. K. Johns, Ghalia Boubaker, Andrew Hemphill, Julien Furrer, Emilia Paunescu
Summary: Eight novel carbohydrate-tethered trithiolato dinuclear ruthenium(II)-arene complexes were synthesized and evaluated for their activity against transgenic T. gondii tachyzoites. Seven conjugates strongly inhibited parasite proliferation while maintaining HFF viability. Two galactose-based conjugates (23 and 26) exhibited low IC50 values and reduced toxicity compared to the non-modified complexes.
Article
Immunology
Dennis Imhof, William Pownall, Kai Pascal Alexander Hanggeli, Camille Monney, Laura Rico-San Roman, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Franck Forterre, Anna Oevermann, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: In this study, a modified version of the attenuated Listeria monocytogenes vaccine vector Lm3Dx_NcSAG1 was tested for its efficacy in a pregnant neosporosis mouse model. Multivalent vaccines were generated by inserting gra7 and/or rop2 genes into Lm3Dx_NcSAG1. Immunization with Lm3Dx_NcSAG1 and Lm3Dx_NcSAG1_NcGRA7_NcROP2 resulted in the highest postnatal pup survival rate and protection against vertical transmission and CNS infection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kai Pascal Alexander Hanggeli, Andrew Hemphill, Norbert Muller, Manfred Heller, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Joachim Muller, Ghalia Boubaker
Summary: Gene knock-out using CRISPR-Cas9 is a useful tool to identify gene functions in T. gondii and other model organisms. Previous studies have shown that knocking out a gene can also affect the expression of other genes. Therefore, caution should be taken when studying the relationship between specific phenotypes and the knock-out of a particular gene.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Joachim Mueller, Matias Preza, Marc Kaethner, Reto Rufener, Sophie Braga, Anne-Christine Uldry, Manfred Heller, Britta Lundstrom-Stadelmann
Summary: By using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we identified parasite proteins in both vesicle fluid (VF) and vesicle tissue (VT), and found that the abundance of AgB subunits was the highest in VF from in vitro cultivation and in VF from a mouse model. We also demonstrated that AgB subunits from culture media (CM) can be taken up into VF within hours.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Joachim Mueller, Carling Schlange, Manfred Heller, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Richard K. Haynes, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: Artemisinin and its amino-artemisinin derivatives are potent antimalarials and exhibit different mechanisms of action against Plasmodium and T. gondii. The amino-artemisinins are effective in vitro against non-heme-degrading apicomplexan parasites including T. gondii. However, T. gondii strains readily adapt to increased concentrations of these compounds, resulting in the development of resistant strains.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Roman Memedovski, Matias Preza, Joachim Muller, Tobias Kampfer, Reto Rufener, Marcus Vinicius Nora de Souza, Emerson Teixeira da Silva, Gabriel Fernandes de Andrade, Sophie Braga, Anne-Christine Uldry, Natasha Buchs, Manfred Heller, Britta Lundstrom-Stadelmann
Summary: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a disease caused by infection with the fox tapeworm E. multilocularis. The current drug treatment is limited in efficacy and can cause severe side effects. Mefloquine (MEF), an antimalarial agent, has shown potential but needs improvement for successful treatment of AE.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Brice Autier, Christelle Manuel, Britta Lundstroem-Stadelmann, Jean-Philippe Girard, Bruno Gottstein, Jean-Pierre Gangneux, Michel Samson, Florence Robert-Gangneux, Sarah Dion
Summary: Infection with Echinococcus multilocularis can lead to alveolar echinococcosis, a severe parasitic disease. This study found that the release of IL-33, a signaling molecule, is associated with the development of the disease. IL-33 promotes the growth of the parasite and the progression of the disease, making individuals more susceptible to infection or disease. Understanding the role of IL-33 could provide new insights for the management and treatment of alveolar echinococcosis.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Daniel J. Sprague, Marc Kaethner, Sang-Kyu Park, Claudia M. Rohr, Jade L. Harris, David Maillard, Thomas Spangenberg, Britta Lundstrom-Stadelmann, Jonathan S. Marchant
Summary: The anthelmintic drug praziquantel is highly effective against parasitic flatworms, but its target has remained undefined. This study demonstrates that praziquantel analogs show different activities against different parasites, which is reflected by unique structure-activity relationships at the TRPMPZQ channels found in these organisms. These findings provide further support for TRPMPZQ as the therapeutically relevant target of praziquantel.
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Marc Kaethner, Matias Preza, Tobias Kaempfer, Pascal Zumstein, Claudia Tamponi, Antonio Varcasia, Andrew Hemphill, Klaus Brehm, Britta Lundstrom-Stadelmann
Summary: This study successfully implemented the previously established in vitro culture techniques and drug screening methods for E. multilocularis to E. granulosus s.s., allowing for comparisons of drug efficacy between the two species. The study provides reliable in vitro culture techniques for generating E. granulosus s.s. metacestode vesicles and GL cell cultures and validates standardized in vitro drug screening methods for E. granulosus s.s.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)