Immune evasion strategies in protozoan-host interactions
Immune evasion strategies in protozoan-host interactions

Author: Alexandre Morrot

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2024-08-13

Total Pages: 477

ISBN-13: 2832553311

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The protozoa are the most ancient members of the animal kingdom and they have evolved the intracellular parasitism to ensure their survival strategies. Protozoan parasites that infect humans are extremely diverse among eukaryotes. They are responsible for many human diseases such as amebiasis, Chagas disease, malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and African sleeping sickness. The ability of protozoans to cause disease depends on the nature and number of infecting organisms, the route of infection, the virulence factors associated with the microorganism, and the strength of host defenses. This host-parasite interaction is also subject to constant change as the infection proceeds and can lead to a range of outcomes, from elimination of the pathogen to death of the host, depending on the states of latency and the extent of colonization that the protozoan achieves in the course of infection. Several species of parasitic protozoa harbor specialized virulence factors whose products can overcome the host´s immunity and promote their survival. These factors act at several different checkpoints of the host immune responses, from the first components of the innate immune response to the induction and maintenance of adaptive memory responses. Many protozoan species have evolved mechanisms that modulate and inhibit host sensors, microRNA circuits and signaling pathways that permit the host to detect infection. These factors can act, inter alia, by inhibiting the complement cascade, subverting phagocyte activation and impairing leukocyte migratory responses, so undermining the immune system thus facilitating the pathogen evasion and its continued persistence in the host. In this research topic we welcome the contribution of original research article as well as reviews on the field.

Leishmaniases as Re-emerging Diseases
Leishmaniases as Re-emerging Diseases

Author: Farhat Afrin

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2018-10-10

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 1789841011

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Leishmania parasites plague the mammalian host causing high morbidity and mortality. The parasites persist in the hostile milieu, crippling its defensive arsenal. In the face of mounting resistance to an antiquated drug arsenal, new approaches are urgently desired to keep the infection at bay. Furthermore, to strengthen the leishmaniasis elimination drive, particular emphasis has to be laid on identification of new targets and vaccination strategies. This book gives a brief glimpse of the epidemiology of leishmaniasis, immune evasion, vaccination, and therapeutic modalities that may work by untangling the immunological cross-wires of pathogenic cross-talk. The Conventional treatment and its drawbacks, the prospects of phytotherapy and nanomedicines, are also discussed. The identification of drug targets with the aim of designing inhibitors is also exemplified.

Janeway's Immunobiology
Janeway's Immunobiology

Author: Kenneth Murphy

Publisher: Garland Science

Published: 2010-06-22

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9780815344575

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The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.

Immunity to Parasitic Infection
Immunity to Parasitic Infection

Author: Tracey Lamb

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-08-10

Total Pages: 531

ISBN-13: 1118393333

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Parasitic infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the world today. Often endemic in developing countries many parasitic diseases are neglected in terms of research funding and much remains to be understood about parasites and the interactions they have with the immune system. This book examines current knowledge about immune responses to parasitic infections affecting humans, including interactions that occur during co-infections, and how immune responses may be manipulated to develop therapeutic interventions against parasitic infection. For easy reference, the most commonly studied parasites are examined in individual chapters written by investigators at the forefront of their field. An overview of the immune system, as well as introductions to protozoan and helminth parasites, is included to guide background reading. A historical perspective of the field of immunoparasitology acknowledges the contributions of investigators who have been instrumental in developing this field of research.

Biology of Parasitism
Biology of Parasitism

Author: Christian Tschudi

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2000-05-31

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 9780792378235

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Biology of Parasitism is based on the Biology of Parasitism Course at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Having just celebrated its 20th offering, this Course has distinguished itself as the premier, world-renowned training ground for future generations of parasitologists. The primary goal of the Course is to attract and introduce the very best and most promising young researchers to the many unresolved problems in parasitology and prepare them for their future as independent investigators in the field. The rigorous program combines state-of-the-art laboratory research with a program of visiting lecturers who bring together the most current research in the field. Since at this time there are no academic institutions that have enough depth in parasitology research or teaching faculty to provide up-to-date and state-of-the-art training, the Course has become, and will remain, a global resource for providing intensive education in modern parasitology. Biology of Parasitism is intended to present a snapshot of the content and spirit of the Biology of Parasitism Course. By presenting a series of chapters that reflect the formal lectures that students receive on a daily basis, as well as the approaches used during the laboratory section of the Course, the editors hope to share some of the science that occurs there. One part of the book presents the experimental component of the Course, in particular the subject matter of the four two-week sessions covering Immunology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Biology of protozoan and helminth parasites. As in the Course, the experimental part is complemented by a number of review-like chapters solicited from the large number of speakers who lecture during the Course.

Parasitic Protozoa of Farm Animals and Pets
Parasitic Protozoa of Farm Animals and Pets

Author: Monica Florin-Christensen

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-04-17

Total Pages: 439

ISBN-13: 3319701320

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This book provides an in-depth yet concise overview of the most common and emerging protozoa that cause diseases in both farm animals and companion animals. As outlined in the concise introduction, pathogenic protozoans represent an evolutionary highly diverse and little understood group of disease-causing microorganisms. For each of the featured parasitic unicellular eukaryotes, it discusses the morphology, lifecycle, epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions. In addition, the book highlights the latest developments in diagnostic methods, as well as prevention and treatment strategies. Thorough information on genomes and genetic manipulation strategies for some of the protozoa covered in this book is also included. Infections involving parasitic protozoa can cause productivity losses and/or reduce the quality of life of infected animals. Some infections are zoonotic, posing an on-going public health threat. In most cases, prevention and treatment are either non-existent or need considerable improvement. On the other hand, a great deal of research has recently been conducted on these organisms, yielding valuable new information on their global distribution and revealing the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level – and essential insights that can be used for the development of new control tools. This book includes extensive information on both basic aspects and recent scientific discoveries on these protozoa and thus constitutes a unique resource for students, veterinarians, and researchers alike.

Recent Progresses in Amebiasis
Recent Progresses in Amebiasis

Author: Anjan Debnath

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2019-10-14

Total Pages: 415

ISBN-13: 2889630064

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Amebiasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by the unicellular protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, is the cause of at least 100,000 deaths each year. The disease is mostly prevalent in developing countries and is one of the three common causes of death from parasitic diseases. The parasite has two stages in its life cycle in the host: the infective cyst and the invasive trophozoite. In the large intestine, the parasite feeds on bacteria and on cellular debris. No vaccine against amebiasis currently exists. Although metronidazole is the drug of choice for treating amebiasis, adverse effects in patients and potential resistance to metronidazole in other protozoa exist. About nine out of 10 people who are infected with E. histolytica are asymptomatic and in those individuals who develop symptoms, bloody diarrhea (amebic colitis) and liver abscess are the most common symptoms. One possible explanation for this observation is the difference in the gut microbiota between individuals that may significantly influence the host’s immune response in amebiasis and E. histolytica's virulence. Amebiasis is characterized by acute inflammation of the intestine with release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species from activated cells of the host's immune system. In recent years, significant advances on the cell biology of Entamoeba infection have been achieved through the development of new genetic tools to manipulate gene expression in the parasite and through the application of Omics tools. In this Research Topic, we welcome high quality original research articles, as well as review, opinion or method articles, on amebiasis including but not limited to the regulation of gene expression, cell biology and signaling, adaptation and resistance to environmental stresses, metabolism, pathogenesis and immunity, pathogenesis and microbiome, drug discovery and drug resistance.