Keeping parasites from sticking to mosquito guts could block disease transmission - Science Daily
Keeping parasites from sticking to mosquito guts could block disease transmission - Science Daily |
- Keeping parasites from sticking to mosquito guts could block disease transmission - Science Daily
- Preventing parasites from adhering to mosquito guts could stop disease transmission - News-Medical.net
- Know future scope of Parasitic Diseases Therapeutic Market 2019 current demands with focusing top players Bayer AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Glaxo Smith Kline Plc, Pfizer Inc. - Market Report Gazette
- 4 Signs You're Infected with a Parasite - HowStuffWorks
| Keeping parasites from sticking to mosquito guts could block disease transmission - Science Daily Posted: 30 Jul 2019 11:33 AM PDT A group of microorganisms known as kinetoplastids includes the parasites that cause devastating diseases such as African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. They share an ability to adhere to the insides of their insect hosts, using a specialized protein structure. But what if scientists could prevent the parasite from adhering? Would the parasites pass right through the vectors, unable to be passed on to a human? That's the idea behind a new study led by Michael Povelones of Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine and Megan L. Povelones of Penn State Brandywine. Using a non-disease-causing kinetoplastid species called Crithidia fasciculata, this husband-wife duo and their research team identified a number of genes involved in adherence in its mosquito host. "The parasite has to hold on so it won't pass right through," says Michael Povelones, an assistant professor of pathobiology at Penn Vet. "It needs to get retained in the gut in order to multiply and eventually get transmitted. These mechanisms of adherence seem to be [shared] across kinetoplastid species, so the hope is that our insights about Crithidia will tell us something about adherence in the medically relevant species." The study appears in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Scientists had long turned to Crithidia fasciculata as a biochemical model to understand features of parasitic disease, as it is easily grown in the lab. Megan Povelones, whose specialty is African trypanosomiasis, was familiar with it from her doctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University, and the subject came up in conversations with her spouse. "We talk shop at home sometimes," says Michael Povelones, whose own research has focused on ways to harness the power of the mosquito's own immune defenses to stop them from transmitting disease. "I was intrigued by the fact that Crithidia infects mosquitoes but isn't a human or animal pathogen, that little was known about its life cycle, and that there had been some electron microscope studies done that show the parasite is actually adhering to the mosquito gut with a very specific type of structure that people had described as a hemidesmosome. I felt like there was some fascinating cell biology there to explore." Together they set out to investigate what happens to enable the parasite to "hold on" to the inside of the mosquito, a trait believed to be critical for disease transmission. In the lab, the researchers were able to replicate what other scientists had found previously: That Crithidia parasites exist in both a swimming form, with a tail-like appendage called a flagellum, and an adhering form, that even sticks to the surface of the plastic dishes in which they were grown in the lab. The swimming form was favored when the culture dishes were placed on a shaker, while the adherent form, which divided to form rosette structures, was more likely to develop when the dishes were kept stationary. Interestingly, they observed that the adherent parasites in the rosettes would occasionally give rise to swimming versions. To focus on the adherent parasites, the researchers would wait to see rosettes appear and would then wash away the swimming parasite. They could then focus on probing the genetics of the two types. "One question we had was really simple," says Michael Povelones, "which was, 'What were the transcriptional differences between the swimming cells versus those allowed to grow as rosettes.'" Remarkably, for two forms of the same species growing in the same medium, the researchers found a significant amount of variation in gene expression between the two. "The process of adhesion transformed their transcriptome in a really dramatic way," says Michael Povelones. When the researchers infected laboratory mosquito strains with Crithidia, they found that the parasites adhering to the mosquitoes, primarily in their hindgut region, resembled the adherent form they were culturing in the lab, giving them confidence that studying their lab strains could reveal important information about what was going on in the parasites' insect hosts. Among the genes with enhanced expression were a group known as GP63s that have been implicated in adhesion to immune cells in the Leishmania parasite. The team is hoping to pursue further investigations of adhesion using Crithidia as a tool, looking specifically at genes involved in the process that are known to be shared across kinetoplastid species and that could perhaps one day serve as a target for blocking transmission of vector-borne diseases. The study was supported by National Science Foundation (Grant 1651517) and National Institutes of Health (grants OD021633-01, AI29646, HG00307907, and AI103858).  |
| Posted: 31 Jul 2019 01:09 AM PDT _on_human_skin-Tacio_Philip_23765b00daa34a4196aa9cea976adde8-620x480.jpg) A group of microorganisms known as kinetoplastids includes the parasites that cause devastating diseases such as African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. They share an ability to adhere to the insides of their insect hosts, using a specialized protein structure. But what if scientists could prevent the parasite from adhering? Would the parasites pass right through the vectors, unable to be passed on to a human? That's the idea behind a new study led by Michael Povelones of Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine and Megan L. Povelones of Penn State Brandywine. Using a non-disease-causing kinetoplastid species called Crithidia fasciculata, this husband-wife duo and their research team identified a number of genes involved in adherence in its mosquito host.
The study appears in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Scientists had long turned to Crithidia fasciculata as a biochemical model to understand features of parasitic disease, as it is easily grown in the lab. Megan Povelones, whose specialty is African trypanosomiasis, was familiar with it from her doctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University, and the subject came up in conversations with her spouse. "We talk shop at home sometimes," says Michael Povelones, whose own research has focused on ways to harness the power of the mosquito's own immune defenses to stop them from transmitting disease. "I was intrigued by the fact that Crithidia infects mosquitoes but isn't a human or animal pathogen, that little was known about its life cycle, and that there had been some electron microscope studies done that show the parasite is actually adhering to the mosquito gut with a very specific type of structure that people had described as a hemidesmosome. I felt like there was some fascinating cell biology there to explore." Together they set out to investigate what happens to enable the parasite to "hold on" to the inside of the mosquito, a trait believed to be critical for disease transmission. In the lab, the researchers were able to replicate what other scientists had found previously: That Crithidia parasites exist in both a swimming form, with a tail-like appendage called a flagellum, and an adhering form, that even sticks to the surface of the plastic dishes in which they were grown in the lab. The swimming form was favored when the culture dishes were placed on a shaker, while the adherent form, which divided to form rosette structures, was more likely to develop when the dishes were kept stationary. Interestingly, they observed that the adherent parasites in the rosettes would occasionally give rise to swimming versions. To focus on the adherent parasites, the researchers would wait to see rosettes appear and would then wash away the swimming parasite. They could then focus on probing the genetics of the two types. "One question we had was really simple," says Michael Povelones, "which was, 'What were the transcriptional differences between the swimming cells versus those allowed to grow as rosettes.'" Remarkably, for two forms of the same species growing in the same medium, the researchers found a significant amount of variation in gene expression between the two. "The process of adhesion transformed their transcriptome in a really dramatic way," says Michael Povelones. When the researchers infected laboratory mosquito strains with Crithidia, they found that the parasites adhering to the mosquitoes, primarily in their hindgut region, resembled the adherent form they were culturing in the lab, giving them confidence that studying their lab strains could reveal important information about what was going on in the parasites' insect hosts. Among the genes with enhanced expression were a group known as GP63s that have been implicated in adhesion to immune cells in the Leishmania parasite. The team is hoping to pursue further investigations of adhesion using Crithidia as a tool, looking specifically at genes involved in the process that are known to be shared across kinetoplastid species and that could perhaps one day serve as a target for blocking transmission of vector-borne diseases. Journal reference: Filosa, J.N.L et al. (2019) Dramatic changes in gene expression in different forms of Crithidia fasciculata reveal potential mechanisms for insect-specific adhesion in kinetoplastid parasites. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007570.  |
| Posted: 30 Jul 2019 12:51 PM PDT Parasitic diseases include amebiasis, trichomoniasis, trypanosomiasis, giardiasis, African sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, and malaria. Our parasitic diseases therapeutics market analysis considers sales of antiprotozoal therapeutics, anthelminthic therapeutics, and Scabicides and pediculicides therapeutics Parasitic diseases therapeutics market report looks at factors such as the high prevalence of parasitic infections, approval of therapeutics to treat parasitic diseases, increased funding for R&D. However, challenges associated with ant parasitic drug discovery and diagnosing of disease, increasing drug resistance, and lack of effective therapies and side-effects of drugs may hamper the growth of the parasitic diseases therapeutics industry over the forecast period. Request a sample copy of this report@ https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=660853 Key Strategic Manufacturers: The report offers a detailed analysis of several leading parasitic diseases therapeutics companies, including: Bayer A Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. GlaxoSmithKline Plc Pfizer Inc. Sanaria Inc. Key Market Features: Inquire for Discount on this report@ https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=660853 The scope of the report extends from market eventualities to comparative rating between major players, price and profit of the required market regions. This makes available the holistic view on competitive analysis of the market. Some of the top players involved in the market are profiled completely in a systematic manner. In this study, the years thought of to estimate the market size of Parasitic Diseases Therapeutic market are as follows: Market, By Regions Place a Direct Order Of this Report @ https://www.researchnreports.com/checkout?id=660853 Conclusion: About Research N Report: Contact us: Sunny Denis Sales Manager Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/research-n-reports/  |
| 4 Signs You're Infected with a Parasite - HowStuffWorks Posted: 31 Jul 2019 08:00 AM PDT  Self-professed "gut obsessed" functional medicine healer, Victoria Albina, FNP-c, MPH, was sick for most of her teens and twenties, struggling with unrelenting gastrointestinal symptoms that doctors just couldn't diagnose. "I had what was diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) because they had tested me for everything else they could at that time and didn't find anything else," she says. Despite 10 conventional stool tests that all revealed "normal" results, Albina strongly felt there was something else at the root of her symptoms, which included gas, bloating and a long list of alternating bowel issues that she just couldn't make sense of and didn't believe to be IBS. After working with a naturopath and completing years of her own medical education to earn a nurse practitioner license, Albina finally got the confirmation and validation she was looking for. Through alternative testing methods her gastroenterologist hadn't administered, she discovered that, in addition to a bout of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), she had "a particularly gnarly little parasite called Blastocystis hominis." Otherwise known as b. Hominis, the microscopic organism is one type of parasite that can live on or in the body and wreak havoc. But, there are so many different types of parasites, many of which live in the intestines, (roundworms and tapeworms and hookworms, oh my!), that the symptoms can run the gamut from unexplained weight loss to unbearably itchy skin. And while parasitic infections in humans are most common in developing countries, hundreds of thousands of Americans are exposed to and infected by various parasites every year. Infections can come from a variety of sources, including animals, blood, food, insects and water. In some cases, the symptoms may be mildly uncomfortable, and in others they can be deadly. Working with a provider or team of providers you trust can help expedite your route to the right treatment plan. Once she had a tangible diagnosis, Albina worked with her naturopath to tackle the issues through medications, food and lifestyle modifications, and stress reduction through breathwork — all of which she said made a huge impact on her healing. Now the New York City-based nurse practitioner, wellness coach and podcast host helps others tackle all sorts of thorny issues, many of which manifest in the gut, but can show up in other areas too. "Parasites can be so sneaky," Albina says. "Sometimes the only sign may be skin concerns (like eczema or psoriasis); joint pain or discomfort (including a triggering of rheumatoid arthritis by certain parasitic-behaving bacteria); mood changes, especially when depression or anxiety don't respond to therapy or other modalities; insomnia or sleep disturbances; metabolic concerns like stubborn changes in weight and blood sugar deregulation." If you have a gut feeling something is off in your physical or mental wellness, she says a parasite could be the culprit. Here are some telltale signs to watch for: 1. Gut Symptoms You Just Can't ExplainIt's important to know that many conventional gut experts and dieticians do consider IBS to be a true diagnosis with specific criteria including chronic but on-and-off abdominal pain and irregular bowel movement patterns. But many also believe that IBS doesn't explain every gut issue, and some of its hallmark symptoms are also characteristic of other problems, like parasitic infections. Here are some of the common gut symptoms related to parasites:
2. Feeling Like You're on a Mood and Energy Roller Coaster"My first signs of having a parasite infection was depression and anxiety, along with the more classic gas, bloating, indigestion and changes to bowel movements," Albina says, noting that many of her patients with parasitic infections also report symptoms of depression and anxiety. Experts also say fatigue, exhaustion and sleep problems, including insomnia and trouble falling or staying asleep, have also all been associated with parasitic infections. 3. Skin Issues Outside of Your Norm"Many of my patients with parasites experience eczema, psoriasis and histamine intolerance," Albina says. "So migraines and period symptoms can actually be because of parasites." While gut parasites have certainly been associated with allergy-like symptoms and other dermatological concerns, it's important to know that not all parasites live in the intestines — some set up shop right in the skin, and can have a direct impact from their location on the body. Skin mites (scabies) and lice are two types of parasites that affect the skin, scalp or hair, and can cause intense itching, inflammation and/or redness. 4. Autoimmune Issues or Significant Stress"There's also significant scientific evidence and ancient wisdom that shows us when people are under significant stress not managing their minds well, stress can reduce the quality, quantity and diversity of good bacteria within the gut," Albnina says. "So a simple drug-based approach — for example, 'you have b. Hominis, so take Alinia — that's never really going to work unless you make sure the patient is not eating foods that are irritating or inflaming the gut and that their immune system is well bolstered. So much of it comes down to immune function so the body can kill off the bugs and keep them at bay." Keeping Parasites at BayIt's true — treating a parasite doesn't necessarily mean eliminating it for good, and Albina says that to increase the odds of living a parasite-free life, healthcare providers need to widen their lens on health and patients ought to get familiar with their own bodies and learn to advocate for themselves when something feels off. "Based on my own experience and my patients' experiences, the reason people with parasites stay sick, even after treatment, and why parasitic and bacterial infections — because they often go hand in hand — can go away and then come back is that conventional practitioners aren't looking at the full human in their environment," she says. "They're not asking about the person's balance of hydrochloric acid in the stomach or asking what the patient is eating, which could be having an effect on the gut microbiome, or whether they're getting sufficient amounts of prebiotics to help fight off infections."  |
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