Offspring may inherit legacy of their father's Toxoplasma infection - Science Daily
Offspring may inherit legacy of their father's Toxoplasma infection - Science Daily |
- Offspring may inherit legacy of their father's Toxoplasma infection - Science Daily
- 'Scoop the poop' – Fort Carson Mountaineer - fortcarsonmountaineer.com
- Improving the treatment of periodontitis - Science Daily
| Offspring may inherit legacy of their father's Toxoplasma infection - Science Daily Posted: 29 Apr 2020 11:59 AM PDT Australian researchers have revealed for the first time that males infected with the Toxoplasma parasite can impact their offspring's brain health and behaviour. Studying mice infected with the common parasite Toxoplasma, the team discovered that sperm of infected fathers carried an altered 'epigenetic' signature which impacted the brains of resulting offspring. Molecules in the sperm called 'small RNA' appeared to influence the offspring's brain development and behaviour. 'Intergenerational inheritance' of similar epigenetic changes from men exposed to extreme trauma has been well documented. This latest research, published in Cell Reports, has raised the question of whether Toxoplasma infections -- or even possibly other infections -- in men before conception could impact the health of subsequent generations. The research was led by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers Dr Shiraz Tyebji and Associate Professor Chris Tonkin, in collaboration with Professor Anthony Hannan at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. At a glance
Infectious inheritance Toxoplasma is one of the world's most common parasites, estimated to be carried by between 25 and 80 per cent of the global population. Toxoplasma infection can cause an initial mild illness in most people, however, pregnant women, babies and people with weakened immunity experience more severe infections. Associate Professor Tonkin said people could carry the dormant Toxoplasma parasite for decades, and that this had been associated with the appearance of symptoms of mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. "Toxoplasma infections have been shown to cause long-term epigenetic changes in a range of cells around our body. These are changes that do not alter the genetic sequence of DNA, but influence gene expression -- that is, which genes are switched on or off," he said. "As other epigenetic changes in fathers -- such as those caused by trauma or smoking -- can influence their children, we decided to look at whether the effects of epigenetic changes caused by Toxoplasma infection could also be passed between generations." By studying male mice infected with Toxoplasma, the researchers were able to narrow their investigations down to the transmission of epigenetic information through sperm, Dr Tyebji said. "We discovered that Toxoplasma infection alters levels of DNA-like molecules, called small RNA, that are carried by sperm," he said. "These changes in small RNA levels affect gene expression, and so could potentially influence brain development and behaviour of offspring. "We were stunned to see that even the next generation -- the 'grandchildren' of the original infected male -- displayed changes in their behaviour," Dr Tyebji said. Impacts for public health Professor Hannan said this was the first time it had been shown that an infection in a male can result in epigenetic changes being transmitted to subsequent generations. "While our studies were in mice, it raises an important question about whether infections in human fathers before conception also impact their children," he said. "We normally think more about how infectious diseases in women affect the developing fetus, but perhaps certain infections in men could have long-term impacts on subsequent generations' health. "This is certainly something we are following up, both looking at what is happening in humans, as well as investigating infections other than Toxoplasma, including animal models of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19," Professor Hannan said. Associate Professor Tonkin said the study was an outstanding example of how collaboration enhanced medical research. "We have combined more than a decade of research in my laboratory into Toxoplasma infections and their impact on brain development with the expertise Professor Hannan's team has established in understanding the role of epigenetics in brain development and behaviour," Associate Professor Tonkin said. The research was supported by The David Winston Turner Endowment, the DHB Foundation (Equity Trustees), the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Victorian Government.  |
| 'Scoop the poop' – Fort Carson Mountaineer - fortcarsonmountaineer.com Posted: 15 Apr 2020 12:00 AM PDT By Capt. Jillian GarrisonVeterinary Corps officer, Public Health Activity-Fort Carson
Some of the most common diseases spread through feces are intestinal parasites. These intestinal parasites are organisms, often worms, which live in the intestines of a person or animal. The parasite gets its nutrition from the host but does not provide any benefit to them and can even cause them harm. Intestinal worms can be transmitted to other dogs, wild animals and humans. Children are particularly susceptible to these infections because they play in the dirt and do not always wash their hands, which is imperative now more than ever with the coronavirus. Promptly picking up an animal's feces greatly reduces the risk of transmission. Several types of parasites animals can pass to people include tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms. Sometimes they do not cause illness and the person or animal never know they are there. Other times they cause mild discomfort, such as diarrhea or itchiness, but occasionally they cause more serious signs. A common way for parasites to be transmitted is fecal-oral. Parasites come out of the dog in its feces and need to be ingested by another animal to infect it. While dogs may eat feces occasionally, parasites usually get into humans when people touch their faces or don't wash their hands before eating. Most people would notice a worm on their hands; however, parasites in feces can be microscopic eggs. Once inside a new host, such as the human body, the parasites make a home in the digestive tract and grow into adult worms. They generally cause mild symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss or anemia.
Human health is why "scooping the poop" is so important. Picking up feces reduces the number of eggs that get into the environment. Picking up after pets can reduce the chance eggs will be left behind and someone will become infested by worms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the following additional steps to take to help keep healthy, which can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/.
A veterinarian can give advice to keep the whole family safe. Ensuring household pets are on an appropriate deworming program can help prevent the pet from being infested by parasites and shedding them in their feces. Less parasites in the poop means less in the environment, and in turn less of a chance community members or other pets become sick. For more information on parasites, visit https://www.petsandparasites.org/ or call the Fort Carson Veterinary Clinic at 526-3803.  |
| Improving the treatment of periodontitis - Science Daily Posted: 15 Apr 2020 12:00 AM PDT For the first time, researchers from Charité -- Universitätsmedizin Berlin have shown that a unicellular parasite commonly found in the mouth plays a role in both severe tissue inflammation and tissue destruction. Most patients with severe and recurrent periodontitis (gum disease) showed an increased presence of the amoeba Entamoeba gingivalis inside their oral cavities. The effect of this amoeba is similar to that of Entamoeba histolytica, the parasite responsible for causing amebiasis. Once the parasite has invaded the gingival tissue, it feeds on its cells and causes tissue destruction. According to the researchers' findings, which have been published in the Journal of Dental Research, the two amoebae show similar mechanisms of tissue invasion and elicit a similar immune response in the host. Periodontitis, or gum disease, is an inflammation of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. In Germany, approximately 15 percent of people are affected by a particularly severe form of this disease. If left untreated, periodontitis will lead to tooth loss. The disease also increases the risk of arthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. In patients with periodontitis, a decrease in the diversity of the oral flora coincides with an increase in the frequency of E. gingivalis. A team of researchers, led by Prof. Dr. Arne Schäfer, Head of the Periodontology Research Unit at Charité's Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Sciences, was able to show that oral inflammation is associated with colonization by the oral parasite E. gingivalis. Scientists have long been aware of the virulence potential of this genus of amoebae. The gastrointestinal parasite E. histolytica, for instance, causes a disease known as amebiasis, one of the most common causes of death from parasitic diseases worldwide. "We have shown that an amoeba like E. gingivalis, which colonizes the oral cavity, will invade the oral mucosa and destroy gingival tissue. This enables increased numbers of bacteria to invade the host tissue, which further exacerbates inflammation and tissue destruction," says Prof. Schäfer. The international team of researchers was the first to describe precise roles of E. gingivalis in the pathogenesis of inflammation. During their analysis of inflamed periodontal pockets, the researchers detected evidence of the amoeba in approximately 80 percent of patients with periodontitis, but in only 15 percent of healthy subjects. Their observations revealed that, after invading the gums, the parasites move within the tissue, feeding on and killing host cells. Cell culture experiments showed that infection with E. gingivalis slows the rate at which cells grow, eventually leading to cell death. The researchers concluded that the amoeba's role in inflammation shows distinct parallels to the pathogenesis of amebiasis. "E. gingivalis actively contributes to cell destruction inside the gingival tissue and stimulates the same host immune response mechanisms as E. histolytica during its invasion of the intestinal mucosa," explains Prof. Schäfer. "This parasite, which is transmitted by simple droplet infection, is one potential cause of severe oral inflammation." Treatment success is often short-lived in patients with periodontitis. This might be due to the high virulence potential of this previously unnoticed, yet extremely common amoeba. Summing up the results of the research, Prof. Schäfer says: "We identified one infectious parasite whose elimination could improve treatment effectiveness and long-term outcomes in patients with gum disease." He adds: "Current treatment concepts for periodontitis fail to consider the possibility of infection by this parasite or its successful elimination." A clinical trial is underway to determine the extent to which the elimination of this amoeba might improve treatment outcomes in patients with periodontitis. Story Source: Materials provided by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.  |
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