What's new for 'Trypanosomatids' in PubMed

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Search kinetoplastids OR kinetoplastid OR Kinetoplastida OR "trypanosoma brucei" OR leishmania OR brucei OR leishmaniasis OR "African trypanosomiasis"
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PubMed Results

Items 1 - 9 of 9

1.	Biomedica. 2009 Sep;29(3):485-93. [Metacaspases and their role in the life cycle of human protozoan parasites] [Article in Spanish] González IJ. Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad de Lausana, Epalinges, Suiza. ivethgon@hotmail.com <ivethgon@hotmail.com> Abstract Metacaspases are caspase-related cysteine-proteases that are present in organisms devoid of caspases such as plants, yeast, and protozoan parasites. Since caspases are important effector molecules in mammalian apoptosis, the possible role of metacaspases in programmed cell death has been evaluated in the organisms where they are expressed. In some species of the human protozoan parasites Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania spp., metacaspases have been involved in programmed cell death, although a role of metacaspases in recycling processes in T. brucei has also been suggested. Metacaspases are also expressed in Plasmodium spp., however their role in these organisms is still unknown. More than one metacaspase gene is present in some of these parasites, which suggests that these proteins are physiologically redundant or have different functions depending on their localization and protein interactions. The catalytic activity of metacaspases is different from that of caspases-again noting that metacaspase genes are absent in mammals. These characteristics make metacaspases and their activating mechanisms interesting subjects of research in the development of new drug targets for the treatment of trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and malaria. A summary of the literature on metacaspases is provided, and Latin American researchers are encouraged to more actively explore the metacaspase potential.
	PMID: 20436999 [PubMed - in process]
	Publication Types: English Abstract

2.	Exp Parasitol. 2010 Apr 29. [Epub ahead of print] Leishmania major: In vitro and in vivo anti-leishmanial effect of cantharidin. Ghaffarifar F. Parasitology and Entomology Dept., Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, I.R. Iran, P.O. Box 14115-331. Abstract Cantharidin is a natural poisonous compound secreted by male blister beetles. The effect of different doses of cantharidin on Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) were investigated both in vitro (promastigote and amastigote viability) and in experimentally-infected BALB/c mice (skin lesions) using ointment or soluble cantharidin. In the present study, cantharidin with concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50mug/ml inhibited the growth of Leishmania major promastigotes after 24h and the resultant inhibition levels were 39.22%, 41.95%, 49.88%, 54.78%, 58.01%, 68.30% and 80.04%, respectively. After 72h, the mean number of amastigotes per macrophage in the culture using 2mug/ml of cantharidin, (the 50% inhibitory concentration dose (IC(50))), was 1.2 while in the control group it was 2.7. In order to perform the inflammatory blister technique, 500mug of cantharidin were solved in 25mul of DMSO to show the formation of the blister which leads to treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Using the blister technique, the small lesions (<5mm) healed after one session. Two weeks of topical treatment with 0.1% cantharidin ointment was an effective method for treating cutanous leishmaniasis in infected BALB/c mice. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 20435039 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

3.	Parasitol Int. 2010 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print] An outbreak of the desert sub-type of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in Jiashi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. Wang JY, Gao CH, Yang YT, Chen HT, Zhu XH, Lv S, Chen SB, Tong SX, Steinmann P, Ziegelbauer K, Zhou XN. National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China. Abstract Few outbreaks of the desert sub-type of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been described worldwide. In 2008, the incidence rate of VL in Jiashi county, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the western part of the People's Republic of China, increased more than twenty-folds compared to the average annual incidence rate. The majority of the cases (96.6%) occurred among <2year-old infants. For the first time in the desert area of Xinjiang, the parasites were isolated from bone marrow aspirates, using the NNN medium culture approach. The genetic analysis of the ITS-1 nucleotide sequence indicated that three isolates from eastern Jiashi county were genetically closely related and belonged to the L. infantum group. However, they differed from an isolate from Kashi city which was classified as a member of the L. donovani group. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 20434585 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

4.	Vet Parasitol. 2010 Apr 10. [Epub ahead of print] Development of an indirect ELISA test using an affinity purified surface antigen (P38) for sero-diagnosis of canine Neospora caninum infection. Hosseininejad M, Hosseini F, Mosharraf M, Shahbaz S, Mahzounieh M, Schares G. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Shahrekord, 2nd Km. of Saman Road, 88186-34141 Shahrekord, Iran; Research Institute of Zoonotic Diseases, University of Shahrekord, 2nd Km. of Saman Road, 88186-34141 Shahrekord, Iran. Abstract Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan that infects domestic and wild canids, as well as many warm blooded animals as shown by the isolation of viable parasites and the detection of parasite DNA in naturally infected hosts. N. caninum is described as a cause of neuromuscular disease and death in dogs. The dog is also known as a definitive host, shedding oocysts involved in the transmission of the infection to intermediate hosts. This study was conducted to develop an indirect ELISA test using an affinity purified 38kDa N. caninum surface antigen (P38) for the sensitive and specific diagnosis of this infection in dog populations. To define a suitable cut-off, serum samples from 233 dogs were analyzed using an N. caninum-specific indirect fluorescent antibody test. All of these serum samples were subjected to the newly designed P38-ELISA. The Two-graph Receiver Operating Characteristics (TG-ROC) of the serum ELISA was determined to examine the performance of the test. TG-ROC analysis showed an area under curve (AUC) of 0.996 that indicates the test results being highly accurate. Optimal sensitivity and specificity (100% and 97.9%, respectively) were determined for SI(n) cut-off point of 0.23. To examine possible cross-reactions with other parasites affecting dogs, sera of dogs positive for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (n=17) and Leishmania infantum (n=11) infections were tested. These revealed negative results when tested in the new ELISA. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 20434268 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

5.	Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2010 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print] [Leishmaniasis over a tattoo in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus.] [Article in Spanish] López-Medrano F, Costa JR, Rodríguez-Peralto JL, Aguado JM. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.
	PMID: 20434238 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
	Publication Types: LETTER

6.	J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2010 Feb;43(1):74-76. Epub 2010 Mar 29. Immune Restoration Disease Associated with Leishmania donovani Infection Following Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection. Auyeung P, French MA, Hollingsworth PN. Department of Immunology, Fremantle Hospital and PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, Australia. Abstract Immune restoration disease following antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection can cause significant morbidity and mortality. We describe the dramatic clinical course of an human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient who developed severe immune restoration disease associated with Leishmania donovani infection in a non-endemic area of the world. It highlights the need to consider previous travel history when screening for opportunistic infections before starting antiretroviral therapy, and demonstrates the effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy for life-threatening immune restoration disease. Copyright © 2010 Taiwan Society of Microbiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 20434127 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

7.	Coll Antropol. 2010 Mar;34(1):237-9. Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis by fine needle aspiration cytology of an isolated cervical lymph node: case report. Beljan R, Sundov D, Luksić B, Soljić V, Burazer MP. Institute of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, University Hospital Center Split, Split, Croatia. rbeljan@krizine.kbsplit.hr Abstract A 61-year-old woman presented with an isolated, painless, slightly enlarged right laterocervical lymph node without any other signs and symptoms of disease. Laboratory test including hematological and biochemical parameters were normal. A cervical ultrasonography demonstrated one lymph node (10 mm) on the right laterocervical side and one small reactive lymph node on the left laterocervical side. The fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears revealed a polymorphic population of cells composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes, epitheloid cells, plasma cell, tingible body macrophages and macrophages infiltrated with Leishmania amastigotes. Treatment was initiated with Stiboglukonat Na (Pentostam) and led to a full recovery.
	PMID: 20432756 [PubMed - in process]

8.	Lancet. 2010 Apr 17;375(9723):1388-402. Chagas disease. Rassi A Jr, Rassi A, Marin-Neto JA. Division of Cardiology, Anis Rassi Hospital, Goiânia, GO, Brazil. arassijr@terra.com.br Abstract Chagas disease is a chronic, systemic, parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and was discovered in 1909. The disease affects about 8 million people in Latin America, of whom 30-40% either have or will develop cardiomyopathy, digestive megasyndromes, or both. In the past three decades, the control and management of Chagas disease has undergone several improvements. Large-scale vector control programmes and screening of blood donors have reduced disease incidence and prevalence. Although more effective trypanocidal drugs are needed, treatment with benznidazole (or nifurtimox) is reasonably safe and effective, and is now recommended for a widened range of patients. Improved models for risk stratification are available, and certain guided treatments could halt or reverse disease progression. By contrast, some challenges remain: Chagas disease is becoming an emerging health problem in non-endemic areas because of growing population movements; early detection and treatment of asymptomatic individuals are underused; and the potential benefits of novel therapies (eg, implantable cardioverter defibrillators) need assessment in prospective randomised trials. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 20399979 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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	Publication Types: Review MeSH Terms: Acute Disease Chagas Cardiomyopathy/diagnosis Chagas Cardiomyopathy/drug therapy Chagas Disease*/diagnosis Chagas Disease*/drug therapy Chagas Disease*/epidemiology Chagas Disease*/transmission Chronic Disease Humans Trypanosoma cruzi/physiology

9.	Eur J Pharm Sci. 2010 Jan 31;39(1-3):30-6. Epub 2009 Oct 23. Computational discovery of novel trypanos omicidal drug-like chemicals by using bond-based non-stochastic and stochastic quadratic maps and linear discriminant analysis. Castillo-Garit JA, Vega MC, Rolon M, Marrero-Ponce Y, Kouznetsov VV, Torres DF, Gómez-Barrio A, Bello AA, Montero A, Torrens F, Pérez-Giménez F. Applied Chemistry Research Center, Faculty of Chemistry-Pharmacy, Central University of Las Villas, Santa Clara, 54830, Villa Clara, Cuba. jacgarit@yahoo.es Abstract Herein we present results of a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies to classify and design, in a rational way, new antitrypanosomal compounds by using non-stochastic and stochastic bond-based quadratic indices. A data set of 440 organic chemicals, 143 with antitrypanosomal activity and 297 having other clinical uses, is used to develop QSAR models based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Non-stochastic model correctly classifies more than 93% and 95% of chemicals in both training and external prediction groups, respectively. On the other hand, the stochastic model shows an accuracy of about the 87% for both series. As an experiment of virtual lead generation, the present approach is finally satisfactorily applied to the virtual evaluation of 9 already synthesized in house compounds. The in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of this series against epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi is assayed. The model is able to predict correctly the behaviour for the majority of these compounds. Four compounds (FER16, FER32, FER33 and FER 132) showed more than 70% of epimastigote inhibition at a concentration of 100 microg/mL (86.74%, 78.12%, 88.85% and 72.10%, respectively) and two of these chemicals, FER16 (78.22% of AE) and FER33 (81.31% of AE), also showed good activity at a concentration of 10 microg/mL. At the same concentration, compound FER16 showed lower value of cytotoxicity (15.44%), and compound FER33 showed very low value of 1.37%. Taking into account all these results, we can say that these three compounds can be optimized in forthcoming works, but we consider that compound FER33 is the best candidate. Even though none of them resulted more active than Nifurtimox, the current results constitute a step forward in the search for efficient ways to discover new lead antitrypanosomals. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 19854271 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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	Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH Terms: Cell Survival/drug effects Cells, Cultured Computer-Aided Design* Discriminant Analysis Drug Discovery/methods* Models, Statistical Molecular Structure Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Trypanocidal Agents/chemistry* Trypanocidal Agents/pharmacology* Trypanosoma cruzi/drug effects Substances: Trypanocidal Agents