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 - 8 of 8

1.	Parasitol Res. 2011 Jun 30. [Epub ahead of print] Evaluation of plumbagin and its derivative as potential modulators of redox thiol metabolism of Leishmania parasite. Sharma N, Shukla AK, Das M, Dubey VK. Source Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India. Abstract Trypanothione and trypanothione reductase (TryR)-based redox metabolism found in Leishmania and other trypanosomatids exemplify the unique features of this group of organisms. Its absence in mammalian hosts, together with the sensitivity of trypanosomes against oxidative stress, makes this enzyme a unique target for exploitation for potential antileishmanial chemotherapeutics. Plumbagin, a plant-derived naphthoquinone, is reported to possess antileishmanial properties by inhibiting TryR. We here report the kinetics of the inhibitory mechanism of plumbagin and its derivative, 2-methoxy 1, 4-naphthoquinone. Interestingly, apart from acting as inhibitor, these compounds also act as subversive substrates and subvert the physiological function of enzyme by converting it from an antioxidant to a prooxidant. Both naphthoquinones show a significant effect on redox homeostasis and results in increased reactive oxygen species, resulting in morphological changes and parasite death.
	PMID: 21717278 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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2.	Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:898419. Epub 2011 Jun 12. Copaiba Oil: An Alternative to Development of New Drugs against Leishmaniasis. Dos Santo s AO, Ueda-Nakamura T, Dias Filho BP, da Veiga Junior VF, Nakamura CV. Source Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid s/n, 86051-990 Londrina, PR, Brazil. Abstract Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that is increasing globally at an alarming rate. Glucantime has been the therapy of choice for more than 50 years. A recent study reported the antileishmanial activity of copaiba oil against Leishmania amazonensis. These results led us to investigate morphological and ultrastructural changes in L. amazonensis treated with copaiba oil, using electron microscopy and flow cytometry to assess specific organelles as targets for copaiba oil. In the promastigote and axenic amastigote forms, this copaiba oil caused notable morphological and ultrastructural changes, including extensive mitochondrial damage and denaturation of the plasma membrane. Copaiba oil treatment also induced a decrease in Rh123 fluorescence, suggesting interference with the mitochondrial membrane potential and loss of cell viability with an increase in plasma membrane permeability, as observed by flow cytometry after staining with propidium iodide. In conclusion, copaiba oil could be exploited for the development of new antileishmanial drugs.
	PMID: 21716677 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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3.	Indian J Dermatol. 2011 Mar;56(2):214-6. Leishmaniasis of the lip diagnosed by lymph node aspiration and treated with a combination of oral ketaconazole and intralesional sodium stibogluconate. Vasudevan B, Bahal A. Source Department of Dermatology, MH Shillong, Meghalaya- 793001, India. Abstract A 26-year-old male who presented to the dermatology OPD with complaints of a swelling on his lip of 6 months' duration was on examination found to have a solitary ulcerated nodule over the lip and an enlarged submental lymph node. Skin smear and biopsy from the lesion did not yield the diagnosis. Needle aspiration from the draining lymph node revealed the diagnostic Leishman-Donovan bodies. The patient responded to treatment with a combination of oral ketoconazole and intralesional sodium stibogluconate. We report this case because of both the unusual location of the lesion and the unusual method of diagnosis and treatment.
	PMID: 21716553 [PubMed - in process]
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4.	Indian J Dermatol. 2011 Mar;56(2):171-3. The comparison between trichloroacetic Acid 50% and co(2) laser in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis scar. Nilforoushzadeh MA, Jaffary F, Ansari N, Moradi S, Siadat AH. Source Professor of Dermatology, Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran; Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Abstract BACKGROUND: The scars of the cutaneous leishmaniasis and psychological problems of this disease need different interventions for its correction. AIM: Our objective in this study was to compare the efficacy of 50% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) solution and CO(2) laser for treatment of the atrophic scars due to leishmaniasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized clinical trial performed in 92 patients. Patients were randomized into two groups: the first group was treated with 50% TCA solution, once monthly and for a maximum of 5 months, and the second group was treated with CO(2) laser which was performed for only one time. Patients were followed-up at 3 and 6 months after starting the treatment. The improvement of scar was graded by a 6-point scale using digital camera and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: In this study, 74 females and 18 males were enrolled. The improvement of scar was 48.13% in the TCA group and 44.87% in the CO(2) laser group. This difference was not statically significant (P = 0.55). There was also no significant difference regarding side effects between these two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed that efficacy of focal with 50% TCA solution is compared with CO(2) laser in treatment of leishmaniasis scar. Because of the low cost and simple application of TCA solution in comparison with CO(2) laser, we suggest use of this treatment for correction of leishmaniasis scar or the atrophic scars.
	PMID: 21716542 [PubMed - in process]
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5.	J Vector Borne Dis. 2011 Jun;48(2):67-71. Preliminary study on the galectin molecular diversity in Moroccoan Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly population. Guernaoui S, Garcia D, Boumezzough B, Fontenille D, Sereno D. Source MIVEGEC, Maladies Infectieuses: Vecteur, Evolution, Génétique, Ecologie Contrôle, Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Abstract Context: Galactose binding protein (PpGalec) plays an important role in the specificity of Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly for Leishmania major. The molecular diversity of this ligand is currently unknown but might have some influence on the ability of PpGalec to efficiently recognize L. major in natural sandfly populations. Objective: To explore the molecular diversity of the P. papatasi Galectin gene (PpGalec) in natural sandfly population of Morocco. Results & Conclusions: Sequence variations of PpGalec was analyzed in 31 P. papatasi specimens collected from endemic and non-endemic zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci of Morocco. Among the 211 amino acid positions analyzed, 11 are subjected to mutation. Interestingly, we observe that one mutation directly affect an amino acid known to be involved in the substrate recognition by galectin. The repercussion of this polymorphism on the capacity of the galectin to efficiently bind the L. major Lipophosphoglycane (LPG) awaits further investigations.
	PMID: 21715727 [PubMed - in process]
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6.	J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Jun 29. [Epub ahead of print] Diagnosis of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis by detection of Leishmania antibodies and Leishmania DNA in oral fluid samples collected by ORACOLTM device. Galaï Y, Chabchoub N, Ben-Abid M, Ben-Abda I, Ben-Alaya-Bouafif N, Amri F, Aoun K, Bouratbine A. Source LR 05SP03, Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia. Abstract Background: Current visceral leishmaniasis (VL) diagnostic methods require invasive sampling procedures such as visceral aspiration and/or blood drawing. The development of diagnostic tests using oral fluid, which is easier to collect, would be more simple and practical for VL diagnosis especially under field conditions. Methods: Oral fluids from 37 VL cases and 40 healthy controls were collected by ORACOL™ devices. Blood samples and oral fluid specimens from both groups were analyzed by rK39 Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent assay and quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Antibodies detection in the oral fluid had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.5%. Antibody levels measured in sera and oral fluid showed a significant positive correlation (ρ=0.655 and p=0.01). Leishmania DNA detection in oral fluid had a sensitivity of 94.6% and a specificity of 90%. The median parasitic load estimated in blood was 133 parasites/ml (IR: 10-1048) whereas that accessed in oral fluid specimens was 3 parasites/ml (IR: 0.41-92). However, there was no significant linear relationship between parasitic loads assessed in both biological samples (ρ= 0.31, p=0.06). Conclusions: VL diagnosis based on specific antibody detection and Leishmania DNA identification in oral fluid sample was equivalent to blood in accuracy, and therefore promising for clinical use.
	PMID: 21715587 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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7.	Res Vet Sci. 2011 Apr;90(2):269-74. Epub 2010 Jul 16. Effect of zinc supplementation in pregnant mice during experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Gonçalves-Ne to JF, Alonso Toldo MP, Santos CD, do Prado Júnior JC, Fonseca C, Albuquerque S. Source Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, CEP 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. jfgneto@fcfrp.usp.br Abstract Zinc is an essential micronutrient and has significant effects on human growth, development, and immune function. Zinc supplementation or deficiency may affect the course of infection. Zinc enhances immune response against a wide range of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens. In the present study, we investigated the effects of zinc sulphate (ZnSO(4)) supplementation (20mg/kg/day) during pregnancy in mice, Swiss Webster strain infected by the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Oral supplementation of zinc sulphate in pregnant and non-pregnant infected animals did not affect the count of blood parasites as well as tissue parasitism in the heart, liver, and spleen. Zinc supplementation did not alter female body weight, the length of fetuses and neonates, placental size/weight and mortality rate. Among zinc supplied animals, no significant plasmatic zinc concentrations were observed. Concerning to tissue zinc concentrations, only the liver displayed enhanced values as compared to other organs. For placental parasitism, zinc supplied group displayed a significant decrease in amastigote burdens (P<0.05). However due to the reduced number of parasite burdens in placenta of animals supplied with zinc, these data suggest that zinc was partially effective in up-regulating the host's immune response against parasite, probably attenuating the infection in fetuses. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 20638090 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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8.	Res Vet Sci. 2011 Apr;90(2):257-9. Epub 2010 Jun 9. Cryopreservation of Trypanosoma evansi after DEAE-cellulose purification: Evaluatio n of infective parameters. Tavares KC, Da Silva AS, Wolkmer P, Monteiro SG, Miletti LC. Source Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Laboratório de Bioquímica de Hemoparasitas e Vetores - LABHEV, Avenida Luiz de Camões, n° 2090, Bairro Conta Dinheiro Lages 88520-000, SC, Brazil. Abstract Cryopreservation is a method of keeping parasites alive in a laboratory. However, this technique may also damage the parasite. Alternatively, parasites may be maintained by in vitro culture. Unfortunately, for Trypanosoma evansi no effective medium that is able to maintain the parasite for more than 4 months has been described. In this study, we examined the effect of purifying trypomastigote through DEAE-cellulose chromatography before and after cryopreservation, by analyzing the pre-patent period, longevity, parasitemia, and count of viable parasites. Our results showed a three-times increase in the concentration of viable trypomastigote in DEAE-purified cryopreserved parasites as compared to non-DEAE-purified cryopreserved parasites. This indicates that DEAE-cellulose chromatography followed by cryopreservation is an effective method for the storage and preservation of T. evansi, with the advantage that the stocked parasites will be ready to use in molecular biology procedures. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 20542526 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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