Eosinophilic leukocytes function in host protection against parasitic worms. In turn, helminthic parasites harbor specific molecules to evade or paralyze eosinophil-associated host immune responses; these molecules facilitate the migration and survival of parasitic helminths in vivo. This competition between eosinophil and worm leads to stable equilibria between them. An understanding of such dynamic host-eosinophil interactions will help us to uncover mechanisms of cross talk between host and parasite in helminth infection. In this review, we examine recent findings regarding the innate immune responses of eosinophils to helminthic parasites, and discuss the implications of these findings in terms of eosinophil-mediated tissue inflammation in helminth infection.
Animals ; Eosinophils/*immunology/parasitology ; Helminthiasis/*immunology/*parasitology ; Helminths/*immunology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo detect the species of larval trematodes (cercariae) in Melanopsis praemorsa snails from 5 different fresh water bodies in Palestine.

METHODSA total of 1 880 Melanopsis praemorsa snails were collected from different fresh water bodies in Palestine from October, 2008 to November, 2010. Cercariae in Melanopsis praemorsa snails were obtained by lighting and crushing methods. The behavior of cercariae was observed using a dissecting microscope.

RESULTSThree different species of larval trematodes were identified from Melanopsis praemorsa snails collected only from Al-Bathan fresh water body, while snails from other water bodies were not infected. These species were microcercous cercaria, xiphidiocercaria and brevifurcate lophocercous cercaria. These cercariae called Cercaria melanopsi palestinia I, Cercaria melanopsi palestinia II and Cercaria melanopsi palestinia III have not been described before from this snail in Palestine. The infection rate of Melanopsis praemorsa collected from Al-Bathan fresh water body was 5.7%, while the overall infection rate of snails collected from all fresh water bodies was 4.3%. Details are presented on the morphology and behavior of the cercariae as well as their development within the snail.

CONCLUSIONSThese results have been recorded for the first time and these cercariae may be of medical and veterinary importance.

Animals ; Cercaria ; Fresh Water ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva ; Snails ; parasitology ; Trematoda ; physiology

One of a rapid growing mycobacteria (RGM), Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB), is the most causative agents of RGM pulmonary disease. MAB can change their morphology that smooth (S) type to more virulent type of rough (R). Bacterial invasion into host cells is an important first step to initiate their infection. The phagocytic and invasion mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through the host-parasite interaction have been researched. Although MAB causes a wide range of clinical diseases, little is known about their invasion ability or why the R type is more virulent than the S type. To compare invasion ability of R with S types, their infection abilities to dermal fibroblast, HaCaT cells, A549 cells and bone marrow derived macrophages were analyzed. After 2 h of infection, intracellular survival numbers of the R type were significantly higher in all infected cells than S types. The fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and confocal microscopy assay also revealed that red fluorescent amount and intracellular bacterial numbers in all of the cells infected with MAB R type expressing the red fluorescent protein (RFP) were significantly higher than the S type. Our data suggest that the virulence of MAB is proportionally related to the invasion ability into mammalian cells and macrophages.
Fibroblasts ; Flow Cytometry ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Infection ; Lung Diseases ; Macrophages ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Mycobacterium* ; Virulence

Since almost all patients suffering from acute hematogenous osteomelitis, due to Staph. aureus, are under 20 year old, it may be assumed that the host-parasite relationships, between the young and actively growing bodies and the organisms, might be somewhat different from the ones prevailed in the adult bodies. And it is also known that the administration of various hormones may produce significant influences upon the susceptibity and resistance of host. It was thought worthwile to study the host reactions to the introduction of organisms and the effects of cortisone or prehormone administration to the infected animals. Thus, ca. 5×10⁷ viable cells of Staph. aureus were inoculated i.v. into young rabbits, weighing 1–1.5 kg., of around 2 months old. The number of viable units of Staph. aureus were followed in the circulating blood and urine of the inoculated animals with or without treatment of cortisone or prehormone. The results of observations might be summerized as follows: 1. The organisms were removed rapidly from the circulating blood of infected rabbits without treatment. The number of viable units increased more or Iess slowly, peak being three to eight days after inoculation, in the urine of infected rabbits without treatment. 3. In the of infected rabbits with daily administration of cortisone, small number of organisms could be cultured throughout the 17 days of observation. 4. The number of viable units in the urine of infected rabbits with daily adminstration of cortisone sho wed significant increase upon the onset of cortisone administration and then decreased slowly. 5. Prehormone administration appeared to produced no significant influence on the number or viable stapylococci in the blood and urine of infected rabbits.
Adult ; Animals ; Cortisone ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Rabbits ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus

Helminth infections are widespread worldwide, and pose a serious threat to human health and animal husbandry development. Understanding of helminth-host interactions is critical to effective control and ultimate eradication of helminthiasis. Following host infections, helminth infections firstly initiate innate immune responses and then mediate adaptive immune responses. Type 1 immune responses are predominant at early stage of helminth infections, which mainly play anti-infective actions, and type 2 immune responses are predominant at late stage of infections, which are associated with helminth immune evasion and aggravation of tissue damages. This review summarizes the progress of researches on type 1/2 immune responses-associated signaling pathways mediated by helminth infections in hosts.
Animals ; Humans ; Helminthiasis ; Helminths ; Immunity, Innate ; Signal Transduction ; Host-Parasite Interactions

The dense granule of Toxoplasma gondii is a secretory vesicular organelle of which the proteins participate in the modification of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and PV membrane for the maintenance of intracellular parasitism in almost all nucleated host cells. In this review, the archives on the research of GRA proteins are reviewed on the foci of finding GRA proteins, characterizing molecular aspects, usefulness in diagnostic antigen, and vaccine trials in addition to some functions in host-parasite interactions.
Animals ; Antigens, Protozoan/*metabolism ; Cytoplasmic Granules/metabolism ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Protozoan Proteins/*metabolism ; Toxoplasma/*metabolism ; Toxoplasmosis/*parasitology ; Vacuoles/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of host species on growth and development and active component content of Thesium chinense.

METHODPlant morphology and active component content of T. chinense grown with different hosts were measured. The hosts were evaluated by using index-sum method.

RESULTHosts significantly promoted the growth of T. chinense by increasing height, per plant weight, stem diameter, leaf area, the number of seed and haustorium,and decreased RW/SW ratio compared to without host treatment. Considerable differences existed among the effect of different host species treatments. Synthetical evaluation score of Gnaphlium affine was the highest (37), followed by Imperata cylindrical and Prunella vulgaris (36). It is suggested that they were superior hosts for T. chinense. But the scores of Triticum aestivum (25) and Eremochloa ophiuroides (17) were lower, so they were unsuited hosts for T. chinense.

CONCLUSIONHosts significantly promoted the growth of T. chinense. Considerable differences existed among the growth and development of T. chinense grown with different hosts, as well as active component content. Gnaphlium affine, Imperata cylindrical and Prunella vulgaris were superior hosts for T. chinense. While Triticum aestivum and Eremochloa ophiuroides were unsuited hosts for T. chinense.

Host-Parasite Interactions ; Poaceae ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Prunella ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Santalaceae ; growth & development ; physiology ; Triticum ; growth & development ; parasitology

To separate and identify chemical signals which induce Thesium chinense haustorium formation, the components of T. chinense roots secretion collected with XAD-4 resin were detected by GC-MS. The effect of DMBQ as exogenous signals to induce haustorium formation in T. chinense was studied. Fifty-three compounds of 9 types had been detected, including hydrocarbons, esters, organic acids, ketones, alcohols, nitrogen containing compounds, phenolic acids, aldehyde and quinine. It is worth noting that the 2, 5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone has the core structure of 1,4-benzoquinone, which may play an important role in the parasitic relationship of Prunella vulgaris and T. chinense: DMBQ worked effectively on inducing haustoria, but induction effects vary widely in different concentrations. DMBQ with the concentration of 1 μmol x L(-1) showed the best effect of the inducing ability with a ratio of 110.52 when treated to induce haustoria.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; physiology ; Prunella ; chemistry ; physiology

Cytokines ; genetics ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics

Proteases play important roles in parasite development and host parasite interactions. The protease of Kudoa spp. has been recognized as a key factor of severe proteolysis of fish muscle post-mortem; however, there is little information available regarding the protease of Kudoa (K.) septempunctata, which was recently identified as a cause of food poisoning in humans. The present study was conducted to isolate and characterize proteases to elucidate the type of protease contained in the parasite and determine the optimal pH for protease activity. We confirmed the cysteine protease and metalloprotease produced by K. septempunctata. While the cysteine protease showed optimal activity at pH 5 that decreased rapidly with increasing pH, the optimal activity of metalloprotease was pH 7, and it remained stable from pH 6 to pH 8. These results indicate that the pH of cysteine protease is not proper for fish muscle postmortem, and that metalloprotease can act in human intestines. Overall, the present study provides important information that improves our understanding of the role of protease physiology and the subsequent food poisoning caused by K. septempunctata.
Cysteine Proteases ; Foodborne Diseases ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestines ; Parasites ; Peptide Hydrolases* ; Physiology ; Proteolysis