Near Infrared Fluorophore-Tagged Chloroquine in Diagnostic Imaging.

Chloroquine was among the first of several effective drug treatments against malaria until the onset of chloroquine resistance. In light of diminished clinical efficacy of chloroquine as an antimalarial therapeutic, there is potential in efforts to adapt chloroquine for other clinical applications, such as in combination therapies and in diagnostics. In this context, we designed and synthesized a novel asymmetrical squaraine dye coupled with chloroquine (SQR1-CQ).

Differential regulation of proinflammatory cytokine expression by mitogen-activated protein kinases in macrophages in response to intestinal parasite infection.

Blastocystis is a common enteric protistan parasite that can cause acute, as well as chronic, infection and is associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the pathogenic status of Blastocystis infection remains unclear. In this study, we found that Blastocystis antigens induced abundant expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), in mouse intestinal explants, in mouse colitis colon, and in macrophages.

Strain-dependent induction of human enterocyte apoptosis by blastocystis disrupts epithelial barrier and ZO-1 organization in a caspase 3- and 9-dependent manner.

Blastocystis is an emerging protistan parasite colonizing the human intestine. It is frequently reported to cause general intestinal symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. We recently demonstrated that Blastocystis rearranged cytoskeletal proteins and induced intestinal epithelial barrier compromise.

Pleiotropic effects of Blastocystis spp. Subtypes 4 and 7 on ligand-specific toll-like receptor signaling and NF-κB activation in a human monocyte cell line.

Blastocystis spp. is a common enteric stramenopile parasite that colonizes the colon of hosts of a diverse array of species, including humans. It has been shown to compromise intestinal epithelial cell barrier integrity and mediate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Statin pleiotropy prevents rho kinase-mediated intestinal epithelial barrier compromise induced by Blastocystis cysteine proteases.

Blastocystis is an enteric parasite that causes acute and chronic intestinal infections, often non-responsive to conventional antibiotics. The effects of Blastocystis infections on human epithelial permeability are not known, and molecular mechanisms of Blastocystis-induced intestinal pathology remain unclear. This study was conducted to determine whether Blastocystis species alters human intestinal epithelial permeability, to assess whether these abnormalities are rho kinase (ROCK)-dependent, and to investigate the therapeutic potential of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor Simvastatin in altered intestinal epithelial barrier function.

Current Views on the Clinical Relevance of Blastocystis spp.

Blastocystis is an enteric protistan parasite of uncertain clinical relevance. Recent studies indicate that the parasite is a species complex and humans are potentially hosts to nine Blastocystis subtypes, most of which are zoonotic. Subtype 3 is the most common in prevalence studies, followed by subtype 1.

A rapid, high-throughput viability assay for Blastocystis spp. reveals metronidazole resistance and extensive subtype-dependent variations in drug susceptibilities.

Blastocystis is an emerging protistan parasite of controversial pathogenesis. Although metronidazole (Mz) is standard therapy for Blastocystis infections, there have been accumulating reports of treatment failure, suggesting the existence of drug-resistant isolates. Furthermore, very little is known about Blastocystis susceptibility to standard antimicrobials.