Cystic echinococcosis (CE) of humans and animals is caused by various species of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Of these, E. granulosus sensu stricto has the widest geographical distribution and is the most important agent of human cystic echinococcosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis topical review summarizes the theoretical and experimental findings obtained over the last 20 years on the subject of growth-induced polarity formation driven by a Markov chain process. When entering the growing surface of a molecular crystal, an inorganic-organic composite or a natural tissue, the building blocks may undergo 180° orientational disorder. Driven by configurational entropy, faulted orientations can promote the conversion of a growing non-polar seed into an object showing polar domains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe relationship between autoimmunity and malaria is not well understood. To determine whether autoimmune responses have a protective role during malaria, we studied the pattern of reactivity to plasmodial antigens of sera from 93 patients with 14 different autoimmune diseases (AID) who were not previously exposed to malaria. Sera from patients with 13 different AID reacted against Plasmodium falciparum by indirect fluorescent antibody test with frequencies varying from 33-100%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunity against the pre-erythrocytic stages of malaria is the most promising, as it is strong and fully sterilizing. Yet, the underlying immune effectors against the human Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic stages remain surprisingly poorly known and have been little explored, which in turn prevents any rational vaccine progress. Evidence that has been gathered in vitro and in vivo, in higher primates and in humans, is reviewed here, emphasizing the significant role of IFN-γ, either as a critical immune mediator or at least as a valuable surrogate marker of protection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In endemic regions naturally acquired immunity against Plasmodium falciparum develops as a function of age and exposure to parasite infections and is known to be mediated by IgG. The targets of protective antibodies remain to be fully defined. Several immunoepidemiological studies have indicated an association of cytophilic anti-parasite IgG with protection against malaria.
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