Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) restore testosterone levels and increase TNF-α and IL-6 in Leydig cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for toxoplasmosis. The available therapy for patients with toxoplasmosis involves a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which have several adverse effects, including bone marrow suppression, megaloblastic anemia, leukopenia, and granulocytopenia. The development of therapeutic alternatives is essential for the management of toxoplasmosis, emphasizing the recent advances in nanomedicine.

Diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis: Application in clinical practice.

This review considers the advantages and disadvantages of parasitological techniques, methods of detecting antibodies and antigens, as well as molecular biology techniques in the diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis. In addition, it elucidates the potential of different techniques for rapid and effective detection of clinical cases, thus enabling early treatment and preventing fatal consequences of this helminthiasis.

Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) reduce Toxoplasma gondii infection and proliferation in HeLa cells, and induce autophagy and death of tachyzoites by apoptosis-like mechanism.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can cause severe and debilitating diseases, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The available treatment is based on drugs that have low efficacy, high toxicity, several adverse effects, and need long periods of treatment. Thus, the search for therapeutic alternatives is urgently needed.

Current status of research regarding Blastocystis sp., an enigmatic protist, in Brazil.

The present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. in Brazilian studies over a period of years (2000-2020), as well as point out relevant aspects of this enigmatic organism. We performed a literature search using six sources of international databases.

Strongyloides-specific IgA, IgG and IgG immune complex profile in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Aims: To describe an anti-Strongyloides IgA, IgG and IgG immune complex antibody response profile in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods And Results: Saliva and serum samples were collected from 100 individuals: group I, 50 apparently healthy individuals; and group II, 50 pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The IgA, IgG and IgG immune complex detection were carried out via an ELISA immunoenzymatic test.

Biogenic silver nanoparticles reduce adherence, infection, and proliferation of toxoplasma gondii RH strain in HeLa cells without inflammatory mediators induction.

The highlights of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) include low toxicity - depending on size and concentration - and efficient antiparasitic activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the action of the AgNp-Bio on HeLa cells in an infection with strain of RH Toxoplasma gondii. Firstly, we performed a cellular viability test and characterized the AgNp-Bio to proceed with the infection of HeLa cells with T.

Evaluation of the Dot-ELISA as a diagnostic test for human strongyloidiasis based on the detection of IgA in saliva.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of saliva samples in the Dot-ELISA test for immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis. The Dot-ELISA presented similar results to the ELISA test, with 70% and 60% sensitivity and 85% and 90% specificity, respectively, for IgA in the saliva. The Dot-ELISA with alternative saliva samples may be a suitable tool for diagnosing human strongyloidiasis, especially in populations with high levels of exposure to helminth.

Pravastatin and Simvastatin Pretreatment in Combination with Pyrimethamine and Sulfadiazine Reduces Infection Process of Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites (RH Strain) in HeLa Cells.

Purpose: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan from phylum Apicomplexa, which causes the toxoplasmosis infection; this one exhibits an apicoplast organelle which assists in the metabolism of isoprenoids and other pivotal mediators for the parasite survival. Statins are drugs that inhibit cholesterol synthesis, blocking the conversion of the substrate HMG-CoA to mevalonate, thus preventing the initial processes of the biosynthesis of these precursors, both in humans and parasite. Our goal was to verify whether the Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) tachyzoites form pretreated with pravastatin and simvastatin in association with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine at low concentrations could affect the infection processes, suggesting direct action on protozoa intracellular proliferation through the inhibition of isoprenoids in the parasite's apicoplast.

Molecular and Immnune Diagnosis: Further Testing for Human Strongyloidiasis.

Introduction: Detection of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae is particularly challenging because only a small number of larvae are released into the feces, regardless of infection stage.

Objective: Our objective was to apply conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to the detection of S. stercoralis DNA in feces samples to evaluate its performance in samples of patients with strongyloidiasis and compare results with those of immunodiagnosis.

Avidity as a criterion for diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis increases specificity of IgG ELISA.

This study evaluates the inclusion of the IgG avidity index in ELISA to detect anti-Strongyloides stercoralis IgG. The ELISA index revealed 70% of specificity. With the inclusion of screening AI, specificity increased to 80%.

Activity of rosuvastatin in tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) in HeLa cells.

Due to the toxicity of conventional medication in toxoplasmosis, some drugs are being studied for treating this infection, such as statins, especially rosuvastatin compound, which is efficient in inhibiting the initial isoprenoid biosynthesis processes in humans and the parasite. The goal of this study was to assess the activity of rosuvastatin in HeLa cells infected with the RH strain of T. gondii.

Pravastatin and simvastatin inhibit the adhesion, replication and proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) in HeLa cells.

The conventional treatment for toxoplasmosis with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine shows toxic effects to the host, and it is therefore necessary to search for new drugs. Some studies suggest the use of statins, which inhibit cholesterol synthesis in humans and also the initial processes of isoprenoid biosynthesis in the parasite. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of the statins pravastatin and simvastatin in HeLa cells infected in vitro with the RH strain of T.

Detection of parasite-specific IgG and IgA in paired serum and saliva samples for diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis in northern Paraná state, Brazil.

Human strongyloidiasis is an infection caused by the helminth Strongyloides stercoralis that can be fatal, especially in immunosuppressed patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate parasite-specific IgG and IgA levels using S. venezuelensis third-stage (L3) infective larvae alkaline extract as a heterologous antigen by ELISA in paired serum and saliva samples with improved sensitivity and specificity.