scholarly journals “Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis”, a Rickettsiales bacterium, can be transiently transferred from the unicellular eukaryote Paramecium to the planarian Dugesia japonica

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letizia Modeo ◽  
Alessandra Salvetti ◽  
Leonardo Rossi ◽  
Michele Castelli ◽  
Franziska Szokoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Unicellular Eukaryote ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Dugesia Japonica ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Etiological Agents ◽  
Hematophagous Arthropods

Most of the microorganisms responsible for vector-borne diseases (VBD) have hematophagous arthropods as vector/reservoir. Recently, many new species of microorganisms phylogenetically related to agents of VBD were found in a variety of aquatic eukaryotic hosts; in particular, numerous new bacterial species related to the genus Rickettsia (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales) were discovered in protist ciliates and other unicellular eukaryotes. Although their pathogenicity for humans and terrestrial animals is not known, several indirect indications exist that these bacteria might act as etiological agents of possible VBD of aquatic organisms, with protists as vectors. In the present study, a novel strain of the Rickettsia-Like Organism (RLO) endosymbiont “Candidatus (Ca.) Trichorickettsia mobilis” was identified in the macronucleus of the ciliate Paramecium multimicronucleatum. We performed transfection experiments of this RLO to planarians (Dugesia japonica) per os. Indeed, the latter is a widely used model system for studying bacteria pathogenic to humans and other Metazoa. In transfection experiments, homogenized paramecia were added to food of antibiotic-treated planarians. Treated and non-treated (i.e. control) planarians were investigated at day 1, 3, and 7 after feeding for endosymbiont presence by means of PCR and ultrastructural analyses. Obtained results were fully concordant and suggest that this RLO endosymbiont can be transiently transferred from ciliates to metazoans, being detected up to day 7 in treated planarians’ enterocytes. Our findings might offer insights into the potential role of ciliates or other protists as putative vectors for diseases caused by Rickettsiales or other RLOs and occurring in fish farms or in the wild.

scholarly journals Outwitting planarian’s antibacterial defence mechanisms:Rickettsialesbacterial trans-infection fromParamecium multimicronucleatumto planarians

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letizia Modeo ◽  
Alessandra Salvetti ◽  
Leonardo Rossi ◽  
Michele Castelli ◽  
Franziska Szokoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Trans Infection ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dugesia Japonica ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Etiological Agents ◽  
Hematophagous Arthropods

AbstractMost of the microorganisms belonging to genera responsible for vector-borne diseases (VBD) have hematophagous arthropods as vector/reservoir. Recently, many new species of microorganisms phylogenetically related to agents of VBD were found in a variety of aquatic eukaryotic hosts, in particular, numerous new bacterial species related to the genusRickettsia(Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales) were discovered in protist ciliates and other unicellular eukaryotes. Although their pathogenicity for humans and terrestrial animals is not known, these bacteria might act as etiological agents of possible VBD of aquatic organisms, with protist as vectors. In the present study, we characterized a novel strain of theRickettsia-Like Organism (RLO) endosymbiont “Candidatus(Ca.) Trichorickettsia mobilis” in the macronucleus of the ciliateParamecium multimicronucleatumthrough FluorescenceIn SituHybridization (FISH) and molecular analyses. Ultrastructural investigations on the presence of flagella confirmed previous studies on the same bacterial species. The potential trans-infection perosof this bacterium to planarians (Dugesia japonica), a widely used model system able to eliminate a wide range of bacteria pathogenic to humans and other Metazoa, was further verified. Ciliate mass cultures were set up, and trans-infection experiments were performed by adding homogenized paramecia to food of antibiotic-treated planarians, performed. Treated and non-treated (i.e. control) planarians were investigated at day 1, 3, and 7 after feeding for endosymbiont presence by means of PCR and ultrastructural analyses. Obtained results were fully concordant and suggest that this RLO endosymbiont can be transferred from ciliates to metazoans, being detected up to day 7 in treated planarian enterocytes inside and, possibly, outside phagosomes.

scholarly journals Antileishmanial Activity of the Genus Piper: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-44
Author(s):  
Caroline G. Macêdo ◽  
Kelly Christina F. Castro ◽  
Edilene Oliveira da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Etiological Agents

Background: Leishmaniases are anthropozoonotic vector-borne diseases, caused by the protozoan Leishmania spp. These diseases have significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and, as there are currently no vaccines available for their treatment, chemotherapy remains the mainstay for anti-leishmanial therapeutics. However, the severe side effects, reduced bioavailability, high cost and chemoresistance, amongst other problems, limit the use of available drugs. In recent years, natural compounds have shown promise as anti-leishmanial agents, especially those extracted from medicinal plants. The genus Piper has been used in traditional medicine and widely explored for its biological properties and bioactive phytocompounds. Aim: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review of the biological activity of the genus Piper against the etiological agents of leishmaniasis, to provide a perspective for effective and safe phytotherapics, new drugs or potentially active prototype chemical substances. Methodology: This systematic review was prepared in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The databases used for this review were SciELO, Pubmed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, using a temporal profile of 2009 to 2020. Conclusion: In this review, we summarize a wide range of isolated compounds, extracts and essential oils of the genus Piper that are worth screening given their potential for development as effective anti-leishmanial drugs.

scholarly journals Lipid hijacking: a unifying theme in vector-borne diseases

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anya J O'Neal ◽  
L Rainer Butler ◽  
Agustin Rolandelli ◽  
Stacey D Gilk ◽  
Joao HF Pedra
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Malarial Parasite ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Structural Support ◽  
Microbial Survival ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Hematophagous Arthropods

Vector-borne illnesses comprise a significant portion of human maladies, representing 17% of global infections. Transmission of vector-borne pathogens to mammals primarily occurs by hematophagous arthropods. It is speculated that blood may provide a unique environment that aids in the replication and pathogenesis of these microbes. Lipids and their derivatives are one component enriched in blood and are essential for microbial survival. For instance, the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, among others, have been shown to scavenge and manipulate host lipids for structural support, metabolism, replication, immune evasion, and disease severity. In this Review, we will explore the importance of lipid hijacking for the growth and persistence of these microbes in both mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors.

scholarly journals Ecological Effects on the Dynamics of West Nile Virus and Avian Plasmodium: The Importance of Mosquito Communities and Landscape

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1208
Author(s):  
Martina Ferraguti ◽  
Josué Martínez-de la Puente ◽  
Jordi Figuerola
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Mosquito Communities

Humans and wildlife are at risk from certain vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and West Nile and yellow fevers. Factors linked to global change, including habitat alteration, land-use intensification, the spread of alien species, and climate change, are operating on a global scale and affect both the incidence and distribution of many vector-borne diseases. Hence, understanding the drivers that regulate the transmission of pathogens in the wild is of great importance for ecological, evolutionary, health, and economic reasons. In this literature review, we discuss the ecological factors potentially affecting the transmission of two mosquito-borne pathogens circulating naturally between birds and mosquitoes, namely, West Nile virus (WNV) and the avian malaria parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Traditionally, the study of pathogen transmission has focused only on vectors or hosts and the interactions between them, while the role of landscape has largely been ignored. However, from an ecological point of view, it is essential not only to study the interaction between each of these organisms but also to understand the environmental scenarios in which these processes take place. We describe here some of the similarities and differences in the transmission of these two pathogens and how research into both systems may facilitate a greater understanding of the dynamics of vector-borne pathogens in the wild.

The Spread of Mosquito Borne Disease – Is Climate Change Beginning to Bite?

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 192-194
Author(s):  
John (Luke) Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne

The author considers the threat to vector-borne diseases in the light of climate change.

The Scientific Basis for the Prevention of Zooanthroponoze Vector-Borne Diseases Spread by Parasitic Arthropods of the Center of the East European Plain

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88
Author(s):  
Fedor I. Vasilevich ◽  
Anna M. Nikanorova
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Piperonyl Butoxide ◽  
East European Plain ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Kaluga Region

The purpose of the research is development of preventive measures against zooanthroponoze vector-borne diseases spread by parasitic arthropods in the Kaluga Region. Materials and methods. The subject of the research was Ixodidae, mosquitoes, and small mammals inhabiting the Kaluga Region. The census of parasitic arthropods was carried out on the territory of all districts of the Kaluga Region and the city of Kaluga. Open natural habitat and human settlements were investigated. Weather conditions from 2013 to 2018 were also taken into account. For the purposes of the study, we used standard methods for capturing and counting arthropods and mouse-like rodents. In order to obtain mathematical models of small mammal populations, a full factorial experiment was conducted using the collected statistical data. In-process testing of the drug based on s-fenvalerate and piperonyl butoxide were carried out under the conditions of the agricultural collective farm “Niva” of the Kozelsky District, the Kaluga Region, and LLC “Angus Center of Genetics” of the Babyninsky District, the Kaluga Region. Results and discussion. In the Kaluga Region, two species of ixodic ticks are found, namely, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, which have two activity peaks. Mosquito may have 3-4 generations in a year in the Kaluga region. The most common mosquito species in the Kaluga Region are Aedes communis, Ae. (Och.) togoi and Ae. (Och.) diantaeus, Culex pipiens Culex Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera, Culicidae) (Culex pipiens): Cx. pipiens f. pipiens L. (non-autogenic form) and Cx. p. f. molestus Fors. (autogenic form), which interbreed, and reproductively isolated in the Region. The developed mathematical models make it possible to quantify the risks of outbreaks of zooanthroponoze vector-borne diseases without the cost of field research, and allow for rational, timely and effective preventive measures. Medications based on s-fenvalerate and piperonyl butoxide and based on cyfluthrin showed high insecto-acaricidal efficacy and safety.

Current Challenges in the Development of Vaccines and Drugs Against Emerging Vector-borne Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (16) ◽  
pp. 2974-2986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwang-sun Kim
Keyword(s):  
New Host ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Novel Drugs ◽  
Huge Impact ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Living Organisms

Vectors are living organisms that transmit infectious diseases from an infected animal to humans or another animal. Biological vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies carry pathogens that multiply within their bodies prior to delivery to a new host. The increased prevalence of Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) such as Aedes-borne dengue, Chikungunya (CHIKV), Zika (ZIKV), malaria, Tick-Borne Disease (TBD), and scrub typhus has a huge impact on the health of both humans and livestock worldwide. In particular, zoonotic diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks place a considerable burden on public health. Vaccines, drugs, and vector control methods have been developed to prevent and treat VBDs and have prevented millions of deaths. However, development of such strategies is falling behind the rapid emergence of VBDs. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to fighting VBDs must be considered immediately. In this review, I focus on the challenges posed by emerging outbreaks of VBDs and discuss available drugs and vaccines designed to overcome this burden. Research into promising drugs needs to be upgraded and fast-tracked, and novel drugs or vaccines being tested in in vitro and in vivo models need to be moved into human clinical trials. Active preventive tactics, as well as new and upgraded diagnostics, surveillance, treatments, and vaccination strategies, need to be monitored constantly if we are to manage VBDs of medical importance.

scholarly journals Molecular survey of vector-borne diseases in two groups of domestic dogs from Lisbon, Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Mafalda Dordio ◽  
Relja Beck ◽  
Telmo Nunes ◽  
Isabel Pereira da Fonseca ◽  
Jacinto Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Status ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Hepatozoon Canis ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Southern Portugal ◽  
Vector Borne

Abstract Background Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are caused by a wide range of pathogens transmitted by arthropods. They have been an issue of growing importance in recent years; however, there is limited information about the vector-borne pathogens circulating in Portugal. The aim of the present study was to detect canine vector-borne bacteria and protozoa of veterinary and zoonotic importance using molecular methods. Methods One hundred and forty-two dogs from Lisbon, southern Portugal, were tested: 48 dogs from a veterinary hospital clinically suspected of vector-borne diseases and 94 apparently healthy dogs from shelters. Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., Babesia/Theileria spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Mycoplasma spp. infections were detected by PCR from blood samples and examined under light microscopy. Other information including clinical status and diagnostic test results were collected for each animal. Results Infections were detected by PCR in 48 (33.80%) dogs. Single infections were found in 35 dogs (24.64%), and co-infections were found in 13 (9.15%) dogs. Twenty-nine (20.42%) dogs were positive for Hepatozoon spp., 15 (10.56%) for Mycoplasma spp., 11 (7.75%) for Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., and six (4.21%) for Babesia spp. DNA sequencing was used to identify Babesia vogeli (2.81%), Babesia canis (1.40%), Hepatozoon canis (20.42%), Mycoplasma haematoparvum (2.11%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (8.45%), Anaplasma platys (7.04%), and Ehrlichia canis (0.70%). Conclusions This is the first molecular identification of B. canis and M. haematoparvum in dogs from southern Portugal. This study highlights the importance of molecular methods to identify CVBD pathogens in endemic areas and helps to guide the clinical approach of veterinarians in practice.

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