• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.199-208
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• 1987

The chemotherapeutic efficacy of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole ($Bactrim^{\circledR}$) in mice experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gcndii was evaluated. The average survival days and survival rate of mice infected intraperitoneally with $1{\times}10^5$ trophozoites and treated with $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ were compared with those of untreated group. The hematologic findings of blood samples of experimental mice were observed for comparison of side elects between $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ and pyrimethamine ($Daraprim^{\circledR}$), the latter of which has been one of the favorable drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis. The results are summarized as follows: 1. $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ showed a strong evidence of potent anti-Toxoplasma activity. The survival rate of mice administered with 24 mg of $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ per mouse per day for 7 days, was 83.3%, and the rate was increased to 100% in mice administered with two-fold concentrated dose of the drug. 2. The average numbers of white blood cells (W.B.C.) in the mouse groups treated with $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ or $Daraprim^{\circledR}$ were more increased than those only infected with T. gondii. The mice treated with $Daraprim^{\circledR}$ however, showed remarkably decreased numbers of W.B.C. as compared with those treated with $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ . 3. The average numbers of red blood cells (R.B.C.) and platelets both in the drug-treated and untreated T. gondii-infected mice were decreased as compared with normal mice. The numbers of R. B. C. in $Daraprim^{\circledR}-treated$ mice, however, were more decreased than in $Bactrim^{\circledR}-treated$ mice. 4. The average levels of hemoglobin both in the drug.treated and untreated T. gondii-infected mice were decreased, compared with normal mice. But there was no difference in the levels of hemoglobin between $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ and $Daraprim^{\circledR}-treated$ groups. In conclusion, trimethoprim.sulfamethoxasole ($Bactrim^{\circledR}$) was proven to be effective and safe for the treatment of murine toxoplasmosis. The efficacy was comparable with pyrimethamine ($Daraprim^{\circledR}$), but bone marrow depression was less severe with $Bactrim^{\circledR}$ treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.285-290
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• 2011

Naegleria fowleri, a ubiquitous free-living ameba, causes fatal primary amebic meningoencephalitis in humans. N. fowleri trophozoites are known to induce cytopathic changes upon contact with microglial cells, including necrotic and apoptotic cell death and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. In this study, we treated rat microglial cells with amebic lysate to probe contact-independent mechanisms for cytotoxicity, determining through a combination of light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy whether N. fowleri lysate could effect on both necrosis and apoptosis on microglia in a time- as well as dose-dependent fashion. A $^{51}Cr$ release assay demonstrated pronounced lysate induction of cytotoxicity (71.5%) toward microglial cells by 24 hr after its addition to cultures. In an assay of pro-inflammatory cytokine release, microglial cells treated with N. fowleri lysate produced TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$, though generation of the former 2 cytokines was reduced with time, and that of the last increased throughout the experimental period. In summary, N. fowleri lysate exerted strong cytopathic effects on microglial cells, and elicited pro-inflammatory cytokine release as a primary immune response.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.153-156
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• 2008

One of the most common drugs used against a wide variety of anaerobic protozoan parasites is metronidazole. However, this drug is mutagenic for bacteria and is a potent carcinogen for rodents. Thymus vulgaris is used for cough suppression and relief of dyspepsia. Also it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The aim of this study was to investigate antiamebic effect of Thymus vulgaris against Entamoeba histolytica in comparison with metronidazole. One hundred gram air-dried T. vulgaris plant was obtained and macerated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 14 days using n-hexane and a mixture of ethanol and water. For essential oil isolation T. vulgaris was subjected to hydrodistillation using a clevenger-type apparatus for 3 hr. E. histolytica, HM-1: IMSS strain was used in all experiments. It was found that the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for T. vulgaris hydroalcoholic, hexanic extracts, and the essential oil after 24 hr was 4 mg/mL, 4 mg/mL, and 0.7 mg/mL, respectively. After 48 hr the MIC for T. vulgaris hydroalcoholic and hexanic extracts was 3 and 3 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Iranian T. vulgaris is effective against the trophozoites of E. histolytica.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.61-68
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• 2013

Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic colitis and occasionally liver abscess in humans, is able to induce host cell death. However, signaling mechanisms of colon cell death induced by E. histolytica are not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the signaling role of NOX in cell death of HT29 colonic epithelial cells induced by E. histolytica. Incubation of HT29 cells with amoebic trophozoites resulted in DNA fragmentation that is a hallmark of apoptotic cell death. In addition, E. histolytica generate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a contact-dependent manner. Inhibition of intracellular ROS level with treatment with DPI, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidases (NOXs), decreased Entamoebainduced ROS generation and cell death in HT29 cells. However, pan-caspase inhibitor did not affect E. histolytica-induced HT29 cell death. In HT29 cells, catalytic subunit NOX1 and regulatory subunit Rac1 for NOX1 activation were highly expressed. We next investigated whether NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1)-derived ROS is closely associated with HT29 cell death induced by E. histolytica. Suppression of Rac1 by siRNA significantly inhibited Entamoeba-induced cell death. Moreover, knockdown of NOX1 by siRNA, effectively inhibited E. histolytica-triggered DNA fragmentation in HT29 cells. These results suggest that NOX1-derived ROS is required for apoptotic cell death in HT29 colon epithelial cells induced by E. histolytica.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.293-297
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• 1997

Malaria, caused by any of four species of protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, is charaterized by high fever, anemia and splenomegaly. Although malaria is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, in Korea indigenous malaria has been believed to be eradicated by 1984. However, since the case report of native malaria in 1993, reported cases have been increased annually, reaching more than 300 cases in 1996. We experienced a 2 years-old male with fever, severe anemia and splenomegaly who resided in Inchon city. He had the history of travelling to the area (Yunchon) near western Demilitarized Zone for 1 month this summer. After more than 2 weeks without special attention, he was presented with pallor, anemia and splenomegaly. He was diagnosed to have malaria by Plasmodium vivax with the help of peripheral blood smears which showed various forms of malaria, i.e., ring form, trophozoites, shizonts and gametocytes. He was treated successfully with hydroxychloroquine and primaquine. We report this case with brief review of related literature.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.211-215
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• 2010

퍼킨서스편모충 P. olseni는 우리나라 바지락의 대부분이 감염되어 있으며 극심한 염증을 유발하는 우리나라 바지락의 대표적 기생충이다. 본 연구에서는 퍼킨서스편모충의 생태학적 특성을 조사하고자 영양체에서 휴면포자로 전환되는 과정과 유주자를 형성하는 과정에서 수온과 염분이 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 조사결과 영양체에서 휴면포자로의 유도는 수온이 높을수록 유도율이 높고 휴면포자의 직경이 커지는 현상이 관찰되었다. 또한 유주자 형성은 고수온, 고염분의 환경에서 잘 형성됨으로써 $10^{\circ}C$ 이하에서는 유주자 발생이 이루어지 않으며, 10 ppt에서는 유주자 형성이 급격히 감소하고 5 ppt에서는 유주자 발생이 이루어지지 않음이 확인되었다. 이러한 퍼킨서스편모충의 생태학적 정보는 이 질병의 구제 대책 수립에 중요한 정보를 제공할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.365-370
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• 2021

Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is present at high rates of density in tidal flats in Cheonsu Bay on the west coast of Korea, where clams often exhibit mass mortalities in late summer. We monitored the pathologic condition of clams at Hwangdo tidal flat (HD) to understand the parasitic impacts on clam fitness. Manila clams were fully ripe in July and spawned during August and September, as the histology indicated. The histology revealed that clams in HD tidal flats were heavily infected by the protozoa parasite Perkinsus olseni, as the monthly prevalence ranged from 53% (September) to 93% (August). In addition, Manila clams were co-infected by the metazoan parasite Cercaria tapetis and Parvatrema duboisi with the prevalence of 0-33% and 0-14%, respectively. Massive hemocyte infiltration and subsequent inflammation were commonly observed from the gills of P. olseni infected clams. Clusters of P. olseni trophozoites and heavy hemocyte infiltration were also observed from the female gonad, suggesting that P. olseni interferes with host gonad maturation. The larval trematode occupied almost the entire host gonad, resulting in gonad castration. In addition, Metacercaria of P. duboisi were observed from the subsurface of the mantle. Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium assay (RFTM) indicated that clams collected in August and September contained approximately 4.0×106 P. olseni cells/g gills. Condition Index (CI) declined gradually from spring to early summer, and the decline in CI was interpreted as a consequence of the heavy parasitism, as the parasites drain the host's net energy to be used in somatic growth and gamete production.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.323-328
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• 2021

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba causing primary amoebic encephalitis. In this study, we analyzed how the N-aceytlglucosamine (GlcNAc) and D-galactose affected the interaction between Naegleria fowleri and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Escherichia coli O157:H7, and the interaction with bacteria when monosaccharides were treated with N. fowleri for a longer pre-incubation time. When GlcNAc was treated with N. fowleri for 1 hr, the E. coli association was almost the same as that of the control not treated with GlcNAc until the concentration of GlcNAc was 25 mM. However, the E. coli association was reduced by approximately 91% with 100 mM GlcNAc. E. coli invasion into N. fowleri showed statistical significance only in the group treated with 100 mM GlcNAc. The interaction when treated with galactose showed a very different pattern in the 50 mM galactose group than when treated with GlcNAc. In the MRSA interaction, a statistically significant decrease in association (76.3% by GlcNAc and 88.7% by galactose) and invasion (3.6% by GlcNAc and 9.3% by galactose) was shown by the concentration of two 100 mM monosaccharides. The group treated with monosaccharides at the same time showed almost no difference in all interactions from the group treated with monosaccharides at the same time. Taken together, it suggested that the effect of monosaccharides on the interaction of several Gram-negative or positive bacteria and the evidence that the interaction could be enhanced by longer pre-incubation time.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권5호
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• pp.309-315
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• 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent illness of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of IBD traditionally involves the use of aminosalicylic acid and steroids, while these drugs has been associated with untoward effects and refractoriness. The absence of effective treatment regimen against IBD has led to the exploration of new targets. Parasites are promising as an alternative therapy for IBD. Recent studies have highlighted the use of parasite-derived substances, such as excretory secretory products, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and exosomes, for the treatment of IBD. In this report, we examined whether EVs secreted by Giardia lamblia could prevent colitis in a mouse model. G. lamblia EVs (GlEVs) were prepared from in vitro cultures of Giardia trophozoites. Clinical signs, microscopic colon tissue inflammation, and cytokine expression levels were detected to assess the effect of GlEV treatment on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental murine colitis. The administration of GlEVs prior to DSS challenge reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interferon gamma. Our results indicate that GlEV can exert preventive effects and possess therapeutic properties against DSS-induced colitis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.239-248
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• 1993

원발성 아메바성 수막뇌염을 일으키는 병원성 자유생활아메바인 Naegleria fowleri 및 Acanthamoeba culbertsoni를 CSH/HeJ 마우스에 감염시켜 자연살세포를 활성화시킬 수 있는 감염 최소량 및 활성도를 최대치가지 이르게 하는 감염 최대량을 결정하여 수막뇌염의 발생여부 및 사망율을 조사하고, 이와 함께 비병원성 자유생활아메바인 Naegleria fowleri를 감염시켜 자연살세포가 활성화되는지 조사하였다 자연살세포 활성도를 병원성 자유생활아메바 감염군과 비교하였으며, 병원성, 비병원성 자유생활아메바 감염군에서의 자연살세포의 세포독성의 변화를 단세포 독성검사법을 이용하여 표적세포 결합능, 활성 자연살세포, 더 나아가 최대 재순환능을 측정하여 조사하였다. Naegleria fowleri 감염 군에서 자연살세포를 활성화 시킬 수 있는 감염 최소량인 아메바 영양형 $1{\times}10^4$개 감염 군에서 사망률이 5.9%이었으며 최대량인 $1{\times}10^5$개 영양형 감염군에서는 72.2%이었다. Acnnthamoebn culbertsoni 감염 군에서의 감염 최소량인 아메바 영양형 $1{\times}10^3$개 감염군에서의 사망률은 6.9%이었으며 최대량인 $1{\times}10^5$개 감염군에서는 65.5%이었다. 자연살세포의 세포독성은 병원성 자유생활아메바 감염군 모두에서 감염후 1일째에 대조군과 비교하여 통계학적으로 유의하게 증가하였으며, 감염후 2일과 5일째에는 감소하였고, 아메바 감염량간에는 유의한 차이를 발견할 수 없었다. 아메바 감염 군에서의 자연살세포의 활성도의 증가는 표적세포 결합능 및 활성 자연살세포의 증가에 기인한 것이었으며 재순환능에는 차이가 없음을 알 수 있었다. 비병원성 자유생활아메바인 Naegleria fowleri 감염 군에서는 자연살세포의 활성도는 대조군과 비교하여 유의한 차이를 발견할 수 없었으며 병원성 자유생활아메바 감염 군과는 자연살세포의 세포독성 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 있음을 알 수 있었다.