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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity
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Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 15645

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Célio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima

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Guest Editor
Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
Interests: glycobiology of fungi
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Debora Decote-Ricardo

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Guest Editor
Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-000, Brazil
Interests: immunology; infection; cellular immunology; Chagas disease; leishmaniasis; Cryptococcus neoformans; Cryptococcus gattii; polyssacharides; macrophages; immunomodulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alexandre Morrot

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Guest Editor
Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
Interests: glycoimmunology of infectious diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Leonardo Freire-de-Lima

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Guest Editor
Laboratório de Biologia Celular de Glicoconjugados, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
Interests: glycobiology; glycoconjugates; glycosyltransferases; glycoproteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Danielle de Oliveira Nascimento

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia Veterinária, Instituto de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-000, Brazil
Interests: immunology; infection; chagas disease; leishmaniasis; cryptococcus neoformans; cryptococcus gattii; polyssacharides; macrophages; immunoparasitology; immunomodulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue entitled “Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity”. Infectious diseases are diseases caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, or fungi, which can be present in the body without causing any damage to the body. However, when there is some change in the host immune system and other clinical conditions, these microorganisms can proliferate, causing disease and facilitating the entry of other microorganisms.

Infectious and contagious diseases can be caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria, or parasites and, depending on the infectious agent, can cause diseases with specific symptoms. Among the main infectious diseases, the following can be mentioned:

1) Infectious diseases caused by viruses; 2) Infectious diseases caused by bacteria; 3) Infectious diseases caused by fungi; 4) Infectious diseases caused by protozoa; 5) Infectious diseases caused by helminths.

Depending on the microorganism causing the disease, characteristic signs and symptoms of the disease may appear, the most common being headache, fever, nausea, weakness, and feeling unwell and tired, especially in the initial phase of the infectious process. However, depending on the disease, more serious symptoms may appear, such as an enlarged liver, stiff neck, convulsions, and coma, for example. Infectious diseases can be acquired through direct contact with the infectious agent or through exposure of the person to contaminated water or food as well as through respiratory, sexual, or animal injuries. These diseases can also often be transmitted from person to person, and are termed infectious diseases in these cases.

This Special Issue aims to review or describe the latest findings regarding the immunopathology, epidemiology, and diagnostic tools in parasitic infection of microorganisms and host immunity. The ultimate goal is to provide readers with new insights into the current and future state of the diagnosis and treatment procedures and pathologies for these diseases.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas of interest may include (but are not limited to) the following: epidemiology of human and animal infectious diseases, immunopathology of human and animal infectious diseases, and clinical treatment and diagnosis of humans. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Célio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
Dr. Debora Decote-Ricardo
Dr. Alexandre Morrot
Dr. Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
Dr. Danielle de Oliveira Nascimento
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • infectious diseases
  • parasite infection
  • host-parasite interaction
  • immunomodulation
  • immunopathology
  • epidemiology

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 203 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue: “Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity”: Editorial
by Debora Decote-Ricardo, Danielle de Oliveira Nascimento, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Alexandre Morrot and Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
Microorganisms 2023, 11(4), 1027; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms11041027 - 14 Apr 2023
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Parasite–host interactions depend on a complex interplay between the metabolism of the parasite, their antigens, and the host immune response system [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity)

Research

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14 pages, 2417 KiB  
Article
Prevalence of pvmrp1 Polymorphisms and Its Contribution to Antimalarial Response
by Yi Yin, Gangcheng Chen, Myat Htut Nyunt, Meihua Zhang, Yaobao Liu, Guoding Zhu, Xinlong He, Fang Tian, Jun Cao, Eun-taek Han and Feng Lu
Microorganisms 2022, 10(8), 1482; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10081482 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1390
Abstract
As more sporadic cases of chloroquine resistance occur (CQR) in Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria, molecular markers have become an important tool to monitor the introduction and spread of drug resistance. P. vivax multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (PvMRP1), as one of [...] Read more.
As more sporadic cases of chloroquine resistance occur (CQR) in Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria, molecular markers have become an important tool to monitor the introduction and spread of drug resistance. P. vivax multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (PvMRP1), as one of the members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, may modulate this phenotype. In this study, we investigated the gene mutations and copy number variations (CNVs) in the pvmrp1 in 102 P. vivax isolates from China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Myanmar, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Pakistan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (PRK), and Cambodia. And we also obtained 72 available global pvmrp1 sequences deposited in the PlasmoDB database to investigate the genetic diversity, haplotype diversity, natural selection, and population structure of pvmrp1. In total, 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms reflected in 23 non-synonymous, five synonymous mutations and one gene deletion were identified, and CNVs were found in 2.9% of the isolates. Combined with the antimalarial drug susceptibility observed in the previous in vitro assays, except the prevalence of S354N between the two CQ sensitivity categories revealed a significant difference, no genetic mutations or CNVs associated with drug sensitivity were found. The genetic polymorphism analysis of 166 isolates worldwide found that the overall nucleotide diversity (π) of pvmrp1 was 0.0011, with 46 haplotypes identified (Hd = 0.9290). The ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutations (dn/ds = 0.5536) and the neutrality tests statistic Fu and Li’s D* test (Fu and Li’s D* = −3.9871, p < 0.02) suggests that pvmrp1 had evolved under a purifying selection. Due to geographical differences, genetic differentiation levels of pvmrp1 in different regions were different to some extent. Overall, this study provides a new idea for finding CQR molecular monitoring of P. vivax and provides more sequences of pvmrp1 in Asia for subsequent research. However, further validation is still needed through laboratory and epidemiological field studies of P. vivax samples from more regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity)
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11 pages, 919 KiB  
Article
Imaging Leishmania major Antigens in Experimentally Infected Macrophages and Dermal Scrapings from Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Lesions in Tunisia
by Nasreddine Saïdi, Yousr Galaï, Meriem Ben-Abid, Thouraya Boussoffara, Ines Ben-Sghaier, Karim Aoun and Aïda Bouratbine
Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1157; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10061157 - 04 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
Leishmania major cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions are characterized by an intense process of parasite destruction and antigen processing that could limit microscopic amastigote detection. The aim of our study was to develop a direct immunofluorescence (DIF) assay for in situ visualization of L. [...] Read more.
Leishmania major cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions are characterized by an intense process of parasite destruction and antigen processing that could limit microscopic amastigote detection. The aim of our study was to develop a direct immunofluorescence (DIF) assay for in situ visualization of L. major antigens and access its reliability in the routine diagnosis of CL. The developed DIF assay used IgG polyclonal antibodies produced in rabbits by intravenous injections of live L. major metacyclic promastigotes chemically coupled to fluorescein isothiocyanate. Applied to L. major infected RAW macrophages, corresponding macrophage-derived amastigotes and dermal scrapings from CL lesions, the immunofluorescence assay stained specifically Leishmania amastigotes and showed a diffuse Leishmania antigen deposit into cytoplasm of phagocytic cells. Reliability of DIF in CL diagnosis was assessed on 101 methanol-fixed dermal smears from 59 positive and 42 negative CL lesions diagnosed by direct microscopy and/or kDNA real-time PCR. Sensitivity and specificity of DIF was 98.3% and 100%, respectively, being more sensitive than microscopy (p < 0.001) and as sensitive as ITS1-PCR. ITS1-PCR-RFLP allowed Leishmania species identification in 56 out of the 58 DIF-positive smears, identifying 52 L. major, two L. infantum and two L. tropica cases, which indicates antigenic cross-reactivity between Leishmania species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity)
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Review

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18 pages, 2514 KiB  
Review
Schistosomiasis Mansoni-Recruited Eosinophils: An Overview in the Granuloma Context
by Kássia K. Malta, Cinthia Palazzi, Vitor H. Neves, Yasmin Aguiar, Thiago P. Silva and Rossana C. N. Melo
Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10102022 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2466
Abstract
Eosinophils are remarkably recruited during schistosomiasis mansoni, one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. These cells actively migrate and accumulate at sites of granulomatous inflammation termed granulomas, the main pathological feature of this disease. Eosinophils colonize granulomas as a robust cell population [...] Read more.
Eosinophils are remarkably recruited during schistosomiasis mansoni, one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. These cells actively migrate and accumulate at sites of granulomatous inflammation termed granulomas, the main pathological feature of this disease. Eosinophils colonize granulomas as a robust cell population and establish complex interactions with other immune cells and with the granuloma microenvironment. Eosinophils are the most abundant cells in granulomas induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection, but their functions during this disease remain unclear and even controversial. Here, we explore the current information on eosinophils as components of Schistosoma mansoni granulomas in both humans and natural and experimental models and their potential significance as central cells triggered by this infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity)
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18 pages, 2695 KiB  
Review
Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM Long Persistence: What Are the Underlying Mechanisms?
by José Antonio Vargas-Villavicencio, Irma Cañedo-Solares and Dolores Correa
Microorganisms 2022, 10(8), 1659; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10081659 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5049
Abstract
Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii acute infection was first attempted by detection of specific IgM antibodies, as for other infectious diseases. However, it was noted that this immunoglobulin declines slowly and may last for months or even years. Apart from the diagnostic problem imposed [...] Read more.
Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii acute infection was first attempted by detection of specific IgM antibodies, as for other infectious diseases. However, it was noted that this immunoglobulin declines slowly and may last for months or even years. Apart from the diagnostic problem imposed on clinical management, this phenomenon called our attention due to the underlying phenomena that may be causing it. We performed a systematic comparison of reports studying IgM antibody kinetics, and the data from the papers were used to construct comparative plots and other graph types. It became clear that this phenomenon is quite generalized, and it may also occur in animals. Moreover, this is not a technical issue, although some tests make more evident the prolonged IgM decay than others. We further investigated biological reasons for its occurrence, i.e., infection dynamics (micro-reactivation–encystment, reinfection and reactivation), parasite strain relevance, as well as host innate, natural B cell responses and Ig class-switch problems inflicted by the parasite. The outcomes of these inquiries are presented and discussed herein. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity)
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8 pages, 502 KiB  
Review
Vivax Malaria and the Potential Role of the Subtelomeric Multigene vir Superfamily
by Youn-Kyoung Goo
Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1083; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10061083 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1526
Abstract
Vivax malaria, caused by Plasmodium vivax, remains a public health concern in Central and Southeast Asia and South America, with more than two billion people at risk of infection. Compared to Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax is considered a benign infection. However, [...] Read more.
Vivax malaria, caused by Plasmodium vivax, remains a public health concern in Central and Southeast Asia and South America, with more than two billion people at risk of infection. Compared to Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax is considered a benign infection. However, in recent decades, incidences of severe vivax malaria have been confirmed. The P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 family encoded by var genes is known as a mediator of severe falciparum malaria by cytoadherence property. Correspondingly, the vir multigene superfamily has been identified as the largest multigene family in P. vivax and is implicated in cytoadherence to endothelial cells and immune response activation. In this review, the functions of vir genes are reviewed in the context of their potential roles in severe vivax malaria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity)
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Other

8 pages, 1364 KiB  
Brief Report
Modulation of Signal Regulatory Protein α (SIRPα) by Plasmodium Antigenic Extract: A Preliminary In Vitro Study on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
by Priscilla da Costa Martins, Hugo Amorim dos Santos de Souza, Carolina Moreira Blanco, Luana Santos-de-Oliveira, Lilian Rose Pratt-Riccio, Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro and Paulo Renato Rivas Totino
Microorganisms 2022, 10(5), 903; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10050903 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1705
Abstract
Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) is an immunoreceptor expressed in myeloid innate immune cells that signals for inhibition of both phagocytosis and inflammatory response. Malaria parasites have evolutionarily selected multiple mechanisms that allow them to evade host immune defenses, including the modulation of [...] Read more.
Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) is an immunoreceptor expressed in myeloid innate immune cells that signals for inhibition of both phagocytosis and inflammatory response. Malaria parasites have evolutionarily selected multiple mechanisms that allow them to evade host immune defenses, including the modulation of cells belonging to innate immunity. Notwithstanding, little attention has been given to SIRPα in the context of immunosuppressive states induced by malaria. The present study attempted to investigate if malaria parasites are endowed with the capacity of modulating the expression of SIRPα on cells of innate immune system. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy individuals were incubated in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or crude extracts of P. falciparum or P. vivax and then, the expression of SIRPα was evaluated by flow cytometry. As expected, LPS showed an inhibitory effect on the expression of SIRPα in the population of monocytes, characterized by cell morphology in flow cytometry analysis, while Plasmodium extracts induced a significant positive modulation. Additional phenotyping of cells revealed that the modulatory potential of Plasmodium antigens on SIRPα expression was restricted to the population of monocytes (CD14+CD11c+), as no effect on myeloid dendritic cells (CD14−CD11c+) was observed. We hypothesize that malaria parasites explore inhibitory signaling of SIRPα to suppress antiparasitic immune responses contributing to the establishment of infection. Nevertheless, further studies are still required to better understand the role of SIRPα modulation in malaria immunity and pathogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Infection and Host Immunity)
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