Abstract:
:Leprosy is a curable neglected disease of humans caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects the skin and peripheral nerves and manifests clinically in various forms ranging from self-resolving, tuberculoid leprosy to lepromatous leprosy having significant pathology with ensuing disfiguration disability and social stigma. Despite the global success of multi-drug therapy (MDT), incidences of clinical leprosy have been observed in individuals with no apparent exposure to other cases, suggestive of possible non-human sources of the bacteria. In this study we show that common free-living amoebae (FLA) can phagocytose M. leprae, and allow the bacillus to remain viable for up to 8 months within amoebic cysts. Viable bacilli were extracted from separate encysted cocultures comprising three common Acanthamoeba spp.: A. lenticulata, A. castellanii, and A. polyphaga and two strains of Hartmannella vermiformis. Trophozoites of these common FLA take up M. leprae by phagocytosis. M. leprae from infected trophozoites induced to encyst for long-term storage of the bacilli emerged viable by assessment of membrane integrity. The majority (80%) of mice that were injected with bacilli extracted from 35 day cocultures of encysted/excysted A. castellanii and A. polyphaga showed lesion development that was similar to mice challenged with fresh M. leprae from passage mice albeit at a slower initial rate. Mice challenged with coculture-extracted bacilli showed evidence of acid-fast bacteria and positive PCR signal for M. leprae. These data support the conclusion that M. leprae can remain viable long-term in environmentally ubiquitous FLA and retain virulence as assessed in the nu/nu mouse model. Additionally, this work supports the idea that M. leprae might be sustained in the environment between hosts in FLA and such residence in FLA may provide a macrophage-like niche contributing to the higher-than-expected rate of leprosy transmission despite a significant decrease in human reservoirs due to MDT.
journal_name
PLoS Negl Trop Disjournal_title
PLoS neglected tropical diseasesauthors
Wheat WH,Casali AL,Thomas V,Spencer JS,Lahiri R,Williams DL,McDonnell GE,Gonzalez-Juarrero M,Brennan PJ,Jackson Mdoi
10.1371/journal.pntd.0003405subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2014-12-18 00:00:00pages
e3405issue
12eissn
1935-2727issn
1935-2735pii
PNTD-D-14-01318journal_volume
8pub_type
杂志文章abstract:BACKGROUND:Loiasis is a filarial infection endemic in the rainforest zone of west and central Africa particularly in Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Repeated treatments with ivermectin have been delivered using the annual community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) appr...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006750
更新日期:2018-09-18 00:00:00
abstract:INTRODUCTION:Little is known about hepatotoxicity in patients with schistosome and HIV co-infections. Several studies have reported increased liver enzymes and bilirubin levels associated with schistosome infection. We investigated whether HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy who had S. mansoni co-infection ha...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005867
更新日期:2017-08-17 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is composed of eight subspecies. TB in West Africa, in contrast to other geographical regions, is caused by Mycobacterium africanum (MAF) in addition to M. tuberculosis (MTB), with both infections presenting similar symptoms...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008230
更新日期:2020-05-13 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Anti-leishmanial drug regimens that include a single dose AmBisome could be suitable for eastern African patients with symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) but the appropriate single dose is unknown. METHODOLOGY:A multi-centre, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial with an adaptive des...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章,多中心研究,随机对照试验
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002613
更新日期:2014-01-16 00:00:00
abstract::Konzo is a distinct neurological entity with selective upper motor neuron damage, characterized by an abrupt onset of an irreversible, non-progressive, and symmetrical spastic para/tetraparesis. Despite its severity, konzo remains a neglected disease. The disease is associated with high dietary cyanogen consumption fr...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001051
更新日期:2011-06-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The neglected human diseases caused by trypanosomatids are currently treated with toxic therapy with limited efficacy. In search for novel anti-trypanosomatid agents, we showed previously that the Crotalus viridis viridis (Cvv) snake venom was active against infective forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Here, we des...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003252
更新日期:2014-10-16 00:00:00
abstract::A budget proposal to stop the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding in surveillance and research for mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and West Nile virus has the potential to leave the country ill-prepared to handle new emerging diseases and manage existing ones. In order to demonstrate t...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000858
更新日期:2010-10-26 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The initial response to Leishmania parasites is essential in determining disease development or resistance. In vitro, a divergent response to Leishmania, characterized by high or low IFN-γ production has been described as a potential tool to predict both vaccine response and disease susceptibility in vivo. ...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005116
更新日期:2016-11-21 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are central enzymes required for protein synthesis. These enzymes are the known drug targets in bacteria and fungi. Here, we for the first time report the functional characterization of threonyl tRNA synthetase (LdThrRS) of Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite, the primary cau...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006575
更新日期:2018-06-13 00:00:00
abstract::Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that is caused by the obligate intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium leprae (M.leprae), which is the leading cause of all non-traumatic peripheral neuropathies worldwide. Although both myelinating and non-myelinating Schwann cells are infected by M.leprae in patients with leproma...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005687
更新日期:2017-06-21 00:00:00
abstract::Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a major global health concern that often causes bloodstream infections in areas of the world affected by malnutrition and comorbidities such as HIV and malaria. Developing a strategy to control the emergence and spread of highly invasive and antimicrobial resistant NTS isolates requir...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008991
更新日期:2021-02-01 00:00:00
abstract:OBJECTIVE:We evaluated the profile of patients referred to the Fiocruz Outpatient Clinic, a reference center for the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, and analyzed the origins and outcomes of these referrals. METHODS:This is an observational retrospective study based on information collected fr...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005059
更新日期:2016-10-12 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a large spectrum of clinical manifestations known as Leishmaniases. These diseases are increasingly important public health problems in many countries both within and outside endemic regions. Thus, an accurate differential diagnosis is extremely relevant for ...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004485
更新日期:2016-02-29 00:00:00
abstract::Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is currently treated with a daily combination of rifampin and either injectable streptomycin or oral clarithromycin. An intermittent oral regimen would facilitate treatment supervision. We first evaluated the bactericidal activity of newer antimicrobials against M. ...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007857
更新日期:2020-08-31 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Usutu virus (USUV) is a member of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) serocomplex in the Flaviviridae family. Emergence of USUV in Europe has led to disease burdens in birds and created increasing concern for the potential zoonotic transmission to humans. Whilst USUV has not been detected in the New World,...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006732
更新日期:2018-08-17 00:00:00
abstract::Hantaviruses are endemic throughout the world and hosted by rodents and insectivores. Two human zoonoses, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), are caused by hantaviruses and case fatality rates have reached 12% for HFRS and 50% for HPS in some outbreaks. Symptomatic han...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001607
更新日期:2012-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Novel strategies are required to control mosquitoes and the pathogens they transmit. One attractive approach involves maternally inherited endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria. After artificial infection with Wolbachia, many mosquitoes become refractory to infection and transmission of diverse pathogens. We evaluated the ...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002965
更新日期:2014-07-10 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The activities of the Global Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis have been in operation since the year 2000, with Mass Drug Administration (MDA) undertaken yearly in disease endemic communities. Information collected during MDA-such as population demographics, age, sex, drugs used and remai...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004590
更新日期:2016-03-30 00:00:00
abstract::Melioidosis is a disease caused by bacteria called B. pseudomallei. Infections can develop after contact with standing water. This disease can reach all the organs and especially the lungs. It is associated with a high mortality rate (up to 50%). Melioidosis is endemic in northern Australia and in Southeast Asia. Neve...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006018
更新日期:2017-12-14 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The genus Trichuris includes parasites of major relevance in veterinary and human medicine. Despite serious economic losses and enormous impact on public health, treatment options against whipworms are very limited. Additionally, there is an obvious lack of appropriately characterized experimental infection ...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002698
更新日期:2014-02-20 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The clinical syndrome associated with secondary syphilis (SS) reflects the propensity of Treponema pallidum (Tp) to escape immune recognition while simultaneously inducing inflammation. METHODS:To better understand the duality of immune evasion and immune recognition in human syphilis, herein we used a comb...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001717
更新日期:2012-01-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Cutaneous dirofilariosis is a canine mosquito-borne zoonosis that can cause larva migrans disease in humans. Dirofilaria repens is considered an emerging pathogen occurring with high prevalence in Mediterranean areas and many parts of tropical Asia. In Hong Kong, a second species, Candidatus Dirofilaria hong...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005028
更新日期:2016-10-11 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Epidemiological studies carried out using culture or microscopy in most of the amoebiasis endemic developing countries, yielded confusing results since none of these could differentiate the pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica from the non-pathogenic Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii. The Northeastern p...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004225
更新日期:2015-12-03 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The World Health Organization now recommends semiannual mass drug administration (MDA) of albendazole with integrated vector management as an option for eliminating lymphatic filariasis (LF) in areas of loiasis-endemic countries where it may not be safe to use diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin in MDA programs...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008322
更新日期:2020-06-23 00:00:00
abstract::Disseminated disease from non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica strains results in >20% mortality globally. Barriers to effective treatment include emerging multidrug resistance, antibiotic treatment failure, and risk factors such as malnutrition and related micronutrient deficiencies. Individuals in sub-Saharan Africa ar...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008737
更新日期:2020-10-02 00:00:00
abstract::The global spread of vector-borne diseases remains a worrying public health threat, raising the need for development of new combat strategies for vector control. Knowledge of vector ecology can be exploited in this regard, including plant feeding; a critical resource that mosquitoes of both sexes rely on for survival ...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006185
更新日期:2018-02-20 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The success of the global strategy to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) through mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns is dependent on meeting high coverage levels over long periods of time. Community engagement plays a critical role in driving coverage and involvement of local communities in MDA for LF....
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007861
更新日期:2019-11-27 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a life threatening disease transmitted by the rodent Oligoryzomys longicaudatus in Chile. Hantavirus outbreaks are typically small and geographically confined. Several studies have estimated risk based on spatial and temporal distribution of cases in relation to climate...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002779
更新日期:2014-04-24 00:00:00
abstract::Tanzania has recently experienced outbreaks of dengue in two coastal regions of Dar es Salaam and Tanga. Chikungunya and Rift Valley Fever outbreaks have also been recorded in the past decade. Little is known on the burden of the arboviral disease causing viruses (Dengue, Rift Valley and Chikungunya) endemically in th...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008061
更新日期:2020-07-20 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Mass drug administration (MDA) using praziquantel is the WHO-recommended approach for control of schistosomiasis. However, few studies have compared the impact of different schedules of MDA on the resultant infection levels. We wished to evaluate whether annual MDA was more effective than less frequent treat...
journal_title:PLoS neglected tropical diseases
pub_type: 临床试验,杂志文章,随机对照试验
doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006033
更新日期:2017-10-23 00:00:00