Articles tagged with Leishmaniasis
Researchers at the University of York have found that parasites responsible for leishmaniasis are mainly acquired from the skin rather than through blood transfusions. This discovery challenges current treatment methods and highlights the importance of measuring parasite levels in the skin to assess treatment success.
Researchers have identified DNA polymorphisms causing two knockdown resistance mutations in the pyrethroid and DDT target site gene of Phlebotomus argentipes sandfly. These mutations, similar to those found in mosquitoes, are linked with insecticide resistance and pose a significant threat to Leishmaniasis control.
Researchers have characterized the structure of a protein from sand flies that can convey immunity to Leishmania parasites. The SALO protein showed promise in inducing long-term protection against leishmaniasis in mice, with no appreciable similarities to human proteins.
Researchers found that persistent infections stimulate the immune system, keeping it primed and ready for future encounters. This leads to long-term immunity, but also carries risks of reactivation and disease. The study aims to design vaccines that elicit life-long immunity without sterilizing the pathogen.
A recent study by Guimarães et al. found that patients with atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in northeast Brazil have distinct genetic variations and higher levels of inflammatory cytokines. ACL is characterized by longer disease duration, more lesions above the waist, and reduced effectiveness of antimony treatment.
The parasite is transmitted by sand fly bites, causing cutaneous, mucosal, or visceral leishmaniasis. Timely diagnosis and treatment with oral miltefosine, heat treatment for CL, and FDA-approved medications are vital to manage the disease.
A vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis has been developed using sand fly saliva, which induced antibodies in mice and reduced parasite levels. The study also found lower antibody levels in humans with active cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Researchers at CNIC have identified a mechanism that allows the Leishmania parasite to evade the immune system by binding to receptor Mincle on dendritic cells. The study found that the parasite's Mincle ligand weakens immune response, allowing it to replicate and be transmitted.
Researchers have identified interleukin-17A (IL-17A) as a crucial cytokine in the immune response against visceral leishmaniasis. Stimulating IL-17A production can help reduce parasite load and prevent organ lesions, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies.
Physicians and patients utilized social media to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis in a youth travel group, leveraging posted images of skin lesions. The disease was effectively treated thanks to rapid recognition facilitated by the online community.
Two vector-borne diseases, Chagas' disease and Leishmaniasis, can be transmitted from mother to child through the placenta, posing a significant risk to newborns. Research highlights the importance of healthcare workers remembering these diseases when examining sick children whose mothers have traveled from affected areas.
Researchers found that memory T cells specific to parasite infections can form in the skin, setting up a defense against future infections. This discovery could inform efforts to develop an effective vaccine for leishmaniasis and other diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified a potential strategy to combat the parasitic tropical disease leishmaniasis. Neutralizing the activity of interleukin 18 (IL-18) protected mice from infection, suggesting this approach may aid in fighting the disease.
A Phase III clinical study has been initiated in Ethiopia to assess the efficacy and safety of two treatment combinations for HIV-visceral leishmaniasis co-infected patients. The study aims to identify a safe and effective treatment for this life-threatening condition, which affects millions worldwide.
A large-scale roll-out of the combination treatment for kala-azar in Eastern Africa has shown a high efficacy and safety profile, with a 95% cure rate among treated patients. The treatment aims to replace traditional therapies due to toxicity levels and cost concerns.
A Phase II trial is being conducted to test fexinidazole, a 'rediscovered' drug, for its safety and efficacy in treating Chagas disease. The study aims to determine if the drug is safer and more effective than placebo in clearing the parasite that causes the disease.
The Leishmania parasite protects flies from bacterial disease, increasing their lifespan and survival rate. This finding highlights the potential unintended consequences of using bacterial controls to control leishmaniasis.
Researchers have discovered Leishmania parasites reproduce sexually in wild sand flies, leading to a better understanding of the disease's spread. This breakthrough sheds light on how the parasite becomes genetically adapted for successful transmission by sand flies, resulting in human disease.
Researchers have developed a method to drastically reduce the dose of Amphotericin B used to treat leishmaniasis, a disease affecting over 12 million people worldwide. The new approach improves efficacy by 83%, reduces toxicity, and significantly shortens treatment duration.
Researchers have identified Human Neutrophil Peptide-1 (HNP-1) as a potential treatment for leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease affecting young individuals worldwide. HNP-1 has been shown to directly kill Leishmania parasites and increase the lifespan of neutrophils, reducing their susceptibility to infection.
Researchers are studying different methods to kill sand flies, including screening insecticides and developing diagnostic tools. Sand fly resistance to pesticides is also being studied, which could help protect military personnel and others affected by this pest.
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) has received a €2 million Strategic Translation Award from the Wellcome Trust to develop E1224, a pro-drug with potent in vivo and in vitro activity against T. cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas disease.
The first clinical trial of a new vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis has begun, targeting the most deadly form of the disease. The Phase 1 trial will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in 36 adult volunteers in Washington State and India.
A team of researchers at the University of Dundee has identified fexinidazole as a possible new treatment for visceral leishmaniasis, a disease affecting 500,000 people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The drug showed a greater than 98% rate of suppressing infection in mice, comparable to current treatments.
Scientists discovered a deadly parasite with duplicated, tripled, and quadrupled chromosomes, defying nature's rule. This bizarre occurrence could be an adaptation to survive harsh environmental stresses, such as drug pressure.
Researchers have developed a novel oral treatment for leishmaniasis, showing a significant decrease in infection after less than five days of treatment. The treatment is tropically stable and less toxic than current IV therapy, offering hope to millions of people infected worldwide.
Researchers have discovered that sandfly saliva plays a critical role in Leishmaniasis, evading neutrophils and allowing parasites to survive within human hosts. This finding provides a new target for drug development and may lead to more accurate assessments of infection severity.
Researchers at Ohio State University successfully treated two patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, a parasitic skin infection common in tropical regions, using heat therapy. The long-term effectiveness of this treatment, especially in people with compromised immune systems, makes it an appealing alternative to traditional drug therapy.
A new three-in-one test can detect Chagas' disease, leishmaniasis, and sleeping sickness in under an hour. The low-cost test uses special dyes that reveal the presence of parasite markers.
The Hebrew University has received a $5 million grant to study visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia, also known as Kala-azar. This collaborative project aims to identify weak links in the transmission cycle and devise methods for disease control, particularly in HIV/AIDS-endemic areas.
A team of researchers from Pitt and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research have identified compounds that hold promise for treating leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection affecting millions worldwide. The newly developed strategy, called HILCES, uses high-throughput screening to identify effective drug candidates.
A team of scientists has gained a better understanding of how Leishmania donovani parasites evade the human immune system, leading to chronic infection. This breakthrough could potentially lead to new treatments for visceral leishmaniasis, a fatal disease affecting millions worldwide.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have discovered compounds that show high antiparasitic activity against Leishmania parasite, which could potentially be modified to treat the disease. The new compounds are less toxic than miltefosine and can kill the parasite inside blood cells.
Researchers discovered that Leishmania major parasites exploit the body's wound-healing response to sand fly bites, evading death and establishing long-term infection. Neutrophils play a critical role in the development of the disease, allowing parasites to survive inside them before escaping into macrophages.
Visceral leishmaniasis has seen a significant rise in admissions at Médecins Sans Frontières treatment center in Somalia, highlighting the need for improved healthcare access. The true magnitude of the problem is likely unknown due to underreporting, and effective interventions will be limited without safe access to populations.
Researchers at Durham University have developed a new screening system to identify safer drugs for leishmaniasis. This breakthrough could lead to the development of non-toxic anti-protozoal drugs with reduced side effects, potentially saving lives in tropical regions.
Researchers compared Leishmaniasis-causing parasite genomes and identified a small number of genes that can be targeted for new treatments. The study found that only a few genes are important in determining disease severity, and some genes may play key roles in interacting with the human host.
Researchers link cutaneous leishmaniasis cycles to temperature and El Niño Southern Oscillation patterns. The study predicts disease incidence up to 12 months in advance, offering insights into this emerging disease in the Americas.
A new potential vaccine against deadly leishmaniasis has been developed by a research group led by Peter H. Seeberger, combining a virosome delivery system with a synthetic carbohydrate antigen. This innovative approach aims to overcome the limitations of existing vaccines and provide a strong protective action against the disease.
A $5.4 million grant will fund research on the epidemiological and immunological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia. The study aims to develop effective treatments for children, who comprise a high percentage of cases and have a poor response to current therapies.
Leishmaniasis, a fatal disease affecting 1.5 million people worldwide, will be controlled through paromomycin with the goal of delivering treatment for under $10. The Institute for OneWorld Health aims to change generations of families devastated by VL.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that extracts from the dotted dalea and Mojave dalea plants can kill parasites responsible for leishmaniasis and African sleeping sickness. The findings offer hope for developing cheap, oral treatments for these deadly diseases.
Researchers found a specific region in the fly's gut wall where the parasite attaches and feeds on nutrients. This unique structure enables the parasite to survive and multiply within the insect host.
Scientists have found a new form of long-term memory T cell that can combat leishmaniasis even without the parasite's presence. This discovery may lead to an effective vaccine against this disease and others mediated by immune cells.
The Institute for OneWorld Health is conducting a Phase III clinical trial to develop paromomycin as an affordable and cost-effective cure for visceral leishmaniasis. The trial, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to provide an effective treatment for a disease that affects 1.5 million people worldwide.
A novel vaccine has been developed to protect against Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by the single-celled parasite Leishmania. The vaccine targets a component of sand fly saliva, dubbed SP15, which appears to induce natural immune responses in mice.
Leishmaniasis, a deadly tropical disease, has been cured with nearly 100% effectiveness using the oral treatment Miltefosine. The new therapy was discovered in India and shows promise for treating visceral leishmaniasis, a particularly fatal form of the disease.
A University of Kentucky researcher has won a five-year extension on his MERIT award to study Leishmania donovani, a parasite that affects millions worldwide. The parasite, transmitted by sand flies, causes leishmaniasis, a disease often fatal and poorly treated.