Reassessing Schistosoma worms: the overlooked role in host pathology and disease elimination

Infectious Diseases of Poverty, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 26, 2025

Abstract Background Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, remains pressing global health challenge, hindering progress toward achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in endemic regions. Despite advances control strategies, including preventive chemotherapy and integrated measures, elimination schistosomiasis an elusive goal. Current understanding pathogenesis has largely focused on egg-induced pathology, while contributions schistosome worms to disease progression are relatively underexplored. The objective this article is highlight critical, yet overlooked, role advocate for broader research focus their direct impact host pathology efforts towards elimination. Main text Single-sex infections, which may occur low-transmission areas, deserve greater attention as they evade traditional egg-based diagnostics. These infections also provide valuable model explore pathology. Recent studies suggest that worms, via excretory-secretory products (ESPs), contribute liver inflammation, fibrosis, immune modulation independent egg deposition. Understanding interactions between hosts essential elucidating progression. Furthermore, potential similarities ESPs those carcinogenic trematodes need further investigation into long-term Conclusions Expanding include advancing diagnostic therapeutic strategies. By incorporating single-sex infection models targeting worm-derived molecules, it possible uncover overlooked aspects pathogenesis, improve accuracy, support efforts, thereby contributing realization SDGs. Graphical

Language: Английский

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Comparative microRNAs profile of Schistosoma japonicum male worms derived from single-sex and bisexual infections: Implications of the multifunctional role of microRNA

Parasitology Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 124(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Schistosoma japonicum is a dioecious parasite that requires constant pairing between male and female worms for maturation egg production. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating various biological processes, including development host–pathogen interactions, but their functions schistosomes remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) mated (MM) single-sex (SM) gain insights into regulatory schistosome reproduction. Total RNA was extracted from 28-day-old MM SM worms, followed by small sequencing identify DEMs. Bioinformatics analyses were used predict of DEM target genes. Comparative analysis with previously published miRNA datasets helped potentially significant miRNAs. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) validated expression selected mRNA levels some A total 20 DEMs identified, 9 upregulated 11 worms. These may regulate processes such as intracellular transport, processing, cellular homeostasis. The provides novel differences suggesting these could be key regulators host adaptation, potential diagnostic therapeutic applications schistosomiasis. Graphical abstract

Language: Английский

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Progress on the Regulation of the Host Immune Response by Parasite-Derived Exosomes

Pathogens, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 13(8), P. 623 - 623

Published: July 26, 2024

Exosomes are membrane-bound structures released by cells into the external environment that carry a significant amount of important cargo, such as proteins, DNA, RNA, and lipids. They play crucial role in intercellular communication. Parasites have complex life cycles can release exosomes at different stages. parasitic pathogens or infected contain nucleic acids, antigenic molecules, virulence factors, drug-resistant proteases, lipids, etc. These components regulate host gene expression across species modulate signaling pathways, thereby dampening activating immune responses, causing pathological damage, participating disease progression. This review focuses on means which elaborates pathogenic mechanisms parasites, clarifies interactions between parasites hosts, provides theoretical basis research directions for prevention treatment diseases.

Language: Английский

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Schistosoma japonicum sja-let-7 Inhibits the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Cross-Species Regulation of Col1α2

Genes, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(9), P. 1165 - 1165

Published: Sept. 4, 2024

Liver fibrosis, a critical precursor to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), results from chronic liver injury and significantly contributes HCC progression. Schistosomiasis, neglected tropical disease, is known cause fibrosis; however, this process can be modulated by schistosome-derived miRNAs. Previous studies our laboratory have demonstrated that

Language: Английский

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Roles of helminth extracellular vesicle-derived let-7 in host–parasite crosstalk

Frontiers in Immunology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: Oct. 28, 2024

Helminth infections are a major public health problem as they can cause long-term chronic in their hosts for which there is no effective vaccine. During the interaction between helminths and hosts, helminth-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate host immunomodulatory processes by secreting bioactive molecules (BMAs). Growing data suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) helminth EVs have significant impact on host’s immune system. The let-7 family highly conserved among homologous host, its function host–parasite crosstalk may reflect active selection compatibility with miRNA machinery. In-depth studies targeting this aspect better elucidate mechanism of parasite-host interactions. Hence, review summarizes current cross-species involvement EV-derived regulation discusses barriers to related research potential applications EVs.

Language: Английский

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The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Liver Fibrosis: Friends or Foes?

Biomedicines, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(12), P. 2665 - 2665

Published: Nov. 22, 2024

Liver fibrosis represents a common pathway in the progression of various chronic liver diseases towards cirrhosis and failure. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed particles secreted by diverse cell types, including exosomes, microvesicles, apoptotic vesicles, recently identified migrasomes. These can be taken up recipient cells, thereby modulating their function through transport cargo molecules. EVs facilitate intercellular communication play significant role development fibrosis. Moreover, detection body fluids offers sensitive diagnostic tools for assessing Additionally, may serve as therapeutic targets, potential agents, drug delivery vehicles. This article reviews recent advances field concerning related diseases, with particular focus on newly discovered migrasomes intracellular crosstalk within liver.

Language: Английский

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