Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a unicellular parasitic microorganism commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals. It causes symptomatic or asymptomatic infection and its route of transmission is via fecal-oral. High prevalence of Blastocystis infection in developing countries is usually due to poor hygiene practices, exposure to animals infected with the parasite and intake of contaminated water or food. Blastocystis infected individuals often suffer from diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and stomach bloating. Even though pathogenicity of Blastocystis is unclear, it is commonly associated with irritable bowel syndrome. In this review, we have analysed the evidence that shows the association between this microorganism and gastrointestinal disorders. There have been a number of studies which showed that the pathogenicity of Blastocystis is related to its different STs. The pathogenicity is speculated to be due to cysteine proteases formation which stimulates mucosal cells to release interleukin-8 which has been associated with extreme dehydration and gut inflammation. In vitro studies on human colonic epithelial cells revealed that incubation of Blastocystis modulated the host immune response by stimulating the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and granulocyte macrophage colonystimulating factor. Metronidazole is found to be the first-line drug of choice. Another treatment option is the combination therapy with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
Keywords: Blastocystis, pathogenesis, immune modulation, therapeutic strategies, gastrointestinal tracts, stomach bloating.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Blastocystis sp., Parasite Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders: An Overview of its Pathogenesis, Immune Modulation and Therapeutic Strategies
Volume: 24 Issue: 27
Author(s): Vinoth Kumarasamy*, Deepa Anbazhagan, Vetriselvan Subramaniyan and Shalini Vellasamy
Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Selangor,Malaysia
Keywords: Blastocystis, pathogenesis, immune modulation, therapeutic strategies, gastrointestinal tracts, stomach bloating.
Abstract: Blastocystis sp. is a unicellular parasitic microorganism commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals. It causes symptomatic or asymptomatic infection and its route of transmission is via fecal-oral. High prevalence of Blastocystis infection in developing countries is usually due to poor hygiene practices, exposure to animals infected with the parasite and intake of contaminated water or food. Blastocystis infected individuals often suffer from diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and stomach bloating. Even though pathogenicity of Blastocystis is unclear, it is commonly associated with irritable bowel syndrome. In this review, we have analysed the evidence that shows the association between this microorganism and gastrointestinal disorders. There have been a number of studies which showed that the pathogenicity of Blastocystis is related to its different STs. The pathogenicity is speculated to be due to cysteine proteases formation which stimulates mucosal cells to release interleukin-8 which has been associated with extreme dehydration and gut inflammation. In vitro studies on human colonic epithelial cells revealed that incubation of Blastocystis modulated the host immune response by stimulating the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and granulocyte macrophage colonystimulating factor. Metronidazole is found to be the first-line drug of choice. Another treatment option is the combination therapy with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Kumarasamy Vinoth *, Anbazhagan Deepa , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan and Vellasamy Shalini , Blastocystis sp., Parasite Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders: An Overview of its Pathogenesis, Immune Modulation and Therapeutic Strategies, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2018; 24 (27) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612824666180807101536
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612824666180807101536 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Role of TGF-β in Melanoma
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Monobactams: A Unique Natural Scaffold of Four-Membered Ring Skeleton, Recent Development to Clinically Overcome Infections by Multidrug- Resistant Microbes
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Resveratrol-Mediated Reversal of Tumor Multi-Drug Resistance
Current Drug Metabolism Immunotherapy for Conformational Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Molecular Targets in Osteoarthritis: Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors
Current Drug Targets Application of Contemporary Neuroproteomic Techniques in Unravelling Neurological Disorders
Current Protein & Peptide Science Growth Factors and Bone Formation in Osteoporosis: Roles for Fibroblast Growth Factor and Transforming Growth Factor Beta
Current Pharmaceutical Design Biomarkers For the Diagnosis of Depression: Recent Updates
Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews Antinociceptive Activities of Some 4,5-Dihydro-1H-Pyrazole Derivatives: Involvement of Central and Peripheral Pathways
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery The gp130 Receptor Cytokine Family: Regulators of Adipocyte Development and Function
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial [Hot topic: Role of Inflammation in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders (Guest Editor: Mohtashem Samsam)]
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial (Thematic Issue: New Synthetic Strategies to Vitamin D Analogues)
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Can Microbicides Turn the Tide Against HIV?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cardiovascular Disease and Dyslipidemia: Beyond LDL
Current Pharmaceutical Design Gene Therapy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Current Gene Therapy Revised Roberts Cytoprotection and Adaptive Cytoprotection and Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Possible Significance and Implications for Novel Mediator
Current Pharmaceutical Design Modifying TNF alpha for Therapeutic Use A Perspective on the TNF Receptor System
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry A New Approach to the Inflammatory/Autoimmune Diseases
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Uveitis in Horses, Rats and Man: What Do We Learn from Our Pets?
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some Novel Thieno[2,3-d] pyrimidine Derivatives as Potential Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Agents
Medicinal Chemistry