Modulation of tuberculosis-related immune responses byhelminths

Tuberculosis [TB] continues to be a major worldwide health problem, with 9.4 million newly emerging active tuberculosis cases and causes nearly 2 million deaths annually. Currently, experimental evidence for an strong association between helminths and diminished T helper [Th] l immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is based on studies which show that helminth-induced Th2, T regulatory [Treg] responses and alternatively activated macrophages contribute to enhanced susceptibility to TB. In this context, it has been shown that Thl response is reduced in helminth coinfected TB patients. This article discusses what is presently known about the types of immune responses modulated by helminths to diminish the protective immune response to TB

Antimicrobial peptides as parasiticidal against human trypanosomatids: mechanisms of action and current status in development

Trypanosomes cause a variety of tropical diseases that affect the livelihood of individuals worldwide. The currently used pharmaceutical treatments rely on chemotherapy. However, many of these drugs are very expensive, and highly toxic. In addition, parasite resistance to several of the therapeutic drugs used is increasing. Therefore, there is a growing need for new control measures for many of these diseases. One new approach is the use of antimicrobial peptides [AMPs] to disease control, since these peptides can be used as potential anti-parasite effector molecules. This review summarizes and discusses the parasiticidal properties of AMPs for treating trypanosome infections, highlighting their mechanisms of action and current status in development