ABSTRACT
Trichuris trichiura, the whipworm of humans, is one of the most prevalent soiltransmitted helminths (STH) reported worldwide. According to a recent study, out of 289 STH studies in Southeast Asia, only three studies used molecular methods. Hence, the genetic assemblages of Trichuris in Southeast Asia are poorly understood. In this study, we used partial mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 or COI) sequences for analysis. Trichuris grouped in a same clade with different hosts indicate the potential of cross infection between hosts. Based on COI, the adult Trichuris isolated from a Malaysian patient was most closely related to Trichuris isolated from Papio anubis (olive baboons) from the USA. The Trichuris isolated from the dog from Malaysia was genetically similar to a Trichuris species isolated from Macaca silenus (lion-tailed macaque) from Czech Republic. Both the human and dog isolated Trichuris grouped in clades with different hosts indicating the potential of cross infection between hosts. Specific PCR primers based on the partial COI of T. trichiura isolated from African green monkey and T. serrata were designed and successfully amplified using multiplex PCR of the pooled DNA samples. Our results suggest a complex parasite-host relationship, and support the theory of cross infection of Trichuris between humans and non-human primates as suggested in previous publications.
ABSTRACT
@#Trichuris trichiura, the whipworm of humans, is one of the most prevalent soiltransmitted helminths (STH) reported worldwide. According to a recent study, out of 289 STH studies in Southeast Asia, only three studies used molecular methods. Hence, the genetic assemblages of Trichuris in Southeast Asia are poorly understood. In this study, we used partial mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 or COI) sequences for analysis. Trichuris grouped in a same clade with different hosts indicate the potential of cross infection between hosts. Based on COI, the adult Trichuris isolated from a Malaysian patient was most closely related to Trichuris isolated from Papio anubis (olive baboons) from the USA. The Trichuris isolated from the dog from Malaysia was genetically similar to a Trichuris species isolated from Macaca silenus (lion-tailed macaque) from Czech Republic. Both the human and dog isolated Trichuris grouped in clades with different hosts indicating the potential of cross infection between hosts. Specific PCR primers based on the partial COI of T. trichiura isolated from African green monkey and T. serrata were designed and successfully amplified using multiplex PCR of the pooled DNA samples. Our results suggest a complex parasite-host relationship, and support the theory of cross infection of Trichuris between humans and non-human primates as suggested in previous publications.
ABSTRACT
We report here an innovative feature of green nanotechnology-focused work showing that mangiferin-a glucose functionalized xanthonoid, found in abundance in mango peels-serves dual roles of chemical reduction and in situ encapsulation, to produce gold nanoparticles with optimum in vivo stability and tumor specific characteristics. The interaction of mangiferin with a Au-198 gold precursor affords MGF-198AuNPs as the beta emissions of Au-198 provide unique advantages for tumor therapy while gamma rays are used for the quantitative estimation of gold within the tumors and various organs. The laminin receptor specificity of mangiferin affords specific accumulation of therapeutic payloads of this new therapeutic agent within prostate tumors (PC-3) of human prostate tumor origin induced in mice which overexpress this receptor subtype. Detailed in vivo therapeutic efficacy studies, through the intratumoral delivery of MGF-198AuNPs, show the retention of over 80% of the injected dose (ID) in prostate tumors up to 24 h. By three weeks post treatment, tumor volumes of the treated group of animals showed an over 5 fold reduction as compared to the control saline group. New opportunities for green nanotechnology and a new paradigm of using mangiferin as a tumor targeting agent in oncology for the application of MGF-198AuNPs in the treatment of cancer are discussed.
