The Roles of Type I Interferon in Co-infections With Parasites and Viruses, Bacteria, or Other Parasites
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Ma, Yuanlin; Su, Xin-zhuan; Lu, Fangli
Abstract
Parasites, bacteria, and viruses pose serious threats to public health. Many parasite infections, including infections of protozoa and helminths, can inhibit inflammatory responses and impact disease outcomes caused by viral, bacterial, or other parasitic infections. Type I interferon (IFN-I) has been recognized as an essential immune effector in the host defense against various pathogens. In addition, IFN-I responses induced by co-infections with different pathogens may vary according to the host genetic background, immune status, and pathogen burden. However, there is only limited information on the roles of IFN-I in co-infections with parasites and viruses, bacteria, or other parasites. This review summarizes some recent findings on the roles of IFN-I in co-infections with parasites, including Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp., Eimeria maxima, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Brugia malayi, or Schistosoma mansoni, and viruses or bacteria and co-infections with different parasites (such as co-infection with Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, and co-infection with Plasmodium spp. and H. polygyrus). The potential mechanisms of host responses associated with co-infections, which may provide targets for immune intervention and therapies of the co-infections, are also discussed.
Anopheline and human drivers of malaria risk in northern coastal, Ecuador: a pilot study
MALARIA JOURNAL
Authors: Martin, James A.; Hendershot, Allison L.; Saa Portilla, Ivan Alejandro; English, Daniel J.; Woodruff, Madeline; Vera-Arias, Claudia A.; Salazar-Costa, Bibiana E.; Bustillos, Juan Jose; Saenz, Fabian E.; Ocana-Mayorga, Sofia; Koepfli, Cristian; Lobo, Neil F.
Abstract
Background Understanding local anopheline vector species and their bionomic traits, as well as related human factors, can help combat gaps in protection. Methods In San Jose de Chamanga, Esmeraldas, at the Ecuadorian Pacific coast, anopheline mosquitoes were sampled by both human landing collections (HLCs) and indoor-resting aspirations (IAs) and identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Human behaviour observations (HBOs) (including temporal location and bed net use) were documented during HLCs as well as through community surveys to determine exposure to mosquito bites. A cross-sectional evaluation ofPlasmodium falciparumandPlasmodium vivaxinfections was conducted alongside a malaria questionnaire. Results Among 222 anopheline specimens captured, based on molecular analysis, 218 wereNyssorhynchus albimanus, 3Anopheles calderoni(n = 3), and one remains unidentified. Anopheline mean human-biting rate (HBR) outdoors was (13.69), and indoors (3.38) (p = 0.006). No anophelines were documented resting on walls during IAs. HBO-adjusted human landing rates suggested that the highest risk of being bitten was outdoors between 18.00 and 20.00 h. Human behaviour-adjusted biting rates suggest that overall, long-lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLINs) only protected against 13.2% of exposure to bites, with 86.8% of exposure during the night spent outside of bed net protection. The malaria survey found 2/398 individuals positive for asymptomaticP. falciparuminfections. The questionnaire reported high (73.4%) bed net use, with low knowledge of malaria. Conclusion The exophagic feeding of anopheline vectors in San Jose de Chamanga, when analysed in conjunction with human behaviour, indicates a clear gap in protection even with high LLIN coverage. The lack of indoor-resting anophelines suggests that indoor residual spraying (IRS) may have limited effect. The presence of asymptomatic infections implies the presence of a human reservoir that may maintain transmission.