石河子地区绵羊寄生虫区系调查

在石河子地区对绵羊寄生虫感染状况进行了连续12个月的调查,结果共检出寄生蠕虫24种,其中吸虫3科4属6种,绦虫(包括绦虫蚴)3科7属8种,线虫5科8属10种,同时检出6种体外寄生虫和球虫。     

XS-1000i血液分析仪异常嗜酸性粒细胞散点图对疟原虫感染的提示作用

目的利用血液分析仪提示的嗜酸性粒细胞（eosinophil，EO）增高及异常散点图信息，结合显微镜镜检检出疟原虫。方法用XS-1000i血液分析仪进行血常规检测，对仪器报警提示嗜酸粒性细胞比值增高（EO＋）的标本用显微镜进行涂片检查，当发现E0无异常时，则镜检红细胞，查找疟原虫。结果在289例仪器报警提示EO＋增高的标本中，显微镜镜检发现有3例EO结果正常与仪器报警不符，这3例标本均在红细胞中检出疟原虫的滋养体、裂殖体或配殖体。结论在用Sysmex XS—1000i血液分析仪进行血常规检测时，若仪器提示“EO＋”而未得到显微镜镜检证实，则高度提示有疟原虫存在的可能性。     

Molecular insights into trypanothione reductase‐inhibitor interaction: A structure‐based review

Information on how small molecules bind to the target enzyme has the potential to impact immensely on how medicinal chemists go about antiparasitic drug discovery. In this review, for the first time, we intend to make an assessment of the structural aspects of trypanothione reductase as drug target, and its complexes with several reversible drugs from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). We attempt to reveal the mechanism of these interactions by careful accounting of the X‐ray structures and their possible roles in biological activity to treat Trypanosomatidae diseases. We focus on some of the outstanding findings from structures that are relevant to anti‐trypanocidal drug discovery. We also review new interesting compounds that have appeared in the literature based on these X‐ray structures.

     

Evaluation of herbal antimalarial MAMA decoction-amodiaquine combination in murine malaria model

Context: Co-administration of amodiaquine with MAMA decoction (MD), an herbal antimalarial drug comprising the leaves of Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae), Alstonia boonei De Wild (Apocynaceae), Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae) and Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) was investigated. The practice of concurrent administration of herbal medicines with orthodox drugs is currently on the increase globally.

Objective: The study was designed to investigate the possible enhancement of the antimalarial potency as well as possible herb–drug interaction resulting from concurrent administration of MAMA decoction with amodiaquine (AQ).

Materials and methods: Combinations of MD with AQ were investigated in chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK 65 in varying oral doses (mg/kg) at: sub-therapeutic [MD30?+?AQ1.25], therapeutic [MD120?+?AQ10] and median effective [MD40?+?AQ3.8], using chemosuppressive and curative antimalarial test models. Secondly, P. berghei ANKA (CQ-resistant)-infected mice were orally treated with MD 120, 240, [MD120?+?AQ10] and [MD240?+?AQ10] mg/kg, using both models. The survival times of mice were monitored for 28 d.

Results: ED₅₀ values of MD and AQ were 48.8 and 4.1?mg/kg, respectively. A total parasite clearance of CQ-sensitive P. berghei NK65 was obtained with the therapeutic combination dose in the curative test giving an enhanced survival time. In CQ-resistant P. berghei ANKA-infected mice, [MD120?+?AQ10] and [MD240?+?AQ10] mg/kg gave comparable activities with AQ (10?mg/kg) in both models.

Conclusion: The therapeutic combination dose gave total parasite clearance of CQ-sensitive P. berghei NK65, whereas none of the doses tested showed notable activity against CQ-resistant P. berghei ANKA.     

Accuracy of Diagnosis of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis in China

In 2008, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) was reported from China. However, the clinical and laboratory findings, including reports of nosocomial transmission, were inconsistent with those reported for HGA in the United States. In 2012, it was demonstrated that the patients described in the 2008 report had all been infected with a newly discovered bunyavirus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, which causes an illness with the same clinical features described for the patients in the 2008 report. This finding raises the question of HGA misdiagnosis in China and establishes the need for further studies to determine whether HGA occurs there.     

Targeting caspases in intracellular protozoan infections

Caspases are cysteine aspartases acting either as initiators (caspases 8, 9, and 10) or executioners (caspases 3, 6, and 7) to induce programmed cell death by apoptosis. Parasite infections by certain intracellular protozoans increase host cell life span by targeting caspase activation. Conversely, caspase activation, followed by apoptosis of lymphocytes and other cells, prevents effective immune responses to chronic parasite infection. Here we discuss how pharmacological inhibition of caspases might affect the immunity to protozoan infections, by either blocking or delaying apoptosis.