5^th International Conference on Parasitology & Microbiology July 12-13, 2018 Paris, France

Biography:

Faten AM Abo Aziza has completed her PhD from Beni-Suef University, Egypt and Post-doctoral studies from Kyushu University, Graduate School of Dental Science, Japan. She is currently serving as an Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology at the National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. She has published more than 13 papers in reputed journals. Her research interest is mesenchymal stem cells applications and is the Principal Investigator of a project, related to immunomodulation and regenerative potentiality of mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract:

Introduction: There are several problems the scientists are facing when they are dealing with hepatic hydatidosis cysts. Firstly, parasites may enclose inside liver cysts and keep themselves from immune system. Besides, the cysts are with low antigenicity and impermeable to available anthelmintics. Therefore, there is an urgent need for additional tools to overcome these hepatic cyst problems.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the host protective immune responses against hydatid cystic antigens and regenerative potentiality of hepatogenic BMMSCs combined with anthelmintic drugs in experimentally hydatid-infected mice liver.

Materials & Methods: Hydatid-infected mice were received intrahepatic transplantation of hepatogenic BMMSCs, alone and combined with oral praziquantel (PZQ) (seven-week post infection). At the 3^rd month post infection, livers were collected for subsequent flow cytometric, histopathological, morphometric and gelatin zymographic studies. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin, ALT and AST were determined by colorimetric method using spectrum kits. Th1-polarized cytokine (TNF-a) and Th2-polarized cytokine (IL-4) were determined using ELISA kits. After transplantation, hepatogenic BMMSCs differentiated into functioning liver-like cells as evidenced by their ability to express hepatocyte-specific markers namely, CD13, CD29, CD31, CD44, CD45, CD51, CD59, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD106, CD166 and lack CD19, CD34, CD45 and CD79. Regression of hydatid liver cyst was also observed in transplanted groups, as evidenced by histopathological, morphometric, and gelatin zymographic results besides decreased ALT and AST as indication of liver function improvement with shifting to Th1-polarized cytokine. PZQ additionally enhanced the beneficial effects observed in hepatogenic BMMSCs -treated groups.

Results: Our results suggest that combining hepatogenic BMMSCs to PZQ caused better enhancement in hydatid induced liver cyst, compared to using each alone. Based on the obtained results, it is firmly believed that, stem cell therapy may be introduced to modulate host protective immune responses against hydatid cyst, in addition to regenerate indurated liver tissues.

Biography:

After graduation, Suntorn Pimnon has been trained in field of entomology at Laborotoire d’Immuno-Physiopathologie Virale-Maladies Virales Emergentes, Faculty of Pharmacy, Montpellier University (IRD), France. He is at the Faculty of Public health, Bangkokthonburi University, Thailand. He has published more than 5 papers

Abstract:

Land transformation such as urban and rural land area, plantations, and agriculture has changed the habitats and invasive mosquito species in a specific location or a wider land area. Based on baseline entomological surveillance data, Mansonia mosquito vectors are among invasive species have been found to be geographically distributed from the habitats in urban area to rural area, in Bo Rai district, Trat province, Thailand. Among Mansonia mosquito vectors observed by entomological surveys, Mansonia uniformis is a predominant species adapted well to local environments. Its insecticide susceptibility to pyrethroids currently used in vector control for dengue and malaria in Bo Rai district, Trat province, has never been documented. The study objective was to test the susceptibility of Mansonia uniformis against the pyrethroids such as deltamethrin (DEL) and bifenthrin (BT). By using human landing catch collections, pooled population samples of night-biting Ma. uniformis were repeatedly collected at a peak hour from 18:00 to 22:00 pm., between August and November 2015. Then, all samples were individually examined for species identification under steromicroscope and subjected to testing susceptibility to DEL and BT insecticides using paired test and control samples. Single dose diagnostics of 0.05% DEL and 0.09% BT was performed with standard testing procedures and exposure times on DEL- and BT-treated test papers as recommended by WHO. In August, mortality rate of Ma. uniformis was 92.0% for DEL and 98.0% for BT. In November, mortality rate was 92.0% for DEL and 80.3% for BT. No dead Mansonia mosquitoes in untreated control samples was observed throughout the study. Such findings suggested that Ma. uniformis had a tendency of resistance against BT. If there is need for using other synthetic pyrethroids in a wider area of Bo Rai district, it is critical to determine what extent resistance in Ma. uniformis is significant

Biography:

Adisak Bhumiratana has completed his graduation, and after completing his graduation got trained in the fields of infectious diseases, epidemiology, and public health from USA: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, FDA Regional Office in Atlanta, and FDA's Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory on Dauphin Island, Alabama, and from Japan: Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University in Osaka, and Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University in Sapporo. He is at the Center for Ecohealth Education and Research (CEER) at the Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Thailand, and has been responsible for the curriculum development for PhD Global Health Science (International Program). He has published more than 35 papers including 25 papers in internationally refereed journals

Abstract:

Anthropogenic activity such as the establishment or expansion of rubber plantations can influence local dynamic malaria transmission in Anopheles-infested land areas of rubber plantations of Bo Rai district, Trat province, Thailand. The study was carried out between 2015 and 2016 in an emerged malaria-associated rubber plantation (MRP) ecotope of Bo Rai district soon after a 2013-2014 malaria outbreak was locally arrested by the implementation of core interventions of vector control including the indoor residual spraying (IRS). Based on human landing catch collections, we assessed the population dynamics of local Anopheles vectors adapted to the study MRP ecotope. Using an IRS-protected house, the periodic assessment of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors of local Anopheles vectors was done in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS (3^rd-month, 6^th-month, and 12^th-month post). We then tested the susceptibility of pooled population samples of some predominantly night-biting An. dirus and An. campestris vectors against the Deltamethrin (DEL) and Bifenthrin (BT) insecticides that were currently used in vector control. The study MRP ecotope elicited Anopheles population ratios (p_i) of An. campestris (p_i=0.747), An. dirus (p_i=0.168), An. minimus (p_i = 0.037), An. barbirostris (p_i=0.027), An. jamesii (p_i=0.019), and An. pseudowillmori (p_i=0.002), respectively. Among these Anopheles mosquitoes, An. dirus and An. campestris were predominantly night-biting vectors. An. dirus as primary vector of Plasmodium falciparum behaved exophagy rather than endophagy in human blood seeking, but was likely to avoid feeding indoors in the IRS-protected house. There was significant difference in the abundance of exophagous vs. endophagous population samples of An. dirus observed at pre-IRS (P<0.001 for mean number; P=0.046 for human landing rate) and during IRS (P=0.001 for mean number; P=0.037 for human landing rate). It was highly susceptible to the 0.05% DEL and 0.09% BT showing 100% mortality rate. An. campestris as suspected vector of Plasmodium vivax behaved both exophagy and endophagy in human blood seeking and had ability to feed indoors in the IRS-protected house. The species was highly susceptible, 95.0% (95% CI, 79.1-100.0), to the BT. It had a tendency to show decreased sensitivity of 87.2% (95% CI, 78.4-95.9) to DEL. Such findings supported the evidence that the study MRP ecotope as highly receptive environment was essential site for surveillance of locally adapted Anopheles vectors and residual malaria parasite transmission through human vector combinations in the absence or presence of the core interventions of vector control

Biography:

Moyira Osny Aquino Gil is in the last year of her PhD in Clinical Research, Technological Innovation and Public Health. This is a collaboration between the University of Sciences and Technologies of Lille, France, the Technological Institute of Oaxaca, Mexico and the Philipps University of Marburg, Germany.

Abstract:

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the parasites with the highest infection rate worldwide (one third of the world population), mainly threatening primo-infected pregnant women, infants and immunocompromised patients. On the other hand, malaria tropica caused by Plasmodium falciparum is still one of the main causes of death worldwide with major incidence in tropical and subtropical regions. It has been recently described that the dynamic post-translational modification O-GlcNAcylation occurs in both parasites. O-GlcNAcylation is nutrient-dependent and consists in the addition of a single N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moiety onto serine and threonine residues of cytosolic, nuclear and mitochondrial proteins and is regulated by a couple of enzymes, O-GlcNAc-transferase (OGT), which catalyzes the addition of GlcNAc and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) which removes GlcNAc. The functions managed by O-GlcNAcylation are diverse and include regulation of transcription, replication, protein’s fate, trafficking and signaling. Numerous studies have explored the O-GlcNAcome in a wide variety of biological models but very few focused on protists. In the present work, we used enrichment on sWGA-beads and/or immunopurification to identify O-GlcNAcylated proteins in Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum. Many of the proteins found to be O-GlcNAcylated are originally described in higher eukaryotes and participate in cell shape organization, response to stress, glycolysis, protein synthesis and metabolism. Together, these data show that regardless of proteins strictly specific to organisms, the O-GlcNAcylated proteins are rather similar among living beings

Biography:

Elena Starikova has the experience in the field of parasitology diagnostics. She is developing new assays for molecular biological identification of parasitic infections. Having an expertise in immune system functioning she is applying this knowledge to research of host-parasite interaction.

Abstract:

Cryptosporidiosis is the protozoan infection increasingly recognized as an important global health concern. While initially reported in immunocompromised such as AIDS patients, cryptosporidiosis has now been documented as a major cause of childhood diarrhea. Cryptosporidium is the one of the main reason of childhood mortality and morbidity in tropical and subtropical countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the cryptosporidiosis rate and the clinical outcomes of diseases in children under 5 years with diarrhea in Tomsk, Russia. Methodology: One-stage comparative survey was performed in 107 children under 5 years old admitted to the hospital with acute diarrhea. Fecal material was analyzed with the use of Ziehl-Nielsen staining for presence of Cryptosporidium oocytes. Viral and bacterial intestinal pathogens were analyzed with the use of bacteriological methods and polymer chain reaction. Findings: Children included in the study were hospitalized with watery stool from 3 to 10 times a day, lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting. Cryptosporidium oocytes were identified in 28 (26%) fecal samples of children with acute diarrhea. Bacterial and viral pathogens accompany cryptosporidiosis in 92,5%of cases with rotavirus as most frequent concurrent infection. The value of body temperature was 38.6(37,9; 39,1)⁰C in the group without cryptosporidiosis and 38.8 (38,1; 39,4)⁰C in patients with identified Cryptosporidium oocysts (p=0,410). The number of leukocytes in the group with a positive result for cryptosporidiosis was 13(9.2; 16) x10⁹/l, which significantly differs from the corresponding value in the group of patients without cryptosporidiosis 8.3 (6.1; 11.2) x10⁹/l (p<0.001). The antibiotics were more frequently prescribed for cryptosporidiosis-positive children compared with cryptosporidium-free patients (p=0,026). Conclusion and significance: Concurrent cryptosporodium infection in most cases is combined with other etiological agents. This can increase the severity of diarrhea in children under five years of age that lead to more frequent antibiotics administration. Research work was supported by grant â„–14W01.17.3455-МД

Biography:

Dina Moustafa Abou Rayia has completed her PhD from Tanta University, Egypt and her Post-doctoral studies from Institute Pasteur, Paris. She is a Fulbright-alumni from Indiana University, School of Public Health, USA. She is an Assistant Professor of Medical Parasitology Faculty of Medicine, Egypt. She is a member of the Francophonie Agency, Alexandria Branch, Egypt. She has a lot of internationally published articles

Abstract:

Introduction: Benzimidazole drugs are used for treatment of trichinellosis, but they have a limited effect against encapsulated larval stages of Trichinella spiralis. Hence, there is a considerable interest in developing new anthelmintic drugs.

Aim: Our aim is to investigate the possible effect of artemisinin on T. spiralis in in-vitro and in-vivo studies.

Materials & Methods: T. spiralis worms were isolated from infected mice and transferred to 3 culture media; group I: with no drugs, group II: contained artemisinin and group III: contained mebendazole, then they were subjected to electron microscopic study. An in-vivo study was done where mice were divided into three groups; group I: infected and untreated, group II: received artemisinin and group III: received mebendazole. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by adult and total larval counts, histopathological study of the small intestinal and muscle tissues and immunohistochemical staining of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in muscles. Adult worm teguments showed significant degeneration and destruction with both drugs. Also, significant reduction of total adult and larval counts occurred in treated groups in comparison to the control group.

Results: Histopathological examination of the small intestine and muscles showed marked improvement with reduction in the inflammatory infiltrates with both drugs. COX-2 and VEGF expressions were reduced in both treated groups with more reduction in the artemisinin-treated group. This study revealed that artemisinin has the potential to be an alternative drug against trichinellosis

Biography:

Asim Shamim has his expertise in identification of parasites particularly ticks and helminths and diagnosis of vector and vector borne diseases particularly ticks transmitted diseases. He is Currently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Poonch Rawalakot Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. He has around ten years of teaching and research experience in the subject of Parasitology (Veterinary) Presently three students are pursuing his/ her post graduate degree in the subject of parasitology under his mentorship. He has published around 20 research papers as principal and co-author related to parasitic diseases and epidemiology of parasites in impact factor and ISI indexed journals. He has attended conferences organized at national levels and presented their work as oral and poster presentation

Abstract:

Fasciolosis is wide spread helminth parasitic disease of herbivores outcomes in economic losses in livestock appearing in the form of mortalities, infected livers, slow growth and reduction of milk, meat and wool production. This study was designed to find out the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis in and around Poonch District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.  For this purpose, a total of 300 sheep of various age groups and of both genders were randomly selected. Faecal samples were collected rectally under hygienic conditions in a sterile bottle and processed through conventional sedimentation technique in the Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The University of Poonch Rawalakot Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Out of these, 101(33.6%) sheep were found positive for Fasciolosis through coprological examination. Results revealed that prevalence of fasciolosis was more 34.6% in ewe than 30.6% in ram. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in prevalence of Fasciolosis based on gender of sheep. However, there was significant difference (P<0.05) in prevalence was found amongst sheep of different age groups. It was concluded that Fasciolosis is prevalent is sheep raised in different geoclimatic setting of Poonch district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Pakistan and is continuous threat to the health and production of sheep needs proper control measures.

 Keywords: Fasciolosis, Prevalence, Sheep, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Biography:

I am TORNYIGAH Bernard, a young 2^nd year doctoral student of universte Paris Descartes. My research theme is looking at infections that affect both mother and child health care with main emphasis on malaria. This theme stem from the vast literature on the failing malaria intervention specifically IPTp with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in eastern and southern Africa. Yet, WHO proposed a monthly uptake of this drug for malaria prevention during pregnancy, with understanding the effect the increased drug uptake will have on fetus development. This research is under the direction of Dr. Nicaise Ndam.

Abstract:

On the back of wide spread sulphadoxine pyrimethamine resistance across Africa and its implication to malaria prevention among pregnant women and also the dose dependent beneficial effect of SP against malaria in pregnancy, WHO reviewed their guidelines to a monthly SP administration. Ghana adopted this amendment and the new policy is currently being implemented. To assess the implication of the new IPTp strategy to maternal and neonatal outcomes, 1,000 pregnant women visiting health facilities from a peri-uban (Kpone-on-sea) and urban (Maamobi) setting in the Greater Accra Region, for their first antenatal care (ANC) and another 1,000 for delivery were recruited. Plasma levels of antimalarial drugs including SP and artemisinin derivatives were measured using an HPLC/MS/MS method. Parasitemia was also determined using microscopy and real-time PCR. Of the 1,000 women recruited from the first ANC visit, the mean ± SD gestational age was 17±7 weeks at Kpone-on-sea and 18±7weeks at Maamobi. At Kpone-on-sea, 40.9% of participants at ANC were PCR positive compared to 39% from Maamobi. Also, 4.2% of participants at delivery were PCR positive compared to 23.6% from Maamobi. At delivery, 96% of the women reported at least one SP uptake in Kpone-on-sea while 78% did in Maamobi. This corroborates with the high percentage of participants in Maamobi parasiticides compared to Kpone. This might be due to the fact that pregnant women are not given SP or any other antimalarial to prevent malaria. Also, high level of SP was measured in the cord blood, strongly suggesting placental barrier corsage. This observed phenomenon suggests that although IPTp is beneficial, its administration close to delivery could have negative impact on the new born. The detailed analysis and data will be discussed at the congress.

Biography:

Hlengiwe Sacolo is an applied Researcher who draws from her experience in health systems research, program designing and evaluation to address real societal problems particularly in vulnerable communities. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Public Health where she effectively utilized the structural equation modeling approach to study high risk sexual behaviors for HIV among in-school youth in Swaziland. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her PhD research is on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis treatment coverage and efficacy of praziquantel among preschool children aged 1-5 years in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her studies will contribute towards the redefining of guidelines for schistosomiasis prevention and control among children in South Africa.

Abstract:

Background: The World Health Organization emphasises on the use of integrative approaches in the control and elimination of schistosomiasis. A detailed understanding of sociocultural factors that may influence the uptake of the intended health activities and services is vital. Thus, our study sought to understand the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, beliefs and practices about schistosomiasis in various communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Materials & Methods: A systematic search of literature for the period 2006-2016 was done on Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Psych info and Google Scholar using the following key words “Schistosomiasis, S. mansoni, S. haematobium, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, beliefs and practices in Sub-Saharan Africa” in combination with Boolean operators (OR, AND). In this context, we reviewed studies conducted among school children, community members and caregivers of preschool children.

Results: Studies reviewed reflected inadequate knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to schistosomiasis. Age, gender, occupation and level of education were widely shown to have an impact on schistosomiasis knowledge and practices. About 60% of the studies reviewed reflected widespread misconceptions on the transmission and prevention of schistosomiasis. The disease was mostly believed to be caused by HIV, consuming unclean water and contaminated food. Risky water related practices such as swimming, bathing and washing clothes in open water bodies were identified as key factors promoting transmission of the disease.

Conclusion: The study concluded that a comprehensive health education programme using contextual and standardised training tools may improve peoples’ knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to schistosomiasis prevention and control.

Biography:

Howaida Ismail Hussein Ismail has completed her PhD from Tanta University, Egypt. She has promoted to be a Professor of Medical Parasitology, then worked as a Deputy Director of Foreign Students Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Egypt. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Abstract:

Ocular lesions have been reported in patients with schistosomiasis; however, the problem with studying schistosomal infection of the human eye is that biopsies are almost impossible to take and histopathological examination of suspicious lesions can only be undertaken during post-mortem or after enucleation. This work aimed to study the possible effects and pathogenesis of schistosomiasis on the eye. This study involved 55 hamsters; five hamsters remained non-infected and the remaining 50 hamsters were infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Infected hamsters were sacrificed on weeks 8, 12, 16 and 20 post-infection (pi). Eye sections were prepared and stained for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Histopathological changes detected in hamsters infected after 16 and 20 weeks included looseness and oedema of the innermost retinal layers together with hyperplastic polypoid growth. Neither eggs nor granulomata were detected in eye sections throughout the experimental period. Deposition of S. mansoni antigen was revealed in 35% of infected hamsters. Later, on weeks 16 and 20 pi, moderate subepithelial conjuctival deposits and marked subchoroidal and scleral deposition were detected. In conclusion, the deposition of schistosomal antigen and immune complexes may play a pivotal role in the ocular changes that occur in schistosomiasis, even in the absence of detectable Schistosoma eggs. Schistosomiasis should be suspected in cases with unexplained ophthalmological findings, especially in endemic areas.

Biography:

Vidya Raghunathan completed her Ph.D in Chemistry from Princeton University USA and has been working in the National Institute of Immunology since 1991. She is currently the head of her laboratory working on the metabolic aspects of Leishmania from the perspective of structural biology of some key proteins. She has trained many students in her laboratory and is part of the mentorship programme in NII.

 

Abstract:

Phosphoglycerate kinase C (PGKC) from the trypanosomatida, Leishmania is an important housekeeping enzyme whose 63 residue C-terminal extension is believed to be important in glycosome compartmentalisation. Structural studies with this enzyme have been experimentally very challenging. We sought to establish the three dimensional structure of residues 6-417 of PGKC_Lmexicana by homology modelling and biochemical data. Since PGKC of Leishmania and T. brucei are evolutionarily related and have high sequence homology the known structure of the PGKC_Tbrucei was used as template. We have created a .pdb library of individual fragments of the enzyme based on the Jpred secondary structure which can be useful for experts in the field of bioinformatics/protein modelling. Using chimera we have a final theoretical 3-dimensional model of  L.Mexicana PGKC (residues 1-479) that enables visualization of the GXXXG motif in the enzyme fold.  While supporting our biochemical data, the docking interactions reveal new aspects of the tertiary fold of PGKC.  Various conjectures on PGKC’s role in the glycosome, give crucial leads for further research.