Search

Nematophagous fungi have been widely evaluated in the biological control of parasitic helminths in animals, both through their direct use and the use of their derived products. Fungal bioproducts can include extracellular enzymes, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), as well as secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review covering the evaluation of products derived from nematophagous fungi in the biological control of parasitic helminths in animals. In total, 33 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The majority of the studies were conducted in Brazil (72.7%, 24/33), and bioproducts derived from the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans were the most commonly evaluated (36.3%, 12/33). The studies involved the production of extracellular enzymes (48.4%, 16/33), followed by crude enzymatic extract (27.2%, 9/33), secondary metabolites (15.1%, 5/33) and biosynthesis of AgNPs (9.1%, 3/33). The most researched extracellular enzymes were serine proteases (37.5%, 6/16), with efficacies ranging from 23.9 to 85%; proteases (31.2%, 5/16), with efficacies from 41.4 to 95.4%; proteases + chitinases (18.7%, 3/16), with efficacies from 20.5 to 43.4%; and chitinases (12.5%, 2/16), with efficacies ranging from 12 to 100%. In conclusion, extracellular enzymes are the most investigated derivatives of nematophagous fungi, with proteases being promising strategies in the biological control of animal helminths. Further studies under in vivo and field conditions are needed to explore the applicability of these bioproducts as tools for biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitic infections are a global occurrence and impact the health of many species. Coinfections, where two or more species of parasite are present in a host, are a common phenomenon across species. Coinfecting parasites can interact directly or indirectly via their manipulation of (and susceptibility to) the immune system of their shared host. Helminths, such as the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, are well known to suppress immunity of their host (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus), potentially facilitating other parasite species. Yet, hosts can evolve a more robust immune response (as seen in some stickleback populations), potentially turning facilitation into inhibition. Using wild-caught stickleback from 20 populations with non-zero S. solidus prevalence, we tested an a priori hypothesis that S. solidus infection facilitates infection by other parasites. Consistent with this hypothesis, individuals with S. solidus infections have 18.6% higher richness of other parasites compared to S. solidus-uninfected individuals from the same lakes. This facilitation-like trend is stronger in lakes where S. solidus is particularly successful but is reversed in lakes with sparse and smaller cestodes (indicative of stronger host immunity). These results suggest that a geographic mosaic of host–parasite co-evolution might lead to a mosaic of between-parasite facilitation/inhibition effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasites cause illnesses with broad spectrum of symptoms from mild to severe, and are responsible for a significant number of outbreaks in the world. Current anti-parasitic drugs are toxic and have significant side effects. Nano-carriers are believed to obviate the limitations of conventional drugs via decreasing side effects and increasing target delivery and drug permeability with a controlled prolonged release of a drug. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which have frequently been practiced. Suitable release rate, stability, and target delivery make SLNs a good alternative for colloidal carriers. SLNs are supposed to have great potential to deliver natural products with anti-parasitic properties. Nanoparticles have employed to improve stability and capacity loading of SLNs, during recent years. This review describes development of SLNs, the methods of preparation, characterization, and loaded drugs into SLNs in parasitic diseases. In addition, we summarize recent development in anti-parasitic SLNs-loaded drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]