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Schistosoma mansoni is a major cause of schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that induces granulomatous inflammation, fibrosis, and liver damage. Fucoidan (FUC), a sulfated polysaccharide from brown seaweed, was evaluated for its anti-helminthic, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic effects against immature stages of  S. mansoni  in mice. Forty-eight CD-1 Swiss male albino mice were infected and allocated into six groups: infected untreated control, praziquantel-treated, and FUC-treated groups at 7, 21, 35, and 42 days post-infection. Treatment with FUC at 7, 21, and 35 dpi significantly reduced worm burden, granuloma size, fibrosis, and the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and iNOS in liver tissue. The strongest antipathological effects were observed with early-to-mid treatment, particularly FUC7, FUC21, and FUC35. In contrast, FUC42 showed weaker benefit, indicating that efficacy is timing-dependent. These findings suggest that FUC may be a promising candidate for early intervention in  S. mansoni  infection.

Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide prevalent parasite. The infection has been linked to variable inflammatory effects including neuroinflammation. Biochanin A (BCA) is an isoflavone, known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In this study, we examined the effect of BCA on the brain and liver inflammatory lesions in a murine model with chronic toxoplasmosis. Mice were divided in to six groups: non-infected control, non-infected BCA-treated, and four infected groups with Toxoplasmagondii Me49-type II cystogenic strain: infected control, BCA (50 mg/kg/day)-treated, combined BCA/cotrimoxazole-treated and cotrimoxazole (370 mg/kg/day) alone-treated. Gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR in the brain and liver tissues. In the infected control group, an upregulation of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression levels was found. However, a downregulation of iNOS expression was detected in the brain of infected control mice. In both BCA- and combined-treated groups, the brain and liver tissues showed significantly reduced inflammatory lesions compared to the infected control mice with inhibited TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA levels. The iNOS expression levels in the brain tissues of BCA group were significantly higher than the levels of the infected control group. BCA alone or combined significantly reduced T. gondii cyst count in the brain tissues. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory activity of BCA was demonstrated in the brain tissues of mice with chronic toxoplasmosis with decreased TNF-α and IL-1β expression levels and increased iNOS expression levels.

Purpose The autophagy process is critical for cell survival, homeostasis, and functions. Autophagy deregulation was linked to several liver diseases; however, little is known about autophagy status during schistosomiasis and praziquantel (PZQ) treatment. This study is exploring autophagy status during schistosomiasis and praziquantel treatment in the hepatocytes, macrophages, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in mice, and linking the variations in these levels to the parasitic parameters. Methods CD-1 Swiss female albino mice were allocated into three groups: negative control, Schistosoma mansoni ( S. mansoni )-infected, and the third group was S. mansoni- infected and treated with PZQ. Liver sections were stained for autophagy markers (LC3 and P62) by immunohistochemistry. Results At 12 weeks post infection, P62 increased in S. mansoni -infected mice in hepatocytes, macrophages, and HSCs compared to negative controls ( P  = 0.038, P  < 0.001, P  = 0.004, respectively) and decreased in PZQ-treated group compared to S. mansoni -infected mice in hepatocytes and macrophages only ( P  < 0.001, P  = 0.004, respectively). LC3 displayed higher levels in S. mansoni- infected mice compared to negative controls in hepatocytes, macrophages, and HSCs ( P  = 0.01, P  < 0.001, P  < 0.001, respectively), while in PZQ-treated group, it decreased in macrophages and HSCs compared to S. mansoni -infected mice ( P  = 0.016, P  < 0.001, respectively). Correlations were found between the number of eggs and autophagy status, mostly in HSCs. Conclusion Schistosomiasis inhibits autophagy in hepatocytes, macrophages, and HSCs, while PZQ treatment reverses autophagy levels in hepatocytes and macrophages, but not in HSCs. More research is needed to understand the autophagy behavior in HSCs during different stages of schistosomiasis to promote development of autophagy-based anti-fibrotic drugs.

BackgroundParasites are well-known immune-modulators. They inhibit some aspects of the immune system to ensure persistence inside the host for a long time; meanwhile, they stimulate other immune aspects to assure the survival of the host. Wide variations in the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among developed and developing countries were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parasitic infections, including Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), were claimed to contribute to such variations.MethodsTo explore a possible relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and COVID-19 severity, our study included 44 blood samples from moderate/severe COVID-19 patients, who were admitted to Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt, during the pandemic. Patients’ sera were screened for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies using ELISA (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, USA), and the gene expression of important immune markers (iNOS, arginase-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β) was checked using real-time quantitative PCR. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from the patients’ medical records.ResultsToxoplasma IgG antibodies were detected in 33 (75%) of patients. None of the studied clinical or laboratory parameters showed any significant changes in relation to toxoplasmosis seroprevalence. Further classification of the patients according to COVID-19 severity and Toxoplasma seroprevalence did not reveal any changes related to toxoplasmosis as well.ConclusionOur study indicates that latent toxoplasmosis has no effect on the severity of COVID-19.

Background The term “allergen extracts” refers to solutions of proteins or glycoproteins extracted from source raw materials. Objectives This study was planned to prepare chemically stable sublingual immunotherapy from different allergens in Egypt. Methods Allergen extraction from raw materials. The concentrated aqueous extract of each allergen was mixed with an equal volume of glycerol. The protein content of the preparations was determined using the modified Lowry assay method. The prepared allergens were stored for 9 months at 2–4°C. Samples were analyzed periodically (0, 3, 6, and 9 months of intervals) adopting the Lowry Assay method. Levels of specific IgE to Chenopodium album antigens were measured in patients’ sera by ELISA. Results The concentration of all prepared allergens, as indicated by the concentration of the protein content, was found to decrease exponentially with time, implying first‐order kinetics of degradation. From the values of the slopes of the log plot for each allergen, the half‐life time (t1/2) and (t1/4) values were calculated. The expiration date was considered as the time after which the allergen loses 25% of its potency. The obtained values of t1/4% vary according to the type of vaccine. The most stable one is that of Chenopodium album pollens (2.4 years) and the least stable is that of house dust Mites (9 months). The immunological characters of Chenopodium album extract were stable for at least 6 months. Conclusion Differences exist among allergen extracts made by multiple manufacturers. So, developments in studies on allergen preparation and characterization in a different locality are necessary. Steps of sublingual allergen‐specific immunotherapy preparation.