Ultrastructural tegumental changes of Trichinella spiralis adult and larval stages after in vitro exposure to Allium sativum

Alendronate repositioning as potential anti-parasitic agent targeting Trichinella spiralis inorganic pyrophosphatase, in vitro supported molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation study

Trichinellosis represents great public health and economic problems worldwide. Moreover, the development of parasitic resistance against conventional anthelminthic treatment led to the urgent search for new therapeutic strategies, including drug repurposing. Bisphosphonates have been used to inhibit the growth of many parasites and have also emerged as promising candidates for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis and amoebic liver abscess. Alendronate is a second-generation bisphosphonate that is widely used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. Till date, there is not enough data on the effect of this drug on Trichinella spiralis and it is unknown whether the regular use of this drug in osteoporotic patients may alter the course of the infection. ALN showed a significant lethal effect on both adult worms and juveniles, with severe tegumental damage in the form of fissures in the cuticle, widening of the hypodermal gland, and flattening of the cuticular annulation, ending with the appearance of multiple vesicles and large cauliflower masses. Molecular docking outcomes unveiled the potential inhibition of ALN against T. spiralis surface proteins (i.e., Ts-SP, Ts-PPase, Ts-MAPRC2, Ts-TS, Ts-MIF, etc.), with promising results confirmed its ability to defeat T. spiralis via targeting its surface proteins. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulation, through the analysis of RMSD, RMSF, RG, SASA and cluster analysis, proved the prolonged effective inhibition of ALN on T. spiralis inorganic pyrophosphatase, as an essential surface protein required for molting and developmental process of intestinal larval stages. Thus, ALN might be a valuable drug candidate for the treatment of trichinellosis and warrant further investigation in animal models of disease.

Investigating therapeutic efficacy of silymarin on intestinal and muscular phases of trichinellosis: an experimental study

Trichinellosis, one of the parasitic zoonoses, is treated with a benzimidazole derivative, primarily albendazole. However, this treatment has a lot of side effects and is not sufficiently effective in killing the encysted larvae. Silymarin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, has been proven to have anti-parasitic activities and various medical uses. The current study aimed to evaluate silymarin efficacy against intestinal and muscular phases of murine trichinellosis compared to the standard drug; albendazole. Forty-eight mice were divided into four discrete groups: healthy model; diseased model; silymarin treatment; and albendazole treatment. The assessment of therapy efficacy was conducted parasitologically through counting the adult worms and muscle larvae, histopathologically through examination of the intestinal and muscular tissues, and, immunohistochemically through muscular expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor. Both silymarin and albendazole-treated groups demonstrated a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the mean count of adult Trichinella and the encysted larvae when compared to the diseased model, with an improvement of intestinal and muscular inflammation, and degeneration of the encysted larvae in muscles. Also, vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactivity was significantly reduced in both silymarin, and albendazole-treated groups compared to the diseased model. Silymarin recorded antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic effects on experimental trichinellosis.

Superb bio-effectiveness of Cobalt (II) phthalocyanine and Ag NPs adorned Sm-doped ZnO nanorods/cuttlefish bone to annihilate Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae and adult worms: In-vitro evaluation

Herein, innovative biocides are designed for the treatment of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae (ML) and adult worms. Samarium-doped ZnO nanorods (Sm-doped ZnO) are stabilized onto the laminar structure of cuttlefish bone (CB) matrix and adorned by either Ag NPs or cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) species. Physicochemical characteristics of such nanocomposites are scrutinised. Adorning of Sm-doped ZnO/CB with Ag NPs shortens rod-like shaped Sm-doped ZnO nanoparticles and accrues them, developing large-sized detached patches over CB moiety. Meanwhile, adorning of Sm-doped ZnO/CB by CoPc species degenerates CB lamellae forming semi-rounded platelets and encourages invading of Sm-doped ZnO nanorods deeply inside gallery spacings of CB. Both nanocomposites possess advanced parasiticidal activity, displaying quite intoxication for ML and adult worms (≥88% mortality) within an incubation period of <48 h at concentrations around 200 μg/ml. CoPc@Sm-doped ZnO/CB nanocomposite exhibits faster killing efficiency of adult worms than that of Ag@Sm-doped ZnO/CB at a concentration of ∼75 μg/ml showing entire destruction of parasite after 24 h incubation with the former nanocomposite and just 60% worm mortality after 36 h exposure to the later one. Morphological studies of the treated ML and adult worms show that CoPc@Sm-doped ZnO/CB exhibits a destructive impact on the parasite body, creating featureless and sloughed fragments enriched with intensive vacuoles. Hybridization of cuttlefish bone lamellae by CoPc species is considered a springboard for fabrication of futuristic aggressive drugs against various food- and water-borne parasites.

Appraisal of Chitosan-Coated Lipid Nano-Combination with Miltefosine and Albendazole in the Treatment of Murine Trichinellosis: Experimental Study with Evaluation of Immunological and Immunohistochemical Parameters

PURPOSE

Resistance and adverse consequences of albendazole (ABZ) in treating trichinellosis urged demand for secure and effective new drugs. The current study aimed to assess the effect of chitosan-coated lipid nano-combination with albendazole and miltefosine (MFS) in treating experimental murine trichinellosis and evaluating pathological and immunological changes of trichinellosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred twenty Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups. Each group was subdivided into a and b subgroups based on the scarification time, which was 7- and 40-days post-infection (PI), respectively. The treatment efficacy was evaluated using parasitological, histopathological, serological (interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-4 serum levels), immunohistochemical (GATA3, glutathione peroxidase1 (GPX1) and caspase-3), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods.

RESULTS

The most effective drug was nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with ABZ (G5), which showed the most significant reduction in adults and larval count (100% and 92.39%, respectively). The greatest amelioration in histopathological changes was reported in G4 treated with MFS. GATA3 and caspase-3 were significantly reduced in all treated groups. GPX1 was significantly increased in G6 treated with MFS + NLCs. The highest degenerative effects on adults and larvae by SEM were documented in G6.

CONCLUSION

Loading ABZ or MFS on chitosan-coated NLCs enhanced their efficacy against trichinellosis. Although ABZ was better than MFS, their combination should be considered as MFS caused a significant reduction in the intensity of infection. Furthermore, MFS showed anti-inflammatory (↓GATA3) and antiapoptotic effects (↓caspase-3), especially in the muscular phase. Also, when loaded with NLCS, it showed an antioxidant effect (↑GPX1).

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal fabrication of hierarchical-stacked mesoporous decavanadate-intercalated ZnAl nanolayered double hydroxide to exterminate different developmental stages of Trichinella spiralis and Schistosoma mansoniin-vitro

Hierarchically stacked mesoporous zinc-aluminium nanolayered-double-hydroxide intercalated with decavanadate (ZnAl-LDH-V₁₀O₂₈) is constructed using anion-exchange process via microwave-hydrothermal treatment. Physicochemical properties of ZnAl-LDH-V₁₀O₂₈ are characterized in detail. Decavanadate anions are intimately interacted with ZnAl-LDH nanosheets, generating highly ordered architecture of well-dimensioned stacking blocks of brucite-like nanolayers (∼8 nm). Such hierarchy improves surface-porosity and electrical-impedivity of ZnAl-LDH-V₁₀O₂₈ with declining its zeta-potential (ζ_av = 8.8 mV). In-vitro treatment of various developmental-stages of Trichinella spiralis and Schistosoma mansoni by ZnAl-LDH-V₁₀O₂₈ is recognized using parasitological and morphological (SEM/TEM) analyses. ZnAl-LDH-V₁₀O₂₈ exterminates muscle-larvae and adult-worms of Trichinella spiralis, and juvenile and adult Schistosoma mansoni, yielding near 100% mortality with rates achieving 5%/h within about 17 h of incubation. This parasiticidal behavior results from the symphony of biological activity gathering decavanadate and LDH-nanosheets. Indeed, ZnAl-LDH-V₁₀O₂₈ nanohybrid sample, as a promissory biocide for killing food-borne/waterborne parasites, becomes a futuristic research hotspot for studying its in-vivo bioactivity and impact-effectiveness on parasite molecular biology.