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Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria
Published on: April 2, 2013
Novel and challenging infections of man. A brief overview
1Centre for Tropical Antiprotozoal Chemotherapy, Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, Y Block, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UK.
Abstract:
The greatest challenge to human health of recent times is the pandemic caused by the retroviruses known as HIV1 and HIV2. These have unleashed a plethora of opportunistic infections with organisms ranging from other viruses to helminths, some of which are newly recognised taxa or organisms never before identified as serious pathogens of man. Animal and bird migration as well as human travel and international trade have extended, to an alarming degree, the dissemination of other viral infections. Malaria is an increasing global challenge to human health, a reversal of the downward trend that was achieved in the latter half of the 20th century. Moreover, evidence is currently accumulating for the existence of a fifth species of Plasmodium in man. In the bacterial and protozoal fields, other novel organisms are being described. Powerful new tools of molecular biology are being deployed to probe parasite genetics, for example to reveal the genome of Plasmodium falciparum. These and molecular immunological techniques are also helping to resolve puzzling taxonomic questions, as well as aiding epidemiological studies that are revealing the unforeseen scale of human infection with a number of parasitic helminths in both tropic and temperate climatic areas. This paper presents a brief review of the major, as well as some of the relatively minor changes and advances of recent decades.
Insights
Emerging infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and malaria, pose significant global health challenges. Advances in molecular biology are crucial for understanding and combating these evolving threats from novel pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) cause a pandemic, leading to opportunistic infections.
- Global travel and trade facilitate the spread of viral infections, while malaria re-emerges as a major health concern.
- New bacterial and protozoal organisms are identified, alongside evidence for a fifth Plasmodium species in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent decades' major and minor changes and advances in human health challenges.
- To highlight the impact of emerging infectious diseases and evolving pathogens.
- To discuss the role of molecular biology in understanding these health threats.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on infectious diseases.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on viral, bacterial, protozoal, and helminthic infections.
- Examination of molecular biology and immunological techniques applied to pathogen research.
Main Results:
- HIV/AIDS has led to numerous opportunistic infections by novel pathogens.
- Increased global travel and trade have amplified viral disease dissemination.
- Malaria is a growing global health challenge, with potential new Plasmodium species identified.
- Molecular tools are revealing parasite genomes (e.g., Plasmodium falciparum) and aiding taxonomic and epidemiological studies.
Conclusions:
- Emerging infectious diseases, driven by factors like migration and trade, represent a significant and evolving threat to human health.
- Molecular biology and immunology are essential for characterizing new pathogens, understanding disease transmission, and resolving taxonomic and epidemiological questions.
- Continued research and technological advancements are critical for addressing the scale of human parasitic infections globally.
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