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Published on: September 14, 2019
Human microsporidioses
1Unité INSERM 313, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91 boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France.
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|October 13, 2006
Summary
Molecular techniques advance microsporidiosis research, revealing infections in diverse patients. Fumagillin shows potential efficacy, and antiretroviral therapy aids remission in HIV patients.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Microsporidiosis research is evolving with new molecular techniques.
- Severe disseminated microsporidiosis affects AIDS patients, but also HIV-seronegative individuals.
- Understanding microsporidiosis in immunocompetent hosts is increasingly important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in microsporidiosis research.
- To highlight the application of molecular methods in studying microsporidiosis.
- To discuss the clinical spectrum and treatment of microsporidiosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing molecular techniques for clinical specimen analysis.
- Conducting epidemiological and phylogenetic studies.
- Reviewing literature on severe disseminated and opportunistic microsporidiosis.
Main Results:
- Molecular methods are increasingly used for diagnosis and research.
- Microsporidiosis is observed in both AIDS patients and immunocompetent individuals.
- Fumagillin demonstrates potential efficacy against Enterocytozoon bieneusi infections.
- Antiretroviral therapy can lead to remission of intestinal microsporidiosis in HIV-infected patients.
Conclusions:
- Molecular techniques are crucial for advancing microsporidiosis research.
- The clinical presentation of microsporidiosis is expanding beyond AIDS patients.
- Fumagillin and antiretroviral therapy represent key therapeutic avenues.
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