Blastocystosis is a medical condition resulting from an infection caused by Blastocystis, a protozoan parasite that resides in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and various other animals. This single-celled organism can lead to gastrointestinal disturbances and is commonly found in the digestive systems of its hosts. As a prominent company, we are focus on developing vaccines and therapies for blastocystosis, providing high-quality services to support your research.
Introduction to Blastocystosis
Blastocystosis is an emerging gastrointestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Blastocystis, gaining increasing attention worldwide. The prevalence of Blastocystis infection varies significantly across different populations, particularly in developing regions with poor sanitation, where rates range from 1.5% to over 60%. Despite its high prevalence, the pathogenicity of Blastocystis remains debated, with current research focusing on its role in gastrointestinal disorders and its potential association with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Fig.1 Microscopic views of Blastocystis. (Rojas-Jaimes, J., and E. Vesco-Monteagudo., 2023)
Pathogenesis of Blastocystosis
The pathogenesis of blastocystosis involves complex interactions between the parasite and host immune responses. Cysteine proteases (CPs) secreted by Blastocystis play a crucial role in this process by disrupting intestinal epithelial barriers, inducing inflammatory cytokine production, and modulating immune responses. These proteases can degrade key proteins at intercellular junctions, increasing epithelial permeability, and triggering apoptosis in host cells, which facilitates parasite colonization and persistence.
Fig.2 Blastopain-1 and other cysteine proteases from Blastocystis. (Arguello-Garcia, R., J. C. Carrero, and M. G., 2023)
Biomarkers Development of Blastocystosis
Biomarkers are critical tools in the diagnosis, monitoring, and understanding of diseases like blastocystosis. Biomarkers can provide valuable insights into disease severity, therapeutic efficacy, and potential complications.
The small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene is one of the most commonly used molecular biomarkers for detecting Blastocystis. Researchers have developed multiplex PCR methods that target different regions of the SSU rRNA gene, allowing the simultaneous detection of multiple Blastocystis subtypes.
Heat shock proteins are a class of stress-response proteins that are upregulated in parasites when exposed to unfavorable conditions such as oxidative stress or changes in temperature. Heat shock proteins, particularly HSP70, have been explored as potential biomarkers for Blastocystis.
Therapeutics & Vaccine Development of Blastocystosis
Therapeutics Development
Metronidazole has historically been the drug of choice for treating symptomatic blastocystosis. However, its effectiveness is variable, and resistance has been reported. Other antiprotozoal drugs that have been explored include:
- Nitazoxanide, an alternative to metronidazole, nitazoxanide has shown activity against Blastocystis.
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX): This combination has been used to treat Blastocystis infections in individuals who do not respond to metronidazole.
Vaccines Development
Despite the prevalence of Blastocystis infections worldwide, there is currently no commercially available vaccine for blastocystosis.Researchers are exploring several potential vaccine targets:
- Surface antigens play a role in parasite-host cell interactions could be targeted to prevent Blastocystis from attaching to or invading host cells.
- Cysteine Proteases: By targeting cysteine proteases in a vaccine, it may be possible to neutralize the parasite's ability to cause disease.
Our Services
At our company, we are proud to offer a comprehensive suite of services to support our clients in the development of innovative blastocystosis vaccines and therapies. Our team of seasoned scientists, immunologists, and pharmacologists leverages state-of-the-art technologies and deep domain expertise to accelerate the progress of your projects.
Infectious Disease Model Development Services
- Blastocystis spp.-Infected Mouse Model
- Human Intestinal Xenograft Mouse Model with Blastocystis spp. Infection
- Human Fecal Microbiota Transplant Mouse Model with Blastocystis spp. Infection
In blastocystosis therapy development, our team focuses on discovering and characterizing new antimicrobial agents, such as small molecules, peptides, and biologics, that target virulence factors. We also offer services to support the evaluation, optimization, and advancement of your therapeutic pipeline.
If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.
References
- Rojas-Jaimes, J., and E. Vesco-Monteagudo. "Remission of Chronic Blastocystosis Using Ciprofloxacin." Clin Case Rep 11.6 (2023): e7446.
- Arguello-Garcia, R., J. C. Carrero, and M. G. Ortega-Pierres. "Extracellular Cysteine Proteases of Key Intestinal Protozoan Pathogens-Factors Linked to Virulence and Pathogenicity." Int J Mol Sci 24.16 (2023).
- Carrero, J. C., et al. "Intestinal Amoebiasis: 160 Years of Its First Detection and Still Remains as a Health Problem in Developing Countries." Int J Med Microbiol 310.1 (2020): 151358.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
