Parasitic helminths as medicines

Many recent epidemiologic and experimental data showed immunomodulatory action of several helminths. Of particular interest have been the results demonstrating that helminths infections are able to inhibit the development of autoimmune processes and pathology in animal experimental models, and probably in humans. The article presents and discusses selected aspects of this novel therapeutic approach which seems particularly important for combat a dramatic rise in the incidence of allergy and autoimmune diseases in the West

Toxoplasma gondii - intracellular parasite

Tue article presents selected data concerning invasion and intracellular life of obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii in susceptible bosts

Harald zur Hausen - a scientist with passion. Vaccine against cervical cancer

The profile of Harald zur Hausen, German virologist and Nobel-Prize winner for medicine in 2008, is presented in the context of his life and scientific achievements. The studies of zur Hausen on oncogenic viruses submitted a finding that chronic infection with certain highly invasive human papilloma viruses (HPV16 and HPV18 types) causes cervix carcinoma. The discovery was a starting point to successful construction of biosynthetic preventive vaccines against this carcinoma, such as „Gardasil” and „Cervarix”

Selected problems in laboratory diagnostics of Toxoplasma gondii infections

The article presents chosen problems concerning laboratory recognition of Toxoplasma gondii infections

The transplacental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum protozoans

Apicomplexan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, obligate intracellular pathogens, are etiological agents of congenital infections which can result in severe malformations or even death of the fetus. Whereas in Toxoplasma exogenous route of infection is predominant, in Neospora — endogenous infection occurs usually. Because these two infection routes differ in respect of epidemiologic, immunologic and prophylactic aspects, the use of terms „exogenous or endogenous transplacental infection”, proposed recently by Alexander Trees and Diana Williams, seems fully justifiable

Personalized vaccination?

Several studies revealed a close relation between the sex and immunity including the immune responses to bacteria, viruses and parasites antigens. Dimorphic immune reactions in females versus males and an influence of sex factors on the efficacy and side effects of vaccines as well as a new approach in the construction of prophylactic vaccines dependent on the sex and genetic background of vaccinated individuals (personalized vaccinology) are presented in the article

Struktura i metabolizm komórek pasożyta Toxoplasma gondii - nowe aspekty

Cell structure and metabolism of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii - new aspects. The article is based on newly published data concerning cell structure (cytoskeleton and cytoplasmic organelle) and biochemistry of the protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, many of which can be applied in therapy of toxoplasmosis

ANTIGENIC OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII

The paper presents antigenic structure of T. gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites in respect of potential use of some chosen antigens for diagnostic and immunoprophylactic purposes