INTRODUCTION
Parasitic infections remain a major global health challenge involving complex interactions between pathogens and host immunity. Emerging evidence indicates that epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNAs, critically regulate immune responses and influence host susceptibility, resistance, and disease progression.
METHODS
This review synthesizes current evidence on epigenetic regulation of host immunity during parasitic infections, focusing on mechanisms underlying immune activation, immune evasion, host susceptibility, and parasite persistence. Emerging epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic pathways are also considered.
RESULTS
Parasites can manipulate host epigenetic machinery to evade immune surveillance, suppress protective responses, and establish persistent infections. Conversely, epigenetic regulation in immune cells modulates cytokine production, macrophage polarization, T-cell differentiation, and immune memory, thereby influencing infection outcomes. Parasite-derived epigenetic factors and non-coding RNAs may additionally contribute to immune modulation and immunopathology. Epigenetic signatures associated with disease severity and treatment response show potential as biomarkers, while targeting epigenetic pathways may enhance antiparasitic immunity.
DISCUSSION
Epigenetic regulation represents a central mechanism governing host-parasite interactions. Integrating advanced approaches, including single-cell epigenomics and spatial transcriptomics, may clarify cell-specific mechanisms and identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. These advances could support personalized strategies to improve antiparasitic treatment and disease outcomes.
H. Alzaylaee, Walaa A. Elkholy, Marwa A. Elkholy et al.· Immunological Investigations· 0 citations
Coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease caused by
Eimeria
species that induces intestinal damage, oxidative stress, and impaired nutrient absorption. The risk associated with drug-resistant strains and other adverse effects related to conventional anticoccidial drugs necessitates the development of safer natural alternatives. Thus, in this study, we examined the anticoccidial efficacy of biosynthesized chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) derived from
Krameria lappacea
root extract against
Eimeria papillata
-induced murine coccidiosis.
Chitosan nanoparticles were biosynthesized using
K. lappacea
root extract and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Male C57BL/6 mice were experimentally infected with 10³ sporulated oocysts of
E. papillata
and treated orally with CNPs at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, while amprolium (120 mg/kg) was used as a reference coccidian drug. Fecal oocyst output, body weight changes, jejunal histopathology, intracellular parasitic stages, oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, glucose, and total protein contents were evaluated on day five post-infection.
TEM analysis revealed that the synthesized CNPs were predominantly spherical with particle sizes ranging from 57.01 to 83.05 nm with an average diameter of about 70.16 nm. FT-IR analysis indicated the presence of functional groups associated with alcohols, amines, sulfates, and halo compounds. Infection with
E. papillata
caused significant body weight loss, increased oocyst shedding, severe jejunal histopathological alterations, elevated nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
) levels, and reduced the levels of glucose, total protein, catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Treatment with CNPs significantly reduced fecal oocyst shedding in all treated groups; however, the 5 mg/kg dose was the most effective, lowering oocyst output to 1.308 × 10
6
± 2.54 × 10
5
oocysts/g feces compared with 7.196 × 10
6
± 2.77 × 10
5
oocysts/g feces in infected untreated mice. The reductions achieved with the 10 and 20 mg/kg CNP doses were less pronounced. CNPs administration also markedly decreased intracellular parasitic stages, improved jejunal histological architecture, restored glucose and protein contents, promoted antioxidant capacity, and lowered oxidative stress. The therapeutic efficacy of CNPs was comparable to or superior to that of the reference drug, amprolium.
CNPs exhibited potent anticoccidial, antioxidant, and protective effects against
E. papillata
infection in mice. These findings suggest that CNPs are a promising natural alternative for the management of coccidiosis, warranting further investigation into their mechanisms of action, safety, and potential applications in veterinary medicine.
M. I. Alquraishi, E. Al-Shaebi, C. Veeramani et al.· Frontiers in Cellular and In...· 0 citations
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