Lecture B8 - Trichomonas Vaginalis Flashcards
Describe trichomonas vaginalis.
Infects humans
Genitourinary tract
Associated with HIV, BV, PID and low birth weight.
Describe trichomonas gallinae.
Infects birds
Common among pigeons
Can cause epidemics and high mortality rates in other birds (finches).
Describe trichomonas tenax.
Infects humans, dogs and cats
Oral cavity, upper gastrointestinal tract and lungs
Strongly associated with periodontitis.
Identified in the urethra of MSM.
Describe trichomonas vaginalis as a human pathogen.
Most common STI pathogen.
Often asymptomatic.
Can be very common in resource limits conditions.
Linked with prenatal and post natal complications
Associated with cervical and aggressive prostate cancers.
Form endosymbiosis with 2 mycoplasma species and TVV and is associated with a dysbiotic vaginal microbiota.
Facilitates the spread of HIV.
What are the various cellular forms of Trich?
If cells become stressed then become pseudocysts.
Amoeba has a big SA to interact more readily with epithelial cells.
Swarming
Trophozoite
Describe the amoeba form of Trich.
Binds specifically and leads to formation of an environment controlled by the infected cells.
How can Trich internalise and store HIV/HSV particles?
Formation of coated pits that suggest a lectin receptor.
HSV - non-enveloped so more resistant but it does eventually get in.
Cannot reproduce but can gain these diseases and spread them simultaneously to other humans.
How is Trich associated with BV and mycoplasma?
16srDNA profiling data for rich infected woman identified several bacteria associated with BV, including mycoplasma as common co infectious agents.
Trich infections associated with reduced population/loss of Lactobacillus species which is a key muralist of the vaginal microbiota.
New species of mycoplasma identified by 16srDNA sequencing is more strongly associated with Trich compared to mycoplasma.
Mycoplasma of the female urogenital tract associated with preterm labour and birth and PID.
What do lactobacillus species do in the female UGT?
Produce metabolites lactate, hydrogen peroxide and antimicrobials to inhibit the proliferation of pathogens.
Competitively exclude pathogens from adhering to epithelium and trap pathogens by direct physical contact to prevent colonisation by pathogens.
Can regulate the immune or inflammatory response.
Can improve barrier functions.
What are the genomics of Trich?
77000 protein coding genes.
Transcriptomics and proteomics data are being exploited to identify proteins underlying the parasite pathobiology.
Genotyping markers developed to study Trich population genetics.
What are trichomonas vaginalis viruses?
Isometric viral particles with a non-segmented 4500-5000bp dsRNA genome, member of the Totiviridae family.
Vertically transmitted.
Can’t infect human cells.
