title: New mechanisms of disease and parasite-host interactions.
abstract: An unconventional interaction between a patient and parasites was recently reported, in which parasitic cells invaded host's tissues, establishing several tumors. This finding raises various intriguing hypotheses on unpredicted forms of interplay between a patient and infecting parasites. Here we present four unusual hypothetical host-parasite scenarios with intriguing medical consequences. Relatively simple experimental designs are described in order to evaluate such hypotheses. The first one refers to the possibility of metabolic disorders in parasites intoxicating the host. The second one is on possibility of patients with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) being more resistant to parasites (due to accumulation of toxic compounds in the bloodstream). The third one refers to a mirrored scenario: development of tumors in parasites due to ingestion of host's circulating cancer cells. The last one describes a complex relationship between parasites accumulating a metabolite and supplying it to a patient with an IEM.
authors: Graduate Program of Genetics, FMRP, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Tiago Alves Jorge
authors: TA
authors: de Souza
authors: Graduate Program of Genetics, FMRP, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Gabriel Jose
authors: GJ
authors: de Carli
authors: Graduate Program of Genetics, FMRP, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Dept of Biology, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: tiagocampospereira@ffclrp.usp.br.
authors: Tiago Campos
authors: TC
authors: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D010271:Parasites / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity