Fatty molecules in blood controls malaria parasites

Depletion of a fatty molecule in human blood propels malaria parasites to stop replicating and causing illness in people Plasmodium falciparum is the parasite responsible for malaria. The key molecule the researchers identified has the catchy name of lysophosphatidylcholine LPC. It appears to be a building block the parasites use to construct new cell membranes when they divide. When LPC drops, the parasites can't multiply anymore and commit to a different pathway, but multiply when LPC increases.

Treating patients with antimalarial drugs usually kills the replicating parasites, but if you don't also block transmission, the disease will never disappear from the population, they pass into humans through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, congregating first in the liver and later in red blood cells, where they multiply and burst forth in cycles that cause waves of illness.

If the host survive, some of the parasites stop multiplying and follow a different path known as sexual commitment or differentiation. If mosquitoes bite an infected person during this phase, the parasites-now male and female-travel back into the insects and breed. The transmission cycle begins afresh.

When the researchers cultured Plasmodium cells in flasks without their usual bath of human blood serum, the parasites skipped replication and went straight for sexual commitment-hinting that a control switch lurked in the missing blood. The researchers grew Plasmodium with serum. As expected, after a while the parasites lost their zest for replicating and began to undergo sexual commitment. But when the team added fresh serum, the parasites went on replicating. They were indeed grabbing something from the serum.

The researchers decided to separate and study all the serum components to see if they could identify the molecule or molecules at play. We found a single factor that's necessary and sufficient for regulating sexual commitment with each round of parasite replication, the researchers observed that LPC levels dropped. When LPC fell low enough, the parasites switched to sexual commitment.

Plasmodium cells were absorbing LPC from the bloodstream as they prepared to divide. The scientists believe that when the parasites sense that their raw materials are running low, they change strategies. The researchers found similar patterns of LPC depletion in a mouse model of malaria.
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Immune and nerve cells fight gut infections

Nerve cells in the gut play a crucial role in the body's ability to produce an immune response to infection. The immune system and nervous system worked together to respond to infectious threats.

The immune system and neuronal system don't act independently,
The lining of the gut house many immune system cells, which serve as a defense against parasites and other infections.

It is also loaded with nerve cells, immune system cells in the gut, called group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), are intertwined with nerve cells called cholinergic neurons.

The ILC2 cells have a receptor for a protein called neuromedin U (NMU), which acts as a messenger for the nerve cells. Exposing ILC2 cells to NMU causes the ILC2 cells to multiply rapidly and secrete chemicals called cytokines that may help trigger an immune response or cause inflammation.

Administering NMU to mice infected with a gut parasite triggered inflammation and a powerful
immune response that expel the parasites quickly.

This shows that the NMU-producing nerve cells help the ILC2 cells, enabling them to rapidly and effectively respond to infection. The findings may improve fighting and provision of therapies for inflammatory diseases like asthma, food allergies and inflammatory bowel diseases.
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Symptoms of low stomach acid

Stomach acid, hydrochloric acid HCl is made in the stomach and used to break down food. It also breaks down the proteins, aids in mineral absorption and activates intrinsic factor that is needed to absorb B12.

It prevents bacteria and parasites attack in the stomach, low stomach acid levels may cause imbalances in gastrointestinal GI bacteria and digestive discomfort.

Low stomach acid prevents proper food breakdown in the stomach, it leads to fermentation and gas production. Low stomach acid can cause fullness, bloating, discomfort, and low appetite.

Irregular bowel movements, imbalance gut bacteria, food allergies and skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, hives, or rosacea are symptoms of low stomach acid.

Stomach acid reduces as we get older, stress, chewing of gum, nail biting, drinking of water that has chlorine or florine can lower acid levels. Use of antacids can also reduce stomach acid.
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