The purpose of this study was to understand how clinicians manage asymptomatic women after Trichomonas has been reported on Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Clinical information was obtained from questionnaires sent to healthcare providers whenever Trichomonas was identified during the study period. Trichomonas was identified in 173 (1.4%) of 12.547 Pap smears examined. Completed questionnaires were returned on 95 (55%) patients, and 92 patients were included in this study. Sixty-three (68%) patients were asymptomatic, 16 (18%) had symptoms characteristic of infection, and 13 (14%) had nonspecific symptoms. Twenty-six (28%) patients received treatment during the original clinic visits. After the Pap smear reported Trichomonas, 49 (81%) of the 66 patients were contacted and treated. 7 (12%) were contacted and scheduled for further evaluation, and no action was taken on the remaining 10 (17%) patients. There was a significant association between presenting with symptoms and receiving treatment at the time of the original visit (P < 0.001), but not with receiving subsequent treatment. Clinical suspicion of infection was also associated with receiving treatment at the time of the original visit only (P < 0.001). Clinical suspicion of infection correlated with symptoms and results of wet amount smears (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the Pap smear report of Trichomonas identification directly impacted the management of 61% of patients and served as confirmation for clinical management in another 28% who had received treatment at the time of original visit. Despite the fact that most patients were asymptomatic, the majority received treatment and/or evaluation after the Pap smear report was received.

T. vaginalis is a protozoan parasite without an observed sexual stage in its life cycle. However, T. vaginalis has genes, such as Dmc1, known to be involved in meiosis in other organisms. In order to look at the expression of these genes in T. vaginalis, RT-PCR was done using purified mRNA. It shows that Dmc1 is expressed in both normal and drug treated cells. However, relative levels are unclear. Localization studies were done in T. vaginalis using immunofluorescence against Dmc1 protein with an HA tag. These studies showed that recombinant Dmc1 remained in the cytoplasm upon treatment with DNA damaging drugs. Additionally, T.vaginalis Dmc1 protein was expressed and purified from E.coli to have polyclonal antibodies made to use in further immunofluorescence studies.

This investigation is based upon the occurrence of oral protozoans among 25 periodontalclasial patients in Stockton, California. It is concerned, in part, with the correlation of infections with age, sex and oral health of the host and, in part, with culture techniques. The specific cultivation of Trichomonas tenax was explored in an effort to employ an improved experimental medium. Trichomonas tenax and Endamoeba gingivalis are the only protozoans known to occur commonly in the human mouth. Distribution is cosmopolitan and there are no known endemic areas. Incidence of these two protozoans, among periodontalclasial patients, has not been reported since the study made by Jirovec, Bertos, Mezl, and Novack (1942).

Numerous trichomonad flagelletes from the intestines or various birds have been described; but as fas as the writer has been able to discover, none from the intestine of the coot, Fulica americana. Martin and Robertson (1911) described Trichomones eberthi and T. gallinerum from the caecum of fowls; Kotlan (1923) described Tetratrichomonas avatis from the caecum of ducks; Tyzzer (1930) described flagellates from the ruffed grouse. However, the species described by the above authors are quite different from Trichomonas to be described in this paper. This organism is definitely a member of the genus Trichomonas since it possesses the distinguishing characteristics of the group: four free anterior flagella, an undulating membrane, a chromatic basal rod, an axostyle, a trailing or posterior flagellum, and an anteriorly located nucleus. This flagellate, however, is unusual in possessing a long narrow rod-shaped parabasal body or rod which is a constant character.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3500. Adviser: Kim Waller. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1947. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.P.H.) - University of Queensland, [2003]. / Includes bibliography.

A família Amaryllidaceae é reconhecida como fonte de compostos bioativos, sendo o isolamento e elucidação estrutural de seus alcaloides, aliado às avaliações farmacológicas, um tema importante. Estudos mostram que o mecanismo de ação da citotoxicidade desses alcaloides é seletivo e depende da linhagem celular. Trichomonas vaginalis é um protozoário parasita que causa a tricomonose, a doença sexualmente transmissível de origem não viral mais comum no mundo. Além de ser considerado um importante organismo patogênico, suas características bioquímicas peculiares, como a ausência de mitocôndrias, torna o tricomonas um adequado modelo para estudos de vias metabólicas de morte celular. A atividade anti-T. vaginalis dos alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae licorina e candimina, assim como o potencial citotóxico de diaminas sintéticas, foram investigados. Estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina também foram desenvolvidos. Nossos resultados mostraram que a licorina e candimina induzem importantes alterações na ultraestrutura dos parasitos e nenhum marcador morfológico clássico de apoptose, como corpos apoptóticos, foi observado. Além disso, nem a fragmentação do DNA genômico nem a exposição de resíduos de fosfatidilserina foram detectadas. Por outro lado, ambos os alcaloides atrasaram o ciclo celular do parasito e inibiram a atividade das enzimas NTPDase e ecto-5`- nucleotidase, importantes na manutenção da relação parasito/hospedeiro. O alcaloide pró-apoptótico licorina e a candimina induziram morte celular no parasito amitocondriado T. vaginalis por um mecanismo de ação que não cumpre as características morfológicas de apoptose. Entretanto, similaridades com a morte celular denominada paraptose foram observadas: intensa vacuolização citoplasmática periférica aliada à integridade nuclear. Considerando que a citotoxicidade dos alcaloides pode ser considerada moderada (250 μM), derivados de poliaminas foram escolhidos para desenvolver estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina e aperfeiçoar a atividade do alcalóide. Poliaminas são moléculas catiônicas de estruturas simples, essenciais para a diferenciação celular e regulação do ciclo celular. Neste trabalho demonstrou-se a síntese e avaliação da atividade anti-T. vaginalis de uma série de derivados de diaminas, dos quais N-hexadecil-1,4-butanodiamina apresentou CIM igual a 2,5 μg/ml, duas vezes mais ativo em comparação ao metronidazol, utilizado como composto de referência. A hibridização molecular da licorina com as diaminas foi prejudicada pela instabilidade da licorina mesilada, intermediário chave para prosseguir a rota sintética. No entanto, seis derivados inéditos da licorina, todos ésteres, aromáticos ou alifáticos, foram sintetizados. / Amaryllidaceae family has proven to be plentiful sources for therapeutic agents. Hence, the isolation, biology and chemistry of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids make an important subject. Investigations on cytotoxic mechanisms of these alkaloids indicate a promising selective cell-type-dependent cytotoxicity. Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that causes trichomonosis, the number one non-viral sexually-transmitted disease in the world. However, whilst T. vaginalis is a prime pathogenic target, its lack of mitochondria makes it a suitable biochemical model to study cell death-related mechanisms. Anti-T. vaginalis activity of lycorine and candimine alkaloids were investigated, as well as the cytotoxic potential of diamine analogs. Finally, studies on lycorine semi-synthesis were developed. Our results showed that, after lycorine and candimine treatment, no hallmark suggestive of apoptosis were observed, such as apoptotic bodies, but instead several important ultrastructural alterations, assessed by electronic microscopy. Additionally, DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure were not detected. Analysis showed that lycorine and candimine arrested T. vaginalis cell cycle and inhibited the NTPDase and ecto-5`- nucleotidase activities, important enzymes on parasite/host relationship. The proapoptotic alkaloid, lycorine, and the lactone alkaloid, candimine, caused cell death in the amitochondriate T. vaginalis by a mechanism of action that fails to completely fulfill the criteria for apoptosis. However, some similarities were observed to paraptotic cell death, like intense cytoplasmic periferic vacuolization and nuclear integrity. Since the cytotoxic potential of the alkaloids was moderated (250 μM), the polyamines analogs were chosen to investigate the anti-T. vaginalis activity and to develop semi-synthesis studies with lycorine in order to improve the alkaloid cytotoxicity. Polyamines are simple structured aliphatic amines essential for cell proliferation and differentiation and it has been shown that interfering with their function or biosynthesis the cellular growth can be blocked. Our results showed the synthesis of a series of diamine derivatives, and N-hexadecil-1,4-butanediamine was found to be the most active compound in vitro against T. vaginalis with MIC of 2.5 μg/mL, twice more active in comparison to the reference drug metronidazole. The molecular hybridization of lycorine with diamines was impaired by the unsuccessful synthesis of the lycorine mesilate, a key intermediary on the synthetic route. However, six new lycorine ester derivatives were synthesized.

A família Amaryllidaceae é reconhecida como fonte de compostos bioativos, sendo o isolamento e elucidação estrutural de seus alcaloides, aliado às avaliações farmacológicas, um tema importante. Estudos mostram que o mecanismo de ação da citotoxicidade desses alcaloides é seletivo e depende da linhagem celular. Trichomonas vaginalis é um protozoário parasita que causa a tricomonose, a doença sexualmente transmissível de origem não viral mais comum no mundo. Além de ser considerado um importante organismo patogênico, suas características bioquímicas peculiares, como a ausência de mitocôndrias, torna o tricomonas um adequado modelo para estudos de vias metabólicas de morte celular. A atividade anti-T. vaginalis dos alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae licorina e candimina, assim como o potencial citotóxico de diaminas sintéticas, foram investigados. Estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina também foram desenvolvidos. Nossos resultados mostraram que a licorina e candimina induzem importantes alterações na ultraestrutura dos parasitos e nenhum marcador morfológico clássico de apoptose, como corpos apoptóticos, foi observado. Além disso, nem a fragmentação do DNA genômico nem a exposição de resíduos de fosfatidilserina foram detectadas. Por outro lado, ambos os alcaloides atrasaram o ciclo celular do parasito e inibiram a atividade das enzimas NTPDase e ecto-5`- nucleotidase, importantes na manutenção da relação parasito/hospedeiro. O alcaloide pró-apoptótico licorina e a candimina induziram morte celular no parasito amitocondriado T. vaginalis por um mecanismo de ação que não cumpre as características morfológicas de apoptose. Entretanto, similaridades com a morte celular denominada paraptose foram observadas: intensa vacuolização citoplasmática periférica aliada à integridade nuclear. Considerando que a citotoxicidade dos alcaloides pode ser considerada moderada (250 μM), derivados de poliaminas foram escolhidos para desenvolver estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina e aperfeiçoar a atividade do alcalóide. Poliaminas são moléculas catiônicas de estruturas simples, essenciais para a diferenciação celular e regulação do ciclo celular. Neste trabalho demonstrou-se a síntese e avaliação da atividade anti-T. vaginalis de uma série de derivados de diaminas, dos quais N-hexadecil-1,4-butanodiamina apresentou CIM igual a 2,5 μg/ml, duas vezes mais ativo em comparação ao metronidazol, utilizado como composto de referência. A hibridização molecular da licorina com as diaminas foi prejudicada pela instabilidade da licorina mesilada, intermediário chave para prosseguir a rota sintética. No entanto, seis derivados inéditos da licorina, todos ésteres, aromáticos ou alifáticos, foram sintetizados. / Amaryllidaceae family has proven to be plentiful sources for therapeutic agents. Hence, the isolation, biology and chemistry of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids make an important subject. Investigations on cytotoxic mechanisms of these alkaloids indicate a promising selective cell-type-dependent cytotoxicity. Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that causes trichomonosis, the number one non-viral sexually-transmitted disease in the world. However, whilst T. vaginalis is a prime pathogenic target, its lack of mitochondria makes it a suitable biochemical model to study cell death-related mechanisms. Anti-T. vaginalis activity of lycorine and candimine alkaloids were investigated, as well as the cytotoxic potential of diamine analogs. Finally, studies on lycorine semi-synthesis were developed. Our results showed that, after lycorine and candimine treatment, no hallmark suggestive of apoptosis were observed, such as apoptotic bodies, but instead several important ultrastructural alterations, assessed by electronic microscopy. Additionally, DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure were not detected. Analysis showed that lycorine and candimine arrested T. vaginalis cell cycle and inhibited the NTPDase and ecto-5`- nucleotidase activities, important enzymes on parasite/host relationship. The proapoptotic alkaloid, lycorine, and the lactone alkaloid, candimine, caused cell death in the amitochondriate T. vaginalis by a mechanism of action that fails to completely fulfill the criteria for apoptosis. However, some similarities were observed to paraptotic cell death, like intense cytoplasmic periferic vacuolization and nuclear integrity. Since the cytotoxic potential of the alkaloids was moderated (250 μM), the polyamines analogs were chosen to investigate the anti-T. vaginalis activity and to develop semi-synthesis studies with lycorine in order to improve the alkaloid cytotoxicity. Polyamines are simple structured aliphatic amines essential for cell proliferation and differentiation and it has been shown that interfering with their function or biosynthesis the cellular growth can be blocked. Our results showed the synthesis of a series of diamine derivatives, and N-hexadecil-1,4-butanediamine was found to be the most active compound in vitro against T. vaginalis with MIC of 2.5 μg/mL, twice more active in comparison to the reference drug metronidazole. The molecular hybridization of lycorine with diamines was impaired by the unsuccessful synthesis of the lycorine mesilate, a key intermediary on the synthetic route. However, six new lycorine ester derivatives were synthesized.

A família Amaryllidaceae é reconhecida como fonte de compostos bioativos, sendo o isolamento e elucidação estrutural de seus alcaloides, aliado às avaliações farmacológicas, um tema importante. Estudos mostram que o mecanismo de ação da citotoxicidade desses alcaloides é seletivo e depende da linhagem celular. Trichomonas vaginalis é um protozoário parasita que causa a tricomonose, a doença sexualmente transmissível de origem não viral mais comum no mundo. Além de ser considerado um importante organismo patogênico, suas características bioquímicas peculiares, como a ausência de mitocôndrias, torna o tricomonas um adequado modelo para estudos de vias metabólicas de morte celular. A atividade anti-T. vaginalis dos alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae licorina e candimina, assim como o potencial citotóxico de diaminas sintéticas, foram investigados. Estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina também foram desenvolvidos. Nossos resultados mostraram que a licorina e candimina induzem importantes alterações na ultraestrutura dos parasitos e nenhum marcador morfológico clássico de apoptose, como corpos apoptóticos, foi observado. Além disso, nem a fragmentação do DNA genômico nem a exposição de resíduos de fosfatidilserina foram detectadas. Por outro lado, ambos os alcaloides atrasaram o ciclo celular do parasito e inibiram a atividade das enzimas NTPDase e ecto-5`- nucleotidase, importantes na manutenção da relação parasito/hospedeiro. O alcaloide pró-apoptótico licorina e a candimina induziram morte celular no parasito amitocondriado T. vaginalis por um mecanismo de ação que não cumpre as características morfológicas de apoptose. Entretanto, similaridades com a morte celular denominada paraptose foram observadas: intensa vacuolização citoplasmática periférica aliada à integridade nuclear. Considerando que a citotoxicidade dos alcaloides pode ser considerada moderada (250 μM), derivados de poliaminas foram escolhidos para desenvolver estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina e aperfeiçoar a atividade do alcalóide. Poliaminas são moléculas catiônicas de estruturas simples, essenciais para a diferenciação celular e regulação do ciclo celular. Neste trabalho demonstrou-se a síntese e avaliação da atividade anti-T. vaginalis de uma série de derivados de diaminas, dos quais N-hexadecil-1,4-butanodiamina apresentou CIM igual a 2,5 μg/ml, duas vezes mais ativo em comparação ao metronidazol, utilizado como composto de referência. A hibridização molecular da licorina com as diaminas foi prejudicada pela instabilidade da licorina mesilada, intermediário chave para prosseguir a rota sintética. No entanto, seis derivados inéditos da licorina, todos ésteres, aromáticos ou alifáticos, foram sintetizados. / Amaryllidaceae family has proven to be plentiful sources for therapeutic agents. Hence, the isolation, biology and chemistry of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids make an important subject. Investigations on cytotoxic mechanisms of these alkaloids indicate a promising selective cell-type-dependent cytotoxicity. Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that causes trichomonosis, the number one non-viral sexually-transmitted disease in the world. However, whilst T. vaginalis is a prime pathogenic target, its lack of mitochondria makes it a suitable biochemical model to study cell death-related mechanisms. Anti-T. vaginalis activity of lycorine and candimine alkaloids were investigated, as well as the cytotoxic potential of diamine analogs. Finally, studies on lycorine semi-synthesis were developed. Our results showed that, after lycorine and candimine treatment, no hallmark suggestive of apoptosis were observed, such as apoptotic bodies, but instead several important ultrastructural alterations, assessed by electronic microscopy. Additionally, DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure were not detected. Analysis showed that lycorine and candimine arrested T. vaginalis cell cycle and inhibited the NTPDase and ecto-5`- nucleotidase activities, important enzymes on parasite/host relationship. The proapoptotic alkaloid, lycorine, and the lactone alkaloid, candimine, caused cell death in the amitochondriate T. vaginalis by a mechanism of action that fails to completely fulfill the criteria for apoptosis. However, some similarities were observed to paraptotic cell death, like intense cytoplasmic periferic vacuolization and nuclear integrity. Since the cytotoxic potential of the alkaloids was moderated (250 μM), the polyamines analogs were chosen to investigate the anti-T. vaginalis activity and to develop semi-synthesis studies with lycorine in order to improve the alkaloid cytotoxicity. Polyamines are simple structured aliphatic amines essential for cell proliferation and differentiation and it has been shown that interfering with their function or biosynthesis the cellular growth can be blocked. Our results showed the synthesis of a series of diamine derivatives, and N-hexadecil-1,4-butanediamine was found to be the most active compound in vitro against T. vaginalis with MIC of 2.5 μg/mL, twice more active in comparison to the reference drug metronidazole. The molecular hybridization of lycorine with diamines was impaired by the unsuccessful synthesis of the lycorine mesilate, a key intermediary on the synthetic route. However, six new lycorine ester derivatives were synthesized.