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Introduction: Different international guidelines indicate the need for improving educational procedures. This study aims to contribute to the professional development training program of higher education professors from a Physical Education Teacher Education degree in México. Methodology: This qualitative study used a participatory action research design through four cycles: (a) diagnosis; (b) elaboration of the action plan; (c) implementation and evaluation; and (d) feedback. The participants were the professor, six experts, and 17 students. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with students and the professor, the analysis of the class syllabus, and nonparticipatory observations. Findings: The importance of carrying out a diagnostic cycle allowed us to identify the specific needs of the class. Similarly, the model of development and evaluation of academic competencies (M-DECA) allowed the professor to develop specific pedagogical and disciplinary competencies from the training program. Conclusion: A continuous professional development training program for university professors in pedagogical and disciplinary strategies generates better learning results. The inclusion of innovative content in the class syllabus was also crucial.

The Achievement Goal Theory has been commonly used in the literature and the relation between the goal orientation construct and aspects of athletes' personality and well-being is an important element to be considered in the sports field. The objectives of this study were: (i) to confirm the reliability, factorial invariance and existence of latent mean differences of the Goal Orientations in Exercise Scale (GOES) in an Ecuadorian sample across sex; (ii) to identify the existence of subgroups of Ecuadorian students with different profiles of goal orientations to exercise; and (iii) to determine the differences in resilience and life satisfaction among these profiles. A total of 597 Ecuadorian students from the Sports Sciences degree participated in this study. Confirmatory factorial analysis supported the two-dimensional (ego-task) GOES structure. The GOES has an adequate reliability and structural invariance across sex. Significant latent mean differences on the "ego" orientation subscale were found across sex but not in the "task" one. Cluster analysis identified three task-ego orientation profiles: (1) moderately high on "task" and low on "ego"; (2) low on "task" and slightly high on "ego"; (3) high in both "task" and "ego" orientation. Post hoc comparisons showed statistical differences in resilience between the three profiles and in life satisfaction between the profile 3 and profiles 1 and 2. The current study allows the possibility of using the GOES as an invariant and reliable scale in Ecuadorian sample and initiates the use of goal orientation profiles and their relationship with resilience and life satisfaction in the sports field.

The aim of this research was to determinate the relationship between formative research and the achievement of skills based on undergraduate theses in university higher education, considering three dimensions: student perception in the investigative endeavor, the role of the instructor and the institutional support in the process of building research skills. The methodology corresponds to a quantitative approach, and a survey technique was applied. A 21-item questionnaire card was designed, with a Likert scale that ranged from 1 to 5 for the formative research variable, and 30-item card with a Likert scale from 0 to 4 for the attainment of skills based on the thesis review. The instrument was validated by expert opinion, reaching an average of 85%. The reliability of the questionnaires was 0.92 and 0.95, respectively, according to the Cronbach's alpha method. The population consisted of 1448 theses published in the institutional repository from 2016 to 2020, and the sample was made up of 110 theses from 11 colleges, with a 95% level of confidence. The results indicate that the perception of the achievement of research skills, instructor support during the research process and institutional support are "positive"; likewise, review of the theses reached a "successful" level. It is concluded that there is a direct relationship between formative research and the achievement of competences.

Abstract Background Relapsed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) unrelated to HPV infection carries a poor prognosis. Novel approaches are needed to improve the clinical outcome and prolong survival in this patient population which has poor long-term responses to immune checkpoint blockade. This study evaluated the chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 as potential novel targets for the treatment of HPV-negative HNSCC. Methods Expression of IL-8, CXCR1, and CXCR2 was investigated in HNSCC tissues and human cell line models. Inhibition of CXCR1/2 with the clinical stage, small molecule inhibitor, SX-682, was evaluated in vitro and in vivo using human xenografts and murine models of HNSCC, both as a monotherapy and in combination with the taxane chemotherapy, docetaxel. Results High levels of IL-8, CXCR1, and CXCR2 expression were observed in HPV-negative compared to HPV-positive HNSCC tumors or cell lines. Treatment of HPV-negative HNSCC cell lines in vitro with SX-682 sensitized the tumor cells to the cytotoxic activity of docetaxel. In vivo, treatment of HNSCC xenograft models with the combination of SX-682 plus docetaxel led to strong anti-tumor control resulting in tumor cures. This phenomenon was associated with an increase of microRNA-200c and a decreased expression of its target, tubulin beta-3, a protein involved in resistance to microtubule-targeting chemotherapies. In vivo treatment of a murine syngeneic model of HNSCC with SX-682 plus docetaxel led to potent anti-tumor efficacy through a simultaneous decrease in suppressive CXCR2+ polymorphonuclear, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and an increase in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in the combination therapy treated tumors compared to controls. Conclusions This study reports, for the first time, mechanistic findings through which the combination of CXCR1/2 inhibition and docetaxel chemotherapy exhibits synergy in models of HPV-negative HNSCC. These findings provide rationale for the use of this novel combination approach to treat HPV-negative HNSCC patients and for future combination studies of CXCR1/2 inhibition, docetaxel, and immune-based therapies.

Abstract During endosomal recycling, Sorting Nexin 17 (SNX17) facilitates the transport of numerous membrane cargo proteins by tethering them to the Retriever complex. Despite its importance, the mechanisms underlying this interaction have remained elusive. Here, we provide biochemical, structural, cellular, and proteomic analyses of the SNX17-Retriever interaction. Our data reveal that SNX17 adopts an autoinhibited conformation in the basal state, with its FERM domain sequestering its C-terminal tail. The binding of cargo proteins to the FERM domain displaces the C-terminal tail through direct competition. The released tail engages with Retriever by binding to a highly conserved interface between its VPS35L and VPS26C subunits, as revealed by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Disrupting this interface impairs the Retriever-SNX17 interaction, subsequently affecting the recycling of SNX17-dependent cargoes and altering the composition of the plasma membrane proteome. Intriguingly, the SNX17-binding pocket on Retriever can be utilized by other ligands containing a consensus acidic C-terminal tail motif. Together, our findings uncover a mechanism underlying endosomal trafficking of critical cargo proteins and reveal how Retriever can potentially engage with other regulatory factors or be exploited by pathogens.

A multiscale methodology approach was employed integrating microscopic analysis of the biomasses present in the biocomposite (lignocellulosic and fungal) to understand their macroscopic response in terms of physical and mechanical properties. Colombian native strain Ganoderma gibbosum, used for the first time in the production of biocomposites was cultivated on peach palm fruit peel flour and sugar cane bagasse wet dust, individually and as a mixture. During the solid-state fermentation were monitoring the change that occurred in substrate composition such as glucan, arabinoxylan, and lignin through biomass compositional analysis using structural carbohydrates and lignin. Moreover, fungal biomass formation was monitored via scanning electron microscopy. The resulting biocomposites underwent characterization through flexural and water absorption tests. Our findings indicated that G. gibbosum primarily degraded the polysaccharides in each of the evaluated media. However, lignin degradation to 15.06 g/g was only observed in the mixture biocomposite of peach palm fruit peel fluor and sugarcane bagasse wet dust in a ratio of 1꞉1, accompanied by a reduction in glucan and arabinoxylan weights to 26.1 and 7.72 g/g, respectively. This polymer degradation, combined with a protein-rich source in the mixture biocomposite of peach palm fruit peel fluor and sugarcane bagasse wet dust in a ratio of 1꞉1, facilitated the production of a fungal skin (biological matrix) with a high hyphal density of 65%, contributing to Young's modulus of 3.83 MPa, elongation without failure, and low water absorption rate in this biocomposite (55%). The lignocellulosic biomass in the culture media acted as a filler for mechanical interlocking with the matrix and provided attachment points for water absorption. Thus, our study establishes a connection between the microscopic scale and the macroscopic behavior of this biocomposite, assessing structural carbohydrates and lignin analysis during solid-state fermentation (SSF), laying the groundwork for a more customized design of mycelium-based biocomposites. Finally, this study demonstrates the possibility of tailoring nutrient composition by designing their culture media to obtain physical-mechanical properties according to the application requirement.

Previously, we described that Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine nucleobases were superconductors in a quantum superposition of phases on each side of the central hydrogen bond acting as a Josephson Junction. Genomic DNA has two strands wrapped helically around one another, but during transcription, they are separated by the RNA polymerase II to form a molecular condensate called the transcription bubble. Successive steps involve the bubble translocation along the gene body. This work aims to modulate DNA as a combination of n-nonperturbative circuits quantum electrodynamics with nine Radio-Frequency Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) inside. A bus can be coupled capacitively to a single-mode microwave resonator. The cavity mode and the bus can mediate long-range, fast interaction between neighboring and distant DNA SQUID qubits. RNA polymerase II produces decoherence during transcription. This enzyme is a multifunctional biomolecular machine working like an artificially engineered device. Phosphorylation catalyzed by protein kinases constitutes the driving force. The coupling between n-phosphorylation pulses and any particular SQUID qubit can be obtained selectively via frequency matching.

Abstract Background Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) results in progressive impairment in gait, upper extremity coordination, and speech. Currently, these symptoms are assessed through expert examination at clinical visits. Such in-clinic assessments are time-consuming, subjective, of limited sensitivity, and provide only a limited perspective of the daily disability of patients. Methods In this study, we recruited 39 FRDA patients and remotely monitored their physical activity and upper extremity function using a set of wearable sensors for 7 consecutive days. We compared the sensor-derived metrics of lower and upper extremity function as measured during activities of daily living with FRDA clinical measures (e.g., mFARS and FA-ADL) and biological biomarkers of disease severity (guanine-adenine-adenine (GAA) and frataxin (FXN) levels), using Spearman correlation analyses. Results The results show significant correlations with moderate to high effect sizes between multiple sensor-derived metrics and the FRDA clinical and biological outcomes. In addition, we develop multiple machine learning-based models to predict disease severity in FRDA using demographic, biological, and sensor-derived metrics. When sensor-derived metrics are included, the model performance enhances 1.5-fold and 2-fold in terms of explained variance, R², for predicting FRDA clinical measures and biological biomarkers of disease severity, respectively. Conclusions Our results establish the initial clinical validity of using wearable sensors in assessing disease severity and monitoring motor dysfunction in FRDA.

Abstract Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC) is caused by mutations in the cholesterol transport protein NPC1 leading to the endolysosomal accumulation of the lipid and to psychiatric alterations. Using an NPC mouse model (Npc1nmf164) we show aberrant mGluR5 lysosomal accumulation and reduction at plasma membrane in NPC1 deficient neurons. This phenotype was induced in wild-type (wt) neurons by genetic and pharmacological NPC1 silencing. Extraction of cholesterol normalized mGluR5 distribution in NPC1-deficient neurons. Intracellular accumulation of mGluR5 was functionally active leading to enhanced mGluR-dependent long-term depression (mGluR-LTD) in Npc1nmf164 hippocampal slices. mGluR-LTD was lower or higher in Npc1nmf164 slices compared with wt when stimulated with non-membrane-permeable or membrane-permeable mGluR5 agonists, respectively. Oral treatment with the mGluR5 antagonist 2-chloro-4-((2,5-dimethyl-1-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethynyl)pyridine (CTEP) reduced mGluR-LTD and ameliorated psychiatric anomalies in the Npc1nmf164 mice. Increased neuronal mGluR5 levels were found in an NPC patient. These results implicate mGluR5 alterations in NPC psychiatric condition and provide a new therapeutic strategy that might help patients suffering from this devastating disease.

Background: Nutritional interventions can help to develop healthy eating patterns during the transition to university, which is a critical transition for all college students. Purpose: This research aims to analyze eating behaviors and food choices through sustainable nutritional education interventions with college students from a multinational university in Latin-America. Methods: The nutritional intervention had eight sessions emphasizing lifestyle nutrition patterns. There was an intervention group (n = 85), and a control group (n = 80). This research evaluated the eating behaviors and food choice motivators before and after the intervention. Results: The nutrition education interventions showed that the group under intervention improved, changing from unhealthy to moderately healthy habits, whereas the control groups remained in unhealthy eating behaviors. Food choice motivations slightly differ from the two groups after the intervention. Discussion: The control group students reflected on their lack of awareness of good eating habits so that current trends could influence their food choices in social networks associated with the pandemic, economic factors, and supply. Translation to Health Education Practice: The findings from this research highlight opportunities for Certified Health Education Specialists focused on project development and evaluation.

Purpose: Design an innovative Flipped classroom's Delivery through virtual laboratory. Design/methodology/approach: The fundamental framework of the present investigation is a Participatory Action Research (PAR) design. By merging the impetus of "action." with the inclusiveness of "participation," PAR establishes a "network" for collaborative teaching or research. PAR is pertinent to our research because it facilitates the participation of infrastructures and individuals in formulating a critical community. This community encourages critical self-reflection, promotes accountability, redistributes authority, and cultivates confidence in research. PAR fosters constructive transformation in educational environments by utilizing participants' combined insights and experiences to establish a structure for substantive dialogue and proactive measures. Findings: As virtual laboratories are becoming essential in 21st-century science education, we found groundbreaking evidence that can support our novel approach to enhance the quality and equity in education. Our results show that virtual labs engage scientific goals and practices, develop scientific literacy, foster scientific inquiry and problem-solving, and promote metacognition. The effects of the virtual laboratory can develop high self-efficacy and positive attitudes among students. It improves students' laboratory performance, which we noted from laboratory activities, simulations, and long exam results. Originality/value: The study offers groundbreaking account to depict epistemic fluency aided by virtual laboratory.

This qualitative descriptive study identified factors that impact assigned female at birth (AFAB) cisgender and non-binary sexual minority individuals' decision to engage, or not engage, in health-seeking behaviors and receive preventative health care services. AFAB sexual minority individuals were asked to describe their health care experiences to determine modifiable factors that could improve their intention to seek care and improve their health care experiences. Purposive sampling was used to recruit AFAB sexual minority individuals between 18 and 30 years of age in the Chicago metropolitan area. Three main themes emerged from data acquired through individual interviews: (1) "ask the right questions"; main themes (2) lack of trust in health professionals; (3) the need for better sexual health education. An important finding was participants wanted to be asked about their sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and gender identity. Participants wanted to be able to share their sexual orientation and gender identity with health care professionals so they could receive appropriate care, accurate information, and feel comfortable sharing aspects about their life. Additionally, the results suggested that general and health sciences curricula should include content about diverse sexual and gender minority populations. Findings have important implications for health education and clinical practice.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a transcript of a dialogue among literacy educators and researchers on the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the field. In the spring of 2023, a lively conversation emerged on the National Council of Research on Language and Literacy (NCRLL)'s listserv. Stephanie initiated the conversation by sharing an op-ed she wrote for "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" about the rise of ChatGPT and similar generative AI platforms, moving beyond the general public's concerns about student cheating and robot takeovers. NCRLL then convened a webinar of eight leading scholars in writing and literacies development, inspired by that listserv conversation and an organizational interest in promoting intergenerational collaboration among literacy scholars. Design/methodology/approach: As former doctoral students of two of the panel participants, webinar facilitators Grace and Victoria positioned themselves primarily as learners about this topic and gathered questions from colleagues, P-16 practitioners and those outside the field of education to assess the concerns and wonderings that ChatGPT and generative AI have raised. The following webinar conversation was recorded on two different days due to scheduling conflicts. It has been merged and edited into one dialogue for coherence and convergence. Findings: Panel participants raise a host of questions and issues that go beyond topics of ethics, morality and basic writing instruction. Furthermore, in dialogue with one another, they describe possibilities for meaningful pedagogy and critical literacy to ensure that generative AI is used for a socially just future for students. While the discussion addressed matters of pedagogy, definitions of literacy and the purpose of (literacy) education, other themes included a critique of capitalism; an interrogation of the systems of power and oppression involved in using generative AI; and the philosophical, ontological, ethical and practical life questions about being human. Originality/value: This paper provides a glimpse into one of the first panel conversations about ChatGPT and generative AI in the field of literacy. Not only are the panel members respected scholars in the field, they are also former doctoral students and advisors of one another, thus positioning all involved as both learners and teachers of this new technology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated into higher education (HE), offering numerous benefits and transforming teaching and learning. Since its launch, ChatGPT has become the most popular learning model among Generation Z college students in HE. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, concerns, attitudes, and ethics of using ChatGPT among Generation Z college students in HE in Peru. An online survey was administered to 201 HE students with prior experience using the ChatGPT for academic activities. Two of the six proposed hypotheses were confirmed: Perceived Ethics (B = 0.856) and Student Concerns (B = 0.802). The findings suggest that HE students' knowledge and positive attitudes toward ChatGPT do not guarantee its effective adoption and use. It is important to investigate how attitudes of optimism, skepticism, or apathy toward AI develop and how these attitudes influence the intention to use technologies such as the ChatGPT in HE settings. The dependence on ChatGPT raises ethical concerns that must be addressed with responsible use programs in HE. No sex or age differences were found in the relationship between the use of ChatGPTs and perceived ethics among HE students. However, further studies with diverse HE samples are needed to determine this relationship. To promote the ethical use of the ChatGPT in HE, institutions must develop comprehensive training programs, guidelines, and policies that address issues such as academic integrity, privacy, and misinformation. These initiatives should aim to educate students and university teachers on the responsible use of ChatGPT and other AI-based tools, fostering a culture of ethical adoption of AI to leverage its benefits and mitigate its potential risks, such as a lack of academic integrity.

The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene 677C➔T polymorphism is capable of altering folate metabolism and can modify certain neoplasia risk. Reports have suggested that folate can have an influence on bone development and so it is of interest to know if the MTHFR 677C➔T polymorphism is associated with the malignant transformation process of this tissue. The polymorphism was determined in 55 patients with osteosarcoma and in 180 healthy individuals. Compared with C/T+C/C genotypes, a 3.7-fold reduction in osteosarcoma probability is possible with the T/T genotype (OR 0.27, CI 95% 0.07–0.82). Undoubtedly, further studies, utilizing large samples and carried out on different populations, are necessary to confirm these results.

Abstract Background Remote education emerged as an option during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this modality continues to be used by various universities around the world in the postpandemic context. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of digital skills and mobile self-efficacy in the influence of stress on the academic engagement of Peruvian university students during remote teaching by COVID-19 using structural equation modeling (SEM). Method This study involved 1,468 students from nine public and private universities in northern Peru who had undergraduate and graduate distance learning programs. Results The results showed that stress negatively influenced academic engagement (β=-0.107*) and digital skills (β=-0.328***). In addition, digital skills (β = 0.470**) and mobile self-efficacy (β = 0.684***) positively influence academic engagement. Similarly, digital skills mediate the relationship between stress and academic engagement (β=-0.154**), and both variables act as sequential mediators in this relationship (β=-0.348***). Conclusion This study provides a deeper understanding of the factors that influence academic engagement during Remote education and lays the groundwork for the development of interventions and training programs tailored to hybrid learning contexts that promote the well-being and academic success of college students in postpandemic times.

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced a significant increase in its application in the educational field worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the acceptance of AI and its effect on the entrepreneurial intentions of international trade university students in Peru and Ecuador. With a quantitative approach and a non-experimental applied design, an online survey was administered to international trade students from Peru and Ecuador. Amos version 24 software was used to obtain model fit indices and perform gender-based invariance tests. Additionally, SmartPLS statistical software, based on the partial least squares (PLS) technique, was employed to test the hypotheses of the structural equation model (SEM). The measurement model presented acceptable fit indices. When calculating invariance, the configural, metric, and scalar models were satisfactory, although the residual model was not confirmed. It was found that hedonic motivation, habit, and performance expectations influenced international trade students’ intention to use AI. Likewise, it was discovered that the intention to use AI tools has an effect on entrepreneurial intention. Gender and age did not moderate the effect of AI usage intention on entrepreneurial intention. The study provides empirical evidence on the acceptance of AI and its influence on students’ entrepreneurial intentions, offering valuable information for educators, policymakers, and technology developers in the educational field.

In South Asia, bacterial wilt pathogens in the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) impose major constraints on eggplant, tomato, and pepper production. To improve the efficacy of bacterial wilt management, the goals of this study were to (i) conduct a survey of RSSC pathogens in Bangladesh and Nepal, (ii) characterize the genetic diversity of these isolates, and (iii) screen 37 tomato, eggplant, and pepper accessions for resistance to six representative isolates from South Asia. We isolated 99 isolates from Bangladesh and 20 isolates from Nepal and determined that all are phylotype I isolates of the Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum species. We sequenced and assembled draft genomes for 25 isolates. Phylogenomic analyses suggest that there is a wide diversity of endemic phylotype I isolates in South Asia and possible introductions of two clonal phylotype I lineages into Bangladesh and Nepal. We contextualize our newly described isolates based on prior reports of RSSC diversity in South Asia and global reports of RSSC pathogens on eggplant and pepper. Greenhouse trials revealed multiple tomato, eggplant, and pepper accessions that exhibit promising levels of resistance to six phylotype I isolates from South Asia. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Introduction: The selection of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke in the elderly remains challenging due to the underrepresentation of these patients in landmark randomized trials. The aim of this study was to assess the association between age and the pre-stroke modified Rankin scale score with functional outcomes after EVT in elderly patients aged ≥80 years. Methods: We prospectively collected data from consecutive elderly patients who underwent EVT of the anterior or posterior circulation at our institution between 2007 and 2022. Clinical and radiological parameters were analyzed using a fair outcome (mRS ≤3 or retained pre-stroke mRS score of 4) as the primary outcome. Results: In total, 307 elderly patients were included in the analysis. Fair functional outcomes were achieved in 162 (53%) patients. Eighty-four (27.4%) patients were deceased at 3-month follow-up and the mortality rate increased to 37.1% (114 deceased) at 1-year follow-up. The likelihood of achieving a fair functional outcome decreased by 8% for every 1-year age increase (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.90). Lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85–0.93, p < 0.001) and pre-stroke mRS (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53–0.84, p < 0.001) were associated with fair outcomes. Conclusions: EVT in elderly patients with stroke is beneficial in selected cases. Increasing age was associated with an increased risk of an mRS change to 4 or worse and death within 1 year. The pre-stroke mRS may aid clinicians in the selection of elderly patients for EVT.

Abstract Background The Gran Chaco ecoregion is a well-known hotspot of several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including Chagas disease, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and multiparasitic infections. Interspecific interactions between parasite species can modify host susceptibility, pathogenesis and transmissibility through immunomodulation. Our objective was to test the association between human co-infection with intestinal parasites and host parasitaemia, infectiousness to the vector and immunological profiles in Trypanosoma cruzi-seropositive individuals residing in an endemic region of the Argentine Chaco. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional serological survey for T. cruzi infection along with an intestinal parasite survey in two adjacent rural villages. Each participant was tested for T. cruzi and Strongyloides stercoralis infection by serodiagnosis, and by coprological tests for intestinal parasite detection. Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream parasite load was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR), host infectiousness by artificial xenodiagnosis and serum human cytokine levels by flow cytometry. Results The seroprevalence for T. cruzi was 16.1% and for S. stercoralis 11.5% (n = 87). We found 25.3% of patients with Enterobius vermicularis. The most frequent protozoan parasites were Blastocystis spp. (39.1%), Giardia lamblia (6.9%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (3.4%). Multiparasitism occurred in 36.8% of the examined patients. Co-infection ranged from 6.9% to 8.1% for T. cruzi-seropositive humans simultaneously infected with at least one protozoan or helminth species, respectively. The relative odds of being positive by qPCR or xenodiagnosis (i.e. infectious) of 28 T. cruzi-seropositive patients was eight times higher in people co-infected with at least one helminth species than in patients with no such co-infection. Trypanosoma cruzi parasite load and host infectiousness were positively associated with helminth co-infection in a multiple regression analysis. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) response, measured in relation to interleukin (IL)-4 among humans infected with T. cruzi only, was 1.5-fold higher than for T. cruzi-seropositive patients co-infected with helminths. The median concentration of IL-4 was significantly higher in T. cruzi-seropositive patients with a positive qPCR test than in qPCR-negative patients. Conclusions Our results show a high level of multiparasitism and suggest that co-infection with intestinal helminths increased T. cruzi parasitaemia and upregulated the Th2-type response in the study patients. Graphical Abstract