{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T03:09:37Z","timestamp":1789528177046,"version":"build-2803163510"},"update-to":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013788","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764806400000}}],"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,1]],"date-time":"2025-12-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764547200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000925","name":"National Health and Medical Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1154805"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1154805"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000925","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000925","name":"National Health and Medical Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1163354"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1163354"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000925","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosntds.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS Negl Trop Dis"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Scabies is a debilitating parasitic skin disease caused by the obligate parasitic mite\n                      <jats:italic>Sarcoptes scabiei<\/jats:italic>\n                      , which inhabits the upper layers of the epidermis. In over 90% of affected individuals intense itching is the primary clinical symptom. This is accompanied by other delayed-type hypersensitivity responses. Persistent scratching due to the itch compromises skin integrity, facilitating the entry of pathogenic bacteria. Combined with immune-modulatory factors secreted by the mites, this creates a permissive environment for bacterial colonisation often leading to secondary complications. Effective treatment of scabies-associated itch could significantly reduce these complications and improve patients\u2019 quality of life. However, current antipruritic therapies are inadequate: in most cases, antihistamines provide little relief for scabies-related itch, and systemic corticosteroids are generally contraindicated. Thus, there is a critical need for targeted therapies, yet progress has been hindered by a limited understanding of the underlying pathobiology of scabies-induced pruritus.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methodology\/Principal Findings<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We investigated the expression of itch-associated mediators - encompassing both histaminergic and non-histaminergic pathways - using immunohistochemistry in a porcine scabies model. Skin biopsies were collected at multiple time points during the course of infection. We observed upregulated expression of key non-histaminergic itch receptors PAR-2 and MRGPRX2, as well as the mediator tryptase, following infection. Additionally, levels of the pruritogenic cytokine IL-31 and periostin, a molecule that may promote IL-4, IL-13 and IL-31 expression were elevated, as were substance P and its receptor NK-1R. In addition, the expression of histamine, the primary mediator of the histaminergic itch pathway, was also increased. Notably, reduced expression of \u03b2 tubulin III across all time points suggests direct mite-induced neuroinflammation. Our findings may serve as a valuable basis for future drug development efforts focused on specific treatment of scabies-associated itch.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions\/Significance<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our data suggest that both the histaminergic and non-histaminergic pathways may be involved in scabies itch. Further research is needed to better understand the complex interplay between these pathways and to identify therapeutic targets for scabies-related itch.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013788","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,1]],"date-time":"2025-12-01T19:06:11Z","timestamp":1764615971000},"page":"e0013788","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Expression profiles of itch markers during scabies infection in a porcine scabies model"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3079-0985","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Deepani D.","family":"Fernando","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jakub","family":"O'Grady","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tam 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