Infectious Diseases
Category
Infectious
REVIEWED BY
Our Biomedical Scientist
Reviewed based on
Literature Discussion & Clinical Trials
Last update
December 2020
What is Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases are disorders caused by an invasion of pathogens (i.e., bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) in the body. Our body contains many organisms which can be divided into good and bad organisms. Good organisms are also known as good microbes (e.g., Lactobacillus) do not pose a threat and can even be helpful. In other cases, organisms that are referred to as “bad microbes” may cause disease in the body.1
Signs and symptoms can greatly differ between people. Disease symptoms depend on the type of pathogen causing the infection.
However, frequent symptoms include fever or fatigue. Infections are mild when people do not require hospitalization and can be treated at home. In severe cases, infections can be life-threatening, and hospitalization may be required.
Today there are some available vaccines that can prevent the development of infectious diseases like measles and chickenpox. Frequent and thorough hand-washing is recommended to help protect against most infectious diseases
Symptoms
Symptoms and signs of each infectious disease can vary greatly. 1 However, general signs and symptoms which are common to many diseases include:
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Coughing
Causes
- Microorganisms that can cause illnesses like strep throat, urinary tract infections, and tuberculosis.
- Microorganisms that are smaller than bacteria and can lead to many diseases ranging from the common cold to AIDS.
- A small harmful organism that lives on or in a host body. An example of this is a tiny parasite that is transmitted by a mosquito bite that can lead to malaria. Other parasites can for example be transmitted through animal feces, water, and uncooked food.
- Fungal infections can occur on various parts of the skin (e.g., foot or other damp skin areas, mouth gastrointestinal tract, genitals), leading to skin diseases. Common fungi infections include skin diseases like ringworm and athlete’s foot1.
Direct Contact
Infections that can occur through direct contact:
- Person to person. This occurs when a person with bacteria or virus infection passes it on people who are not infected. This can happen through touching, kissing, coughing, sneezing or exchange of body fluids from sexual contact.
- Animal to person. This can occur when an infected animal or a pet bites or scratches an individual who is not infected. This can make the individual sick and can, in some cases, even be fatal. People can also become sick by handling animal waste.
- Mother to an unborn child. This can happen when a pregnant woman with the germs passes it on her unborn child. This can occur through the placenta, breast milk, or during birth.1
Indirect Contact
Germs can spread through indirect contact where inanimate objects (tabletop, doorknob, or faucet handle) are a middle step between people. This can occur when a healthy person touches a doorknob handled by an infected individual. The infected individual may have left bacteria, viruses, or parasites on the inanimate object (e.g., through fluids passed on from breathing, coughing, or sneezing). If the healthy person then touches his/her mouth, eyes, or nose before washing their hands, this can lead to the infection spreading1.
Insect bites
Some germs require insect carriers like mosquitoes, fleas, lice or ticks – to pass from host to host. These carriers are referred to as vectors.1
Food contamination
Infectious diseases can also spread through contaminated food and water. For example, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a type of bacteria found in or on certain foods like undercooked hamburgers or unpasteurized fruit juice.
Risk factors
People with a weakened immune system may be at higher risk to get sick compared to otherwise healthy people. This may happen if:
- People are being treated with steroids or other medications that can inhibit the immune system (e.g., anti-rejection drugs for a transplanted organ)
- People suffering from HIV or AIDS.
- People suffering from certain types of cancer or other disorders that can weaken the immune system.
Furthermore, other medical conditions may contribute to the development of infections. This includes implanted medical devices, malnutrition, and extremes of ages, among others.1
The connection between Cannabinoids & Infectious Diseases
Studies find that CBD and THC may have great therapeutic potential and may be used to help treat Infectious Diseases. CBD and THC are well-known cannabinoids, however, they do not have the same psychoactive effects. THC is psychoactive while CBD does not possess psychoactive effects. According to WHO guidelines, the cannabidiol CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.
Recently it has been reported that CBD exhibits antimicrobial activity, demonstrating that CBD can selectively kill a subset of Gram-negative bacteria known as Neisseria gonorrhoeae. N. gonorrhea is on the list of urgent/high priorities at the CDC (USA) and WHO due to the bacteria being increasingly unresponsive to existing antibiotics.2
Furthermore, it has been shown that THC and CBD exhibit bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against a panel of Gram-positive infectious agents.3
The literature discussion is an overview of the published results from scientific studies investigating if and how cannabinoids can be beneficial in the treatment of Infectious Diseases. The overview will be updated regularly to ensure the newest and most accurate information.
CBD shows antimicrobial effect
Blaskovich et al., showed that CBD has an antimicrobial effect.. This demonstrates that CBD can selectively kill a subset of Gram negative bacteria known as Neisseria gonorrhoeae. N. gonorrhea is on the list over urgent/high priorities at the CDC (USA) and WHO due to the bacteria being increasingly unresponsive to existing antibiotics.2
THC may reduce interferon response
In a study by Cabral et al.3 with mice, the effect of delta 9-THC on alpha/beta interferons inducers (i.e., poly I:C and HSV-2) was examined. B6C3F1 mice were given an intraperitoneal injection containing delta 9-THC or the diluent for four days or for different time intervals prior to receiving intravenous injection of the interferon inducer (i.e., injection of poly I:C or HSV-2) on day 4. It was found that mice treated with delta 9-THC had reduced alpha/beta interferon response to HSV.3
Cannabinoids express therapeutic potential in strep-throat infections and meningitis
A study by Anumudu et al., aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of extracts from Cannabis sativa on suppressing the growth of Lancefield Group A Streptococcus species (bacteria responsible for Strep-throat infections). It was found that the Cannabis sativa extracts show potential in managing Lancefield Group A Streptococcus species.4
A study by Bass et al., with rats aimed to examine the effect of the synthetic cannabinoid HU-211 on Streptococcus pneumonia (Gram-positive bacterium responsible for pneumococcal meningitis). It was found that brain damage was reduced by HU-211 when administered in combination with ceftriaxone in the treatment of experimental pneumococcal meningitis.5
Several cannabinoids may have potent effect in Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Appendino et al., proclaimed that Cannabinoids such as CBD, CBC , THC, CBG, and CBN have been found to have a potent effect against a variety of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, which are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin.6
In a study by Farha et al., it was found that cannabinoids have an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is known to be resistant to the antibiotic methicillin. Cannabinoids can also help suppress bacteria´s biofilms formation, and exterminate preformed biofilms, and stationary phase cells persistent to antibiotics. Furthermore, cannabigerol´s antibacterial activity was demonstrated through its ability to target the cytoplasmic membrane of Gram-positive bacteria.7
Cannabinoids display a broad-spectrum therapeutic potential
Moreover, it was shown by Farha et al., that a combination of cannabigerol and polymyxin B can be effective against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative microbes, showing that cannabinoids display a broad-spectrum therapeutic potential.8
Karmaus et al., discussed that THC exhibits immune-modulatory activities and can affect pathogen-induced immune defenses. A study with mice aimed at determining the effect of THC, and the role of CB1 and CB2 (receptors for THC) in regulating the inflammatory immune response to influenza. It was shown that the immune response to influenza infection could be impaired when THC inhibits myeloid immune cell functions through CB1 and/or CB2.9
Clinical trials are research studies that examine new treatments and evaluate their effects on human health outcomes.
More studies are needed to understand cannabinoids potential in HIV infection
A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial by Abrams et al., aimed to establish the short-term effects of smoked marijuana on the viral load in people suffering from HIV infection. 67 patients were included in the study but only 62 individuals (marijuana, dronabinol, and placebo groups) were eligible for the primary endpoint. Study findings concluded that in regard to HIV, RNA levels, CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts, or protease inhibitor levels, the use of oral and smoked cannabinoids were not unsafe.9
Link between cannabis use and reduced incidence of chronic liver disease (CLD)
Adejumo et al., investigated the effect of cannabis consumption on the prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD) in patients from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. Hospital records of discharged patients (age ≥ 18 years) with a history of HCV were used for analysis. The authors concluded that there was a link between cannabis use and reduced incidence of liver cirrhosis.10
- Mayo Clinic. Infectious diseases
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/symptoms-causes/syc-20351173 - Blaskovich, M. A. T., et al. . The antimicrobial potential of cannabidiol. Commun. Biol. 4, (2021). https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-020-01530-y
- Cabral, G. A.,et al. . Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol decreases alpha/beta interferon response to herpes simplex virus type 2 in the B6C3F1 mouse. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 181, 305–311 (1986). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3003756/
- Anumudu, C. K., et al.. Antimicrobial activity of Cannabis sativa extracts on Lancefield Group A Streptococcus species associated with streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat). African J. Biol. Sci. 02, 9 (2020). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340831100_Antimicrobial_activity_of_Cannabis_sativa_extracts_on_Lancefield_Group_A_Streptococcus_species_associated_with_streptococcal_pharyngitis_strep_throat6.
- Bass, R., et al. A novel nonpsychotropic cannabinoid, HU-211, in the treatment of experimental pneumococcal meningitis. J. Infect. Dis. 173, 735–738 (1996). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8627042/
- Appendino, G., et al. Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: A structure-activity study. J. Nat. Prod. 71, 1427–1430 (2008). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18681481/
- Farha, Maya A., et al. Uncovering the hidden antibiotic potential of Cannabis. ACS Infect. Dis. 6, 338–346 (2020). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00419
- Karmaus, P. W. F., et al. δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol impairs the inflammatory response to influenza infection: Role of antigen-presenting cells and the cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2. Toxicol. Sci. 131, 419–433 (2013). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23152191/
- Abrams, Donald I., et al. Short-term effects of cannabinoids in patients with HIV-1 infection: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ann. Intern. Med. 139, 258–266 (2003). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12965981/
- Adejumo, A. C., et al. Reduced Incidence and Better Liver Disease Outcomes among Chronic HCV Infected Patients Who Consume Cannabis. Can. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2018, (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30345261/
CANNABINOIDS & RECEPTORS
Below you find the plant cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and endocannabinoids that are associated with the potential therapy.
If you have any further information relevant to the connection between Infectcious Diseases and cannabinoids or find any of the information inaccurate, outdated or incomplete please contact us here.
