A study by Penn State researchers found that deformed frogs are linked to the combination of parasite infection and pesticide exposure. The research, which included experimental studies in ponds where the animals live, may help explain how environmental stress affects disease outbreaks in frogs.
A recent UC study found that 42% of live sea otters and 62% of dead sea otters were infected with Toxoplasma. The researchers suggest that land-based freshwater runoff is a source of the parasite, likely transported by surface runoff from fields and yards to coastal areas.
Researchers found a strong link between amphibian deformities and parasites, particularly those carried by snails, which thrive in human-altered habitats. The study surveyed over 60% of sites in Oregon, where deformities were linked to the presence of Ribeiroia parasite.
Researchers have discovered a new standard for selectively targeting malaria-causing parasites, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating other diseases such as HIV, cancer, and Alzheimer's. By understanding how proteins like DHFR are regulated, scientists can develop more effective and non-toxic treatments.
The study predicts that over 50 years, changing climate will bring about great instability for wildlife, reshuffling ecosystems and introducing new diseases and parasites. A majority of species are expected to have smaller geographical ranges than today, with some local communities experiencing up to 40% species turnover.
Research finds that larger forest stands can help control caterpillar infestations by reducing the effectiveness of parasites and diseases. The study suggests that forests larger than 100 hectares are more effective in suppressing outbreaks, which could lead to increased fibre production if defoliation is reduced by just one year.
Researchers at Dartmouth have discovered a mutant strain of the T. gondi parasite that can provide protection against the normal parasite, while also being harmless to infected individuals. The mutant strain was created by inactivating a key enzyme in its biochemical pathway, rendering it unable to cause disease.
A Sea Grant study found no Asian or North American lung flukes in over 800 Chinese mitten crabs collected in the San Francisco Bay. The crabs were analyzed alongside more than 400 crayfish, all of which were also free of the parasites.
Researchers from Brown University and Seattle Biomedical Research Institute found high antibody levels against liver stage antigens (LSAs) correlate with malaria resistance. The study suggests LSAs may stimulate an immune response that protects against infection, paving the way for new malaria vaccine strategies.
Researchers discovered that parasitic worms develop normally into adults when in contact with specific immune cells in their host's liver, producing fewer eggs if disconnected. This adaptation allows the worms to thrive by exploiting their host's immune response.
A recent study found that individuals with hookworm infections were half as likely to develop asthma compared to those without the infection. The researchers suggest that hookworms may alter the body's response to allergens, leading to reduced inflammation and increased resistance to asthma.
Researchers have found a new antimalarial drug combination to be effective in treating falciparum malaria, the most severe form of the disease. In a study conducted in Tanzania, 93% of children were cleared of parasites after treatment with chlorproguanil-dapsone, compared to just 39% on standard pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine.
The NIAID has awarded a $9 million grant to Celera to rapidly sequence the Anopheles mosquito genome. This initiative will provide scientists with a unique opportunity to study the natural history of malaria by analyzing and comparing the genomes of mosquitoes, humans, and Plasmodium falciparum parasites.
Researchers explore how ecological principles, such as the dilution effect, predict the movement of parasites and diseases in various ecosystems. Studies examine the impact of animal diversity on disease transmission, with findings highlighting the importance of community diversity in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Researchers found that triclosan is effective against malaria and toxoplasmosis parasites at low concentrations, without harming host cells. The study suggests combining triclosan with other inhibitors to disrupt fatty acid synthesis and prevent resistant microbes.
A clinical study has confirmed a single gene mutation as the cause of chloroquine-resistant malaria. The study developed a molecular marker that can diagnose individuals with chloroquine-resistant malaria, helping doctors select the best therapy and public health officials set country-wide treatment guidelines.
Researchers found a way to prevent infectious malaria particles from bursting out of their protective sacs by blocking the activity of a protein-snipping enzyme called protease. This discovery suggests that protease inhibitors could be used to treat malaria infection and keep the infectious particles imprisoned until they deteriorate.
Researchers identified a two-step process by which malaria parasites break out of red blood cells, paving the way for developing clinically useful inhibitors. The discovery may lead to promising targets for drug development and improved understanding of the disease.
The US is facing a shortage of antiparasitic drugs due to low market demand, making treatment options scarce for diseases like schistosomiasis and liver fluke infections. The CDC has stepped in to distribute remaining stocks, but more support is needed to ensure availability.
Scientists at NIH and Whitehead Institute have grown malaria parasites in fruit flies, creating a model for studying parasite development in insects. The new model has identified a part of the insect immune system that naturally attacks malaria parasites.
Researchers developed a battery-operated pen that can disinfect drinking water using a salt solution, inactivating parasites, viruses, and bacteria with dramatic results.
Researchers have developed a battery-powered disinfecting pen that can inactivate waterborne parasites, viruses, and bacteria within minutes. The device generates mixed oxidants from a salt solution, delivering safe drinking water even better than plain chlorine.
Dr. Kisilevsky and his team aim to develop agents that prevent protein-carbohydrate binding, effectively inhibiting malaria parasite infection. The project builds on expertise gained in amyloid and Alzheimer's research, exploring novel ideas at a molecular level.
Researchers at University of Illinois find organelle with acidocalcisome properties, crucial for malaria parasite's existence, and propose using pyrophosphate analogs to target it. This discovery may lead to new treatment options against rapidly resistant malaria.
UW researchers find that oscillating magnetic fields can kill malaria parasites by damaging their iron-containing structures. The treatment could be inexpensive and simple, bypassing emerging drug resistance concerns.
A Brandeis University researcher has mapped the structure of ephemeral protein 'switches' that play a critical role in transforming mild-mannered bacteria into lethal parasites. This finding raises the prospect of a novel kind of antibiotic to combat growing resistance among many bacteria.
Researchers found that atovaquone was 100% effective in keeping volunteers bitten by mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum from developing the disease. Pairing atovaquone with proguanil, an older malaria-fighting drug, provides protection while avoiding drug resistance.
Two studies published in Science suggest that parasites, specifically Riberoria trematodes, are responsible for some frog deformities. Laboratory and field experiments found that parasite infections cause mirror-image limb deformities, distinct from the thigh-knee-thigh-knee pattern caused by retinoids.
A European beetle is expected to spread throughout Canada, posing a major threat to the forestry industry. The Introduced Pine Shoot Beetle has few natural enemies in Canada, making it a voracious insect that can feed on various pine species.
Researchers study hybrid species' genetic makeup and impact on ecosystems, challenging existing paradigms. Some studies find hybrids to be more fit than their parents in certain environments, while others reveal increased susceptibility to parasites.
Researchers are exploring transgenic mosquitoes capable of transmitting nitric oxide, which can kill parasites. This approach may offer a key to disrupting the complex relationship between mosquitoes and malaria parasites.
Researchers found a striking increase in falciparum malaria in northern Honduras, with reported cases rising from 52,110 in 1994 to 75,565 in 1996. The more severe form of the disease accounted for 21% of infected patients, highlighting a significant public health concern.
Researchers discovered a plant-like metabolic pathway essential for survival of certain parasites, including those causing malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. The finding provides new targets for anti-parasitic medications, including the possibility of medicines related to herbicides.
Researchers discovered Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites in 7.3% and 11.7% of stool samples from dogs, with puppies under 30 weeks old most affected. Despite no visible symptoms, these parasites can cause serious illness in humans.
The Institute of Food Technologists' Annual Meeting will explore ways to detect, identify, prevent, and control viruses and parasites in food and water. The symposium will also discuss rising antimicrobial resistance in pathogens, acid-resistant pathogens, and strategies for enhancing the safety of fresh produce.
Researchers have designed compounds that target Plasmodium falciparum parasites, which cause severe malaria. The new trioxane-based compounds show potential in treating the disease by inducing self-destruction in the parasite, offering a promising alternative to current treatments.
Scientists have discovered that two parasitic wasps, Spalangia endius and Spalangia nigoraenea, can efficiently control stable and house flies in Illinois. This finding has significant implications for the state's agricultural industry and public health.
Scientists at Indiana University have identified a new potential target for treating parasitic diseases in human cells. The discovery suggests that chloroplast-like plastids, which are found in single-celled parasites, may play an important role in the cell and could be targets for drug therapies.
The Central Park Wildlife Center will introduce a state-of-the-art electric-based water system using ozone to purify its aquatic exhibits. The ozone system destroys parasites, viruses, and bacteria, leaving cleaner water for the animals and better visibility for visitors.
Researchers successfully engineer a protein-based vaccine that primes killer T cells to respond against infection, providing protection against a model pathogen. The approach shows promise for developing new vaccines against viruses, bacteria, and parasites, as well as cancer vaccines and therapies.