Researchers at Yale School of Public Health have identified a new family of surface proteins, Fam10, which are uniquely associated with infectious metacyclic parasites transmitted by the tsetse fly. Vaccination with one member of this family significantly reduced parasitemia in mice, making Fam10 proteins promising vaccine candidates.
SourceYale School of Public Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 31, 2020
Researchers have elucidated the atomic structure of the sugar-transporting-protein PfHT1 in Plasmodium falciparum, gaining insight into glucose uptake. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more specific and effective antimalarial compounds.
Researchers discovered that Kelch13 protein mutations can lead to parasite resistance by reducing hemoglobin uptake and ART activation. The findings provide critical insights into the development of more effective antimalarial treatments.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJan 2, 2020
Scientists at Institut Pasteur and CNRS identified molecules capable of inhibiting DNA methylation, killing even the most resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites. The results showed significant activity comparable to chloroquine, with some inhibitors killing parasites in just 6 hours.
SourceInstitut Pasteur·JournalACS Central Science·DateDec 31, 2019
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A new study reveals that malaria parasites sourced from 1940s blood-stained microscope slides originated from Europe, with genetic similarities to modern strains found in the Americas. The research sheds light on the historical spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria and its potential for drug resistance.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateDec 2, 2019
Scientists found Plasmodium PAGRI02, a parasite from Africa, in 5% of European house sparrows. The study, published in Parasites & Vectors, highlights the impact of global environmental changes on wildlife transmission.
SourceUniversity of Extremadura·JournalParasites & Vectors·DateNov 28, 2019
Researchers have discovered that malaria parasites use a specific protein to evade frontline treatment, leading to rapid development of antimalarial resistance. The study suggests ways to restore potency and monitor for emerging resistance in Southeast Asia.
SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalNature·DateNov 27, 2019
Researchers found that certain vegetable and/or meat broths can curb the growth of sexually immature malaria parasites by more than 50% in lab tests. Five broths were effective at stopping disease-causing parasites, with two showing comparable activity to a leading antimalarial drug.
SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·DateNov 18, 2019
A genome-wide gene deletion study on malaria parasites identified hundreds of new targets for disease control. The study, led by the University of Bern, used a malaria mouse model to systematically screen the parasite's genome and identify essential metabolic pathways.
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A new study by Anglia Ruskin University finds that crows in larger social groups have lower parasite loads and are healthier. The research reveals a correlation between sociability and health, suggesting that strong social bonds reduce stress levels and make crows less susceptible to parasites.
SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalAnimal Behaviour·DateNov 14, 2019
Researchers have identified key antibodies that can protect against severe forms of malaria, providing hope for the development of an effective vaccine. The study's findings, published in Cell Host & Microbe, show promise for new approaches to combatting the disease.
SourceDeakin University·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateNov 13, 2019
Research reveals that mated female mosquitoes are more susceptible to transmitting malaria parasites, highlighting the importance of targeting male mosquitoes in vector control measures. This study provides new insights into the impact of mating on mosquito susceptibility to P. falciparum.
The malaria parasite expresses genes for proteins needed in later stages using two separate schemes of translational repression, which could be exploited to fight the disease. Researchers identified two programs that operate simultaneously and independently, allowing the parasite to quickly respond to changes in its environment.
SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2019
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Researchers identify previously unknown proteins that suppress trypsin activity, protecting tapeworms from digestive enzymes. The discovery sheds light on the molecular diversity of tapeworms and their ability to evade host immune systems.
SourceUniversity of Tyumen·JournalMolecular and Biochemical Parasitology·DateOct 22, 2019
Researchers have discovered that aҫaí berry extract can significantly reduce the number of malaria parasites in infected mice, with a 89.4% decrease in parasitic load. The treatment also prolonged the survival of the mice, with all those given polyphenols surviving for over 15 days.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Omega·DateOct 16, 2019
Researchers sequenced the genomes of two Varroa mite species that parasitize honey bees, finding distinct strategies for survival and evolution. The study sheds light on how parasites and hosts co-evolve, potentially revealing new approaches to combat colony collapse.
SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalCommunications Biology·DateOct 3, 2019
A new study reveals a parasitic disease that mimics visceral leishmaniasis symptoms in people, but doesn't respond to standard treatments. Researchers found the parasite was more closely related to Crithidia fasciculata, which usually infects mosquitoes.
SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateOct 1, 2019
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Researchers found that levels of filarial antigens increase after treatment in individuals with adverse events, suggesting a host response to dying parasites. Gene expression analysis also identified elevated levels of immune molecules and 744 genes involved in immune signaling in those with adverse events.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateSep 26, 2019
A unique partnership between an engineer and a scientist challenged prevailing wisdom about Toxoplasma gondii's behavior, revealing potential targets for treatment. The team's work showed that parasites are actively replicating with complex patterns, forcing a reconsideration of the parasite's life cycle.
Researchers have designed a new class of modified pantothenamides that stop malaria parasites from replicating in humans and preventing transmission to mosquitoes. These compounds are effective against malaria parasites resistant to currently available drugs.
SourcePenn State·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateSep 18, 2019
A 150-million-year-old coral reef snapshot reveals a peak of diversity among marine animals, including fish, crabs, and snails. The study also finds evidence of parasites among these ancient creatures, shedding light on the complex ecosystems of the past.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalZoological Journal of the Linnean Society·DateSep 18, 2019
Researchers found that Leishmania parasites protect themselves from starvation by making an unusual carbohydrate reserve called mannogen, which enables their survival within human hosts. This discovery provides a new understanding of the parasite's metabolism and could lead to the development of new therapies for Leishmaniasis.
SourceUniversity of York·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateSep 16, 2019
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Research by Marco Del Giudice reveals parasites manipulate host behavior to increase transmission chances and alter neural functioning. Hosts evolve countermeasures to evade manipulation, but these adaptations may also create new vulnerabilities.
SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateAug 23, 2019
Researchers have created the first high-resolution atlas of malaria parasite gene expression, revealing new insights into gene function and regulation. The Malaria Cell Atlas provides potential targets for future treatments and a better understanding of the spread of drug resistance.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateAug 22, 2019
African malaria parasites exhibit distinct genetic features in different regions, sharing genes that confer resistance to antimalarial drugs. This study highlights the risk of multi-drug resistance compromising previous success in controlling malaria.
SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalScience·DateAug 22, 2019
Researchers have created a detailed map of individual malaria parasite behavior, giving the highest resolution view of malaria parasite gene expression to date. The Malaria Cell Atlas presents possible targets for developing antimalarial drugs, vaccines, and transmission blocking strategies.
SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalScience·DateAug 22, 2019
Researchers found ancient parasite eggs in human coprolites at the Must Farm settlement, indicating that inhabitants were infected by eating raw aquatic animals. The discovery provides new insights into the intestinal diseases of prehistoric Britain and their possible connections to modern food trends.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalParasitology·DateAug 15, 2019
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A study reveals that mosquitoes' salivary glands contain a barrier that blocks most malaria-causing parasites from being transmitted during a bite. Researchers found that only a few parasites can pass through a narrow opening in the 'chitin wall', potentially leading to new strategies for preventing malarial infection.
Cells use a molecular safety mechanism to smuggle genetic information molecules around the cell, which are then used to recognize and shut down parasites. This discovery provides new insight into how animal genomes defend themselves against DNA parasites and reveals a previously unknown RNA transport route.
Researchers identified key genes involved in parasite adherence using a non-disease-causing species Crithidia fasciculata. The study found significant transcriptional differences between the swimming and adherent forms of the parasite.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateJul 30, 2019
Researchers used parasitic bat flies to study buffy flower bat populations in the Bahamas, finding a single population of bats but two populations of their flies. The study suggests that ocean channels may not be universal barriers for bats, with limited gene flow over two years.
SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalJournal of Parasitology·DateJul 29, 2019
The study provides key insight into the parasites' lifestyle, which is more complex than previously thought. Dicyemids eliminate genes to conserve energy and change their reproductive methods, highlighting their unique genetic organization.
SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·DateJul 29, 2019
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A study by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative found that nearly 60% of patients with PKDL passed on parasites to sandflies, which can then infect others. Early treatment of PKDL patients is crucial to prevent transmission of leishmaniasis in South Asia.
SourceDrugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateJul 22, 2019
A multi-country randomized trial found that half of patients in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam were not cured by first-line malaria treatment. The authors call for abandoning widely used drug combinations and adopting alternative treatments to prevent further development of multidrug-resistant malaria.
SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateJul 22, 2019
Researchers found that natural compounds isolated from Nectandra leucantha can kill parasites causing these neglected diseases. The neolignans displayed bioactivity against Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, which affect millions of people in Brazil and other developing countries.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 15, 2019
A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that mosquitoes employ a multi-stage immune response to combat malaria parasites, involving a complement-like pathway and phenoloxidases. This understanding could lead to opportunities to eliminate malaria parasites in the mosquito, reducing human cases.
SourceIowa State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 10, 2019
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A team of researchers has discovered a new way to target the unique metabolism of drug-resistant parasites, using a molecule called rhodoquinone. This approach could lead to the development of new drugs that selectively kill parasites without harming humans.
A Duke University study identifies over 100 human genes co-opted by malaria parasites during the silent earlier stages of infection. This finding could lead to new treatments and prevent the disease from spreading.
SourceDuke University·JournalCell Chemical Biology·DateJun 27, 2019
Researchers found that malaria parasites develop faster in mosquitoes at lower temperatures than previously thought, increasing the risk of transmission to millions of people worldwide. The study suggests that even slight climate warming could lead to greater increases in transmission risk.
Scientists studying Leishmania parasites found that they can mate to produce hybrid offspring carrying genetic material from multiple strains, suggesting a true sexual reproductive cycle. This discovery could lead to improved treatment for deadly Leishmaniasis infections.
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A human liver cell protein called CXCR4 helps Plasmodium parasites develop into forms capable of infecting red blood cells. Targeting this protein may be a way to block the parasite's life cycle and prevent malaria development.
SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateJun 12, 2019
Researchers identified two P. falciparum-selective proteasome inhibitors with potent antimalarial activity against drug-resistant parasites. The inhibitors exhibited low propensity for generating resistance and synergized with multiple antimalarial agents.
Researchers at Clemson University have made significant progress in understanding the biology of Toxoplasma parasites, a human pathogen with high infection rates. By disrupting a key transporter, they were able to reduce the parasite's infectivity and provide insights into new targets for treatment.
SourceClemson University·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJun 6, 2019
Researchers have identified novel antigens on infected red blood cells that trigger natural human antibody responses, reducing malaria transmission. The discovery provides a promising alternative route for preventing disease spread and offers new leads for developing effective vaccines.
SourceRadboud University Medical Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 5, 2019
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Research from Binghamton University finds that exposure to light at night can decrease hatching success in tadpoles and make them more susceptible to additional stressors like road salt pollution and parasites. The study suggests that combining light pollution with other stressors may have negative impacts on amphibian populations.
SourceBinghamton University·JournalEnvironmental Pollution·DateMay 28, 2019
Beetles infected with intestinal parasites exhibit reduced aggressive behavior during simulated attacks from predators and rival males. Larger beetles tend to fight back more than smaller ones, while parasitized beetles produce fewer squeaks as a defensive behavior.
A new mathematical model developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests that large collective of parasitic worms can kick-start a self-perpetuating cycle ensuring their survival. The study found that quantity of parasites alone determines whether they persist in a host, contrary to previous approaches.
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute and Imperial College London have identified novel compounds that target a different part of the malaria parasite's enzyme, evading the same resistance mechanism. This study aimed to prevent malaria treatment resistance by studying how it evolves during drug development.
SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalCell Chemical Biology·DateMay 9, 2019
Research found that nematode-infected horned passalus beetles process wood 15% faster than uninfected ones, leading to increased decomposition rates. The parasites are beneficial to the forest ecosystem, enabling the beetles to provide a more effective service
SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalBiology Letters·DateMay 1, 2019
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A team of researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute identified a parasite with functional mitochondria that produce energy without its own genetic material. The Amoebophrya ceratii parasite has nearly all metabolic processes working, allowing it to thrive on its own with significantly reduced genetic material.
SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 24, 2019
Researchers have identified phosphodiesterase-B1 as a critical gene for the transmission of African sleeping sickness, a disease transmitted by tsetse flies. The study reveals that the parasite's movement from the fly's midgut to the salivary gland is controlled by this gene, providing new insights into the disease-causing mechanism.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 10, 2019
Researchers from Virginia Tech and Eastern Washington University are collaborating on a $958,415 NSF grant to study the critical role of the honey bee gut microbiome in health and defense against parasites. The team aims to develop a network of genes from the parasite, microbiome, and host to determine their interactions with each other.
The study demonstrated that DSM265 can clear low-level Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia with a single oral dose. A companion drug is needed to prevent development of resistance and advance the goal of eradicating malaria.
SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·DateMar 11, 2019
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A study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases analyzed gene expression in patients with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis, revealing a heightened presence of B cell transcripts and unique patterns of macrophage activation. The research also identified new targets for vaccine development against this rare and neglected tropical disease.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMar 7, 2019
The Ecological Society of America's Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment journal publishes research on parasites hidden in museum specimens that can teach us about past and present diseases. A review reveals non-native species contribute to more plant and animal extinctions than native species.
SourceEcological Society of America·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateFeb 28, 2019
Gene activity in defenders reflects origin of attacking slavemakers, with successful invaders triggering weaker defenses. Researchers found that host ants react aggressively to rare slave-makers and not to common ones, highlighting the complex co-evolutionary relationship between parasites and their hosts.
SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateFeb 28, 2019
Researchers discovered a new species of bacterium, Chryseobacterium nematophagum, that can digest roundworm parasites from the inside out. The bacteria produce specific enzymes that break down chitin and collagen, making them effective against various parasitic nematodes.
SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Biology·DateFeb 27, 2019
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Researchers found that cuckoos, known as greater anis, act collectively but become social parasites after their nests are destroyed. They switch to a strategy of spreading eggs around other nests, achieving similar reproductive success to cooperative breeding.
A study from Binghamton University highlights the importance of considering cold-temperature variability when evaluating climate change impacts. Researchers found that cold temperatures make amphibians more susceptible to road salt but less prone to parasites.
SourceBinghamton University·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateFeb 20, 2019
The study reveals that malaria parasite genomes are shaped by parasite-specific gene families and strongly correlate with virulence. The researchers identified unique features in the organization of gene families involved in antigenic variation, which enables high virulence in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 4, 2019