Articles tagged with Parasites
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A team of scientists discovered that genetic diversity in host populations slows down the adaptation of parasites, increasing their resistance to disease. This finding has significant implications for ecosystem research and the preservation of biological diversity.
A new study reveals that a malaria parasite manipulates liver cells to survive and reproduce, building strength before invading red blood cells. Disrupting this process by targeting the aquaporin-3 protein may lead to new treatments for malaria before symptoms appear.
A study revealed that Plasmodium falciparum emerged as a human-specific parasite species around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. The researchers sequenced the genomes of all known malaria parasites and discovered a chain of events leading to its emergence.
Researchers have discovered that various stages of the malaria parasite's life cycle are connected to epigenetic features and chromatin structure. The study provides insights into the connection between genome organization, epigenetics, and stage-specific gene expression in the malaria parasite.
Researchers have developed a quick detection method for a microscopic worm targeting coffee crops, found in soil samples across Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The nematodes feed on plant roots, weakening the plants and causing yield loss, with no specific symptoms.
Researchers discovered that altered body odor can indicate malaria infection, even when microscopic tests fail. Machine learning models using volatile biomarkers reliably identify asymptomatic infections with 100% sensitivity.
Distinct profiles of volatile skin emissions were found in malaria-infected individuals compared to uninfected ones. Machine learning models successfully identified asymptomatic infections based on skin volatile profiles, even at low parasite loads undetectable by microscopy.
Researchers reveal malaria parasite's hidden reservoir in bone marrow, where it can remain undetectable by blood tests. The findings may help explain why many malaria infections go undetected and inform new diagnostic tools.
Researchers warn that Alaska's songbird population may suffer significant losses if the invasive common cuckoo and oriental cuckoo expands its breeding range in the region. The cuckoos, known as brood parasites, lay their eggs in nests of other species, leading to the elimination of reproductive success for hosts.
Researchers at USF Health have identified 2,600 essential genes in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate drug and vaccine development, potentially saving millions of lives.
Researchers discovered that mistletoe lacks a key enzyme essential for aerobic respiration in animals and plants, instead relying on alternative energy pathways. This adaptation allows mistletoe to thrive as a parasitic plant, but may also inform strategies to protect crops from damaging parasites.
A team of researchers has identified approximately 2,600 genes essential to the growth and survival of Plasmodium falciparum, a deadly malaria parasite. These findings could aid in the development of new or improved antimalarial drugs, highlighting key targets for future research.
Researchers have identified over 2,600 essential genes in Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite. These genes will help guide future drug development efforts targeting specific genes crucial for parasite survival.
Parasites have evolved to 'hack' their host's nervous system, controlling behavior and decision-making. Researchers explore the mechanisms involved, discovering compounds that act on neural circuitry, offering insights into neural control of animal behavior.
Researchers found that malaria-carrying parasites, particularly Plasmodium, are more widespread due to their ability to infect multiple bird species. The study's findings suggest that geography and host evolutionary relationships play significant roles in shaping parasite diversity and distribution patterns.
DNA analysis of ancient latrines reveals past diets, animal domestication, and hunting practices in Northern Europe and the Middle East from 500 B.C. to 1700 A.D., with parasite eggs reflecting raw or undercooked fish and pork consumption.
A team of City College-bred fruit flies and parasitic wasps are part of an International Space Station experiment to understand how the human immune system reacts to spaceflight conditions. The goal is to inform astronauts on potential infections during long-duration missions.
Researchers found that parasitic ants are accepted by host colonies due to their potent chemical weaponry, which protects against a more deadly invader. The study suggests a mutually beneficial relationship between the hosts and parasites, where the enemy of your enemy is your friend.
A new EU grant of EUR 2.5 million will fund research on the sexual biology of malaria parasites to develop novel intervention targets. The project aims to map the functions of approximately 700 parasite genes involved in sexual reproduction to prevent malaria transmission by mosquitoes.
Researchers discovered malaria parasites in 21% of white-tailed fawns in Florida, with infected deer more likely to die during the first year. The study's findings suggest that young animals are particularly vulnerable to these parasites.
A study reveals that malaria infection increases human attractiveness to mosquitoes, particularly due to skin chemistry changes such as elevated levels of heptanal and nonanal. This finding could illuminate aspects of malaria transmission and lead to the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers.
Research found that infected children produce distinctive chemical fingerprints in their skin odors, making them more attractive to malaria mosquitoes. The study identified key volatile chemicals, including aldehydes, which are detected by mosquitoes and increase attractiveness.
Researchers at Yale University have developed a serum that reduces malaria infection in mice by targeting a protein in the saliva of infected mosquitoes. The novel approach could potentially be used to enhance existing malaria vaccines and has implications for other mosquito-borne infections.
A team of researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute has discovered a human receptor protein on the surface of cells that malaria parasites interact with as they navigate through the body. This finding provides a key clue in understanding how to develop an effective malaria vaccine, potentially saving millions of lives.
A follow-up study of infected but asymptomatic individuals reveals parasite levels drop quickly after infection onset. Despite low levels at day 28, the study suggests that these individuals pose a shorter transmission risk to communities aiming for malaria elimination.
Researchers have developed the Malaria Cell Atlas, a reference map that maps malaria parasite development in unprecedented detail. The atlas allows for the identification of weak points in the parasite's lifecycle, paving the way for intervention with drugs and vaccines.
A team of researchers has identified a 'genetic fingerprint' associated with the most deadly strains of malaria parasites. They found that only 20-30 var gene pieces were being expressed at a higher rate in patients with severe malaria, providing promise for new targets for vaccine design.
Scientists developed a method to predict how global warming affects disease severity, using the metabolic theory of ecology. The study showed that different processes have unique relationships with temperature, and that linking these theories can describe how disease interactions change with global warming.
Researchers discovered a protein, GDV1, that triggers the switch to gametocyte production in malaria parasites. This could lead to new therapies and tools for controlling malaria transmission.
A new study suggests that managing eating habits, particularly meal times, could help control malaria infections. Researchers found that malaria parasites in infected mice timed their daily multiplication and invasion of red blood cells to match the animal's feeding schedule.
Scientists have developed a new CRISPR/Cas9 system that can delete genes from mosquitoes, making them resistant to the malaria parasite. The FREP1 gene is identified as a malarial host factor and its deletion significantly reduces malaria parasites' ability to survive and multiply.
Using CRISPR/Cas9, scientists have shown that inactivating the FREP1 gene reduces mosquitoes' susceptibility to malaria parasite infection. This technique holds promise for preventing malaria transmission to humans, but may require further refinement to balance resistance with fitness costs.
MIT researchers successfully grow dormant malaria parasites in engineered human liver tissue, allowing them to study the parasite's biology and vulnerabilities. The team also sequenced the parasite's RNA transcriptome, paving the way for new antimalarial drugs.
New diagnostic methods were tested for intestinal schistosomiasis detection in a moderate prevalence area of Brazil. The Helmintex method showed the highest sensitivity, followed by the rapid urine test and Kato-Katz technique.
Researchers identified two key proteins crucial for malaria parasites' escape from red blood cells and infection of fresh cells. The discovery offers potential new treatment targets against the deadliest malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
Researchers have reconstructed a pre-human New Zealand ecosystem using coprolites from extinct giant moa and kakapo parrot, revealing insights into the birds' diet, pathogens, and behavior. The study sheds light on the critical ecosystem function of giant birds in dispersing mushrooms and fungi, now lost due to their extinction.
Researchers have discovered that human antibodies can prevent malaria spread by destroying parasites in mosquitoes and preventing fertilization. This finding holds promise for developing a vaccine to halt the disease's transmission, which could significantly reduce global malaria burden.
Researchers found that sick bees living with the gut parasite Nosema ceranae preferred higher-quality pollen when given the option. This preference could influence which flowers are visited by bees, impacting both native and crop pollination.
Researchers have discovered a safe antimalarial dye that kills malaria parasites at an unprecedented rate, curing patients within two days. The addition of methylene blue to artemisinin-based combination therapies prevents the spread of malaria, with male parasites disappearing from the bloodstream more quickly than female parasites.
A comprehensive genetic study reveals that multidrug-resistant malaria parasites emerged and spread aggressively in Cambodia, under-reporting for years. Ongoing genomic surveillance is vital to inform public health malaria control strategies and detect patterns of resistance.
A genetic study reveals that multidrug-resistant malaria in southeast Asia originated from a single mutation combination in 2008, which spread rapidly across the region before becoming apparent in 2013. The study highlights the need for close monitoring of genetic mutations to mitigate resistance and prevent further outbreaks.
A parasite has evolved to mimic human proteins, breaking down cell barriers and making nutrients available for opportunistic bacteria. This discovery provides new insights into the disease-causing mechanisms of giardiasis.
Researchers from Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) and CSIR-National Chemical Laboratories (NCL) completed phenotypic screening of the MMV Malaria Box against Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, identifying 24 molecules with nanomolar potency against both parasites.
Researchers identify hundreds of genetic changes that enable malaria parasite resistance to multiple drugs. The study provides insights into the development of drug-resistant strains, highlighting potential targets for novel treatment options.
A study identified new drug targets and resistance genes in malaria parasites resistant to 37 diverse antimalarial compounds. The research, published in Science, revealed a complex chemogenetic landscape of the parasite's underlying biology.
Researchers describe two poly(A)-binding proteins that protect mRNA from translation in malaria parasites. The non-nuclear protein accumulates on the surface of sporozoites, suggesting a role in interacting with outside RNA and facilitating transmission.
Researchers developed an epidemiological model to study the effect of climate warming on host-parasite dynamics in Eurypanopeus depressus and its parasitic barnacle Loxothylacus panopaei. Infection prevalence declined at a 1°C temperature increase, with localized extinction occurring at 2°C warming in the southeastern United States.
Researchers successfully developed antibodies that disabled the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite from infecting humans by hijacking a protein crucial for iron delivery. The discovery solved a decades-long mystery and brings the world closer to a potential effective vaccine against P.vivax malaria.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a circadian rhythm disorder caused by the acceleration of biological clocks. This understanding could lead to the development of new therapeutic alternatives to toxic treatments.
Researchers discovered dodder's sophisticated gene manipulation system, which operates like a computer virus, allowing the parasite to silence specific genes in its hosts. This finding has implications for engineering parasite-resistant plants.
Researchers discovered that a parasitic plant called Dodder can silence the expression of genes in its host plants, including those involved in defense against parasites. By targeting specific regions of the gene sequence, Dodder regulates the flow of nutrients to itself while preventing the host from producing defensive proteins.
Boris Striepen has received a $1.8-million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support drug development efforts against cryptosporidiosis, a disease that sickens approximately 750,000 people annually in the US. The project aims to identify and validate therapeutic targets to guide medicinal chemistry.
Researchers have identified a common phospholipid pathway in plants and parasites, including malaria-causing Plasmodium. This discovery may lead to the development of new therapies for parasitic infections. The study also revealed that plant enzymes with similar structures can play different roles in the plant.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania has discovered a molecule that can suppress the lethal form of infection in a mouse model of Strongyloides stercoralis. By using this molecule, they were able to prevent the formation of larvae that trigger a persistent cycle of infection in the host.
A team of researchers identified a molecular mechanism leading to ART treatment failures in malaria parasites, finding that blocking a specific stress pathway prevents latent stage entry. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new approaches to combat malaria by preventing treatment failure.
A new study from Stockholm University shows that the parasite Toxoplasma gondii takes control of immune cells, turning them into 'zombies' that spread the infection. This allows the parasite to infect the brain, which may be linked to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression.
Researchers discovered Plasmodium falciparum uses nanovesicles to deliver misleading messages to the immune system, allowing it to multiply unhindered. The team identified a key molecular sensor called STING that plays a crucial role in this subversive strategy.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified a chemical that suppresses the lethal form of a parasitic infection caused by roundworms. The study developed a mouse model susceptible to the full range of infection and found that a synthetic steroid called Δ7-dafachronic acid significantly reduced worm burden.
A research group at Osaka University has identified key molecules involved in severe malaria. The study found that RIFIN proteins expressed on infected erythrocytes suppress the host immune response by binding to an inhibitory receptor, contributing to the pathogenesis of severe malaria.
Researchers investigate pretreatment with etanercept to manage post-treatment inflammation in neurocysticercosis, a major cause of epilepsy worldwide. Etanercept suppresses inflammatory pathways involved in treatment-induced inflammation.