Articles tagged with Parasites
Researchers at NIAID developed a new malaria vaccine that protects monkeys against the deadly Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The vaccine elicited neutralizing antibodies in monkeys and showed improved efficacy compared to previous AMA1 vaccines.
A KAIST research team developed a hybrid animal-robot interaction system that attaches to a turtle and induces its object-tracking behavior through training sessions. The parasitic robot successfully controls the direction of movement in a water tank, offering an alternative solution to conventional mobile robot limitations.
A study identified a genetic rearrangement of red blood cell glycophorin receptors that confers a 40% reduced risk from severe malaria. The hybrid GYPB-A Dantu gene is found in some people from East Africa, but not in West African populations.
Researchers identified a gene variant DUP4 that protects against severe malaria by altering receptors used by the malarial parasite. This variant was found to reduce the risk of severe malaria by 40% in certain African populations, particularly those of East African descent.
A research team led by UNM Associate Professor Coenraad Adema has sequenced the genome of Biomphalaria glabrata, a tropical snail that transmits a deadly parasitic disease. This breakthrough could lead to the elimination of schistosomiasis, which kills hundreds of thousands of people annually.
A growing number of cases in Western countries have been linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked fish, specifically sushi. Anisakiasis is caused by eating infected fish and can lead to symptoms such as upper gut pain, vomiting, fever, bowel obstruction, and bleeding.
Researchers create 'ImportOmics' method to identify proteins imported into mitochondria, uncovering new insights into cell function and potential disease causes. The study reveals over 1,120 mitochondrial proteins, including previously unknown associations.
A study found that malaria parasites in one African village had distinct gene combinations that allowed them to evade the human immune system. This discovery highlights the importance of considering diverse strains of the parasite in malaria-control efforts.
A new compound, MMV390048, has been discovered and shown to be effective against resistant strains of the malaria parasite across its entire lifecycle. The research holds great promise for a single-dose cure, potentially contributing to the eradication of malaria.
Researchers have identified the neural basis for password-based species recognition in cowbirds, a behavior that resolves the paradox of species recognition in brood parasites. The study reveals that young cowbirds use a specific chatter call as a 'password' to identify conspecifics and avoid imprinting on host species.
Researchers developed a new method for programming proteins used in vaccines against infectious diseases, enabling stable production and lower costs. The approach has shown promising results in animal trials, provoking a protective immune response.
Researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna found that the raccoon dog is a greater risk than the raccoon as a vector for local parasites. The study revealed the presence of fox tapeworm and other parasites in raccoon dogs, which also infest local foxes.
Scientists discovered fossilized red blood cells from a mammal, along with the only known fossils of a parasite that still exists today, Babesia microti. The preserved blood cells provide insight into the evolution of diseases we struggle with today.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that malaria parasites change the properties of red blood cells to facilitate entry, making them more susceptible to infection. This discovery suggests that naturally flexible cells may be easier for parasites to invade, prompting further investigation into host-directed therapies.
Scientists have identified two parasite proteins that allow Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites to quickly traverse human cells and infect liver cells. This discovery could lead to the development of new antimalarial treatments and vaccines to combat the disease.
Researchers developed a comprehensive mathematical model of the deadliest malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum metabolism. The model accurately integrates genetics and metabolism data, predicting which genes are indispensable for every biological function in the parasite.
A new mathematical model of Plasmodium falciparum's metabolism reveals its essential genes and thermodynamic bottlenecks, enabling potential mechanisms to target with drugs. The model integrates genetics and metabolomics data, allowing for the formulation of testable hypotheses and accelerating novel antimalarial drug discovery.
A comprehensive review of primate social networks and parasites highlights the importance of super-spreaders in disease transmission. Combining behavior data with parasite analysis can help identify high-risk traits and develop targeted interventions.
A study analyzing 24,000 blood samples from migratory and resident birds in the Americas found 79 malaria parasite lineages. The researchers discovered that prevalence varies between localities and species, with some areas having infection rates as high as 37%.
A team of researchers discovered that the parasite Trypanosoma brucei has an internal clock, enabling it to adjust its composition and functions according to the day-night cycle. This finding could lead to more efficient treatment with chronotherapy, a concept already applied in other diseases.
A new intervention developed by Bar-Ilan University scientists can control parasite migration by creating an unfavorable environment or damaging cell health. This research has the potential to lead to the development of drugs to treat and prevent diseases such as African sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, and Chagas' disease.
Scientists have created a way to measure the heme levels within malaria parasites, which could help develop more effective treatments. The discovery could provide insights into how the parasites control their own heme levels and may lead to the development of new antimalarial drugs that target these mechanisms.
Scientists have detected an artemisinin-resistant malaria parasite originating from West Africa for the first time in Africa, posing a significant threat to malaria control efforts. The finding confirms that the parasite carries a new mutation in the Kelch13 gene, which is the primary driver of resistance in Southeast Asia.
A Phase 1 clinical trial found that the PfSPZ Vaccine protected 64% of healthy adults from a different malaria strain, while also inducing durable T cell responses. The vaccine showed cross-protection against multiple strains, providing hope for an effective malaria vaccine.
A Phase 1 clinical trial demonstrates the PfSPZ Vaccine's ability to protect against at least two strains of malaria. The vaccine activated T cells and induced antibody responses in all recipients, providing some insights into its protective efficacy.
Researchers aim to develop novel treatments and preventative medicines to assist with malaria eradication and elimination, replacing ineffective current drugs that are losing efficacy.
Researchers at German Center for Infection Research develop a new malaria vaccine that uses fully viable malaria parasites, showing up to 100% protection against the disease. The vaccine was tested on 67 healthy adult subjects and showed strong immune responses.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a key protein that prevents snails from shedding parasites, reducing the risk of infection. The study's findings suggest that introducing this protein into populations of snail hosts could create more resistant snails, providing a new approach to controlling schistosomiasis.
Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered how a promising malarial vaccine target, RH5, helps parasites invade human red blood cells. The study reveals that P113 anchors RH5 and provides a molecular bridge between the parasite and red blood cell, making it an attractive new target for malaria vaccines.
Researchers discovered that malaria parasites produce HMBPP, which stimulates red blood cells to release carbon dioxide and volatile compounds attracting malaria mosquitoes. The parasite uses this system to transfer from one host to another, making it harder to control the spread of malaria.
A new substance, SC83288, has been successfully used to treat severe malaria in humanised mice, killing the parasites in a short period of time. The substance was chemically modified from benzamidine derivatives to increase its effectiveness and tolerability without forfeiting its action against parasites.
A set of genes from the pir gene family is responsible for malaria parasites' ability to persist in the body. The expression of these genes is linked to chronic infection, which can lead to ongoing transmission of the disease.
A lineage of multidrug-resistant P. falciparum malaria parasites has spread across Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, causing high treatment failure rates for main malaria medicines. The emergence of these superbugs poses a significant threat to global malaria control and eradication efforts.
The genomes of Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale parasites have been sequenced, revealing genes that could be involved in human infection and immune evasion. These findings may lead to the development of improved diagnostic tools and vaccines against these less common but still deadly malaria species.
Climate change impacts mosquito life cycle and malaria parasite development, increasing transmission risk in sub-Saharan Africa. A new model predicts disease spread using periodic vector-bias effects, improving accuracy over previous models.
Rice University scientists have discovered a 'crypt-keeper' wasp that tunnels through its host's head to emerge, manipulating the host's behavior. The discovery provides insight into rare examples of hypermanipulation in parasites.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that the number of parasites in mosquitoes influences malaria infection success rates. This discovery has implications for vaccine development and understanding disease transmission.
A new study suggests that mosquitoes carrying a greater number of malaria-causing parasites are more likely to cause infection in humans. The researchers found that injecting more parasites with each bite increases the chances of malaria transmission.
Research suggests that the Apolipoprotein E4 allele, associated with high risk for Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases, may offer protection against cognitive decline caused by parasitic infections. In a remote population of Amazonian foragers, carriers of this allele maintained cognitive performance despite high parasite burdens.
A weakened form of the malaria parasite safely activated strong immune responses in healthy volunteers, whose antibodies completely protected mice from malaria infection. The GAP3KO vaccine candidate has shown promising results and will move forward to a phase 1b trial using controlled human malaria infection.
Researchers discovered that sexually produced offspring were more than twice as resistant to infectious disease as their clonal sisters. The study used the waterflea, an organism that can reproduce both ways, and found that sex has large-scale benefits that make a difference to the next generation.
Researchers have discovered a potential new approach to combat malaria by disrupting mosquito hormone signaling, reducing transmission and lifespan, and blocking parasite development. The findings suggest that applying DBH to bed nets or spraying it indoors could be an effective alternative to insecticides.
A team of researchers suggests that the lifelong immunity to toxoplasmosis, once thought to be absolute, may not be as robust as previously believed. Studies have shown that even expectant mothers infected with Toxoplasma gondii at birth can still test positive for antibodies, challenging the long-held dogma.
Researchers have found overwhelming evidence of malaria's existence in ancient Rome dating back to the Roman Empire. The study analyzed human remains from three Italian cemeteries and confirmed the presence of Plasmodium falciparum, a parasite responsible for nearly 450,000 deaths worldwide each year.
The Toxoplasma parasite manipulates its host's immune response by producing a protein that activates and controls the p38α pathway. Researchers have now developed a method to produce an active form of p38α, allowing for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Researchers have identified four new species of parasites infecting an invasive freshwater fish in Japan. The discovery sheds light on the role of parasites in natural ecosystems and their potential impact on native species.
Scientists found that dung beetles can reduce the survival of parasites in cowpats, which cause serious illness in cattle. The study suggested that dung beetle activity helps ventilate cow pats, creating conditions for parasite egg hatching.
Researchers found that a gene deletion poses a threat to malaria eradication efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study revealed that one in every 15 infected children has a false-negative result when using rapid diagnostic tests.
Biochemists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered indolepyruvate, a metabolic by-product of trypanosome activity, which may offer possibilities for developing anti-trypanosome drugs. Inhibiting its production could be key in fighting the parasite, which causes sleeping sickness and kills millions in sub-Saharan Africa.
The parasite is transmitted by sand fly bites, causing cutaneous, mucosal, or visceral leishmaniasis. Timely diagnosis and treatment with oral miltefosine, heat treatment for CL, and FDA-approved medications are vital to manage the disease.
Researchers found that some mutations enabling chloroquine resistance in malaria parasites also enhance their growth rates, contradicting previous findings. These mutations impact metabolic pathways and digestive processes, contributing to multidrug resistance phenotypes.
A study published in Cell Host & Microbe reveals that a Plasmodium surface-protein is essential for the malaria parasite's life cycle in mosquitoes. The discovery provides a new approach to block transmission and offers hope for developing vaccines or drugs to alleviate malaria suffering.
Scientists from Granada and Valencia universities developed a new molecular method to detect Toxoplasma gondii in ham, finding the parasite's prevalence varied between 0% and 32.35%, with some samples being infective. The study suggests freezing ham before curing can eliminate the parasite faster.
Researchers have identified genetic markers associated with resistance to the antimalarial drug piperaquine, which could help track and contain outbreaks in Southeast Asia. The findings suggest that amplification of plasmepsin genes is linked to piperaquine resistance and may be used to identify patients at risk of treatment failure.
A recent study found that injury in schistosome parasites triggers stem cell growth, which restores aging tissue and aids the parasite's long-term survival. This discovery could lead to new ways to target these worms and improve our understanding of their infection mechanisms.
Scientists have identified two genetic markers associated with piperaquine resistance in malaria parasites, allowing for early detection and alternative treatment options. The markers are linked to increased production of plasmepsin enzymes, which the parasite uses to digest human blood.
Scientists discovered genetic markers linked with piperaquine resistance in Plasmodium parasites, allowing health officials to monitor the spread of resistance and guide treatment decisions. The emergence of piperaquine resistance in Cambodia threatens global efforts to eliminate malaria.
Schistosomiasis larvae employ a unique T-swimming style when moving against gravity, which helps them reach the water's surface. By understanding this biophysics, researchers hope to thwart infection and prevent re-infestation.
Female meerkats can produce up to twice as much testosterone as males, which may lead to a trade-off in their immune system, making them more prone to infections. Dominant females tend to live longer and give birth to more litters than subordinate females.
Researchers at Kansas State University have designed a soybean variety that protects against nematode parasites, which are the No. 1 soybean disease in the nation. The new variety could potentially save the soybean industry millions of dollars per year by controlling nematodes and their reproduction cycles.