Articles tagged with Parasites
A new study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals that malaria parasites growing in different host cells can develop resistance to antimalarial drugs. Researchers found that the metabolic state of red blood cells provides a unique environment for Plasmodium parasites, allowing them to scavenge essential resources and evade drug targeting.
Researchers have identified two genetically divergent subpopulations of P. knowlesi in human cases, each associated with a different species of reservoir host. This discovery highlights the complexity of zoonotic malaria transmission and may lead to new possibilities for parasite adaptation to humans.
A new study uses 3D printed eggs to test how birds identify and reject parasitic eggs with greater precision. Researchers found that robins accepted 100% of blue-green eggs but rejected 79% of cowbird-like eggs, similar to past studies but with less variability and precise reproduction.
A study found that physical contact during social grooming increases the risk of gastrointestinal parasites in brown spider monkeys. The researchers analyzed data from 12 individual monkeys and found a strong correlation between grooming interactions and parasite infections, particularly with roundworms Strongyloides and Trichostrongylus.
A candidate vaccine has been shown to induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Mice vaccinated with a combination of two parasite proteins showed reduced parasite numbers and improved immune response compared to uninfected mice.
Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have identified a critical host factor, CD55, that enables the malaria parasite to invade human red blood cells. The discovery opens up new avenues for developing therapies to treat and prevent malaria.
Researchers at UTMB have successfully tested a vaccine for Chagas disease, which can provide long-lasting immunity in animal models. The vaccine was found to significantly reduce parasite levels and prevent chronic symptoms, making it a promising tool for control of this infection.
Researchers have identified a way for malaria parasites to dodge anti-malarial drugs, surviving inside immature red blood cells and remaining sensitive to certain treatments. This finding may help guide future research and lead to the development of new anti-malarial drugs for refractory patients.
A study by Lisa White and colleagues found that parasite half-life is a key predictor of artemisinin-resistant malaria, but the current definition of resistance is inaccurate. The researchers suggest refining the definition to account for parasite load at the start of treatment.
Researchers developed a model of a malaria-infected red blood cell to understand the mechanism behind stiffening and stickiness. The model found that protein nodules called knobs contribute to stiffness, suggesting a promising approach to treat the disease by softening the cells.
Researchers found that bumblebees infected with the Crithidia bombi parasite were more likely to consume nicotine-laced nectar, delaying parasite progression. However, consuming nicotine had negative effects, suppressing the appetite of infected bees and reducing healthy bee lifespan.
Researchers discovered that combining artemisinins with a low dose of an anti-cancer drug can increase the effectiveness of anti-malarial drugs and overcome the parasite's defences. This finding has the potential to combat resistant malaria parasites, which are currently spreading globally.
Researchers discover that artemisinin treatment can be effective against resistant malaria parasites by extending treatment duration or using proteasome inhibitors, which cause cellular stress and damage protein degradation. The study provides new hope for preventing the spread of drug resistance in Southeast Asia.
Researchers at Notre Dame have made a breakthrough discovery in understanding the mechanism of artemisinin resistance in malaria. They found that a specific lipid called phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P) is produced by an enzyme called PfPI3K, and its levels are linked to artemisinin resistance.
Researchers at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine discovered a genetic mutation in the ap2mu gene that makes Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites less susceptible to artemisinin and quinine. This finding suggests a different route to drug resistance may be developing independently in Africa.
A new study found that 79% of southeast African birds were infected with haemosporidian parasites, including novel malaria parasite lineages. The study's findings indicate that lifestyle characteristics of birds can influence their association with different parasite genera.
Researchers tracked protein coats on sleeping sickness parasite, finding up to 80 distinct disguises present at any time. This challenges conventional understanding of antigenic variation and its role in parasite survival.
A study published in Science Advances reveals that co-infection with two parasite species can reduce the severity of a more lethal disease, East Coast fever. The researchers propose using a mild parasitic infection as a vaccine alternative, which could be safer and less costly.
African cattle infected with the deadly East Coast fever parasite are less likely to die when co-infected with its milder cousin. The findings suggest a protective process that could also be at work in human malaria, where infections with milder parasites may protect against severe disease.
IU scientists have discovered a new way the parasite Toxoplasma gondii modifies brain cells, which may help explain changes in the behavior of mice and potentially influence human behavior. The findings suggest that Toxoplasma infection could alter human behavior, with some research suggesting an association with schizophrenia.
Researchers discovered that brain swelling is the cause of death in children with cerebral malaria, which may lead to new treatments targeting the swelling. The study's findings could help reduce mortality rates from malaria in Africa, where the disease still claims thousands of lives each year.
A new study found that a parasite significantly increases cannibalism among freshwater shrimp in Northern Ireland. Infected shrimp become voracious and consume their victims twice as much as uninfected animals. The research suggests that the parasite may be weakening the shrimp's resistance to invasive species.
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet identified the key role of RIFIN protein in protecting blood type O individuals from severe malaria. The protein binds strongly to A blood cells but weakly to O, explaining why O individuals are less susceptible to the disease.
Researchers developed ultra-sensitive detection methods for malaria parasites, detecting 58% of infections in human blood samples at low concentrations. The new assays surpass current standards, identifying 16% more cases and reducing false negatives.
Researchers from the University of South Florida have discovered how malaria parasites replicate their chromosomes up to thousands of times before spinning off into daughter cells. This understanding could lead to a powerful new treatment for malaria-caused illnesses, which kill over 600,000 people annually.
Researchers sequenced and analyzed the genome of a specific hookworm species to discover new information for treating parasitic infections. They identified unique protein families, such as ASPRs, that may block the host's immune response, paving the way for potential new treatments.
A recent study by researchers at The Sainsbury Laboratory has shed new light on the evolution of plant diseases using a generalist parasite, Albugo candida. The parasite's ability to suppress host immunity allows it to adapt to different host species and expand its range.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discover malaria parasite uses long noncoding RNA to switch genes and evade human immune system. They develop novel method to suppress virulence genes, breaking code of its immune evasion.
Virginia Tech biochemists identify PCNA as a key protein in the sleeping sickness parasite's life cycle, suggesting multiple ways to disrupt its function. This discovery could lead to the development of new drugs to curb the disease, which affects millions worldwide.
A study found that diverse small predators, like dragonfly larvae, reduce parasitic flatworm infections in frogs. The research suggests a link between dwindling global biodiversity and increased infectious diseases.
A study by USF biologists reveals that an abundance of predators can help control parasite transmission in amphibians, potentially reducing disease risk. The researchers identified a key trait of predators that predicts their ability to dilute disease risk.
Researchers at University of British Columbia discover that parasites in the apicomplexan family evolved to become parasites earlier than thought, with some relatives being photosynthetic algae. Advanced genomic analysis and observations of cell structure and behavior reveal a more complex evolutionary history.
Scientists at University of California - San Diego School of Medicine developed a malaria parasite protein produced by algae, generating antibodies in mice that nearly eliminated mosquito infection. The method uses an affordable and environmentally friendly approach to prevent malaria transmission from host to mosquito.
A UNL researcher highlights the impact of climate change on the emergence of infectious diseases, citing examples of West Nile virus and Ebola as predictable outcomes. The expert calls for greater collaboration between public and veterinary health communities to address the growing threat.
Researchers are using satellite data to target deadly parasites by identifying areas where disease flourishes. The project combines skills from various scientists to create maps accessible to countries with limited capacity for managing disease data.
A new study led by University of Maryland School Medicine researcher Joana C. Silva found that five common Plasmodium species have not changed which animals they infect for at least 3 million years. This suggests that host switching by malaria-causing parasites is not a common event on an evolutionary time scale.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a novel yeast-based high-throughput assay to identify inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum transporter, which could lead to the development of new antimalarial drugs. The technique was used to screen over 64,000 compounds and identified 171 potential antimalarial drugs.
The University of Melbourne-led study cracks the genetic code of T. canis, revealing its molecular biology and providing valuable insights into combating deadly outbreaks. The findings will aid future research on other related parasites, improving global health outcomes.
Eve, an AI robot scientist, has demonstrated the success of its approach to speed up drug discovery and make it more economical. It discovered a compound that has anti-cancer and malaria properties, which could potentially improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
A new study finds that muskrats and minks in central Illinois have high rates of toxoplasmosis, a parasite spread by cats. The researchers suspect tile drainage systems and lack of natural wetlands in the area are contributing to the disease's spread.
Researchers identified 32% of parasites found in rats also infecting humans, highlighting the importance of habitat overlap and species relationships. The study developed a new modeling approach to forecast parasitic infections and disease emergence globally.
A new study from University of Michigan researchers reveals that competition between predators and parasites can strengthen biological control systems, rather than weaken them. This counterintuitive finding has potential applications for organic farming and pest control, where synthetic pesticides are not allowed.
A genome-wide study of the malaria parasite reveals a complex genetic architecture that enables artemisinin resistance. Researchers found 20 mutations in the kelch13 gene and four other genes that work together to support resistance, but monitoring specific genetic backgrounds could help target high-risk regions.
A recent study by Ria Ghai has identified three genetically distinct groups of whipworms, with only one being transmissible between humans and non-human primates. This discovery has significant public health implications and highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect endangered species.
Schistosomiasis, caused by a water-born parasite, affects 200 million globally. A new software, QDREC, helps find an effective treatment by automating the drug-discovery process.
Researchers at UMass Amherst found a whole plant therapy more effective than purified drug artemisinin in killing malaria parasites, even those resistant to the pharmaceutical treatment. The study suggests using the whole plant may be a sustainable alternative for treating human malaria.
A study revealed that malaria parasites change surface proteins every 48 hours to hide from the immune system, creating millions of new variants. This rapid evolution makes it difficult to develop an effective vaccine against the disease.
Researchers found that long-lasting hosts evolved more complex defenses against parasites, providing a survival advantage. The study used the Avida platform to model co-evolution between host and virus, revealing a surprising large proportion of 'switching' mutations in co-evolved hosts.
A new study reveals that increases in parasite prevalence and diversity are linked to offshore winds, while infected vagrant birds have a limited impact on local bird populations. The findings provide insights into the complex factors driving island biogeography and parasite persistence.
A study published in Science has identified a single mutated gene, K13, as the cause of growing resistance to malaria drugs in Southeast Asia. This finding provides a way to detect emerging resistance and potentially eliminate it before spreading globally.
Scientists at IRB Barcelona have identified two derivatives of borrelidin that completely remove the parasite load from mice and confer immunological memory to fight future infections. These compounds act on the protein production machinery of the parasite, making them efficient in all phases of infection.
Researchers at Texas Biomed are using new genomic tools to analyze individual malaria parasites, allowing for more effective treatment and vaccine design.
Researchers at the University of Basel have developed nanomimics of host cell membranes that trick malaria parasites. These nanomimics effectively disrupt the parasite's cycle, blocking its invasion of new red blood cells while exposing it to the immune system.
A promising anti-malarial compound, (+)-SJ733, has been identified that rapidly destroys malaria-infected red blood cells by recruiting the immune system. The compound's mechanism of action is expected to slow and suppress development of drug-resistant parasites, making it a potential addition to global malaria eradication efforts.
A study reveals that white blood cells can cause increased blood pressure and impaired blood flow in the brain, leading to death from cerebral malaria in mice. The researchers used a mouse model of Plasmodium berghei ANKA-induced cerebral malaria to investigate the role of white blood cells in this disease.
A new study examines how parasites impact primate culture, finding that socially transmitted pathogens increase with learning from others and environmentally transmitted pathogens with exploratory behavior. This research sheds light on the evolutionary pressures driving primate cultural development.
Scientists have identified a range of new chemicals with potent anti-malarial properties that could lead to new treatments for the disease. The compounds block a molecular salt pump at the surface of the parasite, causing it to swell and burst.
Scientists have identified the most ancient pinworm yet found, dating back 240 million years. The discovery confirms that herbivorous cynodonts and possibly dinosaurs were infected with parasites.
A new study links climate change to the spread of an exotic honey bee parasite, which could lead to increased colony losses in Britain. The research suggests that warmer temperatures will allow the parasite to become more prevalent, negatively impacting native species.
A study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh reveals that parasites can hide their genetic material inside 'vesicles' that mimic natural cellular functions, suppressing the immune response. This discovery could inform new strategies for treating diseases caused by parasitic worms, as well as allergies like hayfever.