Articles tagged with Parasites
Researchers uncover a wide variety of malaria parasites in West African bats, including those closely related to rodent-infecting pathogens. The study reveals two bat-infecting parasites that made evolutionary jumps from rodents into bats and then likely back again.
Researchers discovered that the Baoulé breed of cattle has a natural tolerance to a deadly parasite, and developed a method to detect different types of trypanosomes. The study aims to preserve the genetic background of the Baoulé breed to develop more resilient cattle breeds.
Researchers found that cuckoo finches with multiple eggs in a nest confuse host parents, making it harder to distinguish their own eggs from imposter eggs. This strategy combines with egg mimicry to increase reproductive success. The study highlights the cunning tactics of brood parasites like the cuckoo finch.
A study in Malawian children found chronic inflammation in blood vessels after recurrent malaria episodes, predisposing future infections and cardiovascular disease. The findings explain high childhood mortality rates in malaria-endemic areas.
Chronic Toxoplasma infection causes mice to lose innate fear of cats, which persists even after parasite clearance and inflammation markers are undetectable. The infection alters the brain's mechanisms underlying fear responses, leading to a lasting behavioral change.
A study published in Vaccine suggests that genetically engineered malaria parasites can be used as a vaccine to protect against infection. The attenuated parasites, which are stunted through precise gene deletions, induce robust immune responses that provide long-lasting protection.
A new simple and rapid test can clearly identify artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites in people with the disease. The test was developed using ring-stage survival assays (RSAs) and shows promise for use in field-based settings to monitor artemisinin resistance.
Researchers have developed two rapid tests to monitor resistance spread and screen new drugs for malaria. The simple tests can predict whether a patient has slow-clearing, drug-resistant parasites in just 72 hours.
Researchers found that permanent parasites that are normally a social burden protect their hosts against greater evils. The guest ants rise to defend their hosts against mobile raiders, greatly decreasing the probability of a raid. This co-evolutionary process maintains lesser evils when it helps prevent greater harm.
Low-cost intervention holds potential to eradicate debilitating tropical disease. Insecticide-treated bed nets reduce transmission of lymphatic filariasis to undetectable levels in the absence of additional medication.
Research reveals honeyguides lay eggs resembling host bee-eaters' eggs to avoid destruction by rival females. This mimicry helps conserve reproductive success in competitive environments.
Tiny parasites, known as Mikrocytos mackini, have been found to infect Pacific oysters, causing unsightly green lesions and death. The discovery sheds light on the parasites' reduced metabolism and unique relationship with their host.
A study found that over three-quarters of imported bumblebee colonies tested carried parasites, posing a risk to native bees and honeybees. The researchers argue that producers must improve disease screening and regulatory authorities must strengthen measures to prevent the importation of parasite-carrying colonies.
The study reveals high genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax in the Americas, similar to Asia and Oceania, suggesting multiple introductions. This diversity has important implications for control and eradication efforts.
Researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center have found new modes of transmission and associated behaviors for a parasitic lung infection. New cases are reported in the US, particularly among those who consume raw or undercooked freshwater Asian crabs or native crawfish.
Researchers develop equations to estimate parasite and host metabolic rates, providing a new way to understand the energetics of parasites. The model reveals that there is a limit to how many worms can be accommodated in a host, with energy being the key limiting factor.
Researchers have made significant progress in developing new gene therapies to treat Sickle Cell Disease, malaria, and Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIA. In the Journal of Clinical Investigation, scientists successfully delivered a replacement gene to the brain in mice and dogs with MPSIIIA using intra-cerebrospinal fluid gene therapy.
Researchers have developed a malaria vaccine using blood-stage parasites that are chemically attenuated, inducing immunity to multiple species. The study demonstrates protective immunity in mice for over 100 days, suggesting a promising approach to target human malaria species.
A recent study by UCSB researchers found that parasites add layers of complexity and density to food webs. Their complex life cycles and interactions with hosts also make them a crucial part of the food web ecosystem.
A new paper analyzed seven coastal estuary and marine food webs, including parasites, to understand their impact on network structure. The team found that most changes resulted from increased diversity and complexity, rather than unique parasite characteristics.
Researchers used complex network metrics to study primate species and their parasite fauna, finding that central primates are more capable of transmitting parasites to other species and humans. This discovery could inform early warning plans for emerging diseases in humans.
Researchers found that including parasites in food web models changes the distribution of feeding links per species, average shortest feeding chain between pairs of species, and proportion of omnivores or cannibals. Most changes occur due to increased diversity and complexity, rather than parasite-specific effects.
Researchers discovered how malaria parasites stick to blood vessels by binding to endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). This finding may lead to new means of combating malaria, including vaccines and drugs. The discovery sheds light on the mechanisms behind severe malaria symptoms.
Adult wild chimpanzees exhibit a strong association between age and malaria parasite detection rates, with significantly lower positivity in adults. This suggests that individuals reaching adulthood mount an effective protective immunity against malaria parasites, consistent with human observations.
Researchers found that mosquitoes may be responding to an immune challenge rather than manipulating their behavior to transmit malaria parasites. Mosquitoes will wait to feed until the parasites mature and migrate to the salivary glands, but this response is also seen in non-infected mosquitoes.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that female mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites are significantly more attracted to human odour than uninfected mosquitoes. The team aims to identify the chemical compounds in human odour that attract infected mosquitoes, which could help develop improved mosquito traps.
Researchers discovered malaria parasites can send signals to each other in infected red blood cells, triggering transformation into sexually mature forms that can be transmitted to mosquitoes. This social behavior could provide a target for developing new antimalarial drugs or vaccines.
Research published in PLOS ONE reveals that malaria-infected mosquitoes are significantly more attracted to human odors than their uninfected counterparts. The study suggests that understanding the olfactory changes underlying infected mosquito behavior may help identify new compounds for developing mosquito traps.
Researchers at University of South Florida led by Michael White found that plant proteins, AP2 factors, control the transition from acute to chronic Toxoplasma stage. These factors help the parasite decide when to grow or form tissue cysts that can remain dormant for years.
University of South Florida researchers played a key role in discovering a promising new antimalarial drug called ELQ-300, which has the potential to cure malaria and prevent its transmission. The drug targets the malaria parasite's energy household, selectively hitting only the parasite while sparing human cells.
A recent genetic study of house dust mites demonstrates reversible evolution, contradicting Dollo's law. The research found that these tiny creatures evolved from parasites, but then returned to a free-living lifestyle, speciating in various habitats, including human habitations.
A novel screening method using genetically engineered baker's yeast identifies chemical compounds that target disease-causing parasites without harming human hosts. The approach has shown promise in identifying potential anti-parasitic compounds with high sensitivity, reducing costs, and increasing reproducibility.
Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that adult, non-sexual stem cells in S. mansoni can migrate to various parts of its body and replenish tissues. This finding may provide insight into the parasite's extraordinary staying power.
Researchers found that hourly temperature data provides a more accurate estimate of malaria parasite development rate than mean monthly temperatures. This approach has implications for understanding and predicting malaria transmission risk in different climates and regions.
Researchers have found that immature malaria parasites are significantly less sensitive to artemisinin-based drugs than mature ones. This discovery may lead to more effective treatments for malaria and a better understanding of how the parasite develops resistance to drugs.
A new study reveals that the UK dog population produces an estimated 3.7 billion Toxocara parasite eggs per day, contaminating public environments and posing a risk to human health.
Researchers have discovered that malaria parasites can accumulate in areas of low placental blood flow, triggering an inflammatory response. This study shows that the dynamics of placental circulation can influence parasite behavior and sequestration, highlighting a new potential target for therapeutics.
Climate change in Madagascar could fuel the spread of lemur parasites, carrying diseases like plague and typhus. The team created probability maps of likely parasite distributions today and estimated future expansions by up to 60%.
Researchers found that during a nematode-induced inflammation, the immune system increases cholecystokinin levels, reducing leptin production, which drives defense mechanisms against the parasite. The study suggests a novel mechanism for parasite expulsion in intestinal infections.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have identified a specific receptor regulating calcium release in the trypanosome parasite, which could lead to new therapies for sleeping sickness. The discovery may also have applications beyond treating this disease, including new treatments for blood clotting disorders.
Researchers identified a host signaling pathway used by malaria parasites to escape host cells, allowing for potential new strategies to combat the disease. A compound called sotrastaurin, already tested in humans and deemed safe, showed promise as an oral antimalarial.
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has identified a powerful new weapon against malaria by mimicking a natural defense found in human blood platelets. They discovered that a synthetic molecule, PMX1207, targets and destroys the parasite's digestive vacuole, killing it without harming the host cell.
Researchers at Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology developed a new technique to knock out genes in the parasite's genome. The study found that removing specific genes did not prevent the parasite from invading host cells, suggesting alternative invasion strategies.
A research team has developed a new whole-plant strategy to combat malarial drug resistance, utilizing Artemisia annua and potentially reducing treatment costs. The approach shows promise in treating malaria with a higher chance of success than current modes, offering a locally grown and processed option for fighting the disease.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass have developed a whole plant therapy using Artemisia annua, delivering 40 times more artemisinin to the blood than purified artemisinin. This could significantly lower the cost of treating malaria and expand access to antimalarial therapy.
Scientists have developed a new method for studying parasite numbers in individual seabirds in the wild, using endoscopy. The technique found that all birds had parasites ranging from low burdens of several worms to high burdens of over 40 worms, with higher burdens in males and late breeders.
A new study has identified toll-like receptor 12 (TLR12) as crucial for combating the deadly parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The findings suggest that TLR12 promotes survival in infected animals and could lead to the development of a vaccine against this parasite.
Researchers at UGA have found that an algal structure allows parasites like malaria and toxoplasmosis to replicate and spread inside hosts. Altering this fiber may lead to new anti-parasitic treatments.
Researchers found that an ancient algal structure is used by deadly parasites like malaria and toxoplasmosis to replicate inside hosts. Altering this fiber-like structure can prevent parasite replication, potentially leading to new treatments.
Boston College researcher Marc-Jan Gubbels is working on new drugs to prevent toxoplasmosis in cancer patients with weakened immune systems. The goal is to trap the parasite within cells and prevent it from attacking, which could lead to the development of more effective treatments with fewer side effects.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered how the Toxoplasma parasite enters the brain and manipulates host behavior by hijacking neurotransmitters. The study found that infected dendritic cells secrete GABA, a substance linked to anxiety and depression.
A new study has identified the mechanism by which Toxoplasma gondii infects the brain, leading to increased risk-taking and higher incidence of schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. The parasite manipulates the GABA system, inhibiting fear and anxiety responses.
A team of scientists using the world's most powerful X-ray laser has revealed the three-dimensional structure of a key enzyme that enables the single-celled parasite causing African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness. This discovery paves the way for designing new drugs to inhibit the parasite without harming humans.
A group of parasites hijack their victims' nervous systems, reducing them to helpless zombies. These manipulators can have a significant impact on ecology, physiology, and evolution, orchestrating the behaviour of vertebrates and invertebrates.
Hebrew University researchers discovered how Plasmodium falciparum hides its genes from the immune system by using an insulator-like DNA sequence. This breakthrough could lead to strategies to disrupt this ability and prevent malaria deaths, mainly among pregnant women and children.
Scientists have mapped a weak spot in the parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, providing a promising target for treating the disease. The study uses X-ray lasers to determine the structure of biological molecules, which could lead to the development of a new drug.
Researchers exposed a possible Achilles' heel of the sleeping sickness parasite by solving its molecular structure with an X-ray laser. The discovery reveals a unique plug that can selectively block a vital enzyme, potentially killing the parasite without harming humans.
Stanford researchers use a new animal model to study the early course of urogenital schistosomiasis, a chronic disease affecting 112 million people worldwide. They found that continuous waves of egg deposition are what's generating chronic disease, and that killing the worms can halt the cycle.
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a new, simple and sensitive method to diagnose malaria infections using an enzyme-based technology called REEAD. This method can detect relatively low infection counts and also identifies resistant Plasmodium parasites, making it suitable for large-scale screening projects.
A recent study found that male malaria parasites can adapt faster to their surroundings, making them harder to treat. Targeting the slower-reproducing female parasites could lead to more effective long-term treatments and prevent parasite breeding.