Articles tagged with Parasites
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The NIH awards a five-year contract of up to $19.4 million to the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC) at Emory University to study malaria parasite interactions with human and animal hosts. The project will integrate data from various research areas, including metabolomics, lipidomics, and mathematical modeling.
Researchers at Radboud University Medical Center have developed an injectable formulation of malaria parasites that can achieve controlled infection in human volunteers. The breakthrough could make it easier to evaluate new drugs and vaccines, as well as potentially become a vaccine itself.
Research on emerging tick-borne diseases reveals an expanding list of illnesses, including babesiosis and encephalitis-causing infections. The range of these diseases is growing, posing a threat to human health in the northeast United States.
Researchers have discovered a new potential treatment for malaria that rapidly kills the blood-borne Plasmodium parasites. The molecules identified can target all stages of the parasite's life cycle, offering hope for an effective cure within ten years.
Researchers mapped 14.8 million Kenyan mobile calls to track malaria spread and found a surprising link between travelers and infected residents in Nairobi. The study reveals the potential for using big data from mobile phones to inform malaria control efforts.
Researchers have successfully unraveled the life cycle of Hematodinium, a single-celled parasite affecting blue crabs. The study provides critical information on transmission and development time, enabling better management and handling practices for wild-caught blue crabs and shrimp farms.
Enslaved worker ants kill off parasite offspring to increase chances of survival for their neighbors. Slave workers feed and care for larvae but neglect pupae, resulting in low survival rates. This behavior benefits neighboring colonies by reducing slave-maker colonies' growth and effectiveness.
Researchers have discovered that the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium vivax shares the same genetic variations despite being found on different continents. The sequencing of its genome could help understand how the parasite lives and causes malaria, and may lead to new treatments for drug-resistant strains.
When the malaria parasite infects human red blood cells, it launches a 48-hour remodeling process that enhances cell membrane stiffness through the RESA protein. This increased rigidity impairs microcirculation, especially at fever temperatures.
A rare but deadly infection, similar to malaria in humans, was discovered among a group of horses at the King Ranch in Texas. WSU/USDA scientist Don Knowles developed a reliable diagnostic test and treatment to kill the parasites, containing the outbreak and identifying a new tick species responsible for its spread.
MMV has developed a framework to evaluate the risk of resistance for its antimalarial compounds. The framework includes cross-resistance testing and selection experiments in the laboratory, measuring the likelihood of parasite mutations that confer resistance.
A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that individuals infected with the T. gondii parasite are seven times more likely to attempt suicide. The researchers also discovered that the parasite can cause inflammation in the brain, leading to changes in brain chemistry and potentially contributing to depression.
Duke scientists discovered that genetic material in red blood cells can alter parasite activity via novel gene regulation mechanisms. This finding could lead to greater understanding of host-parasite interaction and eventually develop into a new malaria therapy.
A new study on malaria genomes reveals significant genetic diversity in Plasmodium vivax, a species of malaria that affects humans outside Africa, making it adept at evading drugs and vaccines. The research also sequenced the genome of Plasmodium cynomolgi, a close relative that infects Asian monkeys.
Researchers at Penn State University found that immunization with a particular type of malaria vaccine can create conditions for the evolution of more severe disease-causing parasites. These parasites evolved in response to vaccination, but the exact mechanism is still unknown.
Researchers have discovered a way to make plants resistant to parasitic dodder vines by attacking the junctions where they tap into their hosts. The technique, using RNA interference, has shown promise in preventing dodder from spreading and can potentially be applied to other parasites like Striga.
Researchers at UC San Diego identified a key enzyme in malaria parasites that could lead to new anti-malarial drugs. The team discovered a selective inhibitor, ML276, which stops parasite growth even in resistant strains.
Belgian scientists have developed a simple assay to track 'superparasites', a type of Leishmania parasite that causes deadly visceral leishmaniasis. This breakthrough could help monitor the spread and emergence of these drug-resistant microbes, contributing to better control of the disease.
Two species of single-cell parasites have acquired new genes that work together to make an essential nutrient, allowing them to exploit their hosts more efficiently. This discovery highlights the importance of horizontal gene transfer in the rapid evolution of these tiny organisms.