Articles tagged with Parasites
University of Iowa researchers have found a way to cure mice of bloodstream malaria infections by rescuing an immune system pathway. The study's findings suggest that blocking the action of inhibitory receptor molecules could be an effective strategy for treating existing malaria infections.
Research reveals that most seabirds are free of malaria parasites, but certain groups like frigatebirds and birds with longer fledgling periods are more susceptible. Climate conditions do play a role, but not as expected, with warmer temperatures increasing rates of infection.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a novel antimalarial agent, BCX4945, which kills the deadliest malaria parasite by starving it of vital building blocks. The study shows promising results in non-human primates, paving the way for more potent therapies against this deadly disease.
A new map reveals substantial parts of South Asia and Latin America are home to a deadly form of malaria, Plasmodium vivax. Vivax is harder to detect and cure than falciparum malaria, with limited treatment options available.
A new study found that global warming increases the growth rate of parasites in fish, leading to altered host behavior and potentially devastating effects on fish reproduction. The research also suggests that parasites can manipulate host behavior to seek out warmer temperatures.
A mutation on the surface of human red blood cells provides protection against malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax. Research found that the parasite binds less easily to cells expressing a specific variant of the Duffy blood group antigen, reducing the risk of infection.
Researchers found that silverfish steal the ant's scent to avoid being killed or rejected from the nest. By continually updating this scent, the silverfish remain protected from ant aggression. This co-evolutionary arms race highlights the ants' complex scent recognition system and the silverfish's elaborate behavioral adaptations.
Researchers have identified new ways to target and kill the malaria parasite in human bloodstreams, which could lead to the development of new anti-malarial drugs. The discovery provides a promising avenue for combating the disease, but also highlights the need for continued efforts to address growing resistance to current treatments.
A team of scientists from Scripps Research Institute has identified a family of chemical compounds that could lead to the development of novel drugs capable of not only alleviating symptoms but also preventing the deadly disease. The new class of compounds is highly effective against malaria parasites in both the blood and liver stages.
A study found contrasting patterns of malaria drug resistance in human blood and mosquito midgut samples, with pyrimethamine-resistant parasites dominating human blood and cycloguanil-resistant mutants prevalent in mosquitoes.
Researchers have discovered a single receptor essential for the malaria parasite to invade human red blood cells, offering a promising new focus for vaccine development. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of an effective malaria vaccine that targets this universal entry pathway.
A new artemisinin-based treatment has been shown to be highly effective in treating uncomplicated malaria, particularly in regions with high re-infection risks. The study, which involved over 4,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa, found that the combination therapy had excellent efficacy and significantly reduced recurrent infections.
Scientists identified a molecule that manipulates plant development to favor insect hosts, increasing leafhopper reproduction and pathogen transmission. This phenomenon demonstrates the extended phenotype, where an organism's impact on its environment extends beyond biological processes.
The Toxoplasma parasite affects dopamine production in infected brain cells, leading to increased dopamine levels and changes in behavior. This discovery may provide new insights into treating human neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, ADHD, and Parkinson's disease.
A new research technology is screening human blood serum samples for immunity to malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasite proteins. Researchers found that young children are more vulnerable to malaria due to limited immunity to various protein variants.
Scientists discovered a deadly parasite with duplicated, tripled, and quadrupled chromosomes, defying nature's rule. This bizarre occurrence could be an adaptation to survive harsh environmental stresses, such as drug pressure.
Researchers found that Leishmania parasites have almost identical DNA sequences within species populations, suggesting a small number of genes cause different symptoms. The parasite's evolutionary success may be driven by genetic abnormalities leading to copy number variation, which increases understanding of drug resistance mechanisms.
Researchers have found a new potential therapeutic approach to treat malaria by targeting parasite proteins in exosomes. In a mouse model of malaria infection, immunizing with rex containing parasite proteins resulted in full protection upon lethal infections in 85% of the animals.
A new malaria vaccine combines multiple proteins from various parasite types, inducing antibodies against a wide range of parasites. The vaccine has shown improved protection in children in endemic areas and could be especially useful for vulnerable groups.
Researchers at the University of South Florida have discovered that dormant malaria parasites in red blood cells can recover after antimalarial drug therapy, contributing to treatment failure. The study found a positive association between the number of dormant parasites and when malaria infection re-emerged.
Geneticist Tad Sonstegard and his team identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to gastrointestinal nematode parasites in African native sheep. The study found significant QTL on chromosomes 3, 6, 14, and 22 that can improve production of grazing animals.
Researchers create entirely new platform for developing antimalarial drugs, focusing on quirk in plasmodium infection process. The goal is to design 'tailored inhibitors' that block crystal surface growth and prevent malaria spread.
A new type of vaccine based on proteins from the coccidiosis bug has been developed to protect chickens against the disease. The vaccine uses a protein called MIC3, which is secreted by the parasite and binds to sugar molecules on chicken cells.
Scientists are developing a vaccine against East Coast fever, a destructive disease in eastern and central Africa, with the potential to also protect US cattle. The collaboration aims to control tick-borne diseases, supporting international food security.
Research on Galapagos mockingbirds reveals co-evolutionary history with parasites, affecting bird survival and conservation. The study's findings highlight the importance of considering parasite histories in re-introducing birds to new islands.
Scientists at Virginia Tech and Penn have identified two enzymes, peptidases, as potential targets for new anti-malarial drugs. The researchers developed chemical genetic tools to specifically inhibit these enzymes, blocking hemoglobin degradation and starving the malaria parasite to death.
Researchers developed a whole-parasite malaria vaccine that produced strong immune responses in a clinical trial. The vaccine, the first of its kind to earn FDA approval, showed promise in preventing malaria by inducing high levels of protective immunity.
Scientists at UCSF have identified a crucial chemical that the malaria parasite produces internally, allowing it to survive in human blood. This insight provides a powerful tool for discovering and designing new treatments.
Researchers at Stanford University discovered that Toxoplasma-infected male rats exhibit altered brain activity in response to cat urine, suggesting a manipulation of fear and attraction pathways. The parasite benefits from this alteration, as infected rats become less fearful and more drawn to cats.
Researchers have discovered how malaria parasites camouflage themselves from the immune system of pregnant women, allowing them to go undetected. This finding has significant implications for developing a vaccine to protect expectant mothers from maternal malaria.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals how the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii alters rodent fear responses to attract them towards cat odors. Infected rodents exhibit increased neural activity in regions associated with sexual attraction, suggesting a link between fear and attraction.
A recent Oregon State University study suggests that parasites in fish can have profound impacts on fish health and contribute to salmon mortality. The research found that heavy parasite loads can affect salmon growth, immune function, and other issues, and are linked to land use changes such as logging and agriculture.
Researchers identified 32 effective compounds against malaria parasites, including 10 new compounds and 7 that are more active than artemisinin at lower concentrations. The study suggests targeting the same three parasite genes simultaneously to disarm the parasite and provides leads for multi-drug regimens.
Research finds that animal species large and small are governed by the same rule for how common they are in an ecosystem. Body size and food chain position determine abundance and biomass production.
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have discovered two general rules for ecosystem abundance: one based on body size and food chain position, and another that biomass production is independent of animal size or type.
Researchers have discovered that malaria parasites employ camouflage to avoid detection by the immune system in pregnant women. This allows the parasite to infect the placenta, putting both the mother and unborn child at risk. The study provides insight into the complex ways in which malaria evades the human immune response.
Researchers found that sexual reproduction via cross-fertilization keeps host populations one evolutionary step ahead of coevolving parasites. This allows parents to produce offspring resistant to the parasites, while self-fertilization leads to extinction.
Researchers found that Daphnia's defense against predators makes it more vulnerable to a virulent yeast parasite, Metschnikowia. The study suggests that increasing predator densities may not be the best solution to control disease as it can lead to increased susceptibility to other parasites.
A new study reveals a powerful vaccination approach that targets the liver stage of malaria parasites, providing long-lasting and diverse immune cell responses. This strategy offers a promising model for developing effective next-generation vaccines.
A team of international scientists, led by University of Pennsylvania geneticists, have discovered genetic variations in humans that may help resist malaria. The research found that certain mutations in genes related to red blood cell proteins could be linked to lower malaria susceptibility.
A Scripps Research scientist has won a grant to study the malaria parasite in the liver, aiming to develop better drugs to combat the disease. The research will focus on understanding pathways essential to parasite development in both blood and liver stages.
A comprehensive analysis of human geophagy reveals that eating dirt is a widespread behavior that provides protection against intestinal parasites and pathogens. The study found that people are more likely to consume earth during vulnerable life stages or in environments with high levels of foodborne microbes.
Researchers at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences have shown that the Mta1 gene is essential for Schistosoma haematobium to establish a productive infection and survival in the host. The study found that mice lacking the Mta1 gene were unable to support worm growth and egg production, highlighting the c...
A DNA-based test can identify whether a cryptosporidium is of mammalian or snake origin, with prevalence figures revealing widespread infection in popular pets like corn snakes and leopard geckos. Reptile owners must be aware of the risk of cross-species infection and the importance of regular testing to prevent the spread of disease.
Scientists have solved the structure of a key malaria parasite protein that controls cell movement, overturning decades-long understanding. The discovery could lead to novel anti-malarial treatments and cancer therapies targeting actin proteins.
Researchers have discovered the genetic basis for a key parasite function in malaria, revealing that parasites create feeding ion channels in blood cells using two distinct genes. This finding opens up new research directions, including the development of antimalarial drugs targeting these channels.
A study of 161 marine mammal tissue samples reveals an association between severe illness and co-infection with two parasites, Sarcocystis neurona and Toxoplasma gondii. The infections caused more severe disease symptoms in animals infected with both parasites.
Feral pigs in eastern North Carolina have been found to host significant numbers of parasites that can be transmitted to humans, including Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella. The study's findings highlight the potential health risk posed by feral pigs to both domestic swine and humans.
Researchers have identified several genes that may contribute to the malaria parasite's ability to evade antimalarial drugs. One of these genes, PF10_0355, was found to render drug-sensitive parasites more resistant to three standard antimalarial agents when introduced into them.
Researchers found that the parasite balances infection and spread through careful form transformation. The study provides fresh insight into the parasite's survival strategy, which could lead to new treatment approaches.
Scientists have discovered how nifurtimox kills parasites by converting it into a toxic form through an enzyme in the parasite. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new anti-parasitic medicines with fewer side effects and improved efficacy.
Research reveals that host birds have evolved advanced strategies to fight back against brood parasitic cuckoos, including varying egg patterns and egg discrimination. These defenses make it harder for the cuckoo finch to lay accurate forgeries, ultimately outsmarting the parasite.
Researchers have found that monkeys infected with an emerging malaria strain are providing a reservoir for human disease in Southeast Asia. The study confirms that the species has not yet adapted to humans and that monkeys are the main source of infection.
Researchers studied malaria parasite reproduction, finding damaging male and female forms can prevent disease transmission without killing them entirely.
A new Johns Hopkins study shows that each strain of the cat-borne parasite Toxoplasma gondii triggers a unique reaction in human nerve cells, varying the severity of infection. The research found alterations triggered by the most virulent strain to be linked to brain development and central nervous system function.
Researchers discover that malaria parasite relies on host cell signaling pathways to proliferate. A class of cancer-fighting drugs targeting these pathways can effectively kill the parasite.
A new study by NIH-funded researchers has developed genetically modified fungi that can kill malaria-causing parasites in mosquitoes, significantly reducing parasite development. The transgenic fungi block the development of malaria parasites in mosquitoes, preventing transmission to humans.
Researchers have developed a method to disperse pathogenic fungi as a means of preventing malaria spread, using synthetic oil to increase dispersal effectiveness. The fungi cause muscardine disease in mosquito larvae, killing up to 50% more larvae than untreated spores and reducing pupation levels.
Researchers found that a viral infection in a parasite can trigger severe responses in immune cells, increasing disease severity. The study suggests that antiviral strategies could be used to reduce damage caused by Leishmania strains carrying viruses.
The University of South Florida is collaborating with Draper Laboratory to develop human liver models and long-term continuous culture systems for P. vivax malaria. This research aims to accelerate the discovery of new drugs or vaccines, targeting the dormant liver forms of the parasite.