Articles tagged with Parasites
Researchers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station have discovered a promising new treatment for eliminating mistletoe from urban trees. The plant hormone has shown to be effective in controlling up to 90% of mistletoe infestations, with potential applications for widespread use across the United States.
A genetic variant in the NOS2 gene boosts nitric oxide levels, protecting against malaria disease. This trait explains why some people with malaria have mild symptoms and recover fully.
International collaboration sequences mosquito genome, revealing gene functions and immune system adaptations that help understand why only a few species transmit human malaria. The findings provide a head start for researchers to develop new therapies against the disease.
The sequencing of both P. falciparum and its insect vector heralds a new era in the fight against malaria. This detailed map of the parasite's 5,300 genes will enable investigators to design targeted anti-malarial drugs.
Researchers have identified a specific gene mutation that confers chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites, allowing scientists to develop targeted treatments, and also increasing susceptibility to artemisinin and quinine.
Researchers have found genes in Anopheles mosquitoes that enable them to resist infection by the deadly malaria parasite. The discovery could lead to new strategies to prevent malaria transmission by spreading the parasite-blocking genes among mosquito populations.
Researchers found that stressed carp are easily infected by the single cell parasite Trypanoplasma borreli due to high levels of cortisol. The study revealed that cortisol inhibits crucial proteins that protect fish from parasites, rendering them more susceptible to infection.
A study by Johnstone and Bshary found that the threat of leaving by clients can prevent cleaners from exploiting them. In asymmetric interactions, this 'partner control' model matches existing data on cleaner and client behavior.
A new vaccine targets the parasite's deadly toxin, potentially providing longer-lasting protection against malaria. The vaccine has shown promise in animal trials, with mice surviving after being infected with the parasite when vaccinated against the toxin.
Researchers have identified a toxin, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI), that contributes to malaria's virulence and is now being explored for use in a vaccine. The anti-GPI vaccine has shown promise in mice, eliciting an antibody response and reducing immune reactions to the malaria parasite.
Researchers found that chloroquine-resistant parasites arose in multiple geographic locations and rapidly spread across continents, contradicting long-held theories. The genetic diversity of the malaria parasite suggests it has evolved over a timeframe coincident with human population expansion out of Africa.
A recent UC study found that 42% of live sea otters and 62% of dead sea otters were infected with Toxoplasma. The researchers suggest that land-based freshwater runoff is a source of the parasite, likely transported by surface runoff from fields and yards to coastal areas.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have created genetically altered mosquitoes that prevent the passage of malaria from one individual to the next. The mosquitoes were engineered to produce a protein that interferes with the development of the parasite in the mosquito, reducing transmission by about 80%.
Researchers found a strong link between amphibian deformities and parasites, particularly those carried by snails, which thrive in human-altered habitats. The study surveyed over 60% of sites in Oregon, where deformities were linked to the presence of Ribeiroia parasite.
A new study found a striking connection between malformed amphibians and the presence of Ribeiroia, a parasitic infection. The parasite was linked to limb malformations in over 12,000 amphibians across 11 species, with Pacific treefrogs exhibiting the greatest number of abnormalities.
Researchers have discovered a new standard for selectively targeting malaria-causing parasites, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating other diseases such as HIV, cancer, and Alzheimer's. By understanding how proteins like DHFR are regulated, scientists can develop more effective and non-toxic treatments.
Researchers discovered that parasitic worms develop normally into adults when in contact with specific immune cells in their host's liver, producing fewer eggs if disconnected. This adaptation allows the worms to thrive by exploiting their host's immune response.
A recent study found that individuals with hookworm infections were half as likely to develop asthma compared to those without the infection. The researchers suggest that hookworms may alter the body's response to allergens, leading to reduced inflammation and increased resistance to asthma.
A novel vaccine has been developed to protect against Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by the single-celled parasite Leishmania. The vaccine targets a component of sand fly saliva, dubbed SP15, which appears to induce natural immune responses in mice.
Researchers explore how ecological principles, such as the dilution effect, predict the movement of parasites and diseases in various ecosystems. Studies examine the impact of animal diversity on disease transmission, with findings highlighting the importance of community diversity in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Keeping chickens and dogs out of bedrooms can reduce Chagas disease risk by reducing the bug population, say Science researchers. Removing infected dogs from households nearly wipes out transmission of the parasite.
A study found that tick-borne diseases are a major concern for travelers, with over 100 viruses and bacteria transmitted through ticks. The most serious problem is posed by hard ticks, which can cause mild irritation but also transmit fatal diseases like Lyme disease and tick-borne typhus.
A clinical study has confirmed a single gene mutation as the cause of chloroquine-resistant malaria. The study developed a molecular marker that can diagnose individuals with chloroquine-resistant malaria, helping doctors select the best therapy and public health officials set country-wide treatment guidelines.
Researchers found a way to prevent infectious malaria particles from bursting out of their protective sacs by blocking the activity of a protein-snipping enzyme called protease. This discovery suggests that protease inhibitors could be used to treat malaria infection and keep the infectious particles imprisoned until they deteriorate.
Researchers identified a two-step process by which malaria parasites break out of red blood cells, paving the way for developing clinically useful inhibitors. The discovery may lead to promising targets for drug development and improved understanding of the disease.
Researchers have identified a single gene on chromosome 7 of Plasmodium falciparum that makes the most deadly malaria parasite resistant to chloroquine. The pfcrt gene is associated with chloroquine resistance in parasite lines from Asia, Africa, and South America.
Researchers have found pore-like holes in red blood cells infected by Plasmodium falciparum, a deadly form of the malaria parasite. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments for malaria, a widespread and devastating disease that affects over 40% of the world's population.
Researchers have found a pore-like hole in the membranes of red blood cells infected by Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite. This discovery may lead to new treatments for malaria, a devastating disease that kills over one million people each year. The study provides a new target for potential new malaria treatments.
A fatal tropical disease has infected large numbers of foxhounds in the US, causing skin lesions, hair loss, and joint issues. At least 12% of dogs have antibodies suggesting exposure to the parasite, with 2% showing a strong response, prompting public health officials to recommend quarantine or euthanasia.
Scientists have developed a fruit fly model to study malaria parasite development, which may lead to the creation of mosquitoes resistant to malaria. The research could also pave the way for better anti-malarial drugs and transmission-blocking vaccines.
Dr. Kisilevsky and his team aim to develop agents that prevent protein-carbohydrate binding, effectively inhibiting malaria parasite infection. The project builds on expertise gained in amyloid and Alzheimer's research, exploring novel ideas at a molecular level.
Researchers at University of Illinois find organelle with acidocalcisome properties, crucial for malaria parasite's existence, and propose using pyrophosphate analogs to target it. This discovery may lead to new treatment options against rapidly resistant malaria.
Scientists have discovered a potential drug target for treating African sleeping sickness by identifying a unique metabolic pathway in the parasite. The discovery offers hope for developing effective treatments for the estimated 500,000 people affected by the disease.
UW researchers find that oscillating magnetic fields can kill malaria parasites by damaging their iron-containing structures. The treatment could be inexpensive and simple, bypassing emerging drug resistance concerns.
Strepsipteran insects have eyes with larger lenses and more receptors, allowing them to sample 'chunks' of the visual field instead of points. This unique structure improves their visual capabilities and is similar to that of extinct arthropods like trilobites.
Researchers found that atovaquone was 100% effective in keeping volunteers bitten by mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum from developing the disease. Pairing atovaquone with proguanil, an older malaria-fighting drug, provides protection while avoiding drug resistance.
Two studies published in Science suggest that parasites, specifically Riberoria trematodes, are responsible for some frog deformities. Laboratory and field experiments found that parasite infections cause mirror-image limb deformities, distinct from the thigh-knee-thigh-knee pattern caused by retinoids.
A veterinary parasitologist and his team have demonstrated that dogs are definitive hosts for Neospora caninum, a single-celled parasitic organism causing cattle abortions. This discovery has led to recommendations for improved cattle management strategies to reduce economic losses estimated at $35 million per year.
Researchers are exploring transgenic mosquitoes capable of transmitting nitric oxide, which can kill parasites. This approach may offer a key to disrupting the complex relationship between mosquitoes and malaria parasites.
A University of Kentucky researcher has won a five-year extension on his MERIT award to study Leishmania donovani, a parasite that affects millions worldwide. The parasite, transmitted by sand flies, causes leishmaniasis, a disease often fatal and poorly treated.
Researchers found a striking increase in falciparum malaria in northern Honduras, with reported cases rising from 52,110 in 1994 to 75,565 in 1996. The more severe form of the disease accounted for 21% of infected patients, highlighting a significant public health concern.
Researchers discovered Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites in 7.3% and 11.7% of stool samples from dogs, with puppies under 30 weeks old most affected. Despite no visible symptoms, these parasites can cause serious illness in humans.
Researchers have designed compounds that target Plasmodium falciparum parasites, which cause severe malaria. The new trioxane-based compounds show potential in treating the disease by inducing self-destruction in the parasite, offering a promising alternative to current treatments.
Research suggests that high levels of IgE type antibodies can cause an overactive immune response, leading to cerebral malaria. The study found a genetic link between IgE production and the production of TNF, which can be beneficial but also deadly in excessive amounts.
Scientists have discovered that two parasitic wasps, Spalangia endius and Spalangia nigoraenea, can efficiently control stable and house flies in Illinois. This finding has significant implications for the state's agricultural industry and public health.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed new chemical compounds that show promise in fighting malaria. The new compounds use the same mechanism to kill the parasite that causes malaria as another more expensive and difficult-to-produce drug, but are much less expensive and easier to produce.