Articles tagged with Parasites
Researchers at FAU identify a protein in dodder that triggers tomato defense mechanism, allowing crops to recognize and resist parasitic attacks. The discovery may lead to increased crop resistance against parasitic plants.
Research suggests ancient parasites have co-opted mammalian hosts for evolutionary gain, influencing cognition, reproduction, immune response. Endogenous retroviruses also play a key role in placental development and the interferon response.
The University of Chicago research team has created a novel self-assembling nano-vaccine called ToxAll to protect humans from toxoplasmosis. The vaccine uses immunosense technology to boost each component of the immune system and deliver components of the parasite to relevant target cells.
Scientists discovered how deadly parasites from the phylum Apicomplexa, such as Plasmodium and Toxoplasma, glide into human cells using actin and myosin proteins. The study reveals the molecular structure of essential light chains that facilitate gliding movements.
Researchers have discovered the molecular mechanisms that allow malaria parasites to move and spread disease within their hosts. The glideosome complex is a critical target for future antimalarial treatments, with two novel proteins identified as key players in parasite motility.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered a new immune evasion strategy used by the Plasmodium parasite, which could help develop novel therapeutic strategies and vaccines for malaria. The study found that microRNAs play a crucial role in regulating genes involved in the immune response.
Researchers developed an immunomodulatory feed additive to boost chickens' immune response against coccidiosis, a parasite-borne intestinal disease. The treatment showed promise in promoting gut health and reducing the effects of severe infection, but may not prevent disease altogether.
A Duke University-led team has discovered how malaria parasites can survive fevers by producing a special lipid molecule and binding to heat shock proteins. This could lead to new ways to fight resistant strains of the disease. The findings also suggest caution when using fever reducers with artemisinin-based compounds.
A new CRISPR vaccine has been successfully tested in animal studies, providing protection against the parasitic skin disease leishmaniasis. The vaccine uses a modified version of the parasite that causes the disease, which induces immunity without causing clinical disease.
A new CRISPR-based diagnostic method has been developed to detect four species of the malarial parasite Plasmodium. The test uses a nucleic acid detection platform called SHERLOCK and is optimized for field conditions, with a cost of $0.61 per test.
Researchers have identified an invasive blood-sucking parasite on mud shrimp in British Columbia's Calvert Island, marking the northern-most record of its spread. The parasite, a bopyrid isopod, decimates mud shrimp populations and disrupts delicate ecosystems.
Red blood cells in people with Dantu blood variant have a higher surface tension that prevents Plasmodium falciparum from invading. This natural process could be imitated to prevent or reduce malaria infection.
A new study uses next-generation sequencing to analyze genetic diversity of fish eye parasites, revealing complex life cycles and diverse habitats. The research also sheds light on the impact of parasites on fish behavior and immunity.
A team of scientists found that dodder parasites eavesdrop on their host plants' flowering signals to synchronize their own flowering. This allows the parasite to optimize its reproduction and increase its fitness.
Researchers discovered new types of mosquito immune cells and molecular pathways implicated in controlling the malaria parasite. A rare cell type called a Megacyte was found to have high levels of a key molecule needed for immune priming, which could limit malaria transmission.
Researchers found that brood parasites living in variable habitats diversify their egg-laying choices among multiple host species, increasing reproductive success. This 'bet-hedging' strategy allows them to counter environmental threats and ensure survival over time.
In unpredictable environments, brood parasites spread their reproductive risk by targeting more and diverse host species. This bet-hedging strategy allows them to adapt to changing conditions and increase their chances of offspring survival.
Biomedical scientists have discovered that diethylcarbamazine directly targets parasitic worms with a temporary paralysis, allowing the host's body to flush out the parasites. This breakthrough could lead to better predictability of resistance development and more effective treatment outcomes for patients.
The Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lini genome has been fully assembled, providing insights into the parasite's adaptation to flax and its potential for breeding resistant crop varieties. The study aims to elucidate specific mechanisms of Fusarium adaptation to different hosts and find genes responsible for its preferences.
The study completes the genome assembly of F. oxysporum f.sp. lini, a highly destructive fungal parasite infecting flax. This milestone contributes to the development of resistant crop varieties and aids in eliminating plant disease outbreaks.
Researchers found that native lizards harbor parasites controlling invasive species, keeping their populations under control. The study suggests biodiversity is a key factor in resisting invasions.
Researchers in Spain studied bird nests to understand how insects and parasites detect gas concentrations, finding a positive correlation between carbon dioxide and biting midges. The study also found that methane concentration was related to bacteria in nesting materials.
The emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites in Rwanda marks a major concern for global health. Significant proportions of parasites carrying the R561H mutation have been detected, indicating that these resistant strains can spread between locations and acquire resistance to partner drugs.
A comprehensive study has identified 140 fungal species, including nine new to Belgium and the Netherlands, highlighting the diversity of Laboulbeniomycetes. The newly described fungus, Laboulbenia quarantenae, is a rare parasite found on ground beetles in Belgium.
A global conservation plan for parasites is proposed to recognize the value of biological diversity. Research suggests that parasites play critical ecological roles, regulating wildlife populations, and propose identifying and conserving half of world's parasites within the next decade.
Researchers discovered new channels enabling lipid transport between the malaria parasite and red blood cells, raising possibility of nutrient-blocking treatments. The study found Niemann-Pick C1-related protein (PfNCR1) channels made of PfNCR1.
Researchers at UVA School of Medicine discovered that brain defenders called microglia release a unique immune molecule to control the parasite in the brain, preventing symptomatic toxoplasmosis. This finding has implications for brain infections, neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune disorders.
Researchers discovered a mechanism by which schistosomes, parasitic worms infecting over 200 million people, evade the host's immune system. The parasite's esophageal gland mediates this protection, allowing it to survive and feed without being destroyed by immune cells.
A Cornell University study found that one in eight individual bees had at least one parasite, with social bees more susceptible to infection. The researchers identified five common parasites transmitted through flowers, highlighting the importance of flower abundance and bee diversity in controlling disease spread.
Research suggests that having more flowers and a more diverse bee community could reduce the spread of bee parasites. The study found that when bee communities are at their most diverse, the proportion of infected bees is lowest, and when flowers are at their most abundant, fewer are likely to act as transmission hubs.
Researchers studied cavefish and surface fish for clues on immune system adaptations. The study found that cavefish have a more sensitive innate immune system but lower levels of inflammation due to their unique environment. This could provide insights into human autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes.
Research at UC Berkeley reveals pesticides can boost schistosome parasite transmission by affecting snail survival, aquatic predators and algae composition. This increases disease burden in areas with high agricultural agrochemical use, posing a significant threat to public health.
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered how the Toxoplasma gondii parasite hijacks host cells to spread throughout the body. The parasite triggers an alarm system that leads to the activation of a protein called IRE1, connecting it to the cytoskeleton and causing hypermigration.
Two new species of parasite have been discovered in crabs, which could potentially harm commercially important crustaceans. The researchers' findings suggest that the shore crab's habitat may influence the presence and prevalence of pathogens.
Scientists at the University of York have deciphered the mechanism by which the compound AB1 kills the trypanosome parasite that causes African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness. The breakthrough could potentially lead to a cure for this devastating neglected tropical disease and others like Chagas disease.
A new approach developed by Kyoto University scientists provides insight into the liver stage of the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite. The method involves infecting human liver cells with mosquito-bred parasites, enabling researchers to study the parasite's life cycle and develop more effective treatments.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified a protein used by the malaria parasite to protect itself from toxic compounds in red blood cells. This discovery could lead to the development of drugs that block this process, potentially providing valuable insights for treating malaria.
A study published in Evolution found that local parasites are influencing barn swallows' mate selection and physical traits, potentially leading to the creation of new species. The researchers discovered a tradeoff between attractiveness and susceptibility to malaria.
Researchers studied how Toxoplasma parasites move rapidly through tissues using high-resolution imaging and force microscopy. They found that the parasites form specific attachments with collagen fibers, resulting in contractile forces that propel them forward.
A new tetrahydroquinolone compound, JAG21, has been discovered to eliminate both active and dormant forms of Toxoplasma gondii and P. falciparum parasites. The compound shows promise in treating toxoplasmosis and malaria, with the potential to prevent and cure all life-cycle stages of malaria.
A research team at ISGlobal has developed a system to induce massive sexual conversion of the P. falciparum malaria parasite in vitro, enabling deeper understanding and design of new tools to block malaria transmission. This technique allows for synchronization of parasites at the initial stages of sexual development.
Researchers discovered Plasmodium parasites use internal clocks to regulate gene expression and cell cycle activities in response to host signals. The finding of a genetic metronome and SR10 receptor protein could lead to novel drug targets for combating malaria.
Professor Ute Hellmich is investigating the role of ion channels in parasites causing African sleeping sickness and Chagas disease. She aims to find similarities or differences between parasite and human ion channels, potentially leading to new pharmacological agents.
Extracellular vesicles play a key role in the pathology of malaria vivax by promoting parasite adhesion to human spleen fibroblasts. The study found that EVs induce the expression of ICAM-1 on fibroblast surfaces, serving as an anchor for parasite-infected red blood cell adherence.
A recent study from the University of Washington explores how parasites respond to climate change, revealing complex relationships between hosts, parasites, and their communities. The research suggests that pulse warming events can have sudden and profound impacts on disease transmission, leading to a 'choppy sea' of outbreaks.
Researchers will sequence parasitic worm genomes to develop genetic tools for monitoring and tracking resistance, leading to new therapies. Two projects focus on river blindness and fascioliasis, causing devastating illness in millions of people globally.
A genetically modified malaria vaccine has been found to be safe and elicit a defense response against malaria infection in humans. The vaccine, developed with the American company Sanaria Inc., targets the liver stage of the disease and was administered to 67 volunteers, showing promising results.
Two malaria vaccines developed using genetically engineered malaria parasites have shown safety and preliminary protection in phase 1/2a clinical trials. The vaccines, created by Isaie Reuling and Meta Roestenberg teams, delayed infections when exposed to mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum, the primary cause of malaria in h...
Research reveals that malaria parasite P. vivax adheres to human spleen cells via variant proteins, allowing it to hide from the immune system and evade elimination. This finding suggests a double role for the spleen in malaria pathology and opens new avenues for vaccine targets and exposure markers.
A newly released study by Clemson University scientists provides evidence that disrupting heme production in Toxoplasma gondii could be an effective therapeutic strategy. Researchers found that using herbicides to inhibit the parasite's growth can deny it an essential nutrient, potentially leading to a cure.
Researchers discovered that malaria parasites can tick their own internal clocks, with 90% of genes showing rhythmic patterns. This internal metronome may help the parasite synchronize its escape from red blood cells and evade the human immune system.
Research found that malaria parasites have an inherent clock that drives their activity, resulting in cyclical fevers in humans. The parasite's gene expression patterns remained consistent despite changes in lighting conditions and host circadian rhythms.
Researchers found that the malaria parasite, P. falciparum, has a 48-hour developmental cycle with synchronous release of parasites from red blood cells, triggering fever cycles in humans. The study suggests that parasites have evolved mechanisms to precisely maintain periodicity.
Scientists have discovered that malaria's characteristic cycle of fever and chills is controlled by an intrinsic biological oscillator within the parasite. The study found that 87-92% of tracked genes were cyclical, providing strong evidence for an innate control mechanism.
Male treefrogs synchronize their mating calls with neighboring frogs to create an auditory illusion that attracts predators to the leading call, leaving females unaffected. Researchers found this strategy allows male frogs to find mates without risking their lives.
A new study found that mosquitoes are most likely to transmit malaria in the early evening when people are exposed, followed by midnight and morning. This shift in biting behavior could reduce the effectiveness of bed nets in preventing malaria.
Researchers have identified a promising new strategy for combating malaria by targeting the parasite's 'kill switch' with PfGARP antibodies. The approach, which involves generating anti-PfGARP antibodies or directly infusing them into individuals, has shown promise in nonhuman primates and holds hope for preventing severe malaria.
A recent study found that 42% of zoo animals were infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, posing a conservation risk to certain endangered species. The study suggests that zoos take preventative measures to limit the spread of the parasite.
Researchers have identified how a deadly malaria parasite controls its stickiness in red blood cells, evading the immune system. By targeting this mechanism, potentially more effective therapies may be developed to combat the disease.
Researchers found a parasite from opossums infecting sea otters along the West Coast, with infected otters in British Columbia's northern Vancouver Island. The study suggests pathogens can travel long distances via water runoff and prey species like clams.