Articles tagged with Parasites
Researchers have identified phosphodiesterase-B1 as a critical gene for the transmission of African sleeping sickness, a disease transmitted by tsetse flies. The study reveals that the parasite's movement from the fly's midgut to the salivary gland is controlled by this gene, providing new insights into the disease-causing mechanism.
A recent study found that invasive lizard populations can undergo significant biological changes, such as diverging morphology and increased forelimb length, to adapt to new territories. The researchers also discovered lower levels of parasite prevalence and higher body condition in introduced populations compared to native populations.
A new species of coral-dwelling parasite has been discovered, producing chlorophyll but not engaging in photosynthesis. The finding raises questions about the evolution and biology of this organism, which may hold clues to protecting coral reefs.
Researchers discovered an unconventional signaling pathway in Trypanosoma brucei, a parasite that causes sleeping sickness. The study identifies a new compound activator for protein kinase A (PKA), potentially leading to targeted therapies.
The study found that the widely used antimalarial sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is no longer effective in preventing malaria in areas with high levels of resistance. In areas where more than 37% of parasites carry six mutations, the effectiveness of SP appears to be fully compromised. The researchers are calling for further investiga...
Researchers detected Cryptosporidium parasites in 40% of surveyed wells in Minnesota's public water systems, even those not influenced by surface water. The findings suggest soil may not completely filter out the parasite, prompting consideration for monitoring and treatment measures.
The study demonstrated that DSM265 can clear low-level Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia with a single oral dose. A companion drug is needed to prevent development of resistance and advance the goal of eradicating malaria.
A study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases analyzed gene expression in patients with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis, revealing a heightened presence of B cell transcripts and unique patterns of macrophage activation. The research also identified new targets for vaccine development against this rare and neglected tropical disease.
Feather lice on rock pigeons evolved divergent camouflage in response to preening, a key driver of adaptive radiation. Over four years and 60 generations, the lice developed heritable color differences spanning the full range of the genus.
Researchers discovered a recently evolved, human specialised subspecies of the Cryptosporidium parasite, which can spread more easily between people. This finding will help public health interventions aimed at preventing the spread of diarrheal disease.
Researchers at ISGlobal and ITM discovered that P. falciparum populations can develop resistance to certain antimalarial compounds by epigenetic changes in the expression of clag3 genes. This finding is significant because resistance acquired through epigenetic mechanisms can arise quickly, even during a single infection.
Gene activity in defenders reflects origin of attacking slavemakers, with successful invaders triggering weaker defenses. Researchers found that host ants react aggressively to rare slave-makers and not to common ones, highlighting the complex co-evolutionary relationship between parasites and their hosts.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have identified a promising strategy to develop an agent against African sleeping sickness. The team discovered a small inhibitor molecule that binds to and deactivates a vital protein of the parasite, rendering it harmless.
A study from Binghamton University highlights the importance of considering cold-temperature variability when evaluating climate change impacts. Researchers found that cold temperatures make amphibians more susceptible to road salt but less prone to parasites.
Researchers analyzed gene expression profiles of P. vivax malaria patients to understand transmission and treatment response. The study revealed complex transmission dynamics and differences in how the parasite responds to chloroquine treatment.
A study from McGill University reveals that a virus infecting the Leishmania parasite exploits cell-to-cell communication to spread and evade detection. This discovery could lead to effective vaccines against leishmaniasis, a disease causing severe disfiguration in tropical areas.
The study reveals that malaria parasite genomes are shaped by parasite-specific gene families and strongly correlate with virulence. The researchers identified unique features in the organization of gene families involved in antigenic variation, which enables high virulence in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi.
Researchers at Penn State have identified a complex of proteins crucial for the maturation of the malaria parasite's sexual stage, which is required for transmission to mosquitoes. Disrupting this complex inhibits the parasite's ability to mature and infect mosquitoes, offering a new tool in the fight against malaria.
ERADA's Saliva-based Malaria Asymptomatic and Asexual Rapid Test (SMAART) detects a unique biomarker from female parasites circulating in an infected individual. Early detection of malaria is crucial to eradication, as carriers are the reservoir that leads to infection and transmission.
Researchers developed a modified CRISPR/Cas9 system to efficiently edit the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum's gene expression. By altering histone acetylation near invasion-related genes, they increased or decreased erythrocyte invasion efficiency.
Researchers at SUTD and NTU developed ferrocene-based molecules that impair malaria parasite's metabolic function, leading to parasite death. G3, a gold complexed ferrocinyl phosphine derivative, demonstrated potent antimalarial activity against standard and drug-resistant strains.
A URI researcher found that oyster aquaculture can limit the spread of disease among wild oysters. Aquaculture operations can reduce disease by filtering parasites from the water and holding oysters long enough to prevent their development. Intensive oyster aquaculture, when done correctly, can be beneficial for wild populations.
Researchers at Kanazawa University have discovered that a baculovirus can completely eliminate liver-stage malaria parasites in mice. The study suggests a new approach to developing non-haemolytic single-dose alternative drugs for P. vivax treatment, potentially reducing the risk of infection and side effects.
Researchers have identified a natural flavonoid, 2'-Hydroxyflavanone (2HF), effective in treating Leishmania amazonensis infections. The compound showed no side effects and reduced parasite loads and lesion sizes in infected mice.
Researchers developed a new approach to prevent malaria by targeting the parasite at an earlier stage in its lifecycle. They tested over 500,000 chemical compounds and identified 631 promising candidates that could form the basis for new drugs.
Researchers have pinpointed details of a signal that enables parasites to change form and be transmitted by flies, offering a new way to tackle the disease. Disrupting this process with drugs could limit drug resistance and provide a treatment option.
A new study reveals that Plasmodium falciparum parasites can directly convert from their asexual to sexual form without an additional replication cycle, increasing the parasite's survival and transmission capabilities. This finding provides important information on the malaria parasite's lifecycle and its transmission to mosquitoes.
Researchers at Clemson University have discovered a key role for glucose in the parasite's life cycle, potentially leading to new treatments for African sleeping sickness. The study sheds light on how the parasite adapts to its environment and can inform strategies to defuse outbreaks.
Researchers discovered that malaria parasites adjust their reproduction strategy based on host conditions, opting to invest more in reproduction when conditions are favorable and prioritizing survival during adverse times. This finding could inform the development of new treatments by prompting parasites to spread more easily.
A balanced pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine signature is associated with lower clinical malaria risk between ages 3-4. Early parasite exposure does not affect the risk, but may impact long-term immunity.
A new study reports that over 100 working dogs in the US have been infected with Chagas disease, a tropical parasite known to cause heart problems. The dogs were tested for antibodies to the parasite and many showed signs of heart abnormalities associated with the disease.
Karine Le Roch, a UC Riverside professor, is awarded two NIH grants totaling $6.6 million to study Plasmodium falciparum parasites and develop novel therapeutics. The research aims to target RNA-binding proteins, or RAPs, which are essential to parasite development.
A recent study led by ISGlobal identifies new antibody markers associated with the RTS,S malaria vaccine's protective effects. The research reveals that IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies provide crucial protection against disease, while IgG2 and IgG4 may increase disease risk.
Researchers reconstructed species distribution using environmental DNA signals from stationary organisms and their parasites in rivers. Environmental DNA may be a tool for monitoring biodiversity in river networks.
A new study has successfully trained sniffer dogs to detect malaria infections in socks worn by African children, with an accuracy rate of 70% and a potential to assist in malaria elimination campaigns. The dogs were able to identify the distinctive odor emitted by malaria parasites, which was not present in uninfected individuals.
Researchers found that sniffer dogs could scent malaria in samples of socks worn by infected children, with an accuracy rate of 70% for malaria-infected samples. The trained dogs could distinguish between the scent of malaria parasites and uninfected individuals, providing a non-invasive way to screen for the disease at ports of entry.
Researchers at Scripps Research have discovered how antibodies work together to bind to a vulnerable spot on the malaria parasite, blocking its life cycle. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more effective vaccines that stimulate the same antibody response.
The Himalayan gold fungus, valued at $11 billion, is facing extinction due to intensive harvesting and climate change. The fungus's decline may have severe consequences for communities that rely on it for their livelihood.
Scientists have discovered that DNA packaging proteins play a central role in the parasite's ability to alter its surface coat protein, enabling it to evade the host's immune system. This process, known as antigenic variation, allows trypanosomes to stay one step ahead of the game and establish long-term infections.
A study published in Parasites & Vectors found that host decoy traps baited with human or cattle odour can effectively collect outdoor-biting mosquitoes, including the main malaria vector species Anopheles arabiensis. The traps outperformed traditional methods such as human landing catch and caught more mosquitoes than expected.
Researchers found that the peppermint shrimp outperformed other species in a set of experiments, reducing parasite infection by 87% and targeting environmental stages. This discovery provides a viable candidate for a natural biocontrol agent to combat parasites in aquaculture industries.
University of Otago researchers have discovered a way to culture cynomolgi malaria parasites, which are almost identical to vivax malaria. This breakthrough could help eliminate the relapsing form of human malaria, a major public health concern worldwide.
Malaria parasites have evolved to replicate in sync with mosquitoes' feeding cycles, causing regular bouts of fever. Scientists discovered that these parasites are more infectious to mosquitoes during the day, and their replication patterns likely evolved to optimize transmission.
A study published in eBioMedicine found that the absence of four particular genes in the Leishmania infantum parasite makes it less susceptible to miltefosine, an oral drug used to treat visceral leishmaniasis. This discovery could lead to a new prognostic test to predict treatment outcomes and tailor medicines accordingly.
Some species are unable to recognize genetic differences between their own offspring and those of intruders, leading to acceptance. Genetic features associated with recognition may have died out due to the disadvantage of being different, making it impossible for parents to reject parasitic offspring.
Melbourne researchers have discovered a way to halt the invasion of the toxoplasmosis-causing parasite into cells, depriving it of a key factor necessary for its growth. This breakthrough could lead to a vaccine or treatment for Toxoplasmosis and shed light on general processes involved in other diseases caused by related parasites.
Scientists have discovered a way to enhance the effectiveness of artemisinin, a powerful antimalarial drug, by combining it with chemotherapy medicines that target the parasite's waste disposal system. The combination works by jamming the recycling process, leading to cell death in the parasite.
Researchers at Imperial College London have identified six compounds that can prevent malaria parasites from maturing inside mosquitoes, reducing disease transmission. These compounds, which target the parasite's sexual forms, could be used to develop new antimalarial drugs that not only cure individuals but also protect communities.
A new model developed by scientists at the University of Bristol aims to help farmers tackle multi-million losses due to liver fluke infestations. The model explicitly links liver fluke prevalence with key environmental drivers like soil moisture, enabling farmers to make informed decisions on grazing and treatment.
Researchers discovered fossil parasites inside their hosts, describing four extinct wasp species that were unknown until now. The study provides major information on the evolution of parasitism and its impact on ecosystems.
A mathematical model for malaria shows that competition between parasite strains within a human host reduces the odds of drug resistance developing in high-transmission settings. The model reveals how once a drug-resistant strain becomes established, it will spread faster in high-transmission areas than in low-transmission areas.
The NIH study found that the EXP2 protein forms a channel in the vacuole membrane of Plasmodium falciparum, enabling the parasite to obtain essential nutrients. This discovery could lead to the development of new drugs targeting this nutrient transport mechanism.
Researchers at INRS have developed a cost-effective approach to rapidly identify molecules capable of eliminating Leishmania, a parasite responsible for the deadly tropical disease. The innovation, led by Professors Albert Descoteaux and Steven LaPlante, aims to overcome obstacles in finding effective treatments.
Researchers found that a specific type of fish louse, Argulus japonicus, can accumulate high concentrations of metals, potentially serving as an early warning system for water quality. The lice's unique mechanisms for protecting themselves from toxins may hold the key to detecting metal pollution.
Researchers at James Cook University found that shrimp clean parasites from injured fish without aggravating their injuries. The interaction between cleaner shrimp and client fish also reduces stress levels, potentially increasing the fish's ability to heal.
A new study reveals that lower-risk malaria regions are breeding grounds for drug-resistant strains of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The research suggests that emerging resistant strains spread rapidly in areas with high transmission rates, making it crucial to tailor malaria response strategies for local conditions.
A new interaction between plant and insect parasites is found when the two exist on a shared host. The parasite-leeches nutrients and moisture away from the wasp larvae developing in the tree, while also attacking unusual growths caused by the wasps. This discovery has implications for agriculture and medicine.
A study comparing ape and human P. vivax genomes reveals nearly identical DNA sequences, but with key differences in genetic diversity and binding proteins. The findings suggest an evolutionary bottleneck where the parasite passed from apes to humans in Africa, then spread globally.
Researchers analyzed ape parasite genomes related to Plasmodium vivax, the main source of mosquito-borne malaria outside Africa. They found near-identical genomes between ape and human parasites, differing by only two percent within gene sequences that code for proteins.
Researchers from Harvard University review the tripartite system between bats, bat flies, and Laboulbeniales fungi, highlighting the need for further study on this understudied phenomenon. The team aims to advance our understanding of the biology, host associations, and phylogenetic relationships of these organisms.