Articles tagged with Parasitic Diseases
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Researchers have documented a strange relationship between periodical cicadas and a fungus called Massospora cicadina that hijacks their behavior and causes them to spread the fungus' spores. The infected cicadas exhibit unusual behaviors, such as wing flicking and attempting to mate with uninfected females.
A 26-year-old Oregon woman became the first known human to be infected with Thelazia gulosa, a type of cattle eyeworm, after possibly being bitten by an infected fly while fishing in Alaska. She underwent treatment at OHSU and removed all 14 worms from her eye over the course of a month.
A parasite has evolved to mimic human proteins, breaking down cell barriers and making nutrients available for opportunistic bacteria. This discovery provides new insights into the disease-causing mechanisms of giardiasis.
Researchers found that beneficial bacteria on mouse skin work with the immune system to defend against disease-causing microbes and accelerate wound healing. This study suggests untangling similar mechanisms in humans may improve approaches to managing skin wounds and treating other damaged tissues.
Boris Striepen has received a $1.8-million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support drug development efforts against cryptosporidiosis, a disease that sickens approximately 750,000 people annually in the US. The project aims to identify and validate therapeutic targets to guide medicinal chemistry.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania has discovered a molecule that can suppress the lethal form of infection in a mouse model of Strongyloides stercoralis. By using this molecule, they were able to prevent the formation of larvae that trigger a persistent cycle of infection in the host.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science proposes a new regulatory approach for fecal transplant treatments. Stool banks would be required to report patient outcomes, while doctors and laboratories could distribute stool for CDI treatment at their discretion.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have uncovered the physiochemical 'fingerprint' profile of Necator americanus, a parasitic worm infecting hundreds of millions worldwide. This discovery enables the development of more effective treatments and earlier interventions.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified a chemical that suppresses the lethal form of a parasitic infection caused by roundworms. The study developed a mouse model susceptible to the full range of infection and found that a synthetic steroid called Δ7-dafachronic acid significantly reduced worm burden.
Scientists found that parasitic nematodes use odors from host mice as cues to position themselves where they have a higher chance of being eaten. The worms are attracted to fresh mouse feces and can migrate towards new hosts based on odorants produced by mammalian skin, feces, or urine.
A study found that fecal transplant using oral capsules was as effective as colonoscopy in preventing recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. The treatment prevented CDI recurrence in 96% of patients after 12 weeks.
A team of researchers at the Broad Institute has created a high-resolution census of the small intestine's cellular composition, revealing new insights into gut biology and its connection to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies. The atlas uses single-cell RNA sequencing and provides a reference for studying th...
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have made a significant discovery on how a harmful parasite harnesses energy, which could lead to new treatments. The study reveals that targeting a key enzyme linked to metabolism could be an effective way to kill the parasite without harming humans.
Research shows fish modify behaviors to avoid parasites, with behaviorally-modified individuals displaying increased surface activities and reduced swimming. This discovery could lead to new strategies for preventing parasite infections in aquaculture.
Researchers identified levofloxacin as an effective antibiotic to prevent infections in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, reducing fever and bloodstream infections by 70%. The study found no increase in antibiotic resistance despite greater use of levofloxacin.
Researchers developed a new mathematical model to determine optimal prevention and treatment strategies for patients co-infected with cryptosporidiosis and HIV. The model shows significant positive impact of dual strategy on reducing both diseases.
Researchers seek to understand how trypanosome parasites cause long-term infections in cattle, with potential to develop novel ideas for prevention and treatment. The project aims to target the parasite's defences using drug therapy or vaccines.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh studied two species of trypanosome parasites that can co-infect animals at once. Communication between the species may aid their survival by controlling numbers and optimizing transmission, potentially leading to more severe human infections.
Scientists recommend reducing disease impacts on honeybees by limiting colony mixing and supporting natural bee behaviors. This approach could help reduce parasite transmission and promote disease resistance among the bees.
A recent study by researchers at UMass Amherst found that anabasine, a natural alkaloid, has deleterious effects on infected bees and exacerbates the negative effects of combined stressors on pollinator health. The compound was previously thought to have potential as a self-medicating agent against intestinal parasites in bumble bees.
Researchers have confirmed that a Dutch isolate of the parasite Cystoisospora suis is resistant to toltrazuril, a common treatment used in Europe. This development highlights the need for increased hygiene measures and monitoring of resistance to prevent the spread of resistant parasites.
New research finds that antibiotic use reduces the diversity of microbes in the gut, making it harder for the immune system to fight off infections. This disruption can compromise the intestinal barrier and leave the gut vulnerable to severe infection.
Researchers from CU Anschutz and UC San Diego found that creosote bush compounds exhibit potent anti-parasitic activity against Giardia and Naegleria fowleri, two deadly parasites responsible for giardiasis and primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. The discovery could lead to a more effective treatment option for these infections.
Researchers highlight the crucial role of outreach and education in disease elimination programs. In Thailand's successful liver fluke control model, educational efforts, including comics and songs, have led to significant reductions in human infection rates. The campaign's focus on community empowerment and addressing social factors h...
Researchers at UCR discovered that infected insects emit an odor called prenol that repels nematodes looking for a new host. This finding supports the use of nematodes as a tool for controlling crop pests.
Researchers developed an algorithm that identifies the most influential people in social networks, known as 'hubs', and targeting them can effectively isolate a contagion. The approach shows promising results in controlling diseases like parasitic worm infections by treating fewer households.
A study found that 7% of healthy Santa Barbara residents tested positive for raccoon roundworm antibodies, highlighting a previously undetected human infection risk. The parasite can survive over a year in the environment and cause severe health effects, including blindness or brain damage.
Researchers studied the relationship between an African forest bat, a novel virus, and a parasite, identifying all three as potentially new species. The study found that the parasite plays a crucial role in transmitting the virus, with the fly serving as a 'chauffeur' to help the virus spread.
A research team used micro-computer tomography to investigate the relationship between parasite and host masses, finding a positive correlation. This suggests that larger hosts support larger parasites. The study also sheds light on the life-cycle of parasitic barnacles, revealing two groups with different competitive strategies.
Researchers warn of increased risk of cryptosporidiosis due to drought conditions and inadequate water storage. Collaboration is key to reducing infection cases, say experts from the Australian National University.
Researchers have discovered rat lungworm in five Florida counties, with nearly 23% of rats testing positive for the parasitic nematode. The parasite can cause meningitis in humans and animals if ingested, highlighting concerns over climate change's impact on its spread.
A recent joint statement highlights the critical lack of knowledge on the worldwide distribution of disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Macroecologists propose creating a data network to close these gaps and predict future outbreaks.
Cases of human Powassan virus infection are rising in the US, particularly in northeastern and midwestern states. The virus is transmitted by Ixodes ticks and can cause fatal neuroinvasive disease and long-term neurological effects.
Research published in Infection and Immunity found that Giardia infection changed the mouse microbiome, leading to more aerobic bacteria and less diversity of anaerobic species. The study suggests that Giardia may be an ecological disease that disrupts the gut's stable ecology.
Nematodes, microscopic worms that control diseases in humans and kill insects, secrete deadly cocktails of proteins to infect hosts. Researchers developed a method to work with nematodes outside their host, identifying 472 proteins involved in parasitism.
Researchers studied mandrill behavior in Gabon's rainforests, finding they avoid sick individuals through olfactory cues. This 'behavioral immune system' minimizes parasite transmission, influencing social behavior and co-evolution.
A retrospective analysis of patients with babesiosis found six cases of warm-antibody autoimmune hemolytic anemia (WAHA) after treatment. Asplenic patients are at higher risk for this complication, which can be life-threatening and requires immunosuppressive treatment.
Researchers have discovered a new class of compounds that kill adult and egg stages of the human whipworm, a parasite infecting 500 million people. These compounds could lead to effective treatments and vaccines for whipworm infections, which cause physical and mental damage.
A new study investigated the potential role of North American animals as hosts for Zika virus. Researchers tested common animal species, including goats, pigeons, raccoons, and ducks, for infectious virus presence and antibodies. The findings suggest that these animals may serve as an unseen reservoir for Zika virus in urban environments.
A new study reveals that non-severe infections can significantly increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and depression. The research found a dose-response correlation between the number of infections and the risk of mental disorders, suggesting that even minor infections can have severe consequences.
Research suggests that the Apolipoprotein E4 allele, associated with high risk for Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases, may offer protection against cognitive decline caused by parasitic infections. In a remote population of Amazonian foragers, carriers of this allele maintained cognitive performance despite high parasite burdens.
Researchers have developed a rapid test to monitor drug resistance in hookworms, which can cause disease and stunted growth. The new test uses short nucleotide polymorphisms to detect drug-resistant mutations in as little as 1% of a sample, taking only 60 minutes.
Researchers have identified four new species of parasites infecting an invasive freshwater fish in Japan. The discovery sheds light on the role of parasites in natural ecosystems and their potential impact on native species.
Researchers found that Varroa jacobsoni mites are shifting from Asian to European honeybees, posing a new threat to pollinators. The study identified key genes involved in the host switch and potential control strategies.
Biochemists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered indolepyruvate, a metabolic by-product of trypanosome activity, which may offer possibilities for developing anti-trypanosome drugs. Inhibiting its production could be key in fighting the parasite, which causes sleeping sickness and kills millions in sub-Saharan Africa.
A newly discovered protozoan parasite, Tritrichomonas musculis, has been found to protect mice from intestinal bacterial infections by activating the inflammasome in gut epithelial cells. This discovery highlights the importance of considering non-bacterial microorganisms in studying the microbiome.
Researchers have identified Zika virus in mosquito species other than Aedes aegypti, raising concerns about alternative transmission sources. However, studies show that Culex species mosquitoes are highly unlikely to transmit the infection to humans, highlighting the need for targeted mosquito control efforts.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have discovered a new drug that can be administered orally to treat human African trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. The study's lead author hopes to accelerate development of new treatments for this complex disease.
Scientists have identified a clear distinction between two strains of mice susceptible to Ascaris infection, with the resistant strain showing an earlier immune response and more rapid tissue repair. The study suggests manipulating hepatic ROS levels may confer resistance to Ascaris in susceptible mice.
Researchers found that resistant mice have higher levels of reactive oxygen species proteins and a more rapid tissue repair response in the liver. This suggests that highly oxidative conditions may be key to murine resistance to Ascaris infection.
Researchers discovered that metacyclic trypanosomes are highly infectious and can colonize the skin of mice, leading to systemic infection. A subpopulation of parasites stays in the skin for at least 7 days, multiplying and interacting with local fat cells and collagen fibers.
Researchers discovered TNF's mechanism to protect against intracellular pathogens like Leishmania major. By inhibiting arginase 1, TNF increases nitric oxide production, which suppresses the pathogens, providing a plausible explanation for increased infection susceptibility during anti-TNF treatments.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that emetine, an old drug once used to treat amebiasis, can also halt the replication of cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus causing serious disease in immunocompromised individuals. Lower concentrations and less frequent doses of emetine may be effective for CMV inhibition.
Researchers have created summative world maps of mammal-to-human diseases, revealing understudied patterns and insights into zoonotic disease emergence. The maps show that hotspots of zoonotic diseases don't match hotspots of biodiversity closely, with more zoonotic hosts in the tropics but more zoonotic diseases in temperate regions.
A novel combination therapy has been found to clear the infection and prevent recurrence of babesiosis up to 122 days after treatment. The study used a mouse model to test the efficacy of atovaquone and ELQ-334, two drugs that work together to attack the parasite's target enzyme.
Researchers from Tomsk State University have discovered that bats can act as transmitters of infections, including those caused by bacteria and nematodes. The study found gamasid mites in bat samples, which are common among rodents, indicating close contact between the two species.
Researchers found that human activities drive disease distributions at local scales for diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease, while climate change impacts regional scales. The study highlights the importance of considering multiple spatial scales to understand human ecological impacts on biodiversity and disease emergence.
A new study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that nearly three-quarters of poor children in a Bangladeshi slum were infected with Cryptosporidium, leading to stunted growth and malnutrition. The parasite can cause permanent damage to the intestines' ability to absorb nutrients, even if symptoms are not present.
Researchers found high levels of varroa mites and fungal parasites, with severe correlations to viral diseases like Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. The study provides crucial baseline data for tracking future trends in honey bee health.
An intervention at a Canadian acute care facility screened and isolated asymptomatic C. difficile carriers, leading to a 50% decrease in health-care associated infections. The study estimated that the intervention prevented approximately 63 cases, suggesting a cost-effective strategy for preventing C. difficile infection.