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Itaconate as a potential target for antimalarial therapy Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Jonathon P. Bernardi, Taylen J. Nappi, Noah S. Butler
In a recent publication, investigated monocyte-derived dendritic cell (MODC) mobilization in response to infection. The authors showed that elevated levels of itaconate in MODCs results in reduced CD8 T cell activation and that the absence of itaconate is associated with enhanced parasite control.
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Unlocking the mystery of the feeder organelle and versatile energy metabolism in Cryptosporidium parvum Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Dongqiang Wang, Guan Zhu
recently revealed the critical role of 's feeder organelle in nutrient uptake, showcasing the parasite's ability to harness glucose and glucose-6-phosphate from host cells. This illuminates the sophisticated energy metabolism and survival strategies of the parasite, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.
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Navigating the terrain of neutrophil extracellular traps in severe malaria pathogenesis Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Maria Saeed, Elizabeth H. Aitken, Stephen J. Rogerson
recently showed in a ANKA (PbA) experimental malaria model that phosphatase of regenerating liver 2 (PRL2) regulates neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in severe malaria (SM)-related acute lung injury (ALI). PRL2 deficiency caused SM with ALI in a mouse model by increasing NETs in pulmonary tissue; hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may ameliorate this.
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Vector biology of the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Charlotte O. Moore, Marcos Rogério André, Jan Šlapeta, Edward B. Breitschwerdt
, the cat flea, is among the most prevalent and widely dispersed vectors worldwide. Unfortunately, research on and associated pathogens ( and spp.) lags behind that of other vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Therefore, we aimed to review fundamental aspects of as a vector (behavior, epidemiology, phylogenetics, immunology, and microbiome composition) with an emphasis on key techniques and research
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Revisiting the determinants of malaria transmission Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Lauriane Sollelis, Virginia M. Howick, Matthias Marti
Malaria parasites have coevolved with humans over thousands of years, mirroring their migration out of Africa. They persist to this day, despite continuous elimination efforts worldwide. These parasites can adapt to changing environments during infection of human and mosquito, and when expanding the geographical range by switching vector species. Recent studies in the human malaria parasite, , identified
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Brain parasites and misorientation of migratory birds Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Staffan Bensch, Mélanie Duc, Gediminas Valkiūnas
blood parasites of birds are thought to be relatively benign. Recent findings show that infections may develop in the brain of birds, possibly distorting their orientation sense. Misdirected migration may lead migrants outside their range where they are recognized as vagrants and can transmit parasites to novel hosts.
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Insects' essential role in understanding and broadening animal medication Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Silvio Erler, Sheena C. Cotter, Dalial Freitak, Hauke Koch, Evan C. Palmer-Young, Jacobus C. de Roode, Angela M. Smilanich, H. Michael G. Lattorff
Like humans, animals use plants and other materials as medication against parasites. Recent decades have shown that the study of insects can greatly advance our understanding of medication behaviors. The ease of rearing insects under laboratory conditions has enabled controlled experiments to test critical hypotheses, while their spectrum of reproductive strategies and living arrangements – ranging
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Gaps in parasitological research in the molecular era Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Tomáš Scholz
We live in the age of molecular biology and ‘-omics’, and molecular methods have opened up unimagined possibilities for biological research, including parasitology. However, too one-sided a focus on new approaches can lead to major gaps as less ‘cool’ topics are neglected. Selected areas of research are briefly discussed to highlight the gaps caused by the current excessive focus on molecular and ‘-omics’
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Arbovirus impact on mosquito behavior: the jury is still out Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-28 Théo Maire, Louis Lambrechts, Felix J.H. Hol
Parasites can manipulate host behavior to enhance transmission, but our understanding of arbovirus-induced changes in mosquito behavior is limited. Here, we explore current knowledge on such behavioral alterations in mosquito vectors, focusing on host-seeking and blood-feeding behaviors. Reviewing studies on dengue, Zika, La Crosse, Sindbis, and West Nile viruses in or mosquitoes reveals subtle yet
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A promising pipeline of preclinical drug candidates for leishmaniasis and chronic Chagas’ disease Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Manuel Saldivia, Ana Paula C.A. Lima, Jeremy C. Mottram
The drug discovery pipeline for leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis has been filling with novel chemical entities with known mechanisms of action. and report a cytochrome bc complex inhibitor as another promising preclinical candidate for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and, in combination with benznidazole, for chronic Chagas’ disease (CCD).
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Emerging roles of the epitranscriptome in parasitic protozoan biology and pathogenesis Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-13 Gangqiang Guo, Yutong Lin, Xinqi Zhu, Feng Ding, Xiangyang Xue, Qingfeng Zhang
RNA modifications (epitranscriptome) – such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and pseudouridine (Ψ) – modulate RNA processing, stability, interaction, and translation, thereby playing critical roles in the development, replication, virulence, metabolism, and life cycle adaptations of parasitic protozoa. Here, we summarize potential homologs of the major human RNA modification regulatory
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Amirthalingamia macracantha Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Tomáš Scholz, Nadav Davidovich
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Sex in a dish: high-efficiency Toxoplasma pre-sexual development Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-03 Nicole D. Hryckowian, Laura J. Knoll
successfully grew cat-restricted stages of in cell culture by targeting parasite epigenetics and transcription factors. The highlight of this report is how efficiently parasites convert to these pre-sexual stages. Their work is an important step toward achieving feline-free recapitulation of the sexual cycle.
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Entomophthora muscae Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-02 Carolyn Elya
Abstract not available
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Snail microbiota and snail–schistosome interactions: axenic and gnotobiotic technologies Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Xi Sun, Jinni Hong, Tao Ding, Zhongdao Wu, Datao Lin
The microbiota in the intermediate snail hosts of human schistosomes can significantly affect host biology. For decades, researchers have developed axenic snails to manipulate the symbiotic microbiota. This review summarizes the characteristics of symbiotic microbes in intermediate snail hosts and describes their interactions with snails, affecting snail growth, development, and parasite transmission
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Appropriate naming of the two Plasmodium ovale species Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-24 Georges Snounou, Paul M. Sharp, Richard Culleton
Abstract not available
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Mosquito core viromes: do they exist? Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-23 Cassandra Koh, Maria-Carla Saleh
Abstract not available
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Parasitic nematodes: dietary habits and their implications Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-22 Ching-Jung Lin, Shahid Siddique
Nematodes, a diverse group of roundworms, exhibit a wide range of dietary habits, including parasitism of animals and plants. These parasites cause substantial economic losses in agriculture and pose significant health challenges to humans and animals. This review explores the unique adaptations of parasitic nematodes, emphasizing their nutritional requirements and metabolic dependencies. Recent research
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Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-22 Sarah Myers, Kathryn Duncan
Abstract not available
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Glycosylation in malaria parasites: what do we know? Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-22 D. Channe Gowda, Louis H. Miller
In malaria parasites, although post-translational modification of proteins with N-. O-, and C-glycosidic bond-linked glycans is limited, it is confined to relatively fewer proteins in which the glycans are present at significant levels and may have important functions. Furthermore, several proteins are modified with glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) which represent the predominant glycan synthesized
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Zoonotic dirofilariases: one, no one, or more than one parasite Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-15 Livia Perles, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Jürgen Krücken, Rodrigo Morchón, Julia Walochnik, Domenico Otranto
Dirofilaria spp. are vector-borne filarial nematodes that affect a variety of animal species, including humans. Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are the two main zoonotic species, but also other wildlife-associated Dirofilaria species are occasionally reported as causative agents of human dirofilariasis, including Dirofilaria striata, Dirofilaria tenuis, Dirofilaria ursi, Dirofilaria spectans
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Sphaerospora molnari Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-13 Tamás Dobai, Pavla Bartošová-Sojková
Abstract not available
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Biodiversity differentially impacts disease dynamics across marine and terrestrial habitats Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-11 Katrina M. Pagenkopp Lohan, Sarah A. Gignoux-Wolfsohn, Gregory M. Ruiz
The relationship between biodiversity and infectious disease, where increased biodiversity leads to decreased disease risk, originated from research in terrestrial disease systems and remains relatively underexplored in marine systems. Understanding the impacts of biodiversity on disease in marine versus terrestrial systems is key to continued marine ecosystem functioning, sustainable aquaculture,
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Designing equity, diversity, and inclusion training for postgraduate parasitologists Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Kieran Higgins
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) have received increased attention in the sciences, with increasing expectation that students will receive formal training in this area. However, compared with other biosciences, little guidance has been produced for parasitology educators. Therefore, this article presents the contents and evaluation of pilot training designed for postgraduates.
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Penicillidia conspicua Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Tamara Szentiványi, Péter Estók
Abstract not available
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The mosquito core virome: beyond the buzz Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-06 Lander De Coninck, Jelle Matthijnssens
Abstract not available
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Subscription and Copyright Information Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-03
Abstract not available
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Biomechanics of parasite migration within hosts Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Yi-Ting Yeh, Juan C. del Álamo, Conor R. Caffrey
The dissemination of protozoan and metazoan parasites through host tissues is hindered by cellular barriers, dense extracellular matrices, and fluid forces in the bloodstream. To overcome these diverse biophysical impediments, parasites implement versatile migratory strategies. Parasite-exerted mechanical forces and upregulation of the host's cellular contractile machinery are the motors for these
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Calling them names: variants of Plasmodium ovale Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Jan Šlapeta, Colin J. Sutherland, Hans-Peter Fuehrer
Abstract not available
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Wastewater-based surveillance of vector-borne pathogens: a cautionary note Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Farah Ishtiaq
Diamond et al. recently identified malaria and dengue as high-priority diseases in wastewater surveillance for climate-change-driven shifts in pathogen dynamics. When employing wastewater surveillance for vector-borne pathogens it is essential to take into account the geographical context, pathogen biology, and the availability of sewage networks for meaningful interventions.
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Baylisascaris procyonis (Raccoon roundworm) Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-26 Jessica Tzu-Wan Kuo, Timothy Wu, Araceli Lucio-Forster
Abstract not available
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The knowns and unknowns of helminth–host miRNA cross-kingdom communication Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-26 Sumaiya Chowdhury, Dayna Sais, Sheila Donnelly, Nham Tran
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that oversee gene modulation. They are integral to cellular functions and can migrate between species, leading to cross-kingdom gene suppression. Recent breakthroughs in helminth genome studies have sparked curiosity about helminth RNA regulators and their ability to regulate genes across species. Growing data indicate that helminth miRNAs have a significant
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Anopheles stephensi ecology and control in Africa Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-22 Guofa Zhou, Daibin Zhong, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, Guiyun Yan
The encroachment and rapid spread of Anopheles stephensi across Africa presents a significant challenge to malaria control and elimination efforts. Understanding the ecology and behavior of An. stephensi will critically inform control measures and provide prerequisite knowledge for exploring new larval and adult control tools to contain its spread.
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Time to drop the term ‘simian malaria parasites’ Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-20 Richard Culleton, Geoffrey Ian McFadden
The term ‘simian malaria parasites’ has crept into the modern malaria literature as a synonym for ‘non-human primate malaria parasites’, most commonly referring to species of Plasmodium infective to Old World monkeys. As humans are also simians, we contend that this usage is erroneous, and should not be used.
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Molecular markers for malaria genetic epidemiology: progress and pitfalls Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-20 Shazia Ruybal-Pesántez, Kirsty McCann, Jessy Vibin, Sasha Siegel, Sarah Auburn, Alyssa E. Barry
Over recent years, progress in molecular markers for genotyping malaria parasites has enabled informative studies of epidemiology and transmission dynamics. Results have highlighted the value of these tools for surveillance to support malaria control and elimination strategies. There are many different types and panels of markers available for malaria parasite genotyping, and for end users, the nuances
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Plasmodium falciparum ring-stage plasticity and drug resistance Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 Lucien Platon, Didier Ménard
Malaria is a life-threatening tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, of which Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal. Malaria parasites have a complex life cycle, with stages occurring in both the Anopheles mosquito vector and human host. Ring stages are the youngest form of the parasite in the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle and are associated with evasion of spleen
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Babesia divergens Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 Ana Maria Filipe, Viktoriya Levytska, Marie Jalovecka
Abstract not available
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Phylogenetic framework to explore trait evolution in Trypanosomatidae Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Alexei Yu. Kostygov, Amanda T.S. Albanaz, Anzhelika Butenko, Evgeny S. Gerasimov, Julius Lukeš, Vyacheslav Yurchenko
The number of sequenced trypanosomatid genomes has reached a critical point so that they are now available for almost all genera and subgenera. Based on this, we inferred a phylogenomic tree and propose it as a framework to study trait evolution together with some examples of how to do it.
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Measuring heterogeneities in soil-transmitted helminth transmission and control Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-11 Rosie Maddren, Roy M. Anderson
The global effort over the past decade to control soil-transmitted helminths (STH) has resulted in communities with endemic infection reaching low prevalence levels suitable for the validation of elimination as a public health problem (EPHP), defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as <2% of infections classified as moderate or heavy intensity. The spatial scale in which this is validated is
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Unravelling mysteries at the perivascular space: a new rationale for cerebral malaria pathogenesis Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Samuel C. Wassmer, Tania F. de Koning-Ward, Georges E.R. Grau, Saparna Pai
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe neurological complication caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasites; it is characterized by the sequestration of infected red blood cells within the cerebral microvasculature. New findings, combined with a better understanding of the central nervous system (CNS) barriers, have provided greater insight into the players and events involved in CM, including site-specific
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Translating mosquito viromes into vector management strategies Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Cassandra Koh, Maria-Carla Saleh
Mosquitoes are best known for transmitting human and animal viruses. However, they also harbour mosquito-specific viruses (MSVs) as part of their microbiota. These are a group of viruses whose diversity and prevalence overshadow their medically relevant counterparts. Although metagenomics sequencing has remarkably accelerated the discovery of these viruses, what we know about them is often limited
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The two parasite species formerly known as Plasmodium ovale Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Georges Snounou, Paul M. Sharp, Richard Culleton
Plasmodium ovale was the last of the exclusively human malaria parasites to be described, in 1922, and has remained the least well studied. Beginning in 1995, two divergent forms of the parasite, later termed ‘classic’ and ‘variant’, were described. By 2010, it was realised that these forms are two closely related, but genetically distinct and non-recombining species; they were given the names Plasmodium
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Advances and challenges in synthetic biology for mosquito control Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-24 Shih-Che Weng, Reem A. Masri, Omar S. Akbari
Mosquito-borne illnesses represent a significant global health peril, resulting in approximately one million fatalities annually. West Nile, dengue, Zika, and malaria are continuously expanding their global reach, driven by factors that escalate mosquito populations and pathogen transmission. Innovative control measures are imperative to combat these catastrophic ailments. Conventional approaches,
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Current and upcoming point-of-care diagnostics for schistosomiasis Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-23 Jonas Rivera, Yi Mu, Catherine A. Gordon, Malcolm K. Jones, Guofeng Cheng, Pengfei Cai
Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics are simple and effective portable tools that can be used for fast mapping of helminthic diseases and monitoring control programs. Most POC tests (POCTs) available for schistosomiasis diagnosis are lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs). The emergence of simple and rapid DNA isolation methods, along with isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategies – for example, loop-mediated
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Copper in parasitic protists – a hitherto neglected virulence factor Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-21 Maria Grechnikova, Zoltán Füssy, Robert Sutak
Copper plays a fundamental role in aerobic metabolism, but its role is double-edged, given its toxicity. Our understanding of copper metabolism in parasites remains rudimentary, despite its significance in virulence. Here we discuss how parasitic protists control copper homeostasis and show the potential key players identified by our bioinformatic analysis.
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Metarhizium robertsii Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-20 Junmei Shang, Shuangxiu Song, Chengshu Wang
Abstract not available
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Blastocystis: view from atop the gut–brain iceberg Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-16 Steven Santino Leonardi, Kevin Shyong-Wei Tan
Blastocystis is a common intestinal parasite that has been linked to gut pathology in humans. In this article, we highlight recent publications that offer insight into how these organisms can influence human cognition and the gut microbiome. We also suggest a potential mechanism of action by which this might occur.
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Subscription and Copyright Information Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-08
Abstract not available
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Nanopore sequencing for malaria molecular surveillance: opportunities and challenges Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-19 William L. Hamilton, Deus S. Ishengoma, Jonathan B. Parr, Daniel J. Bridges, Alyssa E. Barry
Nanopore-based sequencing platforms offer the potential for affordable malaria molecular surveillance (MMS) in resource-limited settings to track and ultimately counteract emerging threats, such as drug resistance and diagnostic escape. Here, we discuss opportunities and challenges to implementing MMS using nanopore sequencing, highlighting priority areas for technical development and innovation.
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Still running fast: Plasmodium ookinetes and sporozoites 125 years after their discovery Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-19 Mirko Singer, Friedrich Frischknecht
Plasmodium ookinetes and sporozoites were discovered 125 years ago by MacCallum (J. Exp. Med. 1898;3:117–136) and Ross (Ind. Med. Gaz. 1899;34:1–3), respectively. While the migration capacity of ookinetes was noted immediately, the movements of sporozoites remained enigmatic for decades. Today, we know many proteins involved in parasite migration and start to conceptualize a mechanistic understanding
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How colonization bottlenecks, tissue niches, and transmission strategies shape protozoan infections Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-14 Dana A. May, Fatima Taha, Matthew A. Child, Sarah E. Ewald
Protozoan pathogens such as Plasmodium spp., Leishmania spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Trypanosoma spp. are often associated with high-mortality, acute and chronic diseases of global health concern. For transmission and immune evasion, protozoans have evolved diverse strategies to interact with a range of host tissue environments. These interactions are linked to disease pathology, yet our understanding
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Vaccines against tick-borne diseases: a big step forward? Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-12 Nathalie Boulanger, Stephen Wikel
Ticks and tick-borne diseases are on the rise due to socioecosystemic changes and climate modification and are affecting human and animal health. Few vaccines are available. Two recent articles from Matias et al. and Pine et al. used mRNA technology to explore tick and pathogen proteins as vaccine candidates.
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Tick salivary glycans – a sugar-coated tick bite Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-12 Shahid Karim, Juan Manuel Leyva-Castillo, Sukanya Narasimhan
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods that transmit disease-causing pathogens worldwide. Tick saliva deposited into the tick-bite site is composed of an array of immunomodulatory proteins that ensure successful feeding and pathogen transmission. These salivary proteins are often glycosylated, and glycosylation is potentially critical for the function of these proteins. Some salivary glycans are linked
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Australian Society for Parasitology 2023: One Health, one globe Trends Parasitol. (IF 9.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-12 Deborah C. Holt, Steven Kho, Christian Doerig, Suji Yoo O’Connor, Madeleine Ray, Maree Widdicombe, Luke M. Hall, Angelica Fiona Tan, Timothy K.C. Ho, Alessia Hysa, Kaitlin Pekin, Keira Brown
Abstract not available