Article
Parasitology
Jing Zhang, Zhenke Yang, Hangbin Ma, Xiaowei Tian, Jiani Li, Zihang Zhang, Longxin Yang, Mengchuang Feng, Xuefang Mei, Zhenchao Zhang, Xingrui Li, Shuai Wang
Summary: In this study, recombinant T. gondii Calreticulin (rTgCRT) was successfully expressed and used as a subunit vaccine against T. gondii infection in mice. The results showed that rTgCRT can induce strong cellular and humoral immune responses, providing protection against acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Iti Saraav, Luisa Cervantes-Barragan, Philipp Olias, Yong Fu, Qiuling Wang, Leran Wang, Yi Wang, Matthias Mack, Megan T. Baldridge, Thaddeus Stappenbeck, Marco Colonna, L. David Sibley
Summary: Oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii exacerbates damage to the colon caused by chemical irritant and impairs wound healing by suppressing stem cell regeneration. Enhanced tissue damage is due to inflammatory monocytes releasing inflammatory mediators.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yuchao Zhu, Yanan Xu, Lu Hong, Chunxue Zhou, Jia Chen
Summary: The study demonstrated that DNA immunization with TgGRA39 induced effective humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, providing protective immunity against Toxoplasma gondii infection.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Pablo-Jesus Marin-Garcia, Nuria Planas, Lola Llobat
Summary: This article reviews the detection methods, prevalence, and control measures of Toxoplasma gondii in the food industry. T. gondii is a common parasite that causes infection through food contamination, but standardized detection methods are currently lacking in the industry. The main detection methods include bioassays, cell culture, molecular and microscopic techniques, and serological methods. Due to the high prevalence of T. gondii in many food products, standardized detection methods and control measures are necessary.
Article
Immunology
Min Chen, Pei Yang, Zixuan Xin, Jiating Chen, Weihao Zou, Lijuan Zhou, Lili Yang, Jiao Peng, Hongjuan Peng
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogen causing toxoplasmosis and has similarities with immunotherapy for cancers. The knockout of GRA5 gene in T. gondii resulted in an avirulent strain that stimulated immune responses. ME49 & UDelta;gra5 vaccination provided protection against T. gondii infection and breast cancer by boosting anti-tumor responses. The vaccine upregulated Th1 cytokines and tumor-infiltrating T cells, and increased the number of immune cells in the spleen.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Mohammad Mahdi Jafari, Zahra Azimzadeh Tabrizi, Mohammad Saaid Dayer, Nazanin Atieh Kazemi-Sefat, Mahshid Mohtashamifard, Rahimeh Mohseni, Atefeh Bagheri, Saeed Bahadory, Amir Karimipour-Saryazdi, Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii infection is associated with immune response, which can be used as prognosis markers. Immunotherapy has become a new approach for toxoplasmosis treatment.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Jiaofeng Huang, Jiaolong Zheng, Bang Liu, Lingling Lu, Haicong Wu, Su Lin, Dongliang Li
Summary: This study found that Toxoplasma gondii infection is associated with higher mortality in the general population, and this association is related to age and sex. This suggests that Toxoplasma gondii infection may be an important public health issue.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Syrian G. Sanchez, Emilie Bassot, Aude Cerutti, Hoa Mai Nguyen, Amel Aida, Nicolas Blanchard, Sebastien Besteiro
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is responsible for toxoplasmosis, a disease that can be serious when contracted during pregnancy, but can also be a threat for immunocompromised individuals. The study finds that targeting the apicoplast in bradyzoites, the latent form of the parasite, leads to a loss of long-term viability, suggesting the apicoplast as a potential therapeutic target.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Hira Mohyuddin, Blanca Laffon, Joao P. Teixeira, Solange Costa, Armanda Teixeira-Gomes, Eduardo Pasaro, Niel Constantine, Aline Dagdag, Heidi K. Ortmeyer, Boris Tizenberg, Liubov Afram, Poyu Yen, Christopher Marano, Christopher A. Lowry, Andrew J. Hoisington, Jill A. Rachbeisel, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Carlota Lema-Arranz, Natalia Fernandez-Bertolez, Ana Maseda, Jose C. Millan-Calenti, Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Johanna M. Gostner, Dietmar Fuchs, Lisa A. Brenner, Laura Lorenzo-Lopez, Teodor T. Postolache
Summary: This study revealed an association between Toxoplasma gondii and frailty, but further research is needed for validation. Certain biomarkers related to inflammaging were associated with both Toxoplasma gondii and frailty, but they did not fully mediate the association between the two.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Amy C. Schumacher, Lina Elbadawi, Traci DeSalvo, Anne Straily, Daniel Ajzenberg, David Letzer, Ellen Moldenhauer, Tammy L. Handly, Dolores Hill, Marie-Laure Darde, Christelle Pomares, Karine Passebosc-Faure, Kristine Bisgard, Carlos A. Gomez, Cindy Press, Stephanie Smiley, Jose G. Montoya, James J. Kazmierczak
Summary: In 2017, an outbreak of toxoplasmosis was linked to undercooked venison served at a retreat in Wisconsin. Most of the attendees experienced illness, with laboratory results showing atypical features for toxoplasmosis. The strain of T. gondii found in the venison was a unique genotype, highlighting the potential risks of consuming undercooked game meat in North America.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Thais Cabral Monica, Fernanda Evers, Beatriz Souza Lima Nino, Fernanda Pinto-Ferreira, Jose Wander Bregano, Mariana Ragassi Urbano, Guita Rubinsky-Elefant, Roberta Lemos Freire, Italmar Teodorico Navarro, Regina Mitsuka-Bregano
Summary: The study examined the seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis in schoolchildren in Jataizinho, Parana, revealing associations with factors such as the mother's education level, age, presence of cats in the household, income, and presence of dogs. There was also an association between the two zoonoses, highlighting the importance of implementing control measures to reduce the incidence and risks of sequelae in children.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ragab M. Fereig, Yoshifumi Nishikawa
Summary: In this study, the cyto-nuclear and mitochondrial localization of TgPrx1 and TgPrx3 proteins in Toxoplasma gondii were revealed. Knocking out TgPrx1 and TgPrx3 genes in T. gondii resulted in decreased survival rate in mice infected with TgPrx3KO strain compared to TgPrx1KO and control strains. Additionally, TgPrx1KO and TgPrx3KO induced high levels of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and increased IL-6 and IL-12p40 production in infected mice and murine macrophages. These findings suggest that TgPrx3 may be a potential sub-unit vaccine candidate for controlling toxoplasmosis in susceptible humans and animals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lokman Galal, Frederic Ariey, Meriadeg Ar Gouilh, Marie-Laure Darde, Azra Hamidovic, Franck Letourneur, Franck Prugnolle, Aurelien Mercier
Summary: This study analyzes 156 genomes of Toxoplasma gondii and provides estimates of the parasite's mutation rate and generation time. It reveals that a specific haplotype is associated with the spread of the parasite through cats, indicating its role in sexual reproduction.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rajib Acharjee, Keith K. Talaam, Endah D. Hartuti, Yuichi Matsuo, Takaya Sakura, Bundutidi M. Gloria, Shinya Hidano, Yasutoshi Kido, Mihoko Mori, Kazuro Shiomi, Masakazu Sekijima, Tomoyoshi Nozaki, Kousuke Umeda, Yoshifumi Nishikawa, Shinjiro Hamano, Kiyoshi Kita, Daniel K. Inaoka
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects a large portion of the global human population. A new potential drug target, TgMQO, has been identified in this study, and a novel expression system was developed to study its characteristics. Ferulenol, an MQO inhibitor, showed promising inhibitory effects on TgMQO, with distinct binding sites from other known inhibitors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ningbo Xia, Nuo Ji, Longjiao Li, Yuan Huang, Congshan Yang, Xuefang Guo, Qinghong Guo, Bang Shen, Lihua Xiao, Yaoyu Feng
Summary: This study investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in cats across China. The study found higher infection rates in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hunan, and reported the seroprevalence in Qinghai, Anhui, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, and Ningxia for the first time. Age and lifestyle (stray or pet) of cats were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Meng Yee Lai, Yee Ling Lau
Summary: We developed a combination of recombinase polymerase and loop-mediated isothermal amplification methods (RAMP) for rapid screening of five human Plasmodium spp. simultaneously. The RAMP assay showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared to microscopy, making it a potential routine diagnostic method for malaria.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Lee Phone Youth Zen, Meng Yee Lai, Syaza Izzati binti Rozlan, Mohd Hafizi Abdul Hamid, Jenarun Jelip, Rose Nani Mudin, Yee Ling Lau
Summary: This study proposes the use of colorimetric dyes (malachite green, phenol red, and xylenol orange) in the LAMP assay to simplify current end-point detection methods. The optimal concentration of dyes was determined to be 125μM MG at pH 8.8, which produced the most obvious color change. MG-LAMP showed 100% sensitivity and specificity when tested on 71 clinical blood samples. This method is simple, affordable, and suitable for malaria diagnosis in resource-limited settings.
EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Meng Yee Lai, Fatma Diyana Mohd Bukhari, Nur Zulaikha Zulkefli, Ilyiana Ismail, Nur Izati Mustapa, Tuan Suhaila Tuan Soh, Afifah Haji Hassan, Kalaiarasu M. Peariasamy, Yee Leng Lee, Jeyanthi Suppiah, Ravindran Thayan, Yee Ling Lau
Summary: This study proposes a method to prevent contamination in RT-LAMP by adding dUTP and UDG to the reaction mix, resulting in good results. The UDG RT-LAMP method is simple, fast, and suitable for medical facilities with limited equipment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Yee Ling Ng, Yee Ling Lau, Mohd Hafizi Abdul Hamid, Jenarun Jelip, Choo Huck Ooi, Rose Nani Mudin, Joel Judson Jaimin, Mun Yik Fong
Summary: This study investigated the genetic polymorphism and natural selection of PkTRAMP from P. knowlesi clinical isolates in Malaysia. The nucleotide diversity of PkTRAMP was found to be low, indicating negative selection. Analysis of the amino acid sequences revealed 38 dimorphic sites and 27 haplotypes, with no clustering observed between samples from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yee Ling Ng, Wenn-Chyau Lee, Yee-Ling Lau, Mun Yik Fong
Summary: This study demonstrates that minor variations in the conserved parasite protein PkAMA-1 can have significant impacts on parasite invasion biology, suggesting complex host-switching of P. knowlesi from different locations. This may challenge the implementation of standardized One Health approaches against the transmission of knowlesi malaria.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Meng Yee Lai, Mohd Abdul Hamid, Jenarun Jelip, Rose Nani Mudin, Yee Ling Lau
Summary: This study developed two lateral flow recombinase polymerase amplification assays for detecting human malaria. The assays showed high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 1 copy/mL for various malaria species. They also demonstrated no cross-reactivity with nonhuman malaria parasites and were easy to use without special equipment. These assays have the potential to be an effective alternative to polymerase chain reaction methods for malaria diagnosis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Choo Huck Ooi, Wei Kit Phang, Jonathan Wee Kent Liew, Wahib M. Atroosh, Yee Ling Lau
Summary: Malaysia has successfully eliminated indigenous cases of human malaria, but imported malaria cases have become increasingly common, particularly in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. This study examines the epidemiological characteristics of these imported cases and highlights the challenges they pose to malaria elimination efforts.
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Meng Li Wong, Zulhisham Zulzahrin, Indra Vythilingam, Yee Ling Lau, I-Ching Sam, Mun Yik Fong, Wenn-Chyau Lee
Summary: This review discusses the complex transmission profiles of vector-borne zoonoses and vector-borne infections with animal reservoirs. It highlights the differences among environmental, chemical, and biological control approaches in vector management and discusses the concerns and knowledge gaps pertaining to these control approaches. The review aims to better understand the prospects of integrating these vector control approaches to break the transmission of these infections in humans.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Wei Kit Phang, Mohd Hafizi bin Abdul Hamid, Jenarun Jelip, Rose Nani binti Mudin, Ting-Wu Chuang, Yee Ling Lau, Mun Yik Fong
Summary: The emergence of potentially life-threatening zoonotic malaria caused by Plasmodium knowlesi nearly two decades ago has continued to challenge Malaysia healthcare. A study was conducted to investigate the ecological distribution of human P. knowlesi malaria in relation to environmental factors in Peninsular Malaysia. Machine learning-based models were applied to predict the spatial variation of disease risk, with XGBoost showing higher performance compared to MaxEnt and ensemble model.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Correction
Microbiology
Wei Kit Phang, Mohd Hafizi bin Abdul Hamid, Jenarun Jelip, Rose Nani Binti Mudin, Ting-Wu Chuang, Yee Ling Lau, Mun Yik Fong
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Meng Yee Lai, Lee Phone Youth Zen, Mohd Hafizi Abdul Hamid, Jenarun Jelip, Rose Nani Mudin, Vun Jan Shui Ivan, Lee Ngie Ping Francis, Izreena Saihidi, Yee Ling Lau
Summary: We propose a protocol combining loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay and lateral flow for point-of-care diagnosis of malaria. The multiplex LAMP-LF platform developed here can detect multiple species of Plasmodium with high sensitivity and specificity. The simple and purification-free DNA extraction method employed in this protocol makes it suitable for resource-limited settings.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Naqib Rafieqin Noordin, Yee Ling Lau, Fei Wen Cheong, Mun Yik Fong
Summary: This study examined the genetic diversity of pkmsp-1 gene in Malaysian Plasmodium knowlesi isolates. The full-length pkmsp-1 sequence was characterized and compared with sequences from Malaysia Borneo and Thailand. The results revealed that the pkmsp-1 gene undergoes purifying/negative selection and forms three clusters.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
J. H. Tan, F. W. Cheong, Y. L. Lau, M. Y. Fong
Summary: This study aims to characterize the CSP repeat motifs of P. knowlesi isolates in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 64 P. knowlesi isolates were analyzed and 35 dominant repeat motifs were identified. The repeat motif AGQPQAQGDGANAGQPQAQGDGAN, with the highest repeat frequency (n=15) and antigenicity index of 1.7986, could be designed as a potential knowlesi malaria vaccine.
TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
U. W. Azlan, Y. L. Lau, M. H. A. Hamid, J. Jelip, C. H. Ooi, R. N. Mudin, J. J. Jaimin, M. Y. Fong
Summary: This study investigates the genetic diversity and natural selection of the PkSPATR gene of P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Malaysia. The findings reveal low genetic diversity, significant purifying selection, and absence of clustering in the PkSPATR protein, suggesting functional constraints.
TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nur Zulaikha Zulkefli, Fatma Diyana Mohd Bukhari, Meng Yee Lai, Jeyanthi Suppiah, Ravindran Thayan, Mohd Khairi Mat Isa, Yee Ling Lau
Summary: Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is a robust and cost-effective assay for rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. By incorporating a simple Chelex 100 resin-based RNA extraction step, the RT-LAMP technique allows for quick detection of SARS-CoV-2.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
