Article
Parasitology
Chuanchuan Liu, Haining Fan, Jie Ma, Lan Ma, Ri-li Ge
Summary: The study demonstrated that thiacloprid has promising parasiticidal activity against E. multilocularis both in vitro and in vivo, showing effectiveness against metacestodes and germinal cells. Additionally, thiacloprid also promoted collagen deposition in the host lesion microenvironment, suggesting its potential value in the treatment of AE.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Chuanchuan Liu, Haining Fan, Lu Guan, Ri-li Ge, Lan Ma
Summary: Crocin demonstrated parasiticidal activity against E. multilocularis both in vitro and in vivo. It showed lower toxicity to mammalian cells compared to metacestodes. Administration of crocin significantly reduced metacestode weight and caused structural disruption in the parasite.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dominic Ritler, Reto Rufener, Jia V. Li, Urs Kampfer, Joachim Mueller, Claudia Buhr, Stefan Schurch, Britta Lundstrom-Stadelmann
Summary: The paper has been updated with an amendment, which can be accessed through a link provided at the top of the paper.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Matilde Martini, Sonja Dumendiak, Anna Gagliardo, Francesco Ragazzini, Letizia La Rosa, Dimitri Giunchi, Frank Thielen, Thomas Romig, Alessandro Massolo, Marion Wassermann
Summary: Muskrats are competent intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis and other cestodes, and a study in Luxembourg found high infection rates and reproductive potential of E. multilocularis in muskrats. The prevalence of E. multilocularis showed a significant increase over the study period, and host age and co-infection with Hydatigera kamiyai were identified as important risk factors for infection.
Article
Microbiology
Haijun Gao, Lele Huo, Xiaojin Mo, Bin Jiang, Yanping Luo, Bin Xu, Jingzhong Li, Xingming Ma, Tao Jing, Zheng Feng, Ting Zhang, Wei Hu
Summary: This study found that Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) has a potent anti-echinococcal effect with lower toxicity compared to albendazole, making it a potential chemotherapeutic agent for alveolar echinococcosis. The suppressive effect of PAB on the parasite may involve down-regulation of the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Pei Zhou, Zhen Zhou, Meiduo Huayu, Lei Wang, Lin Feng, Yang Xiao, Yao Dai, Mingyuan Xin, Feng Tang, Runle Li
Summary: In this study, a multi-epitope vaccine GILE containing dominant epitopes of Echinococcus Multilocularis (E. multilocularis) infection was successfully constructed. The GILE vaccine showed good immunogenicity and antigenicity, providing a theoretical and experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of E. multilocularis infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Qi Xin, Huanping Li, Miaomiao Yuan, Xiaoxia Song, Tao Jing
Summary: The changes in biotransformation enzymes caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection and drug treatment can significantly affect the metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotic compounds in the liver of mice. Different drugs, such as albendazole and 3-bromopyruvate, affect different hepatic biotransformation enzymes and may impact their metabolism.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Nosheen Basharat, Jadoon Khan, Irfan Ullah, Aamer Ali Shah, Ijaz Ali
Summary: In this study, the molecular characterization of human echinococcosis in the southern Punjab region of Pakistan was conducted. The majority of human infections were caused by E. granulosus s.s., followed by E. multilocularis and E. canadensis. Genotypic characterization among both human and livestock populations is needed to explore the genetic diversity of echinococcosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Louis B. Polish, Bobbi Pritt, Thomas F. E. Barth, Bruno Gottstein, Elise M. O'Connell, Pamela C. Gibson
Summary: This study identified the first case of a European haplotype of Echinococcus multilocularis in the United States, suggesting an emerging infectious disease in North America.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Louis B. Polish, Elise M. O'Connell, Roger Ramirez-Barrios
Summary: This report describes the identification of a more virulent European haplotype of Echinococcus multilocularis in both humans and animals (foxes) in the United States, suggesting the zoonotic spread of this parasite.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Chuanchuan Liu, Haining Fan, Lu Guan, Lan Ma, Ri-li Ge
Summary: Research has shown that allicin has anti-E. multilocularis effects in vitro and in vivo, and can enhance immune function in mice, making it a potential lead compound against echinococcosis.
ACTA PARASITOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Tanja Karpstein, Sheena Chaudhry, Solange Bresson-Hadni, Michael Hayoz, Ghalia Boubaker, Andrew Hemphill, Reto Rufener, Marc Kaethner, Isabelle Schindler, Yolanda Aebi, Antonio Sa Cunha, Carlo R. Largiader, Britta Lundstroem-Stadelmann
Summary: While Maca itself did not directly act on the parasite, it enhanced the efficacy of albendazole in reducing parasite burden in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. This could be due to potential immunomodulatory effects of Maca, as it induced proliferation of murine spleen cells in vitro.
Article
Parasitology
Huijiao Jiang, Xiaoyi Wang, Lijiao Guo, Xiaowu Tan, Xianwei Gui, Zhenyu Liao, Zhiwei Li, Xueling Chen, Xiangwei Wu
Summary: The study demonstrated that SU11248 effectively inhibited the growth of E. multilocularis metacestodes and reduced neovascular lesions. The expression of pro-angiogenic factors VEGFA, VEGFR2, and p-VEGFR2 was significantly decreased in the metacestode tissues after SU11248 treatment. It also showed some anthelmintic effects in vitro, damaging the cellular structure of the metacestodes. Moreover, SU11248 was less toxic to certain cells and completely inhibited EPC migration.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Lei Wang, Wei Wei, Pei Zhou, Haisheng Liu, Baoliang Yang, Lin Feng, Ri-Li Ge, Runle Li, Feng Tang
Summary: This study evaluated the bioinformatic and enzymatic characteristics of recombinant Echinococcus multilocularis LAP protein, demonstrating its immunogenicity and preventive efficacy in a mouse model. The successfully expressed rEm-LAP protein in Escherichia coli induced a mixed-type immune response and significantly reduced cysts in the infected mice.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Shigehiro Enkai, Hirokazu Kouguchi, Daniel Ken Inaoka, Takao Irie, Kinpei Yagi, Kiyoshi Kita
Summary: This study demonstrated that combination therapy of ABZ and ATV shortened the elimination time in in vitro experiments compared to ATV alone, and significantly reduced the growth of primary cysts in the livers of mice infected with E. multilocularis eggs orally, when compared with ABZ therapy alone. ATV enhances the efficacy of ABZ in the treatment of AE in mice.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joachim Muller, Nicoleta Anghel, Dennis Imhof, Kai Hanggeli, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Manfred Heller, Kayode K. Ojo, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: Neospora caninum, closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasite that can cause fetal malformations in livestock. The development of calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitors has shown promise in treating neosporosis. However, some of these inhibitors have adverse effects on fertility in pregnant mouse models and cause embryonic malformations in zebrafish models. Through affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry, it has been found that BKI-1748 interacts not only with specific targets in apicomplexans but also with targets in other eukaryotes, indicating involvement in common essential pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Peter Kuhnert, Isabelle Brodard, Sabine Bock, Andrew Hemphill, Hatice Akarsu, Andreas Engelhardt, Peter Kutzer
Summary: Seven bacterial strains isolated from bovine endocarditis were classified into a new genus within the family Neisseriaceae, distinct from established genera. Whole genome sequence analysis and MALDI-TOF MS spectra analysis were effective methods for identification.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Dennis Imhof, William Robert Pownall, Carling Schlange, Camille Monney, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Kayode K. Ojo, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Anna Oevermann, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: This study investigated the safety and efficacy of a combined vaccination-drug treatment approach in a pregnant neosporosis mouse model. The results showed that the combination treatment was more effective in reducing infection and improving pup survival compared to vaccination or drug treatment alone. Further evaluation is recommended.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sheena Chaudhry, Raphael Zurbriggen, Matias Preza, Tobias Kampfer, Marc Kaethner, Roman Memedovski, Nathalie Scorrano, Andrew Hemphill, Joseph Stone Doggett, Britta Lundstrom-Stadelmann
Summary: Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the zoonotic parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, could potentially be treated through a novel approach targeting the mitochondrial energy metabolism of the parasite, specifically the oxidative phosphorylation and the anaerobic malate dismutation pathways.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oksana Desiatkina, Ghalia Boubaker, Nicoleta Anghel, Yosra Amdouni, Andrew Hemphill, Julien Furrer, Emilia Paunescu
Summary: This study reports the synthesis, photophysical properties, and antiparasitic efficacy of a series of 15 new conjugates that are fluorescent markers against Toxoplasma gondii beta-gal. The influence of different bond types and lengths on fluorescence and biological activity was evaluated. The compounds show limited antiparasitic activity but potential as fluorescent probes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai Pascal Alexander Haenggeli, Andrew Hemphill, Norbert Mueller, Bernd Schimanski, Philipp Olias, Joachim Mueller, Ghalia Boubaker
Summary: In this study, single and duplex TaqMan qPCR methods were developed for the absolute quantification of integrated drug selectable marker mdhfr-ts in Toxoplasma gondii. The single TaqMan qPCR method should have twice the copy number of dhfr-ts as compared to WT parasites in KO parasites. The duplex TaqMan qPCR method can simultaneously amplify the dhfr-ts fragment and the 529-bp repeat element in T. gondii for accurate detection of KOs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alireza Badirzadeh, Mehdi Najm, Andrew Hemphill, Maryam Alipour, Hamid Hasanpour, Leila Masoori, Poorya Karimi
Summary: This study investigated the effect of negative air ions (NAIs) therapy on Leishmania parasites in vitro and in a murine model. The results showed that NAIs therapy significantly decreased the viability of Leishmania parasites and reduced footpad lesion size and parasite burden in infected mice. Additionally, NAIs therapy boosted immune responses and reduced the induction of IL-4 and arginase activity, while increasing IFN-gamma and NO levels. However, NAIs therapy was less effective than amphotericin B treatment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joachim Mueller, Ghalia Boubaker, Dennis Imhof, Kai Haenggeli, Noe Haudenschild, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Manfred Heller, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: Leucinostatins are antimicrobial peptides that have a broad range of activities. In this study, a derivative peptide called 6027 was tested for its activity against Toxoplasma gondii, a parasitic organism. While effective in vitro, the application of peptide 6027 in mice infected with T. gondii worsened the infection. Peptide 6027 also affected the viability of mouse splenocytes. Through differential affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry, common targets for peptide 6027 were identified in both T. gondii and mouse spleen extracts. This method can be a useful way to identify drug targets in pathogens and hosts.
Article
Immunology
Monireh Khordadmehr, Alireza Sazmand, Pardis Almasi, Parisa Shahbazi, Vahidreza Ranjbar, Domenico Otranto, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: This study provides an overview of the prevalence and exposure to tissue cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites in Iranian domestic rock pigeons through molecular, serological, and histopathological examination. The results demonstrate that pigeons in Iran are infected, particularly with T. gondii, and suggest the need for control strategies to minimize the risk of infection in both pigeons and humans.
COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oksana Desiatkina, Martin Moesching, Nicoleta Anghel, Ghalia Boubaker, Yosra Amdouni, Andrew Hemphill, Julien Furrer, Emilia Paunescu
Summary: A library of nucleobase-tethered trithiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II)-arene conjugates was synthesized and evaluated for their anti-Toxoplasma activity. Two promising compounds were identified, which exhibited low toxicity against host cells and have potential as treatment options.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabelle Holzer, Oksana Desiatkina, Nicoleta Anghel, Serena K. K. Johns, Ghalia Boubaker, Andrew Hemphill, Julien Furrer, Emilia Paunescu
Summary: Eight novel carbohydrate-tethered trithiolato dinuclear ruthenium(II)-arene complexes were synthesized and evaluated for their activity against transgenic T. gondii tachyzoites. Seven conjugates strongly inhibited parasite proliferation while maintaining HFF viability. Two galactose-based conjugates (23 and 26) exhibited low IC50 values and reduced toxicity compared to the non-modified complexes.
Article
Microbiology
Chandra Ramakrishnan, Aarti Krishnan, Samuel Francisco, Marc W. Schmid, Giancarlo Russo, Alexandre Leitao, Andrew Hemphill, Dominique Soldati-Favre, Adrian B. Hehl
Summary: This study presents a comparative analysis of gene expression in different stages of the Besnoitia besnoiti parasite, and discovers its potential as a model organism for studying the evolution of tissue cysts and the biology of related parasites. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the biology of besnoitiosis in cattle and other tissue-cyst forming parasites.
Article
Immunology
Dennis Imhof, William Pownall, Kai Pascal Alexander Hanggeli, Camille Monney, Laura Rico-San Roman, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Franck Forterre, Anna Oevermann, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: In this study, a modified version of the attenuated Listeria monocytogenes vaccine vector Lm3Dx_NcSAG1 was tested for its efficacy in a pregnant neosporosis mouse model. Multivalent vaccines were generated by inserting gra7 and/or rop2 genes into Lm3Dx_NcSAG1. Immunization with Lm3Dx_NcSAG1 and Lm3Dx_NcSAG1_NcGRA7_NcROP2 resulted in the highest postnatal pup survival rate and protection against vertical transmission and CNS infection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kai Pascal Alexander Hanggeli, Andrew Hemphill, Norbert Muller, Manfred Heller, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Joachim Muller, Ghalia Boubaker
Summary: Gene knock-out using CRISPR-Cas9 is a useful tool to identify gene functions in T. gondii and other model organisms. Previous studies have shown that knocking out a gene can also affect the expression of other genes. Therefore, caution should be taken when studying the relationship between specific phenotypes and the knock-out of a particular gene.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Joachim Mueller, Carling Schlange, Manfred Heller, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Richard K. Haynes, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: Artemisinin and its amino-artemisinin derivatives are potent antimalarials and exhibit different mechanisms of action against Plasmodium and T. gondii. The amino-artemisinins are effective in vitro against non-heme-degrading apicomplexan parasites including T. gondii. However, T. gondii strains readily adapt to increased concentrations of these compounds, resulting in the development of resistant strains.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)