Article
Biology
Pavla Tumova, Lubos Voleman, Andreas Klingl, Eva Nohynkova, Gerhard Wanner, Pavel Dolezal
Summary: The presence of mitochondria is a distinguishing feature between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotes control mitochondrial inheritance mainly due to the presence of the genetic component, but little is known about the segregation of mitochondria to daughter cells during cell division. Anaerobic eukaryotic microbes evolved genomeless mitochondria-related organelles (MROs) providing a distinct mechanistic basis for maintenance of stable mitochondrial numbers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vendula Horackova, Lubos Voleman, Kari D. Hagen, Marketa Petru, Martina Vinopalova, Filip Weisz, Natalia Janowicz, Lenka Markova, Alzbeta Motyckova, Vladimira Najdrova, Pavla Tumova, Scott C. Dawson, Pavel Dolezal
Summary: This study demonstrated successful genome editing of G. intestinalis using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, achieving effective gene knockout and providing important tools for further research on parasitic protists.
Article
Microbiology
Malgorzata Smogula, Roland Wesolowski, Marta Pawlowska, Celestyna Mila-Kierzenkowska
Summary: Giardia intestinalis is a common food-borne protozoan, and 22 selected factors were found to have an impact on its survival assessment and detection. Microscopic method showed significant influence compared to real-time PCR. Prevention of infection is crucial, and further research and epidemiological observation are needed.
Article
Immunology
Kristyna Brozova, Milan Jirku, Zuzana Lhotska, Dana Kvetonova, Oldriska Kadlecova, Christen Rune Stensvold, Peter Samas, Klara J. Petrzelkova, Katerina Jirku
Summary: This study investigated the presence and epidemiology of Giardia in healthy volunteers in the Czech Republic and compared different diagnostic methods. The results showed that qPCR is the most sensitive method for detecting Giardia, and the prevalence of infection in asymptomatic individuals was 7%. Contact with animals was found to be the only factor significantly impacting the incidence of Giardia in healthy humans.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jana Caudet, Maria Trelis, Susana Cifre, Gabriela Tapia, Jose M. Soriano, Regina Rodrigo, Juan F. Merino-Torres
Summary: The diagnosis of obesity and the development of insulin resistance and metabolic comorbidities are linked. Enteric eukaryotic unicellular parasites may play an important role in modulating the antioxidant defenses of an obese host, thus potentially beneficial in the development of systemic metabolic disorders.
Article
Biology
Shweta Pipaliya, Rui Santos, Dayana Salas-Leiva, Erina A. Balmer, Corina D. Wirdnam, Andrew J. Roger, Adrian B. Hehl, Carmen Faso, Joel B. Dacks
Summary: Comparing a parasitic lineage to its free-living relatives can help understand the evolutionary transition to parasitism. Research on Giardia intestinalis revealed a more varied and complete ESCRT machinery than previously thought, associated with multiple cellular locations, with changes in ESCRT complement predating adoption of a parasitic lifestyle.
Article
Mechanics
Tanmay Agrawal, Bhaarath Ramesh, Spencer J. Zimmerman, Jimmy Philip, Joseph C. Klewicki
Summary: The study used high-resolution molecular tagging techniques to investigate gravity currents produced by a lock-exchange flow, where an initial temperature difference was introduced instead of salt for density stratification. The experiments focused on the interface between hot and cold fluids, with spatial resolution smaller than the Kolmogorov scale enabling accurate estimates of velocity and density gradients. The mixing efficiency was estimated to be about 0.13 with a standard deviation of 0.05, with dissipative stirring events associated with vortical overturns observed near the interface between the two fluids.
Article
Parasitology
Roberta Verissimo F. Oliveira, Wanderley de Souza, Katharina Voegerl, Franz Bracher, Marlene Benchimol, Ana Paula R. Gadelha
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of a new KDAC inhibitor on G. intestinalis growth, cytoskeleton, and ultrastructure organization, showing that the compound decreased parasite proliferation and viability. The results suggest that the compound has potential as a new therapeutic option for treating giardiasis.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Pratyush Kumar Mishra, Issac Park, Nirmali Sharma, Chang-Mo Yoo, Hee Yong Lee, Hyun-Woo Rhee
Summary: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are endogenously generated in live cells and essential for cell signaling. Excess ROS generation can cause oxidative damage and is implicated in various human diseases. In this study, the researchers developed a method using a genetically encodable peroxidase (APEX2) to monitor in vivo hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels. They found that APEX2 is activated by endogenous H2O2 and produces signals that can be detected using a fluorescence microscope. They also discovered that different subcellular compartments have varying responses to H2O2 generation, with the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and lysosome showing the highest response. This method can be used in diverse live models to detect local generation of endogenous H2O2.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Magda E. Alvarado, Jenny J. Chaparro-Gutierrez, Eliana P. Calvo, Luisa F. Prada, Moises Wasserman
Summary: Giardia is a parasite with a lifecycle consisting of trophozoites and cysts. The study found that proteasome activity is strongly activated during trophozoite differentiation into cysts, indicating its crucial role in protein degradation and potential therapeutic targeting. Further analysis revealed major changes in the intracellular localization of RPN11, reinforcing the importance of proteasome in Giardia encystation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander J. Martinko, Erin F. Simonds, Suchitra Prasad, Alberto Ponce, Colton J. Bracken, Junnian Wei, Yung-Hua Wang, Tiffany-Lynn Chow, Zhong Huang, Michael J. Evans, James A. Wells, Zachary B. Hill
Summary: Monoclonal antibodies with antigen specificity and long serum half-life are crucial in modern therapeutics. We have developed a technology for switchable assembly of functional antibody complexes using chemically induced dimerization domains, allowing control of the antibody's intended function in vivo by modulating the dose of a small molecule.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ahmed Kazaili, Hayder Abdul-Amir Al-Hindy, Jillian Madine, Riaz Akhtar
Summary: This study investigates the ultrastructure and nanomechanical properties of porcine cornea following incubation with alpha-amylase and collagenase. The research found that collagen fibril diameters were decreased following incubation with amylase, but elastic modulus, diameter, and D-periodicity were greatly reduced in collagenase-treated samples. The enzymatic treatment may help in understanding keratoconus and potentially developing an animal model for this eye disorder.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jin Wang, Shanbo Ma, Long Li, Yuhan Chen, Qian Yang, Feiyan Wang, Meiling Zheng, Shan Miao, Xiaopeng Shi
Summary: This study investigated the mechanism of action of Diosmetin in patients with breast cancer infected with SARS-CoV-2, and found that it can inhibit inflammation, enhance immune function, and regulate the cellular microenvironment. Additionally, a predictive model was constructed to identify core genes related to clinical characteristics and survival rates.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Louise Basmaciyan, Alexandre Francois, Anne Vincent, Stephane Valot, Alain Bonnin, Damien Costa, Romy Razakandrainibe, Florent Morio, Loic Favennec, Frederic Dalle
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of four commercial SimpPCRa and three MultPCRa for detecting intestinal parasites in stool samples. The results showed that SimpPCRa had better sensitivity and specificity compared to the tested MultPCRa. Additionally, MultPCRa could be an interesting alternative for detecting protozoans in stool samples in certain clinical contexts.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Can Udomcharoenchaikit, Prachya Boonkwan, Peerapon Vateekul
Summary: In this paper, an adversarial training framework is introduced to enhance the robustness of sequence labeling models against typographical adversarial examples. Extensive experiments on multiple tasks and languages demonstrate its effectiveness.
NATURAL LANGUAGE ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ravi Kumar Narayanasamy, Petr Rada, Alois Zdrha, Marc van Ranst, Johan Neyts, Jan Tachezy
Summary: A specific compound, 20-C-methylcytidine, was found to effectively inhibit Trichomonasviruses replication with strong selectivity. This new inhibitor represents a promising approach against Totiviridae viruses. Furthermore, the impact of TVV on Trichomonas vaginalis was studied using derived isogenic cell lines.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamara Smutna, Alena Dohnalkova, Robert Sutak, Ravi Kumar Narayanasamy, Jan Tachezy, Ivan Hrdy
Summary: This study discovered a previously unknown hydrogenase in the cytosol of T. vaginalis, which can use cytochrome b5 as an electron acceptor. Trichomonads with overexpressed cytosolic hydrogenase showed decreased hydrogen excretion and increased excretion of methylated alcohols, suggesting that the cytosolic hydrogenase uses hydrogen gas as a source of reducing power for cytoplasmic reactions.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Nadine Zimmann, Petr Rada, Vojtech Zarsky, Tamara Smutna, Kristina Zahonova, Joel Dacks, Karel Harant, Ivan Hrdy, Jan Tachezy
Summary: This study investigates the lysosomal proteome of the parasitic protist Trichomonas vaginalis and reveals the involvement of lysosomes in hydrolase secretion. The study also suggests that T. vaginalis utilizes glycosylation as a recognition marker for lysosomal hydrolases.
MOLECULAR & CELLULAR PROTEOMICS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jakub Zarsky, Vojtech Zarsky, Martin Hanacek, Viktor Zarsky
Summary: The terrestrial habitats during the Cryogenian period were possibly covered by global snow and ice. Recent studies suggest that multicellular charophytes evolved in response to Cryogenian cooling. This period also saw the likely origin of the common ancestor of Zygnematophyceae and Embryophyta. The expansion of terrestrial flora during the Marinoan glaciation was represented not only by Chlorophyta but also by Streptophyta and Zygnematophyceae.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Kristina Zahonova, Sebastian Cristian Treitli, Tien Le, Ingrid Skodova-Sverakova, Pavla Hanouskova, Ivan Cepicka, Jan Tachezy, Vladimir Hampl
Summary: This study utilized single-cell genomics to generate high-quality genome and transcriptome drafts from Pelomyxa schiedti. The results provided evidence for the presence of anaerobic derivatives of mitochondria and peroxisomes in this species, as well as tentatively identifying corresponding vesicles in electron micrographs. The metabolism of mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) in P. schiedti resembles that of Mastigamoeba balamuthi, while the peroxisomal metabolism is significantly richer. The study highlights the importance of understanding organelle adaptation in anaerobic environments.
Review
Microbiology
Jan Tachezy, Abhijith Makki, Ivan Hrdy
Summary: This review commemorates the 50th anniversary of the discovery of hydrogenosomes by Miklos Muller and Donald Lindmark. It traces the journey from the initial observation of mysterious granules in trichomonads in the late 19th century to their biochemical characterization in 1973. Muller and Lindmark's experiments revealed that these isolated granules contain hydrogenase, similar to some anaerobic bacteria, giving birth to the field of hydrogenosomes. The parallel work of Apolena Cerkasovova, Jiri Cerkasov, and Jaroslav Kulda demonstrated that these granules, like mitochondria, produce ATP. It was not until the turn of the millennium that the evolutionary origin of hydrogenosomes and mitochondria from a common ancestor was accepted. The review provides an overview of hydrogenosome biogenesis, protein import, and the relationship between membrane translocases and the low inner membrane potential due to the lack of respiratory complexes. It also summarizes the current knowledge on energy metabolism, oxygen defense system, and iron/sulfur cluster assembly.
JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vendula Horackova, Lubos Voleman, Kari D. Hagen, Marketa Petru, Martina Vinopalova, Filip Weisz, Natalia Janowicz, Lenka Markova, Alzbeta Motyckova, Vladimira Najdrova, Pavla Tumova, Scott C. Dawson, Pavel Dolezal
Summary: This study demonstrated successful genome editing of G. intestinalis using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, achieving effective gene knockout and providing important tools for further research on parasitic protists.
Article
Microbiology
Petr Rada, Ivan Hrdy, Alois Zdrha, Ravi Kumar Narayanasamy, Tamara Smutna, Jana Horackova, Karel Harant, Vladimir Benes, Seow-Chin Ong, Chih-Yu Tsai, Hong-Wei Luo, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Petrus Tang, Jan Tachezy
Summary: Trichomonas vaginalis releases small extracellular vesicles loaded with Trichomonasvirus particles, which can stimulate a proinflammatory response in human cells and modulate host-parasite communication. The presence of Trichomonasvirus in T. vaginalis isolates significantly impacts the proteome and RNA cargo of the small extracellular vesicles, potentially enhancing inflammation-related pathogenesis during trichomoniasis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Seow-Chin Ong, Wei-Hung Cheng, Fu-Man Ku, Chih-Yu Tsai, Po-Jung Huang, Chi-Ching Lee, Yuan-Ming Yeh, Petr Rada, Ivan Hrdy, Ravi Kumar Narayanasamy, Tamara Smutna, Rose Lin, Hong-Wei Luo, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Jan Tachezy, Petrus Tang
Summary: The study suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from Trichomonas vaginalis with Trichomonasvirus (TVV) may modulate the immune response. These EVs contain viral capsid proteins, indicating the potential transmission of TVV among different isolates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michelle Y. Fry, Vladimira Najdrova, Ailiena O. Maggiolo, Shyam M. Saladi, Pavel Dolezal, William M. Clemons
Summary: The study identifies the guided entry of tail-anchored proteins (GET) pathway in the pathogen Giardia intestinalis and characterizes it structurally, revealing several previously unknown structures of the central protein Get3. The work resolves some important open questions and results in a comprehensive model for the insertion of tail-anchored membrane proteins.
NATURE STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Anna Shaliutina-Loginova, Olivera Francetic, Pavel Dolezal
Summary: Bacteria have evolved sophisticated protein secretion nanomachines over billions of years to deliver toxins, enzymes, and proteins. The type II secretion system (T2SS) is used by Gram-negative bacteria to export folded proteins across the outer membrane. Recent findings have shown that components of the T2SS can be found in the mitochondria of certain eukaryotic lineages, suggesting the presence of a mitochondrial T2SS-derived system (miT2SS). This review discusses recent advances in the field and raises questions about the function and evolution of miT2SSs.
Article
Biology
Jitka Kucerova, Alois Zdrha, Abhishek Shinde, Karel Harant, Ivan Hrdy, Jan Tachezy
Summary: This study investigated the distribution of ERMES in organisms with hydrogenosomes and used Trichomonas vaginalis as a model to estimate the cellular localization, structure, and function of ERMES.
Article
Ecology
Jan Pyrih, Vojtech Zarsky, Justin D. Fellows, Christopher Grosche, Dorota Wloga, Boris Striepen, Uwe G. Maier, Jan Tachezy
Summary: The Nbp35-like proteins are important for iron-sulfur cluster assembly in cells. Different eukaryotic lineages have variations in the cellular distribution of these proteins, with exceptions such as Nbp35 localization in mitochondria and the presence of a mitochondrial paralog (mHCF101) in some organisms that was previously thought to only target plastids. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a lateral gene transfer of ancestral HCF101 from bacteria, rather than its acquisition from specific bacterial endosymbionts.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)