Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberto Docampo, Anibal Eugenio Vercesi
Summary: This review discusses the mechanisms of mitochondrial oxidant generation and removal, and the involvement of Ca2+ in trypanosome cell death, highlighting the need for further studies on ROS generation, defense mechanisms, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore in trypanosomatids.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sofia Ocana-Mayorga, Juan Jose Bustillos, Anita G. Villacis, C. Miguel Pinto, Simone Frederique Breniere, Mario J. Grijalva
Summary: Understanding the blood meal patterns of disease vectors is crucial in developing strategies to decrease human-vector contact. In Ecuador, limited data on Chagas disease infection are available, but active transmission has been demonstrated in endemic areas. This study found that humans are the main food source for triatomines, although birds, particularly chickens, might also play a significant role in maintaining these vectors in certain areas.
Article
Parasitology
Catalina Sierra -Rosales, Esteban San Juan, Nicol Quiroga, Raul Araya-Donoso, Aldo Solari, Juana P. Correa, Antonella Bacigalupo, Carezza Botto-Mahan
Summary: The proximity between infectious disease vector populations and human settlements, as well as the infection prevalence of vector populations, can determine the infection risk. In this study, the diet of the Chilean endemic triatomine was characterized, and it was found that infected kissing bugs had human and human-associated animals in their diet. The proportion of human and human-associated vertebrates in the diet of infected bugs was negatively associated with the distance from human settlements.
Article
Microbiology
Raquel S. Negreiros, Noelia Lander, Miguel A. Chiurillo, Anibal E. Vercesi, Roberto Docampo
Summary: Pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis, is transported into the mitochondria through the mitochondrial pyruvate carriers MPC1 and MPC2. Knockout of MPC1 and MPC2 in Trypanosoma cruzi affects pyruvate-driven respiration, host cell invasion, and intracellular replication of amastigotes.
Article
Entomology
Ruben Garrido, Ricardo Campos-Soto, Nicol Quiroga, Carezza Botto-Mahan
Summary: Laboratory experiments showed that bloodmeal-stealing occurs between wild-caught Mepraia spinolai nymphs, albeit infrequently. This behavior may play a role in the maintenance of wild T. cruzi cycles.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yasmin Pedra-Rezende, Michelle C. Fernandes, Camila Mesquita-Rodrigues, Renata Stiebler, Ana Cristina S. Bombaca, Nathalia Pinho, Patricia Cuervo, Solange L. De Castro, Rubem F. S. Menna-Barreto
Summary: Chagas disease is a neglected illness mainly affecting rural populations in Latin America, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite's life cycle involves stress conditions such as variations in nutrient availability and pH, impacting mitochondrial function and autophagy. Acidic and nutritional stress induced metacyclogenesis phenotypes, while alkaline stress led to an increase in autophagic flux as a survival mechanism.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ana Cristina S. Bombaca, Leonardo A. Silva, Otavio Augusto Chaves, Lorrainy S. da Silva, Juliana M. C. Barbosa, Ari M. da Silva, Aurelio B. B. Ferreira, Rubem F. S. Menna-Barreto
Summary: This study introduces a novel anti-protozoan drug N4 and its mechanism of action against Trypanosoma cruzi, showing high activity in all parasite stages and indicating it as a potential alternative treatment for Chagas disease. The results presented here may serve as a good starting point for the development of alternative treatments for Chagas disease and for understanding the mechanism of naphthoimidazoles in T. cruzi.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guilherme Rodrigo R. M. Dos Santos, Ana Catarina Rezende Leite, Noelia Lander, Miguel Angel Chiurillo, Anibal Eugenio Vercesi, Roberto Docampo
Summary: Letm1 is crucial for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and release in Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting growth, metabolism, and cell viability.
Article
Microbiology
Madalyn. M. M. Won, Timothy Krueger, Markus Engstler, Barbara A. Burleigh
Summary: Throughout its life cycle, the parasitic protist Trypanosoma cruzi adapts to different host environments and switches between motile extracellular stages and a nonmotile intracellular amastigote stage. Contrary to previous beliefs, the flagellum of T. cruzi amastigotes is shown to be motile and exhibits periodic beating inside host cells. This discovery suggests that flagellar motility may play an active role in the parasite infection process.
Article
Immunology
Bibiana J. Volta, Patricia L. Bustos, Carolina Gonzalez, Maria Ailen Natale, Alina E. Perrone, Natalia Milduberger, Susana A. Laucella, Jacqueline Bua
Summary: This study evaluated differentially expressed factors in T. cruzi-infected pregnant women and found a proinflammatory cytokine profile associated with Chagas congenital transmission. High parasitemia along with certain cytokine level abnormalities were identified as factors increasing the probability of Chagas congenital transmission.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Nubia Carolina Manchola Varon, Guilherme Rodrigo R. M. dos Santos, Walter Colli, Maria Julia M. Alves
Summary: The interaction between Trypanosoma cruzi and mammalian cells involves adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and an early phase of calcium signaling. The increase in intracellular calcium concentration during this interaction depends on Ca2+ uptake from the medium and is crucial for host cell invasion. The mitochondrion plays a significant role in Ca2+ homeostasis in Trypomastigotes during their interaction with ECM.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Y. Ana, J. D. Rojas Marquez, L. Fozzatti, R. E. Baigorri, C. Marin, B. A. Maletto, F. M. Cerban, R. Radi, L. Piacenza, C. C. Stempin
Summary: The study revealed that Trypanosoma cruzi infection triggers an exacerbated metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative stress in CD4 T cells, leading to an increased risk of cell apoptosis that may not be prevented by antioxidants.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Geanne A. Conserva, Thais A. Costa-Silva, Luis M. Quiros-Guerrero, Laurence Marcourt, Jean-Luc Wolfender, Emerson F. Queiroz, Andre G. Tempone, Joao Henrique G. Lago
Summary: Phytochemical analysis of an EtOH extract from Nectandra oppositifolia leaves revealed three flavonoids with varying levels of efficacy against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, with one flavonoid achieving parasite death by disrupting intracellular calcium levels.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Eduardo E. Avalos-Borges, Lizette E. Rios, Matilde Jimenez-Coello, Antonio Ortega-Pacheco, Nisha J. Garg
Summary: This article reviews the current knowledge of congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in humans and compares the placental architecture of humans and different animals. This is important for evaluating the efficacy of new anti-parasite drugs and therapies.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rocio Herraez, Roberto Quesada, Norma Dahdah, Miguel Vinas, Teresa Vinuesa
Summary: This study aimed to explore new therapeutic options against Chagas disease by analyzing the biocidal activities of tambjamine and prodiginine derivatives against Trypanosoma cruzi. The results showed that prodigiosin displayed promising potential as a candidate for fighting Chagas disease, with potent inhibitory effects on parasite respiration.
Article
Entomology
Natalie Lissenden, Jennifer S. Armistead, Katherine Gleave, Seth R. Irish, Jackline L. Martin, Louisa A. Messenger, Sarah J. Moore, Corine Ngufor, Natacha Protopopoff, Richard Oxborough, Angus Spiers, Rosemary S. Lees
Summary: Mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to pyrethroid insecticides, leading to the development of new insecticide-treated nets. However, there is a lack of standardized methods to measure the efficacy of these nets against mosquitoes in the long term.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juan Carlos Huaranca, Andres J. Novaro, Carlos E. Valdivia
Summary: Livestock grazing has been shown to have contradictory effects on plant and animal diversity globally, with results from a meta-analysis showing that grazing does not significantly impact the abundance and richness of plants or animals. The influence of livestock on flora and fauna diversity can be influenced by factors such as livestock type, natural environments, spatial and temporal scales, and plant species origin.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jackline L. Martin, Louisa A. Messenger, Franklin W. Mosha, Eliud Lukole, Jacklin F. Mosha, Manisha Kulkarni, Thomas S. Churcher, Ellie Sherrard-Smith, Alphaxard Manjurano, Natacha Protopopoff, Mark Rowland
Summary: This study aims to assess the insecticide and textile durability of three classes of dual-active ingredient (A.I.) LLINs using techniques derived from established WHO LLIN testing methods, and provide reference for preferred product characteristics of each class of LLIN.
Article
Biology
Gabriel Machado Matos, Michael D. Lewis, Carlos Talavera-Lopez, Matthew Yeo, Edmundo C. Grisard, Louisa A. Messenger, Michael Miles, Bjorn Andersson
Summary: The presence of genetic exchange in Trypanosoma cruzi has been controversial. Field studies and laboratory experiments have shown the existence of hybrids and hybrid progeny. Hybrid formation initially results in tetraploid parasites, but the progeny genomes gradually erode towards triploidy. However, elevated copy number is observed at several core housekeeping loci, indicating potential for adaptive evolution.
Article
Entomology
Rosemary S. Lees, Jennifer S. Armistead, Salum Azizi, Edi Constant, Christen Fornadel, John E. Gimnig, Janet Hemingway, Daniel Impoinvil, Seth R. Irish, William Kisinza, Natalie Lissenden, Henry D. Mawejje, Louisa A. Messenger, Sarah Moore, Corine Ngufor, Richard Oxborough, Natacha Protopopoff, Hilary Ranson, Graham Small, Joseph Wagman, David Weetman, Sarah Zohdy, Angus Spiers
Summary: To test the effectiveness and durability of new bed nets, it is necessary to study and test insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. A group of experts collaborated to develop a protocol for standardized monitoring and accurate characterization of resistant mosquitoes, providing valuable guidance for malaria control programs and stakeholders.
Article
Rehabilitation
Jessica Edelstein, Lindsey Messenger, Adam R. Kinney, James E. Graham, Matt P. Malcolm
Summary: Occupational therapy services and interventions in the neuro critical care unit (NCCU) are not well understood, and this study found that patients with arousal deficits were more likely to receive occupational therapy interventions in the category of therapeutic activities.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN HEALTH CARE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kallista Chan, Jorge Cano, Fekadu Massebo, Louisa A. Messenger
Summary: Malaria is a significant public health problem in Ethiopia, despite the low to moderate transmission intensity. Current vector control interventions are insufficient to control the dominant vector species. This study found that environmental factors, socioeconomic status, and host availability play important roles in the risk of malaria infection. Additionally, higher cattle to human ratios may act as a protective factor against mosquito infestation and malaria risk.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Grace Gysin, Plutarco Urbano, Luke Brandner-Garrod, Shahida Begum, Mojca Kristan, Thomas Walker, Carolina Hernandez, Juan David Ramirez, Louisa A. Messenger
Summary: This study evaluated the use of FTA cards or cotton-tipped swabs to detect environmental DNA (eDNA) in households in an endemic region for Chagas disease. The results showed that Rhodnius prolixus eDNA can be detected on FTA cards at temperatures between 21 and 32 degrees C when deposited by blood-fed nymphs. Cotton-tipped swabs were also found to be a feasible tool for collecting eDNA of T. cruzi and R. prolixus. eDNA detection should be evaluated as a more sensitive and cost-effective alternative to current surveillance methods.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monica Campos, Jody Phelan, Anton Spadar, Emma Collins, Aderitow Goncalves, Bethanie Pelloquin, Natasha Marcella Vaselli, Anne Meiwald, Emma Clark, Caleb Stica, James Orsborne, Moussa Sylla, Constant Edi, Denka Camara, Abdul Rahim Mohammed, Yaw Asare Afrane, Mojca Kristan, Thomas Walker, Lara Ferrero Gomez, Louisa A. Messenger, Taane G. Clark, Susana Campino
Summary: Surveillance of malaria vector species and monitoring of insecticide resistance are crucial for informing malaria control strategies. This study developed a high-throughput panel using genetic barcoding, PCR, and next-generation sequencing to monitor Anopheles mosquitoes in malaria endemic regions. The panel successfully detected Plasmodium infection and insecticide resistance mutations in four Anapheles species, providing a reliable and cost-effective approach for surveillance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Manfred Accrombessi, Jackie Cook, Edouard Dangbenon, Boulais Yovogan, Hilaire Akpovi, Arthur Sovi, Constantin Adoha, Landry Assongba, Aboubacar Sidick, Bruno Akinro, Razaki Osse, Rock Aikpon, Aurore Ogouyemi-Hounto, Germain Gil Padonou, Immo Kleinschmidt, Louisa A. Messenger, Mark Rowland, Corine Ngufor, Natacha Protopopoff, Martin Akogbeto, Filemon Tokponnon
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of pyriproxyfen-pyrethroid LLINs and chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid LLINs compared to standard LLINs in an area with high pyrethroid resistance. The findings showed that chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid LLINs provided greater protection from malaria than pyrethroid-only LLINs in an area with pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes. Pyriproxyfen-pyrethroid LLINs conferred protection similar to pyrethroid-only LLINs.
Article
Entomology
Tatcheme Filemon Tokponnon, Razaki Osse, Germain Gil Padonou, Cyriaque Dossou Affoukou, Aboubakar Sidick, Wilfried Sewade, Arsene Fassinou, Come Z. Koukpo, Bruno Akinro, Louisa A. Messenger, Mariam Oke, Alexis Tchevoede, Aurore Ogouyemi-Hounto, Dorothee Kinde Gazard, Martin Akogbeto
Summary: Through a study on vector dynamics and transmission, it was found that there are low, medium, and high levels of malaria transmission in different areas of Benin. The study also revealed the heterogeneity of malaria transmission in the country. The findings will be used to improve vector control strategies and protect the most at-risk populations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Holly Acford-Palmer, Jody E. Phelan, Fitsum G. Tadesse, Mojca Kristan, Emma Collins, Anton Spadar, Thomas Walker, Teun Bousema, Louisa A. Messenger, Taane G. Clark, Susana Campino
Summary: Since its first detection in 2012 in Djibouti, Anopheles stephensi has invaded and established in the Horn of Africa, and more recently Nigeria. Integrated vector management is facing challenges due to growing insecticide resistance. To overcome these challenges, a next-generation amplicon-sequencing approach was developed for high-throughput monitoring of insecticide resistance genes and genetic diversity in An. stephensi populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mojca Kristan, Holly Acford-Palmer, Monica Oliveira Campos, Emma L. Collins, Jody Phelan, Natalie M. Portwood, Bethanie Pelloquin, Sian Clarke, Jo Lines, Taane G. Clark, Thomas Walker, Susana Campino, Louisa A. Messenger
Summary: The invasion and establishment of An. stephensi mosquitoes in the Horn of Africa poses a significant regional threat to malaria control. Novel vector surveillance methods using environmental DNA (eDNA) have been validated for simultaneous detection of An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti in shared breeding sites. The eDNA surveillance has the potential to be implemented in local communities and at points of entry to monitor the spread of invasive vector species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Alina Soto, Mark Rowland, Louisa A. Messenger, Mathew Kirby, Franklin W. Mosha, Alphaxard Manjurano, Natacha Protopopoff
Summary: This study compared two techniques for measuring the sterilization effect of insecticidal bed nets on malaria mosquitoes. The results showed that both egg-laying observation and ovarian dissection had similar sensitivity for identifying mosquitoes exposed to insecticides. However, for identifying non-exposed mosquitoes, ovarian dissection had higher specificity. Therefore, ovarian dissection is a more sensitive and accurate method for evaluating sterility in malaria mosquitoes.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Louisa A. Messenger, Joanna Furnival-Adams, Kallista Chan, Bethanie Pelloquin, Laura Paris, Mark Rowland
Summary: Summary in English: This study aimed to assess the impact of different vector control interventions on malaria disease burden during humanitarian emergencies. The findings show that the use of insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and topical repellents can effectively reduce the risk of malaria infection. It is urgently needed to evaluate and adopt novel interventions for malaria control in acute humanitarian emergencies.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
