Article
Infectious Diseases
Sultan F. Alnomasy
Summary: The study demonstrated the significant prophylactic effects of ASEO in increasing survival rate and reducing parasite load in mice with acute toxoplasmosis. ASEO also promoted the innate immune system, regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibition of hepatic injury in the infected mice. Further research is needed to fully understand the prophylactic and therapeutic mechanisms of ASEO against Toxoplasma.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Susana Sousa, Maria Fernandes, Jose Manuel Correia da Costa
Summary: Genotype analysis of Toxoplasma gondii reveals high genetic diversity among strains from different hosts and origins. Non-archetypal genotypes found in wild hosts in South America are associated with severe multivisceral toxoplasmosis and high mortality in immunocompetent individuals. This review discusses the potential of using specific antibodies produced during T. gondii infection as biomarkers to identify infecting genotypes, while highlighting the complexity and difficulty due to the genetic diversity organized into 16 haplogroups and 6 major clades.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Ghada A. Gamea, Dalia A. Elmehy, Amina M. Salama, Nema A. Soliman, Omayma K. Afifi, Heba H. Elkaliny, Rehab E. Abo El Gheit, Ahmad A. El-Ebiary, Dina M. Tahoon, Reem A. Elkholy, Sarah M. Shoeib, Mohamed A. Eleryan, Salwa S. Younis
Summary: The study evaluated the antiparasitic effect of chloroquine (CQ), spiramycin (SP), and their combination against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and found that the combination of CQ and SP was more efficient than using SP alone. The combination treatment induced apical disruption of tachyzoites and triggered host cell apoptosis by increasing relative caspase 3 gene expression and suppressing Bcl-2 and XIAP. Additionally, the combination treatment upregulated IFN-gamma level, reduced serum AST and ALT, and ameliorated liver inflammation.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Iman Fathy Abou-El-Naga, Maha Mohamed Gomaa, Samar Nabil ElAchy
Summary: Toxoplasmosis is a significant zoonotic disease in public health and veterinary medicine. Treatment with Aluvia showed promising results in reducing cyst burden and parasite infectivity in chronic infection, indicating its potential for prevention and therapy.
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jili Zhang, Hongfei Si, Kun Lv, Yanhua Qiu, Jichao Sun, Yubin Bai, Bing Li, Xuzheng Zhou, Jiyu Zhang
Summary: Licarin-B from nutmeg exhibited excellent anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity both in vitro and in vivo, potentially functioning by damaging mitochondria and activating autophagy, leading to parasite death.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
David Smith, Matteo Lunghi, Einar B. Olafsson, Olivia Hatton, Manlio Di Cristina, Vern B. Carruthers
Summary: A new platform for screening compounds with anti-bradyzoite activity has been developed, using a luciferase-based system to determine bradyzoite survival in vitro.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Linding Xie, Yien Xing, Jun Yang, Min Liu, Yihong Cai
Summary: This study observed the changes in cardiac functions after T. gondii infection and assessed the damage caused by reactivation. The results showed that cardiac functions were impaired in acute and reactivation groups, with myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction occurring in the chronic stage. Reactivation infection exacerbated cardiac damage and was associated with macrophage activation, myocardial fibrosis, and impaired antioxidant capacity.
Review
Immunology
Christoph S. N. Klose, Henrique Veiga-Fernandes
Summary: Neuroimmune interactions are crucial for tissue defense, organ homeostasis, and organismal physiology. Neuronal and immune cell subsets can colocalize in tissues, forming neuroimmune cell units that drive coordinated responses to signals. Recent studies show how these interactions maximize sensing of environmental aggressions and modulate immune function in health and disease.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Madiha Sana, Muhammad Rashid, Imran Rashid, Haroon Akbar, Jorge E. Gomez-Marin, Isabelle Dimier-Poisson
Summary: Cytokines play a key role in the immune system and are essential for resisting infections like toxoplasmosis. The balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is crucial, as excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines can lead to tissue damage and enhance the proliferation of Toxoplasma. Immunosuppressed patients are more susceptible to toxoplasmosis. Studying the mechanisms of cytokine secretion and action could provide insights for the treatment and prevention of Toxoplasma infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOPATHOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Abeer E. Saad, Dalia S. Ashour, Eman Rashad
Summary: Mixed parasitic infections can affect the host immunological responses and alter the pathogenesis of each other. This study investigated the impact of chronic trichinellosis on immune response to T. gondii infection. The results showed that prior infection with T. spiralis attenuated the Th1 response to T. gondii, leading to improved histopathological changes in the tissues.
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Saeideh Hashemi-Hafshejani, Amir Amani, Sanaz Jafarpour Azami, Hossien Keshavarz Valian, Mehdi Mohebali, Mahboobeh Salimi, Hossien Hassani Lafmejan Pour, Saeedeh Shojaee
Summary: This study aimed to prepare the nanoemulsion of spiramycin (NE-Spi) and evaluate its activity against T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites. The results demonstrated that NE-Spi exhibited a lethal effect on T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Nemati, Hossein Pazoki, Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi, Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei, Shabnam Shahrokh, Kaveh Baghaei, Hamed Mirjalali, Mohammad Reza Zali
Summary: The study demonstrates that T. gondii profilin and tachyzoites can manipulate autophagy by regulating the expression of autophagy genes, facilitating the replication of T. gondii and development of toxoplasmosis.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jia Guo, Zeyu Xu, Rachel C. Gunderson, Baohui Xu, Sara A. Michie
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that ICAM-1 is expressed on the sinus endothelia of lymph nodes, but not on the lymphatic vessels of peripheral tissues. Memory CD4(+) T cells migrated to lymph nodes from peripheral tissues more efficiently than from blood vessels. ICAM-1 deficiency significantly inhibited the migration of lymphocytes from peripheral tissues into lymph nodes, and the absence of ICAM-1 or LFA-1 reduced the number of memory T cells in lymph nodes.
Article
Parasitology
Zhenrong Ma, Zhuolin Li, Ruolan Jiang, Xuanwu Li, Kang Yan, Ni Zhang, Bin Lu, Yehong Huang, Nouhoum Dibo, Xiang Wu
Summary: This study revealed that the Toxoplasma gondii gene wx2 is involved in host immune regulation through the inhibition of the pyroptosis pathway, thereby inhibiting the host's immune response. This finding is important for understanding the biological characteristics of T. gondii and its mechanisms of immune evasion.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Qi-Wang Jin, Ting Yu, Ming Pan, Yi-Min Fan, Si-Yang Huang
Summary: This study reveals that T. gondii rhoptry protein 16 (ROP16) inhibits the cGAS pathway by polyubiquitinating STING, leading to the dampening of type I interferon signaling and enhanced resistance of T. gondii against host immunity. The findings provide new insights into the interaction between the parasite and the host.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Fei Kong, Xiaoyu Wen, Xiaofeng Wen, Xiaozhong Wang, Guicheng Wu, Shide Lin, Li Wang, Huichun Xing, Xuebing Yan, Sujun Zheng, Qin Ning, Zheng Wang, Liaoyun Zhang, Jianmei Lin, Zhaowei Tong, Chengyu Huang, Minghua Su, Lixin Tong, Jidong Jia, Yongning Xin, Qingjing Zhu, Jing Wang, Li Chen, Xiaowen Li, Xuegang Wu, Duan Niu, Quan Liu, Wei Wei, Yuexin Zhang, Guangming Li, Junqi Niu
Summary: The study demonstrated that the combination therapy of seraprevir and sofosbuvir is effective and well-tolerated for treating Chinese patients with chronic HCV infection, even those with a history of interferon treatment.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Gang Liu, Lijun Jia, Qingyan Shao, Huijun Lu, Jixue Zhao, Jigang Yin
Summary: This study identified a significant number of novel miRNAs from N. caninum tachyzoites using high-throughput RNA sequencing technology and systematic bioinformatics analysis. Among 300 miRNAs identified, 10 were conserved miRNAs belonging to metazoan miRNA families while 290 were novel miRNAs. The expression of 13 novel miRNAs was validated through real-time quantitative PCR, providing important data for the study of miRNAs in N. caninum.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Virology
Xiaohui Li, Hongwei Ji, Di Wang, Lihe Che, Li Zhang, Liang Li, Qing Yin, Quan Liu, Feng Wei, Zedong Wang
Summary: This study identified the presence of Far Eastern subtype of TBEV in Ixodes persulcatus ticks in northeastern China, with genetic variations observed among viruses from different natural foci in the region.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lei Han, Tianming Lan, Desheng Li, Haimeng Li, Linhua Deng, Zhiwei Peng, Shaowen He, Yanqiang Zhou, Ruobing Han, Lingling Li, Yaxian Lu, Haorong Lu, Qing Wang, Shangchen Yang, Yixin Zhu, Yunting Huang, Xiaofang Cheng, Jieyao Yu, Yulong Wang, Heting Sun, Hongliang Chai, Huanming Yang, Xun Xu, Michael Lisby, Quan Liu, Karsten Kristiansen, Huan Liu, Zhijun Hou
Summary: This study presents a high-quality genome of Baylisascaris schroederi, identifying expanded gene families related to epidermal chitin synthesis and amino acid metabolism. Unique genes essential for adapting to the giant panda's diet were found, along with resistance-related genes under positive selection in a captive population. The genome also identified potential drug target proteins, providing insights into the early evolution of roundworms and their adaptation to hosts.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bo Yang, Dongqiang Wang, Mingxiao Liu, Xiaodong Wu, Jigang Yin, Guan Zhu
Summary: The study aimed to generate host cells with resistance to specific anti-cryptosporidial drugs by transiently overexpressing the MDR1 gene. Results showed increased drug tolerance in host cells for certain compounds with varying effects on the anti-parasitic efficacy, highlighting the importance of understanding drug targets in parasite vs. host cells.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Shouwen Du, Wang Xu, Yuhang Wang, Letian Li, Pengfei Hao, Mingyao Tian, Maopeng Wang, Tiyuan Li, Shipin Wu, Quan Liu, Jieying Bai, Xiaoyun Qu, Ningyi Jin, Boping Zhou, Ming Liao, Chang Li
Summary: This study reveals the critical role of the conserved residues Y756 and L753 at the junction between the S1/S2 and S2 ' sites in S protein synthesis, processing, viral assembly, and infection. The mutations severely interfere with viral particle incorporation and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies, highlighting a potential target for future broad-spectrum antiviral drug design in response to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jun Ma, Yaoxian Yuan, Jianwei Shao, Minghui Sun, Wei He, Jiming Chen, Quan Liu
Summary: Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is of high economic importance and has spread rapidly to many European and Asian countries in recent years. In 2020, an LSDV strain (GD01/2020) was discovered in a cattle farm in Guangdong, China, showing typical LSD symptoms. Genomic analysis revealed that GD01/2020 was highly similar to LSDVs isolated in Xinjiang, China in 2019, but distinct from LSDVs identified in other countries. This recombinant strain may affect the virulence and transmissibility of the virus, and its origin remains unknown.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jiawen Nie, Jigang Yin, Dongqiang Wang, Chenchen Wang, Guan Zhu
Summary: Phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) catalyzes the conversion between glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate in the glycolysis/glucogenesis pathway. The protozoan Cryptosporidium parasites possess two tandemly duplicated PGM1 genes, with one isoform expressed at different locations and playing a different biological role.
Editorial Material
Virology
Feng Wen, Qing Cheng, Jinyue Guo, Haoji Zhang, Quan Liu
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhijun Yu, Biao He, Zhen Gong, Yan Liu, Qianghui Wang, Xiaomin Yan, Tiantian Zhang, Abolfazl Masoudi, Xu Zhang, Tianhong Wang, Xiaolong Yang, Hui Wang, Quan Liu, Jingze Liu, Changchun Tu
Summary: We report the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of the 3.16 gigabase genome of the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. The genome of this species is larger than the previously assembled one and contains a high proportion of simple sequence repeats. Through genomic analysis, key genes involved in iron metabolism, detoxification, and freeze tolerance of H. longicornis were identified. Additionally, numerous endogenous viral elements were found within the genome. These findings provide insights into the genetic mechanisms of specific biological processes in ticks and lay the foundation for integrated control of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
Article
Parasitology
Xiaohui Li, Jigang Yin, Dongqiang Wang, Xin Gao, Ying Zhang, Mingbo Wu, Guan Zhu
Summary: The study found that the GP900 protein is present in sporozoites and intracellular meronts, but absent in sexual stages. It is stored in the micronemes of sporozoites but enters the secretory pathway during excystation and invasion. GP900 is cleaved in the secretory pathway before reaching the extracellular space, implying its main role as a lubricant.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Quan Liu, Heming Wang, He Zhang, Liyan Sui, Letian Li, Wang Xu, Shouwen Du, Pengfei Hao, Yuhang Jiang, Jing Chen, Xiaoyun Qu, Mingyao Tian, Yinghua Zhao, Xuerui Guo, Xingye Wang, Wu Song, Guangqi Song, Zhengkai Wei, Zhijun Hou, Guoqing Wang, Minhua Sun, Xiao Li, Huijun Lu, Xinyu Zhuang, Ningyi Jin, Yicheng Zhao, Chang Li, Ming Liao
Summary: This study analyzed succinylproteomics of SARS-CoV-2 infection using quantitative mass spectrometry, revealing significant changes in succinylation on host and viral proteins. SARS-CoV-2 infection promotes succinylation of key enzymes in the TCA, leading to inhibition of cellular metabolic pathways. The viral nonstructural protein NSP14 regulates host protein succinylation through interaction with SIRT5, and succinylation inhibitors show antiviral effects. Succinylation modification is also observed on SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and membrane proteins, as well as its variants.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yueyang Yan, Xin Bao, Bohua Chen, Ying Li, Jigang Yin, Guan Zhu, Qiushi Li
Summary: This study analyzes the oral microbiome data to reveal microbial features associated with oral diseases. It demonstrates the feasibility of preventing oral diseases through lifestyle interventions and provides a reference method for individualized medicine.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liyan Sui, Letian Li, Yinghua Zhao, Yicheng Zhao, Pengfei Hao, Xuerui Guo, Wenfang Wang, Guoqing Wang, Chang Li, Quan Liu
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Meihua Yang, Yuqing Jia, Zhihui Dong, Yu Zhang, Songsong Xie, Quan Liu, Yuanzhi Wang
Summary: This is the first reported case of tick-borne Rickettsia aeschlimannii infection in a woman from Xinjiang, northwestern China. The infection was confirmed by molecular detection in the patient's blood and urine, and she presented severe edema, partial necrosis, and monocytosis as clinical symptoms. R. aeschlimannii was also found in Hyalomma asiaticum ticks around the patient's residence. Infections of spotted fever group Rickettsia species should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tick-borne diseases.
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2022)
