Article
Microbiology
Mercedes Fernandez-Escobar, Federica Giorda, Virgina Mattioda, Tania Audino, Fabio Di Nocera, Giuseppe Lucifora, Katia Varello, Carla Grattarola, Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora, Cristina Casalone, Rafael Calero-Bernal
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii strains in stranded dolphins found in the Mediterranean coastlines of Italy. The results showed that dolphins were mainly infected with ToxoDB#3 and #2 genotypes.
Article
Parasitology
Anamaria Ioana Pastiu, Viorica Mircean, Aurelien Mercier, Karine Passebosc-Faure, Nicolas Plault, Marie-Laure Darde, Radu Blaga, Isabelle Villena, Dana Liana Pusta, Anamaria Cozma-Petrut, Adriana Gyoerke
Summary: This study investigated the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in Romania and successfully isolated the infective strains. The results showed a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep and lambs, highlighting the significant risk of human infection through consuming raw or undercooked sheep/lamb meat.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Niuping Zhu, Liulu Yang, Shilin Xin, Wei Huang, Yibao Jiang, Yurong Yang
Summary: This study evaluated T. gondii infections in dogs from central China, finding that 4.40% of dogs were seropositive for T. gondii and 4.10% of dog feces contained T. gondii DNA. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in dogs significantly declined from 2020 to 2021 compared to previous years. Dogs from Zhoukou City or from pet shops showed significantly higher prevalence for T. gondii compared to other sources.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Kazuyuki Nobusawa, Huan-Wen Han, Fumie Takei, Ting-Chieh Chu, Noriyasu Hashida, Ichiro Yamashita
Summary: We developed a new electrochemical impedimetric method for real-time detection of PCR. By adding a specific DNA intercalator and redox mediator, the progress of PCR reaction can be accurately monitored using impedance measurement. This simple method enables cost-effective and portable PCR devices.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marjan Enshaeieh, Geita Saadatnia, Jalal Babaie, Majid Golkar, Samira Choopani, Mohammad Sayyah
Summary: The study showed that valproic acid can inhibit chronic Toxoplasma infection and reduce the copy numbers of specific proteins and DNA in the brains of mice, comparable to the common medication TMP-SMZ.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
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
Microbiology
Filippo Maria Dini, Giulia Graziosi, Caterina Lupini, Elena Catelli, Roberta Galuppi
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed protozoan that can infect a wide range of mammals and birds as intermediate hosts. Migratory wild birds may contribute to the spatial spread of T. gondii, and hunted wild birds could serve as a source of human infection. A study conducted in Northern Italy during the hunting season of 2021-2022 found that 14% of sampled wild aquatic birds were positive for T. gondii based on molecular detection. These findings emphasize the need for further characterization of T. gondii in wildlife hosts.
Article
Parasitology
Lydia Engel, Ahmad Hamedy, Martin Koethe
Summary: Due to the increasing number of wild raccoons in Germany, it is important to understand the pathogen load of their meat for consumption. A study on 150 raccoon samples revealed that meat from seropositive raccoons may contain considerable numbers of Toxoplasma gondii, posing a potential health risk for humans.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Safa Amairia, Mariem Rouatbi, Mohamed Ridha Rjeibi, Jacinto Gomes, Mourad Rekik, Mohamed Aziz Darghouth, Mohamed Gharbi
Summary: This study revealed a high prevalence of T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. in Merguez sausages from Tunisia, with potential significant health risks to humans if consumed undercooked. The study also showed important regional differences in the prevalence of these parasites.
Article
Oncology
Xingchen Fan, Minmin Cao, Cheng Liu, Cheng Zhang, Chunyu Li, Wenfang Cheng, Shiyu Zhang, Huo Zhang, Wei Zhu
Summary: The study identified miR-142-3p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-151a-5p as potential biomarkers for endometrial cancer in plasma, showing diagnostic value. These miRNAs were significantly overexpressed in EC patients and the 3-miRNA signature had stable diagnostic performance superior to other biomarkers in EC diagnosis. Moreover, miR-151a-5p was found to be elevated in EC plasma exosomes.
Review
Immunology
Narges Kalantari, Tahmineh Gorgani-Firouzjaee, Zahra Moulana, Mohammad Chehrazi, Salman Ghaffari
Summary: This study found that the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women with spontaneous abortion was around 10%, with recent infections significantly increasing the risk of miscarriage. Further research on all risk factors related to toxoplasmosis is needed to understand the impact of T. gondii infection on spontaneous abortion.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
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
Veterinary Sciences
Qiu-Yan Lv, He-Liang Zheng, Wen-He Yang, Guo-Hua Liu
Summary: The study investigated the genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in domestic ducks in Hunan province, China. Results showed low infection rates and highlighted the importance of a One Health approach to managing toxoplasmosis.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Mian Abdul Hafeez, Muntazir Mehdi, Faiza Aslam, Kamran Ashraf, Muhammad Tahir Aleem, Abdur Rauf Khalid, Adeel Sattar, Syeda Fakhra Waheed, Abdulaziz Alouffi, Omar Obaid Alharbi, Muhammad Abu Bakr Shabbir, Umer Chaudhry, Mashal M. Almutairi
Summary: This study aimed to detect the genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in cats in the districts of Khanewal and Sahiwal. Seven fecal samples (3.5%) from cats were found to be positive, and phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates were closely linked to a typical strain. The study also revealed a high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma in sheep, goats, and humans in the same area.
Article
Biology
Celine Dard, Christopher Swale, Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart, Dayana C. Farhat, Valeria Bellini, Marie Gladys Robert, Dominique Cannella, Herve Pelloux, Isabelle Tardieux, Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
Summary: Discovery of the protein BCLA/MAG2 as a specific marker for bradyzoite and cyst envelope in T. gondii has been achieved through genetically engineered parasites. By using lab mice as models, researchers have confirmed that BCLA/MAG2 can stimulate antibody production recognizing bradyzoite and cyst structure. An ELISA assay based on a bacterially produced BCLA recombinant polypeptide has been designed and validated using sera from mice and human patients with toxoplasmosis, showing promising results for detection of persistent T. gondii infection.
Article
Parasitology
Gang Liu, Yan Su, Mengjiao Zhou, Jixue Zhao, Tianyu Zhang, Waqas Ahmad, Huijun Lu, Ning Jiang, Qijun Chen, Mei Xiang, Jigang Yin
EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuai Peng, Jigang Yin, Xiaolei Liu, Boyin Jia, Zhiguang Chang, Huijun Lu, Ning Jiang, Qijun Chen
JOURNAL OF APPLIED GENETICS
(2015)
Article
Oncology
Ji-Gang Yin, Xian-Ying Liu, Bin Wang, Dan-Yang Wang, Man Wei, Hua Fang, Mei Xiang
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhiguang Chang, Ning Jiang, Yuanyuan Zhang, Huijun Lu, Jigang Yin, Mats Wahlgren, Xunjia Cheng, Yaming Cao, Qijun Chen
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2016)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yan Zhang, Ning Jiang, Boyin Jia, Zhiguang Chang, Yana Zhang, Xiaoyan Wei, Jianhua Zhou, Henan Wang, Xin Zhao, Shengchao Yu, Meng Song, Zhiwei Tu, Huijun Lu, Jigang Yin, Mats Wahlgren, Qijun Chen
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
Microbiology
Tianyu Zhang, Xin Gao, Dongqiang Wang, Jixue Zhao, Nan Zhang, Qiushi Li, Guan Zhu, Jigang Yin
Summary: Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic parasite that infects intestinal epithelial cells, causing watery diarrhea. The newly identified CpTIPH protein shows high binding affinity to host cells and is involved in parasite invasion. Further investigation into the role of CpTIPH in parasite-host cell interactions is warranted.
Article
Microbiology
Chenchen Wang, Dongqiang Wang, Jiawen Nie, Xin Gao, Jigang Yin, Guan Zhu
Summary: Cryptosporidium parasites, including Cryptosporidium parvum, have unique tubulin-based filamentous structures different from other apicomplexan species, such as Toxoplasma gondii. These parasites exhibit rigid and stable microtubules that are restructured during intracellular development, with differences in tubulin-based structures between asexual and sexual developmental stages.
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
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.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Xin Gao, Jigang Yin, Dongqiang Wang, Xiaohui Li, Ying Zhang, Chenchen Wang, Yuanyuan Zhang, Guan Zhu
Summary: The study identified four new microneme proteins in sporozoites of C. parvum, with CpROM1 playing a role in host-parasite interactions, including proteostasis of parasitophorous vacuole membranes and feeder organelles. CpROM1 was found to be enriched in the pellicles and concentrated at the host cell-parasite interface during invasion of sporozoites, indicating its involvement in invasion processes. Additionally, CpROM1 transcript levels were higher in oocysts and excysted sporozoites compared to intracellular parasite stages, suggesting its importance in different life stages of the parasite.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
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
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)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lixin Tai, Jianhua Li, Jigang Yin, Nan Zhang, Ju Yang, He Li, Zhengtao Yang, Pengtao Gong, Xichen Zhang
ACTA BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA SINICA
(2019)