Article
Immunology
Ahlam Elmasry, Wafaa A. Aboukamar, Heba Hany, Manar S. Elmehankar
Summary: The study found that Roflumilast has a potential effect on the tachyzoite-bradyzoite transition in toxoplasmosis. The group treated earlier with 10 mg/kg of Roflumilast showed the best results, significantly reducing T. gondii cyst count, size, and IL-12 level.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erica S. Martins-Duarte, Juliana de Araujo Portes, Ramon Borges da Silva, Hugo Silva Pires, Simon J. Garden, Wanderley de Souza
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasitic disease worldwide, with limited therapy options. Chemical modification of 1,10-phenanthroline to new derivatives has significantly improved anti-T. gondii activity, potentially serving as lead compounds for the treatment of acute and chronic phases of toxoplasmosis.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Ming Pan, Ceng-Ceng Ge, Yi-Min Fan, Qi-Wang Jin, Bang Shen, Si-Yang Huang
Summary: This article reviews recent advances in the study of bradyzoite biology and stage conversion of Toxoplasma gondii, aiming to highlight the determinants associated with bradyzoite development and provide insights for better strategies on controlling toxoplasmosis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kim Chi Vo, Liberta Ruga, Olympia Ekaterini Psathaki, Rico Franzkoch, Ute Distler, Stefan Tenzer, Michael Hensel, Peter Hegemann, Nishith Gupta
Summary: This study reveals the catalytic function, subcellular localization, and drug inhibition of key phosphodiesterases in Toxoplasma gondii, highlighting the unexpected plasticity and therapeutic potential of cyclic nucleotide signaling in the parasite.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Anatoli V. Naumov, Chengqi Wang, Dale Chaput, Li-Min Ting, Carmelo A. Alvarez, Thomas Keller, Ahmed Ramadan, Michael W. White, Kami Kim, Elena S. Suvorova
Summary: In this study, the central machinery of the T. gondii restriction checkpoint was identified, consisting of TgCrk2 kinase and three atypical T. gondii cyclins. The study revealed the independent roles of TgCycP1, TgCycP2, and TgCyc5 in parasite growth and development.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Marc-Jan Gubbels, David J. P. Ferguson, Sudeshna Saha, Julia D. Romano, Suyog Chavan, Vincent A. Primo, Cynthia Michaud, Isabelle Coppens, Klemens Engelberg
Summary: Apicomplexa is famous for its apical complex at the top, while the basal complex at the other end has been overshadowed. However, in the past decade, a variety of functions have been associated with the basal complex, and progress has been made in understanding its structure.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sae Muniz-Hernandez, Angelica Luna-Nophal, Carmen T. Gomez-De Leon, Lenin Dominguez-Ramirez, Olga A. Patron-Soberano, Karen E. Nava-Castro, Pedro Ostoa-Saloma, Jorge Morales-Montor
Summary: This study demonstrated the toxoplasmicidal effect of DHEA on extracellular tachyzoites, altering cytoskeleton structures and reducing cellular viability. In vitro, DHEA treatment decreased the survival of tachyzoites and inhibited their passive invasion process. In vivo, treatment with DHEA led to a reduction in parasitic load in male mice.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Congcong Lyu, Xuke Yang, Jichao Yang, Lun Hou, Yanqin Zhou, Junlong Zhao, Bang Shen
Summary: This study identified a starch synthase required for amylopectin synthesis in Toxoplasma gondii, which plays a critical role in parasite growth, development, and virulence. Disrupting this enzyme may impact the pathogen's proliferation and ability to move between different life cycle stages, highlighting a potential drawback in using such mutants as vaccine candidates.
Article
Immunology
Hironori Bando, Yasuhiro Fukuda, Nina Watanabe, Jeje Temitope Olawale, Kentaro Kato
Summary: This study reveals that abnormal glutamine metabolism induced by both interferon-gamma stimulation and Toxoplasma gondii infection triggers cyst formation in human neuroblastoma cells. The findings suggest that glutamine starvation in host cells is an important trigger of T. gondii stage conversion in human neurons.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ines L. S. Delgado, Alexandra Tavares, Samuel Francisco, Dulce Santos, Joao Coelho, Afonso P. Basto, Sara Zuquete, Joachim Mueller, Andrew Hemphill, Markus Meissner, Helena Soares, Alexandre Leitao, Sofia Nolasco
Summary: The study reveals that TgMOB1 is not essential for the growth of Toxoplasma gondii, but plays a crucial role in cell division. TgMOB1 mediates the replication speed of T. gondii parasites at a fine level. The research uncovers new features of MOB1 and its potential implications for disease processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jichao Yang, Xuke Yang, Anqi Liu, Yaqiong Li, Zhipeng Niu, Congcong Lyu, Xiaohan Liang, Ningbo Xia, Jianmin Cui, Mingjun Li, Ping Wu, Chao Peng, Bang Shen
Summary: The study revealed that AMPK plays crucial roles in controlling cell cycle progression and bradyzoite development in Toxoplasma. Deletion of the beta subunit of AMPK resulted in DNA damage and increased conversion to bradyzoites. Under alkaline stress, AMPK beta mutants transitioned to a bradyzoite-like state but with impaired cell division pattern and compromised parasite viability.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sophie Zhu, Elizabeth Van Wormer, Beatriz Martinez-Lopez, Lilian Maria Garcia Bahia-Oliveira, Renato Augusto DaMatta, Pedro Souto Rodrigues, Karen Shapiro
Summary: This study used Bayesian quantitative risk assessment to estimate the relative attribution of two primary parasite stages (bradyzoite and oocyst) in food-related toxoplasmosis in Brazil. The results showed that oocyst contamination in fruits and greens contributed more to the infection risk compared to bradyzoite contamination in meats. Due to the lack of regional food contamination prevalence data and uncertainty in model parameters, this study provides a preliminary estimate of the relative importance of food products in toxoplasmosis and identifies important knowledge gaps for future research and policy actions.
Article
Microbiology
Runhui Zhang, Wanpeng Zheng, Arwid Daugschies, Berit Bangoura
Summary: This study found that the parasites Eimeria tenella and Toxoplasma gondii have significant effects on chickens. Chicken macrophages, as phagocytic cells, participate in the innate immune response against these parasites. The study observed that E. tenella modulates host cell responses to T. gondii, reducing its invasion and replication in chicken macrophages.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Celine Dard, Baptiste Leforestier, Flaviane Francisco Hilario, Mohamed Dit Mady Traore, Marie-Ange Lespinasse, Basile Peres, Marie-Carmen Molina, Rossimiriam Pereira de Freitas, Anne Milet, Daniele Maubon, Yung-Sing Wong
Summary: FR235222 is a natural tetra-cyclopeptide that inhibits histone deacetylases and is effective on mammalian cells and intracellular apicomplexan parasites. It is characterized by a zinc-binding group for binding to histone deacetylases and a cyclic tetrapeptide moiety crucial for cell permeability. The molecule has shown promise for cell penetration and inhibition of histone deacetylases, even in parasite cells.
Article
Microbiology
Shu Ye, Matteo Lunghi, Dominique Soldati-Favre
Summary: This study identifies a novel component, SLF, of a guanylate cyclase complex in Toxoplasma gondii that is essential for both acute infection and natural oral infection through the dissemination and persistence of tissue cysts.
Article
Parasitology
S. Skariah, O. Walwyn, K. Engelberg, M. -J. Gubbels, C. Gaylets, N. Kim, B. Lynch, A. Sultan, D. G. Mordue
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Immunology
Sini Skariah, Paul Arnaboldi, Raymond J. Dattwyler, Ali A. Sultan, Corey Gaylets, Odaelys Walwyn, Hannah Mulhall, Xia Wu, Soha R. Dargham, Dana G. Mordue
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Immunology
Angela M. Pollard, Sini Skariah, Dana G. Mordue, Laura J. Knoll
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2009)
Article
Immunology
Sini Skariah, Robert B. Bednarczyk, Matthew K. McIntyre, Gregory A. Taylor, Dana G. Mordue
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2012)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sini Skariah, Dana G. Mordue
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Asha A. Elmi, Devendra Bansal, Anushree Acharya, Sini Skariah, Soha R. Dargham, Laith J. Abu-Raddad, Nady Mohamed-Nady, Paul Amuna, Asma A. J. Al-Thani, Ali A. Sultan
Article
Food Science & Technology
Rachel Ackerman, Joseph M. Backer, Marina Backer, Sini Skariah, Carl V. Hamby
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tahir Abdulrehman, Shahnaz Qadri, Sini Skariah, Ali Sultan, Said Mansour, Jamil Azzi, Yousef Haik
Review
Virology
Raghad Khalid AL-Ishaq, Sini Skariah, Dietrich Busselberg
Summary: Bacteriophages are shown to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis infections with high efficacy and safety. Further studies on phage therapy, host identification, and regulatory processes are needed to evaluate and advance their clinical use.
Review
Microbiology
Mahmood Al-Orphaly, Hamad Abdel Hadi, Faiha Kamaleldin Eltayeb, Hissa Al-Hail, Bincy Gladson Samuel, Ali A. Sultan, Sini Skariah
Summary: The prevalence, antimicrobial characteristics, and genetic profiles of MDR P. aeruginosa in the MENA region vary significantly among countries, with high prevalence seen in most countries and similarities found between neighboring countries. Isolates from critical care units show high resistance levels, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Lebanon, with resistance to cephalosporins, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides. Colistin susceptibility remains high overall, except in countries with high-level antibiotic resistance such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Egypt.
Review
Parasitology
Sini Skariah, Ali A. Sultan, Dana G. Mordue
Summary: Vertebrate cells have developed a sophisticated cell-autonomous immune system to defend against pathogens. Interferons play a crucial role in inducing cell-autonomous immunity. This review highlights the importance of cell-autonomous immunity as the first line of defense against intracellular parasites.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sini Skariah, Sara Abdul-Majid, Anthony G. Hay, Anushree Acharya, Noora Kano, Raghad Khalid Al-Ishaq, Paul de Figueiredo, Arum Han, Adrian Guzman, Soha Roger Dargham, Saad Sameer, Gi Eun Kim, Sabiha Khan, Priyamvada Pillai, Ali A. Sultan
Summary: This study provides the first detailed characterization of the microbiota and chemistry in different arid habitats of Qatar. The dominant microbial phyla were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi, though their abundances varied across soils. The study also found correlations between microbial diversity and soil characteristics such as sand, clay, and silt.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mazen A. Sid Ahmed, Jemal M. Hamid, Ahmed A. Husain, Hamad Abdel Hadi, Sini Skariah, Ali A. Sultan, Emad Bashir Ibrahim, Abdul Latif Al Khal, Bo Soderquist, Jana Jass, Ali S. Omrani
Summary: Bloodstream infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Qatar are relatively uncommon but highly resistant, with colistin being the only consistent effective treatment. Typical risk factors for MDR infections were prevalent in the study population, and clinical outcomes were generally unfavorable.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hoyam Awad, Amal A. H. Gadalla, Milagros Postigo, Salama Al-Hamidhi, Mohammed H. Tageldin, Sini Skariah, Ali A. Sultan, Eugene H. Johnson, Brian Shiels, Arnab Pain, Joanne Thompson, Hamza A. Babiker
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)