Article
Infectious Diseases
Felicite Flore Djuikwo Teukeng, Manon Blin, Nicolas Bech, Marta Reguera Gomez, Rima Zein-Eddine, Alain Michel Kouam Simo, Jean-Francois Allienne, Louis Albert Tchuem-Tchuente, Jerome Boissier
Summary: This study investigated the presence of hybrids between Schistosoma haematobium and S. bovis in Cameroonian humans, as well as the genetic diversity and structure of S. haematobium populations. The results showed that hybrids accounted for 11.3% of the miracidia, and their presence correlated with increased genetic diversity in the parasite. Hybridization was found to be a major process shaping the genetic diversity of S. haematobium.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Papa Mouhamadou Gaye, Souleymane Doucoure, Doudou Sow, Cheikh Sokhna, Stephane Ranque
Summary: The aim of this study is to determine the relevance of Bulinus forskalii as a potential intermediate host of S. haematobium and provide accurate identification methods. The research shows that Bulinus forskalii is a potential intermediate host of S. haematobium in Senegal, which is significant for understanding host-parasite interactions, epidemiological studies, and schistosomiasis control.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Duncan J. Berger, Elsa Leger, Geetha Sankaranarayanan, Mariama Sene, Nicolas D. Diouf, Muriel Rabone, Aidan Emery, Fiona Allan, James A. Cotton, Matthew Berriman, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: Hybridization between different species of parasites is a major concern for public and veterinary health. Recent research has shown that viable hybrids and introgressed lineages between Schistosoma spp. are common in Africa and beyond. It is unclear whether these hybrids represent recent or ancient hybridization events.
Article
Parasitology
Agniwo Privat, Boissier Jerome, Sidibe Bakary, Dembele Laurent, Diakite Assitan, Doumbo Safiatou Niare, Akplogan Ahristode, Guindo Hassim, Blin Manon, Dametto Sarah, Ibikounle Moudachirou, Spangenberg Thomas, Dabo Abdoulaye
Summary: This study analyzed the genetic profile of schistosomes in school-aged children in Mali and found a high prevalence of hybrid schistosomes.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Papa Mouhamadou Gaye, Souleymane Doucoure, Bruno Senghor, Babacar Faye, Ndiaw Goumballa, Mbacke Sembene, Coralie L'Ollivier, Philippe Parola, Stephane Ranque, Doudou Sow, Cheikh Sokhna
Summary: This study describes the spatio-temporal dynamics of Bulinus senegalensis and Bulinus umbilicatus infestation by the Schistosoma haematobium group in Niakhar, Senegal. Molecular identification was performed on a total of 810 snail samples collected during the schistosomiasis transmission season in 2013. The results showed that snail infestations appear early in the rainy season, peak in the middle of the season, and decline towards the end of the season, with a higher prevalence in the northern villages compared to the southern villages.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Beatriz Crego-Vicente, Pedro Fernandez-Soto, Begona Febrer-Sendra, Juan Garcia-Bernalt Diego, Jerome Boissier, Etienne K. Angora, Ana Oleaga, Antonio Muro
Summary: Schistosomiasis is a significant medical and veterinary concern in tropical and subtropical regions, with the emergence of natural hybrids of schistosomes posing a risk of infection to humans and animals. The hybrids have the potential to replace existing species, develop new resistances and pathologies, as well as extend host ranges. The LAMP technology shows promise in detecting pure Schistosoma species and their hybrids, offering potential for field diagnosis and disease surveillance in endemic areas where infections by schistosome hybrids are increasing.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Cheikh B. Fall, Sebastien Lambert, Elsa Leger, Lucy Yasenev, Amadou Djirmay Garba, Samba D. Diop, Anna Borlase, Stefano Catalano, Babacar Faye, Martin Walker, Mariama Sene, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: Recent research has shown the prevalence of viable zoonotic hybrids between human urogenital Schistosoma haematobium and intestinal Schistosoma species of livestock across Africa and beyond, with implications for host morbidity.
Article
Parasitology
Manon Blin, Sarah Dametto, Privat Agniwo, Bonnie L. Webster, Etienne Angora, Abdoulaye Dabo, Jerome Boissier
Summary: This study developed a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective duplex T-ARMS-PCR assay to differentiate between three Schistosoma species and their hybrids. It can be applied to investigate the epidemiology of these species in endemic areas, saving time and being of long-standing interest for genetic population studies.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Tatjana A. Gavrilenko, Galina I. Pendinen, Alexander P. Yermishin
Summary: This study used genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) to visualize the introgression of genetic material from the B subgenome of a wild potato species, S. stoloniferum, into backcross hybrids. The results showed that the B subgenome was inherited as single chromosomes or recombinant chromosomes in the backcross generations. Rare A/B homeologous chromosome pairing was detected in all hybrids.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Megan R. Shaffer, Simon K. Davy, James J. Bell
Summary: This study investigated hybridization between two cryptic species of marine sponge, Tethya burtoni, and found no evidence of hybridization between them. The two species showed differences in distribution, with one being present at all locations and the other at only three locations. Asexual reproduction did not play a significant role in population connectivity, but was important for population maintenance.
Article
Ecology
Ixchel F. Mandagi, Ryo Kakioka, Javier Montenegro, Hirozumi Kobayashi, Kawilarang W. A. Masengi, Nobuyuki Inomata, Atsushi J. Nagano, Atsushi Toyoda, Satoshi Ansai, Masatoshi Matsunami, Ryosuke Kimura, Jun Kitano, Junko Kusumi, Kazunori Yamahira
Summary: Recent empirical studies have shown that hybridization between distant lineages may play a role in promoting speciation in various taxa. In the case of Oryzias ricefishes on Sulawesi, repeated introgressive hybridization events with outgroup populations likely contributed to the divergence of sympatric species, aiding their independent evolution. This repeated hybridization, influenced by factors such as lake fragmentations and fusions, may have driven the diversification of this endemic freshwater fish species complex.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sofia L. Mendes, Miguel P. Machado, Maria M. Coelho, Vitor C. Sousa
Summary: Evidence of ancient interspecific gene flow through hybridization has been reported in many animal and plant taxa based on genetic markers. The study of genomic patterns of closely related species with allopatric distributions reveals that the S. pyrenaicus North lineage likely resulted from an ancient hybridization event between S. carolitertii and S. pyrenaicus South lineage. Rare variants affected by selection in the hybrid lineage suggest complex genomic interactions between parental lineages.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hatem Tallima, Rashika El Ridi
Summary: The use of adjuvant-free cysteine peptidases can significantly reduce the burden of challenge schistosome worms in outbred rodents. These cysteine peptidases can be replaced by peptide sequences to form a safe and cost-effective chimeric protein vaccine. By modifying the vaccine formula, the negative impact on parasite egg counts and vitality can be counteracted, while achieving a high reduction in worm burden.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Tatjana Gavrilenko, Galina Pendinen, Olga Antonova, Tamara Makarova, Ramona Thieme
Summary: This study analyzed the genomic composition and meiotic pairing in interspecific somatic hybrids and their backcrossing derivatives using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). The results showed partial loss and complete elimination of alien chromosomes in the backcross generations. The study also identified hybrids with complete integration of wild chromosomes into the potato genome and hybrids with intergenomic recombinant chromosomes through GISH.
Article
Ornithology
Long Huang, Lishi Zhang, Dan Li, Rongfei Yan, Weiping Shang, Yunlei Jiang, Shi Li
Summary: This study found evidence of introgressive hybridization between the closely related species Jankowski's Bunting and Meadow Bunting in eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Female Meadow Buntings may play a role in mediating this hybridization. Interspecific introgression contributes to the high genetic diversity in Jankowski's Bunting. We recommend expanding the habitat of Jankowski's Bunting as a conservation strategy.
Review
Immunology
Patrice A. Mawa, Julien Kincaid-Smith, Edridah M. Tukahebwa, Joanne P. Webster, Shona Wilson
Summary: Schistosomiasis is a major parasitic disease in Africa, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Factors such as parasite characteristics, host factors, and gene-environment interactions play a crucial role in determining the differential morbidity profiles. Research has identified biological hotspots where high transmission and morbidity persist, highlighting the need for revisiting studies to find more effective control measures.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nadia Marascio, Maria Teresa Loria, Angelo Giuseppe Lamberti, Grazia Pavia, Neill James Adams, Angela Quirino, Francesca Divenuto, Maria Mazzitelli, Giuseppe Greco, Enrico Maria Trecarichi, Francesca Perandin, Zeno Bisoffi, Bonnie L. Webster, Maria Carla Liberto, Carlo Torti, Giovanni Matera
Summary: This text discusses the discovery of atypical Schistosoma haematobium eggs in a bladder biopsy from an African migrant with severe Schistosomiasis, and the identification of a S. haematobium-Schistosoma bovis hybrid through mitochondrial and genomic DNA amplification. Phylogenetic analysis grouped this hybrid sequence with others from western Africa.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roy N. Platt, Winka Le Clec'h, Frederic D. Chevalier, Marina McDew-White, Philip T. LoVerde, Rafael Ramiro de Assis, Guilherme Oliveira, Safari Kinung'hi, Amadou Garba Djirmay, Michelle L. Steinauer, Anouk Gouvras, Muriel Rabone, Fiona Allan, Bonnie L. Webster, Joanne P. Webster, Aidan M. Emery, David Rollinson, Timothy J. C. Anderson
Summary: The blood fluke parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, was introduced into the Americas from Africa during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Research shows that the parasite successfully adapted to the snail intermediate host in South America, without facing significant population bottlenecks or barriers to colonization. Furthermore, genetic analysis indicates differences in gene selection between the Americas and Africa, suggesting adaptation during colonization.
Article
Parasitology
Jerzy M. Behnke, Alex Stewart, Lesley Smales, Gemma Cooper, Ann Lowe, John M. Kinsella, Anna Bajer, Dorota Dwuznik-Szarek, Jeremy Herman, Jonathan Fenn, Stefano Catalano, Christophe A. Diagne, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: The study examined Oxyurid nematodes from bank and field voles in the British Isles, providing genetic signatures of new isolates and confirming S. nigeriana as a parasite of both bank and field voles. Additionally, related Syphacia species were found in Mastomys spp. from West Africa, indicating a wide distribution of parasitic nematodes among rodent genera.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Toby Landeryou, Muriel Rabone, Fiona L. Allan, Rosie Maddren, David M. Rollinson, Bonnie M. Webster, Louis-Albert Tchuem-Tchuente, Roy Anderson, Aidan Emery
Summary: Global anthropogenic changes have led to the geographical distribution of schistosomiasis, resulting in the formation of hybrid populations between S. guineensis and S. haematobium. This study explores the genomics behind hybrid viability and adaptation in Schistosoma hybrids through genome-wide analysis. The findings highlight adaptive loci that contribute to the increased fitness and viability of hybrid populations. Understanding the impact of hybridisation on disease dynamics is crucial for effective control interventions.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Andreas J. Stroehlein, Pasi K. Korhonen, V. Vern Lee, Stuart A. Ralph, Margaret Mentink-Kane, Hong You, Donald P. McManus, Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuente, J. Russell Stothard, Parwinder Kaur, Olga Dudchenko, Erez Lieberman Aiden, Bicheng Yang, Huanming Yang, Aidan M. Emery, Bonnie L. Webster, Paul J. Brindley, David Rollinson, Bill C. H. Chang, Robin B. Gasser, Neil D. Young
Summary: Urogenital schistosomiasis, caused by the blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium, affects over 100 million people globally. Research on the genome of S. haematobium reveals important biological and disease traits, which can contribute to improved control of the disease.
Review
Parasitology
E. Raj, B. Calvo-Urbano, C. Heffernan, J. Halder, J. P. Webster
Summary: Despite the significant mortality and morbidity caused by helminth infections, the current evidence does not support the hypothesis that helminths directly cause physical stunting in children. However, there is significant heterogeneity between studies, and data from key demographic groups are lacking.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Praise Adeyemo, Elsa Leger, Elizabeth Hollenberg, Nicolas Diouf, Mariama Sene, Joanne P. Webster, Barbara Hasler
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the financial impact of livestock schistosomiasis in selected regions of Senegal. The findings suggest that the financial impact of livestock schistosomiasis on traditional subsistence and transhumance farmers is substantial, and treating the disease has the potential to generate considerable benefits to farmers and their families.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
John Archer, Farhan K. Patwary, Amy S. Sturt, Emily L. Webb, Comfort Rutty Phiri, Tobias Mweene, Richard J. Hayes, Helen Ayles, Eric A. T. Brienen, Lisette van Lieshout, Bonnie L. Webster, Amaya L. Bustinduy
Summary: Female genital schistosomiasis is a neglected and disabling gynecological disease, and current diagnostic methods are costly and unreliable. This study evaluated a rapid and portable molecular diagnostic method with simplified sample preparation to diagnose this disease.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kirsty J. Marsh, Aura M. Raulo, Marc Brouard, Tanya Troitsky, Holly M. English, Bryony Allen, Rohan Raval, Saudamini Venkatesan, Amy B. Pedersen, Joanne P. Webster, Sarah C. L. Knowles
Summary: The gut microbiome plays important roles in mammalian hosts, with the community composition shaping its functions. Factors driving individual microbiota variation in wild animals and how predictable or idiosyncratic they are remain poorly understood. This study on wood mice revealed consistent patterns of seasonal gut microbiota restructuring across different populations, despite involving different taxa, highlighting the importance of future research on the drivers and implications of such seasonal microbiome dynamics.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tom Pennance, M. Ines Neves, Bonnie L. Webster, Charlotte M. Gower, Stefanie Knopp, Iddi Simba Khamis, Shaali M. Ame, Said M. Ali, Muriel Rabone, Aidan Emery, Fiona Allan, Mtumweni Ali Muhsin, Khamis Rashid Suleiman, Fatama Kabole, Martin Walker, David Rollinson, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of elimination interventions on the genetic composition of Schistosoma haematobium populations. The results showed little differential impact of different treatment arms on genetic diversity and inbreeding, but significant differences were observed between the islands and within each island in terms of infection intensity.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Gregory Colin Milne, Joanne P. Webster, Martin Walker
Summary: Several studies have suggested a decline in the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis due to decreasing seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii. However, the consistency of this trend across different populations and its implications for prenatal screening programs remain unclear. This study explores how the changing epidemiology of the parasite may affect trends in congenital toxoplasmosis incidence and emphasizes the importance of updating cost-effectiveness estimates of screening programs to account for neuropsychiatric sequelae.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Isobel L. Gabain, Anouschka S. Ramsteijn, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: Globally, approximately 149.2 million children under the age of 5 are affected by stunting, but the underlying causes and mechanisms are still unclear, leading to limited treatment and prevention strategies. The direct link between parasites and stunting is often lacking due to the complex nature of stunting and a lack of interdisciplinary research. Based on existing studies, this paper presents potential pathways by which parasitic infection in mothers and/or infants may lead to childhood stunting. The need for future multidisciplinary longitudinal studies and clinical trials to identify influential factors and develop effective solutions is highlighted.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Bruno Senghor, Bonnie Webster, Tom Pennance, Mariama Sene, Souleymane Doucoure, Doudou Sow, Cheikh Sokhna
Summary: Bulinus senegalensis and Bulinus umbilicatus, two sympatric freshwater snails found in temporal ponds in Senegal, were collected and analyzed to determine their role in transmitting Schistosoma species. The results showed that B. senegalensis transmitted S. bovis and S. haematobium-S. bovis hybrids, while B. umbilicatus only transmitted S. haematobium. These findings highlight the importance of mapping, surveillance, and treatment of at-risk populations affected by multiple Bulinus species in Senegal.
CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)