Article
Immunology
Mariame Camara, Alseny M'mah Soumah, Hamidou Ilboudo, Christelle Travaille, Caroline Clucas, Anneli Cooper, Nono-Raymond Kuispond Swar, Oumou Camara, Ibrahim Sadissou, Estefania Calvo Alvarez, Aline Crouzols, Jean-Mathieu Bart, Vincent Jamonneau, Mamadou Camara, Annette MacLeod, Bruno Bucheton, Brice Rotureau
Summary: In the study of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis, it was found that live parasites may remain undetected in the blood of some seropositive individuals but are present in their skin. The skin may serve as a potential reservoir for African trypanosomes.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Timothy J. Liu, Lynlee L. Lin, Erin McMeniman, Jason Wu, Yung-Ching Kao, Snehlata Kumari, Glen M. Boyle, James W. Wells, H. Peter Soyer, Jazmina L. Gonzalez-Cruz
Summary: In this pilot study, the possibility of diagnosing inflammatory skin diseases from an immunological perspective was explored. Significant differences in the expression of inflammatory markers were detected between lesional and perilesional biopsies, indicating the potential of inflammatory signatures as diagnostic differentiators and alternative targets in anti-inflammatory treatment strategies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Baljinder Singh, Amrita Sharma, Naresh Gunaganti, Mitch Rivers, Pradip K. Gadekar, Brady Greene, Michael Chichioco, Carlos E. Sanz-Rodriguez, Courtney Fu, Catherine LeBlanc, Erin Burchfield, Nyle Sharif, Benjamin Hoffman, Gaurav Kumar, Andrei Purmal, Kojo Mensa-Wilmot, Michael P. Pollastri
Summary: New analogs of the carbazole CBL0137 were synthesized and evaluated, resulting in the discovery of eight compounds with higher or equivalent selectivity indices. Among them, 5v demonstrated potential for drug development against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), while 5w showed lack of efficacy. Lessons from these studies will guide further optimization of carbazoles for HAT and other indications.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Baljinder Singh, Amrita Sharma, Naresh Gunaganti, Mitch Rivers, Pradip K. Gadekar, Brady Greene, Michael Chichioco, Carlos E. Sanz-Rodriguez, Courtney Fu, Catherine LeBlanc, Erin Burchfield, Nyle Sharif, Benjamin Hoffman, Gaurav Kumar, Andrei Purmal, Kojo Mensa-Wilmot, Michael P. Pollastri
Summary: To develop a candidate drug against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), researchers synthesized new analogs and evaluated their properties. Eight new compounds with higher or equivalent selectivity indices were identified. Two compounds, 5v and 5w, were tested in a mouse model of HAT, and 5v showed a lead-like profile for drug development while 5w lacked efficacy. These findings will guide further optimization of carbazoles for HAT and other indications.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hisham A. Elrufaie, Linda M. Mohamed, Aya Y. Hamd, Noor A. Bala, Fatima A. Elbadawi, Hiba Ghaboosh, Abdulrahim A. Alzain
Summary: This study used computational methods to identify natural products that inhibit the parasitic enzyme Rhodesain. Three potential compounds were found, which showed excellent binding affinity and stability towards Rhodesain. These compounds may be a hopeful treatment for Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in the future if further clinical trials were conducted.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Panagiota Zarmpi, M. Alice Maciel Tabosa, Pauline Vitry, Annette L. Bunge, Natalie A. Belsey, Dimitrios Tsikritsis, Timothy J. Woodman, M. Begona Delgado-Charro, Richard H. Guy
Summary: Confocal Raman spectroscopy is a promising tool for quantifying drug uptake and clearance in the skin, providing valuable insights into local bioavailability. This research confirmed that Raman signals can be used to correct for signal attenuation and detect drug disposition, as well as distinguish between different formulations.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Maryam Aliee, Matt J. Keeling, Kat S. Rock
Summary: This study investigates the role of asymptomatic infections in the elimination of Gambiense African sleeping sickness transmission, showing that these infections may significantly impact transmission and hinder progress towards achieving elimination goals. Location-specific modeling and research are needed to determine if asymptomatic infections pose a threat.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Hazel Garvie-Cook, Magdalena Hoppel, Richard H. Guy
Summary: This article illustrates the application of confocal Raman microspectroscopy and imaging to investigate the performance of topical and transdermal drug products at the formulation-skin interface. These techniques provide qualitative and potentially semi-quantitative insights into the interaction between the delivery system and the skin, drug transfer mechanisms, changes in drug solubility, and drug absorption and clearance within the skin.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
A. F. M. Pereira, B. V. M. Rodrigues, L. P. Medeiros Neto, L. de O. Lopes, A. L. F. da Costa, A. S. Santos, B. C. Viana, M. G. Tosato, G. C. da Silva, G. O. M. Gusmao, P. P. Favero, A. A. Martin
Summary: This study conducted an assessment of AGEs content and differences on human skin highly exposed to solar irradiation using Confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS), revealing distribution and variations of major AGEs in different areas of the skin, providing insights into the effects and changes resulting from skin chronological aging caused by glycation under conditions of high exposure to UV irradiation.
VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Olaf Valverde Mordt, Antoine Tarral, Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft
Summary: This article describes the strategy used to simplify the introduction of a new oral treatment for human African trypanosomiasis. The authors discuss various aspects of the drug's development, including determining dosage range, testing food effects, optimizing absorption, establishing partnerships, and preparing for regulatory approval and distribution. The article highlights the importance of early preparation and collaboration in successfully bringing the new treatment to affected regions.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Keneth Iceland Kasozi, Ewan Thomas MacLeod, Susan Christina Welburn
Summary: The resistance of African animal trypanocide is a continuous threat to the elimination of African trypanosomiasis. This study investigated the threat by using major chemotherapeutic agents and found multi-drug cross-resistance, emphasizing the need to revise policies for disease control.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Victor Kande Betu Kumesu, Wilfried Mutombo Kalonji, Clelia Bardonneau, Olaf Valverde Mordt, Digas Ngolo Tete, Severine Blesson, Francois Simon, Sophie Delhomme, Sonja Bernhard, Pathou Nganzobo Ngima, Helene Mahenzi Mbembo, Jean-Pierre Fina Lubaki, Steven Lumeya Vuvu, Willy Kuziena Mindele, Medard Ilunga Wa Kyhi, Guylain Mandula Mokenge, Lewis Kaninda Badibabi, Augustin Kasongo Bonama, Papy Kavunga Lukula, Crispin Lumbala, Bruno Scherrer, Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft, Antoine Tarral
Summary: The multicentre clinical trial of oral fexinidazole in pediatric patients with gambiense human African trypanosomiasis demonstrated that the drug is a safe and effective first-line treatment option across all disease stages.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
A. Wurm, J. Kuehn, K. Kugel, D. Putzer, R. Arora, D. C. Coraca-Huber, P. Zelger, J. Badzoka, C. Kappacher, C. W. Huck, J. D. Pallua
Summary: Raman microscopic spectroscopy is a promising tool for detecting Staphylococcus epidermidis in human bone grafts, with distinct diagnostic spectra being able to differentiate between infected and non-infected bone samples. Further studies in human tissues are needed to explore its full potential.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
William Ekloh, Jack D. Sunter, Theresa Manful Gwira
Summary: African Trypanosomiasis is a debilitating disease with severe negative impact on the livelihood of people in sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the patterns of trypanosome DNA presence during a treatment round on a cohort of cattle in Ghana. The results showed persistence of trypanosome DNA in both the blood and skin of the animals, with limited correlation between the parasite DNA detected in the two sites.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seohyun Kim, Sangmin Ji, Hye Ran Koh
Summary: The CRISPR-Cas system has gained attention as a diagnostic tool due to its specific gene targeting capability. This system's activities rely on target-specific binding, making it applicable for detecting disease-related genes, microRNAs, genetic variations, and also non-nucleic acid targets such as proteins.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Katja Mueller, Matthew P. Gibbins, Mark Roberts, Arturo Reyes-Sandoval, Adrian V. S. Hill, Simon J. Draper, Kai Matuschewski, Olivier Silvie, Julius Clemence R. Hafalla
Summary: Antigens from different origins, either from sporozoites or exo-erythrocytic forms, exhibit significant differences in immunogenicity. However, both types of antigens can be effectively targeted and recognized by vaccine-induced effector CD8(+) T cells, leading to high levels of protection. This finding has important implications for antigen prioritization in next-generation pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
K. S. Offer, F. Marchesi, D. G. M. Sutton
Summary: This report describes a successful case of using topical 1% 5-fluorouracil as an adjunctive treatment for equine ocular squamous cell carcinoma. Adverse effects during surgery and post-operative treatment included moderate conjunctival inflammation and excessive granulation tissue formation, which responded well to surgical debulking and topical corticosteroid application. No mass regrowth was observed at 12 months post-discharge.
EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephen D. Larcombe, Paul Capewell, Kirsty Jensen, William Weir, Jane Kinnaird, Elizabeth J. Glass, Brian R. Shiels
Summary: Background knowledge of factors influencing infection outcome is crucial. Cattle infected by Theileria annulata show a wide range of disease severity, with Holstein cattle being susceptible and Sahiwal cattle being tolerant. Divergent pathogen-host molecular interactions that influence chromatin architecture of the infected cell are a major determinant in gene expression differences linked to disease susceptibility.
Article
Microbiology
Julien A. R. Amat, Veronica Patton, Caroline Chauche, Daniel M. Goldfarb, Joanna Crispell, Quan Gu, Alice Coburn, Gaelle Gonzalez, Daniel F. Mair, Lily Tong, Luis R. Martinez-Sobrido, John Marshall, Francesco Marchesi, Pablo Murcia
Summary: Viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens, and their adaptability is crucial for replication and spread within hosts. Long-term virus adaptation can impact virulence and replication capacity. Studies show that H3N8 equine influenza virus (EIV) evolved towards enhanced replication and cell-to-cell spread after 40 years of adaptation, with reduced tissue pathogenicity.
Correction
Immunology
Omar A. Alfituri, Juan F. Quintana, Annette MacLeod, Paul Garside, Robert A. Benson, James M. Brewer, Neil A. Mabbott, Liam J. Morrison, Paul Capewell
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Giovanni Coppola, Jenny Rose Helm, Francesco Marchesi, Joanna Siriol Morris
Summary: This case report demonstrates a favourable outcome in a guinea pig with a tumour of endothelial origin, treated with surgical excision alone. After 34 months, the patient showed no signs of local tumour recurrence.
VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Johanna Ripp, Xanthoula Smyrnakou, Marie-Therese Neuhoff, Franziska Hentzschel, Friedrich Frischknecht
Summary: Malaria-causing parasites rely on an actin-myosin-based motor for their invasion and migration, and the phosphorylation status plays a crucial role in regulating their motility and force generation during transmission.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Franziska Hentzschel, Matthew P. Gibbins, Charalampos Attipa, Dario Beraldi, Christopher A. Moxon, Thomas D. Otto, Matthias Marti
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of rodent P. berghei infection using flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. The researchers identified CD71 as a host receptor for reticulocyte invasion and found that parasites adapt metabolically to the host cell environment. Transcriptional analysis and functional assays revealed the importance of nutrient-dependent tropism for gametocyte formation in reticulocytes.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jasmine M. Clarkson, Dorothy E. F. McKeegan, Julian Sparrey, Francesco Marchesi, Matthew C. Leach, Jessica E. Martin
Summary: The study shows that hypobaric hypoxia via gradual decompression can induce a non-recovery state in anesthetized laboratory mice. Regardless of the decompression rate and shape, this method effectively achieves the desired outcome, with slower decompression rates requiring longer time for mice to reach a non-recovery state, and gradual and linear shaped profiles prolonging the process.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alice D. Baudot, Victoria M-Y Wang, Josh D. Leach, Jim O'Prey, Jaclyn S. Long, Viola Paulus-Hock, Sergio Lilla, David M. Thomson, John Greenhorn, Farah Ghaffar, Colin Nixon, Miep H. Helfrich, Douglas Strathdee, Judith Pratt, Francesco Marchesi, Sara Zanivan, Kevin M. Ryan
Summary: This study reveals the importance of glycan degradation in macroautophagy. The absence of the glycosidase FUCA1 leads to lysosomal glycan accumulation and impaired autophagic flux. Dysregulated glycan degradation hinders autophagosome-lysosome fusion and contributes to the pathology of fucosidosis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Franziska Hentzschel, Friedrich Frischknecht
Summary: Ronald Ross discovered forms of the malaria parasite in two mosquitoes in August 1897, with Giovanni Battista Grassi later establishing the transmissive forms of the parasite. However, our understanding of the molecular processes governing oocyst biology remains surprisingly limited.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manuel van Gijsel-Bonnello, Nicola J. Darling, Takashi Tanaka, Samuele Di Carmine, Francesco Marchesi, Sarah Thomson, Kristopher Clark, Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska, Henry J. McSorley, Philip Cohen, J. Simon C. Arthur
Summary: The study shows that nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, also inhibits salt-inducible kinase 2, which may contribute to its effectiveness in treating lung fibrosis.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)