Article
Entomology
Zhiyuan Yang, Mai Shi, Xiaoli Zhang, Danyu Yao
Summary: This study dissected the genomic and transcriptomic profiles of T. brucei, identifying a panel of pathogenic proteins and microRNAs. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the parasite-host interaction mechanisms and provide new insights for designing preventive and therapeutic strategies for African trypanosomiasis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Megan A. Hahn, Agnes Piecyk, Fatima Jorge, Robert Cerrato, Martin Kalbe, Nolwenn M. Dheilly
Summary: This study demonstrates that helminths have an impact on the gut microbiome of their host. The microbiome of stickleback fish varies depending on ecoevolutionary variables, such as the genotype of the host and parasite, and the composition of the parasite's microbiome. The study also reveals that the association between the microbiome and immune gene expression increases in infected individuals and varies with parasite genotype. Additionally, it shows that the parasite's microbiome is distinct from its host and affects the host's immune response to infection.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maura Rojas-Pirela, Diego Andrade-Alviarez, Lisvaneth Medina, Christian Castillo, Ana Liempi, Jesus Guerrero-Munoz, Yessica Ortega, Juan Diego Maya, Veronica Rojas, Wilfredo Quinones, Paul A. Michels, Ulrike Kemmerling
Summary: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. They play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diseases, including those caused by parasitic protists. Additionally, miRNAs have the potential to be used as targets for drug design and as diagnostic and prognostic markers for parasitic diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tom Sistermans, Juliane Hartke, Marah Stoldt, Romain Libbrecht, Susanne Foitzik
Summary: Parasites with complex life cycles can induce phenotypic changes in intermediate hosts to increase transmission to the final host. The consequences of parasite load on transcriptional activity and morphology of the cestode Anomotaenia brevis and its intermediate host, the ant Temnothorax nylanderi, were investigated. The study revealed that heavily infected hosts showed a stronger immune response and fight against oxidative stress, while the cestodes became smaller when competing with other parasites for resources from a single host, indicating shifts in host immune avoidance, starvation resistance, and vesicle-mediated transport.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claudia Machicado, Maria Pia Soto, Luis Felipe La Chira, Joel Torres, Carlos Mendoza, Luis A. Marcos
Summary: The study revealed that Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis have 31 and 22 secretory proteins targeting the host cell nucleus, respectively, while Fasciola hepatica does not. These proteins enrich transcription initiation and nucleic acid binding in O. viverrini and C. sinensis, and RNA processing function in F. hepatica.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Youssef Hamway, Kaspar Zimmermann, Marcel J. J. Blommers, Mariana Sousa, Cecile Haberli, Shashank Kulkarni, Susanna Skalicky, Matthias Hackl, Marjo Gotte, Jennifer Keiser, Clarissa Prazeres da Costa, Thomas Spangenberg, Kamal Azzaoui
Summary: Parasites, such as Schistosoma mansoni, utilize vesicle microRNAs to manipulate the host immune system. Researchers have identified small molecules that can interfere with this communication and counteract its effects.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Lianne I. M. Lansink, Oliver P. Skinner, Jessica A. Engel, Hyun Jae Lee, Megan S. F. Soon, Cameron G. Williams, Arya SheelaNair, Clara P. S. Pernold, Pawat Laohamonthonkul, Jasmin Akter, Thomas Stoll, Michelle M. Hill, Arthur M. Talman, Andrew Russell, Mara Lawniczak, Xiaoxiao Jia, Brendon Chua, Dovile Anderson, Darren J. Creek, Miles P. Davenport, David S. Khoury, Ashraful Haque
Summary: Understanding how host inflammatory responses affect malaria parasite maturation is important. This study found that systemic host inflammation caused by innate immune stimulus or acute Plasmodium infection slows down parasite progression and inhibits maturation in vitro. The researchers also identified candidate inhibitory metabolites in the plasma that may impair parasite growth in vivo.
Article
Biology
Abdirahman Abdi, Fiona Achcar, Lauriane Sollelis, Joao Luiz Silva-Filho, Kioko Mwikali, Michelle Muthui, Shaban Mwangi, Hannah W. Kimingi, Benedict Orindi, Cheryl Andisi Kivisi, Manon Alkema, Amrita Chandrasekar, Peter C. Bull, Philip Bejon, Katarzyna Modrzynska, Teun Bousema, Matthias Marti
Summary: The malaria parasite life cycle involves asexual replication in human blood and differentiation into gametocytes for transmission to mosquitoes. Host factors influence the commitment to differentiate into gametocytes, but the exact mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed data from 828 children in Kenya over 18 years to understand the relationship between host immunity, parasite growth, and transmission investment. We found that reduced plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels, which are associated with inflammatory responses, are correlated with increased transmission investment and reduced asexual replication.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raquel A. Rodrigues, Gabriel M. F. Felix, Mauro Pichorim, Patricia A. Moreira, Erika M. Braga
Summary: The study investigated avian haemosporidian parasites in a protected area in northeastern Brazil, showing that migration and temperature may predict parasite prevalence. Individual-level traits and other species-specific factors were not related to infection probability.
Article
Immunology
Patrick J. Skelly, Akram A. Da'dara
Summary: Schistosomes are parasitic worms that infect millions of people globally. Researchers have discovered a second gene responsible for surface acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, which is essential for the worms' ability to establish infection. This finding clarifies confusion regarding schistosome AChEs and could lead to new therapeutics for schistosomiasis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Tara E. Stewart Merrill, Dana M. Calhoun, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: Understanding the capacity of different species to support parasite transmission, known as "competence", is crucial for modeling transmission and testing diversity-disease theory. However, the factors that generate competence and drive its variation are not well understood. This study developed novel approaches to systematically quantify competence for a multi-host, multi-parasite community. The findings suggest that variation in competence is mainly driven by differences in barrier resistance and pre-transmission mortality, highlighting the importance of host resistance and parasite pathogenicity. Host species identity was found to be a strong predictor of competence variation. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of infection and epidemiological patterns.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Xiaolin Sui, Kaiyun Guan, Yan Chen, Ruijuan Xue, Airong Li
Summary: This study investigated the influence of mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth and photosynthesis of leguminous and gramineous plants in the presence of a root hemiparasitic plant. The results showed that AM colonization significantly improved the growth and photosynthetic capacity of parasitized leguminous plants, while slightly improving the shoot biomass of grass hosts by suppressing haustoria formation and the growth of the root hemiparasitic plant.
Article
Immunology
Yu Jeong Lee, Moon-Ju Kim, Sungsin Jo, So-Hee Jin, Pu-Reum Park, Kijeong Park, Ho-Chun Song, Jahae Kim, Ji-Young Kim, Seung Cheol Shim, Tae-Hwan Kim, Sung-Jong Hong, Hyundeok Kang, Tae-Jong Kim, Eun Jeong Won
Summary: Helminth infections and their components have the potential to modulate immune responses. Clonorchis sinensis-derived protein (CSp) was found to protect against ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by reducing inflammatory cytokine-producing cells and new bone formation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Annemarie Voorberg-van der Wel, Clemens H. M. Kocken, Anne-Marie Zeeman
Summary: Recent studies on liver stage malaria parasite-host interactions have shed light on the intricate cross-talk between the parasite and its mammalian host, particularly focusing on the interactions between hypnozoites and hepatocytes. Understanding these interactions may help identify factors that could awaken dormant parasite reservoirs, potentially leading to the total eradication of malaria.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hung Manh Nguyen, Hien Hoang Van, Loan Thi Ho, Yulia V. Tatonova, Henry Madsen
Summary: The study aimed to clarify the suitability of two thiarid snail species, M. tuberculata and T. granifera, as first intermediate hosts of C. sinensis. Field surveys in Vietnam revealed that only Parafossarulus manchouricus was infected with C. sinensis, contradicting previous beliefs about the role of the other two snail species. Experimentally, only P. manchouricus was successfully infected with C. sinensis eggs.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kevin J. Peterson, Alan Beavan, Peter J. Chabot, Mark A. McPeek, Davide Pisani, Bastian Fromm, Oleg Simakov
Summary: WGDs do not result in the creation of miRNA novelty, nor do WGDs correlate to increases in complexity. Instead, it is the number of miRNA seed sequences in the genome itself that not only better correlate to instances in complexification, but also mechanistically explain why complexity increases when new miRNA families are established.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bastian Fromm, Eirik Hoye, Diana Domanska, Xiangfu Zhong, Ernesto Aparicio-Puerta, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Sinan U. Umu, Peter J. Chabot, Wenjing Kang, Morteza Aslanzadeh, Marcel Tarbier, Emilio Marmol-Sanchez, Gianvito Urgese, Morten Johansen, Eivind Hovig, Michael Hackenberg, Marc R. Friedlander, Kevin J. Peterson
Summary: The update of MirGeneDB to MirGeneDB 2.1 added 30 additional species, expanding the database to cover 75 species spanning over 800 million years of animal evolution and containing 16670 microRNAs. The update also improved performance and allowed the download of microRNA expression matrices for all tissues and species.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Yaroslav K. Kapushchak, Oxana G. Zaparina, Viatcheslav A. Mordvinov, Maria Y. Pakharukova
Summary: Fish-borne trematode infections can cause liver diseases and may be related to kidney disorders. Using a hamster model, we found that Opisthorchis felineus infection leads to the development of glomerulopathy, characterized by changes in blood and urine markers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ernesto Aparicio-Puerta, Cristina Gomez-Martin, Stavros Giannoukakos, Jose Maria Medina, Chantal Scheepbouwer, Adrian Garcia-Moreno, Pedro Carmona-Saez, Bastian Fromm, Michiel Pegtel, Andreas Keller, Juan Antonio Marchal, Michael Hackenberg
Summary: The NCBI Sequence Read Archive hosts microRNA sequencing data for over 800 species, indicating a wide taxonomic distribution in small RNA research. With sRNAtoolbox, users can analyze an unlimited number of samples using high-confidence databases, enabling micro- and small RNA profiling.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bastian Fromm, Xiangfu Zhong, Marcel Tarbier, Marc R. Friedlander, Michael Hackenberg
Summary: The number of microRNAs in the human genome has been a controversial issue in recent years. A recent study reported thousands of putative novel microRNAs, but the developers raised concerns about the false positive detections. By quantifying features, they found that the reported microRNAs were mainly false positives and argued that the human microRNA complement is nearly complete.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gennady V. V. Vasiliev, Vladimir Y. Y. Ovchinnikov, Pavel D. D. Lisachev, Natalia P. P. Bondar, Larisa N. N. Grinkevich
Summary: Researchers performed sequencing and comparative bioinformatics analysis of microRNAs in the central nervous system (CNS) of the terrestrial mollusk Helix lucorum. They identified 95 different microRNAs, with the MIR-10 family being the most representative. The study showed the involvement of the MIR-10 family in long-term memory formation in Helix, and changes in the expression of 17 representatives of MIR-10 during different periods of memory consolidation. These findings have significant implications for further behavioral research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ana E. Jenike, Katharine M. Jenike, Kevin J. Peterson, Bastian Fromm, Marc K. Halushka
Summary: The evolution of specialized cell-types has long been a topic of interest for biologists, but it is difficult to reconstruct or observe due to deep time-scales. MicroRNAs have been found to be associated with the evolution of cellular complexity and may provide insights into specialization. This study focused on the evolutionary history of Mir-126, a microRNA specific to endothelial cells, to understand the origin of endothelium and its relationship with microRNA expression.
EVOLUTION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Marcela Uliano-Silva, Mark Wilkinson, Jonathan Wood, Michelle Smith, Karen Oliver, Ying Sims, James Torrance, Alexander Suh, Shane A. McCarthy, Richard Durbin, Mary J. O'Connell
Summary: We have sequenced the genomes of two limbless, soil-dwelling amphibians, Geotrypetes seraphini (3.8 Gb) and Microcaecilia unicolor (4.7 Gb). These species have reduced eyes and unique chemosensory tentacles. Our analysis identified unique gene groups related to olfaction and chemosensory perception in caecilians. We also found positive selection signatures on genes involved in organ development, sensory perception, immunity, and other functions in caecilians.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria A. Pakharukova, Ekaterina Lishai, Oxana Zaparina, Nina Baginskaya, Sung-Jong Hong, Banchob Sripa, Viatcheslav Mordvinov
Summary: This study found that three types of parasitic infections (O. felineus, O. viverrini, and C. sinensis) can cause diseases in the hepatobiliary system, with O. viverrini having the greatest impact on the bile microbiome and O. felineus having the smallest impact on both bile and feces microbiomes. These findings can contribute to the development of more effective species-specific modalities for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Maria N. Lvova, Denis V. Ponomarev, Alena A. Tarasenko, Anna V. Kovner, Galina A. Minkova, Michail A. Tsyganov, Meijun Li, Yan Lou, Veronica I. Evseenko, Alexander V. Dushkin, Irina V. Sorokina, Tatiana G. Tolstikova, Viatcheslav A. Mordvinov, Damira F. Avgustinovich
Summary: A micellar complex of curcumin with glycyrrhizic acid was effective in inhibiting Opisthorchis felineus, although its effect was weaker than that of praziquantel. The complex activated bile acid synthesis genes, reducing liver inflammation and periductal fibrosis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Hume, Jessica C. Edge, Haidee Tinning, Dapeng Wang, Alysha S. Taylor, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Annika Geijer-Simpson, Pavle Vrljicak, Jan J. Brosens, Emma S. Lucas, Nigel A. B. Simpson, Jayne Shillito, Karen Forbes, Mary J. O'Connell, Niamh Forde
Summary: We examined the role of conserved placental mammal-specific microRNAs and their targets in regulating endometrial receptivity to implantation. The expression of miR-340-5p, -542-3p, and -671-5p in endometrial epithelial cells was influenced by progesterone exposure. Proteomic analysis showed that these microRNAs altered the expression of numerous proteins, many of which were predicted targets and regulated by progesterone. Dysregulation of these microRNAs and their targets is implicated in recurrent pregnancy loss.
Article
Biology
Alysha S. Taylor, Haidee Tinning, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Jessica Edge, William Smith, Anna L. Pullinger, Ruth A. Sutton, Bede Constantinides, Dapeng Wang, Karen Forbes, Niamh Forde, Mary J. O'Connell
Summary: The origin and evolution of implantation in mammals are explained by the discovery of 13 conserved miRNA families that were established at the origin of placental mammals. These miRNAs are expressed in a species-specific manner in response to early pregnancy cues, providing insights into the molecular changes that led to the development of different implantation strategies in mammals.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Maria Y. Pakharukova, Ekaterina Savina, Dmitry V. Ponomarev, Natalya V. Gubanova, Oxana Zaparina, Elvira G. Zakirova, Guofeng Cheng, Olga V. Tikhonova, Viatcheslav A. Mordvinov
Summary: This study describes for the first time the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by the food-borne trematode Opisthorchis felineus, and characterizes their microscopic and proteomic properties, as well as their internalization pathways by human cholangiocytes. The differential abundance of proteins between whole adult worms and EVs was assessed, revealing enrichment of canonical EV markers and parasite specific proteins. These findings provide insights into the important role of EV cargo components in the pathogenesis of fluke infection and bile duct neoplasia.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna V. Kovner, Alena A. Tarasenko, Oxana Zaparina, Olga V. Tikhonova, Maria Y. Pakharukova, Viatcheslav A. Mordvinov
Summary: In this study, the wound healing potential of Opisthorchis felineus proteins in a mouse model was investigated. The results showed that these proteins could significantly enhance wound healing by reducing inflammation, modulating vascular response, and promoting dermal extracellular matrix remodeling.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Maria Y. Pakharukova, Oxana Zaparina, Nina Baginskaya, Viatcheslav A. Mordvinov
Summary: This study used mRNA sequencing technology to investigate the changes in gene expression in the host liver infected with the food-borne trematode Opisthorchis felineus. The study found that the activated gene sets of cellular pathways differed between acute and chronic opisthorchiasis. Additionally, epithelial-mesenchymal transition was the most enriched gene set in all infected animals.
FOOD AND WATERBORNE PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Kiswendsida Thierry Guiguemde, Patindoilba Marcel Sawadogo, Adama Zida, Apollinaire Kima, Roland Windtare Bougma, Mamadou Serme, Ibrahim Sangare, Clarisse Bougouma, Sanata Bamba
Summary: This study assessed the transmission of onchocerciasis in the Cascades region of Burkina Faso and found that the resumption of ivermectin treatment has significantly reduced the prevalence of the disease since 2011.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2024)
Article
Parasitology
K. D. Steffen, M. L. Gos, J. M. Unzaga, M. C. Venturini, R. O. Ariasc, G. More
Summary: The dynamics of anti-T. gondii antibodies and seroconversion in naturally infected goats from the last third of pregnancy to 100 days of lactation were evaluated, and their relationship with hematological and dehydration parameters was examined. The results showed that seroconversion occurred in goats of different physiological states and ages, and it was not related to hydration status.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2024)
Article
Parasitology
Maho Kotake, Yuho Watanabe, Naoki Itoh, Tomoyoshi Yoshinaga
Summary: This study examined the effects of light exposure on the theront excystment circadian rhythm in Cryptocaryon irritans. The results showed that light reception is essential for circadian rhythm entrainment and both light duration and temperature have an impact on the entrainment of circadian rhythm.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2024)
Review
Parasitology
Olivier Ndogo Eteme, Ernestine Nkwengoua Zondegoumba, Yasmin Saegusa Tadayozzi, Jessica Aparecida Serafim, Wendell Queiroz Leite, Mariane de Freitas Genari Severino, Eduardo Festozo Vicente
Summary: The high mortality rate caused by parasitic worms on their hosts is a major concern. Current drugs on the market are often toxic with numerous side effects, necessitating the search for new, more potent molecules. Medicinal plants have been found to contain a wide range of novel molecules that can effectively combat different types of helminths. This review provides an overview of the methods, activities, and mechanisms of action of cyclic peptides, specifically cyclotides, for treating helminthic infections.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2024)
Article
Parasitology
Lucas de Assis Silva Andrade, Carlos Nei Ortuzar-Ferreira, Mariana de Souza Oliveira, Sergian Vianna Cardozo, Viviane Moreira de Lima, Bruno Pereira Berto
Summary: A new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 has been identified from V. chivi in Southeastern Brazil. Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed the identity of this new species.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2024)
