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Topic Review
Trichuriasis in Deer
Trichuris spp. are endoparasites found in a wide range of mammalian species. Some of these host species include humans, non-human primates, dogs, cats, pigs, wild ruminants and domesticated ruminants.
  • 842
  • 06 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Halophyte Plants as Sources of Anthelmintic Agents
Parasitic diseases, especially those caused by protozoans and helminths, such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and lymphatic filariasis, are the cause of millions of morbidities and deaths every year, mainly in tropical regions. Nature has always provided valuable antiparasitic agents, and efforts targeting the identification of antiparasitic drugs from plants have mainly focused on glycophytes. Salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) have attracted the interest of the scientific community due to their medicinal assets, which include antiparasitic properties.
  • 835
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Trypanosoma cruzi Infection; liver involvement
Currently, in Chagas disease, hepatomegaly is cited in most papers published which either study acutely infected patients or experimental models, and we know that the Trypanosoma cruzi can infect multiple cell types in the liver, especially Kupffer cells and dendritic cells. Moreover, liver damage is more pronounced in cases of oral infection, which is mainly found in the Amazon region. However, the importance of liver involvement, including the hepatic immune response, in disease progression does not receive much attention.
  • 834
  • 03 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis: Blood Macrophages and Kupffer Cells
Leishmania infantum is a parasite that causes zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis, a disease that affects humans, wild and domestic animals, mainly domestic dogs. Macrophages are cells of the immune system, existing in the peripheral blood and associated with different tissues in the mammal body, having the task to protect against microbiological threats. Interestingly, Leishmania can manipulate the macrophages into a non-active ghost-like state, allowing the parasite to stay in the host. The liver, which is a vital organ and a target for the parasite, has a resident population of macrophages designated as Kupfer cells. Therefore, a better understanding of the immune mechanisms exhibited by the macrophages when facing Leishmania parasite is needed to improve control strategies.
  • 826
  • 13 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Filarial Immunomodulatory Strategy as a Treatment against Diseases
Lymphatic filariasis is an infection in humans caused by filarial parasites: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and B. timori. To ensure effective transmission, these parasites evolved with multiple hosts, including a human as a definitive host and the mosquito as an intermediate host. Targeting filarial immunomodulators and manipulating the filariae-driven immune system against the filariae can be a potential therapeutic and prophylactic strategy. 
  • 807
  • 16 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Ovine Neosporosis
Neospora caninum is a well-known protist parasite of cattle and is considered to be one of the most relevant abortifacient agents responsible for significant economic losses in the bovine industry. The first report of this parasite in sheep was over 30 years ago, when it was described in a weak lamb with neurological signs that had been misdiagnosed as toxoplasmosis 15 years previously, due to the similarity of the associated histological lesions. Since this initial description, ovine neosporosis has typically been considered as infrequent, until a decade ago, when awareness of its potential as a reproductive disease in sheep was raised. However, there are many knowledge deficits with respect to its economic impact and geographic distribution, due to the paucity of published studies. Additionally, the pathogenesis of the disease remains poorly understood, as most experimental studies of ovine neosporosis use it as model of exogenous bovine neosporosis. Furthermore, experimental challenge is primarily via parenteral inoculation of tachyzoites—a route that might not accurately reproduce the events of the natural disease, as it is acquired through the ingestion of sporulated oocysts. In fact, there is still scarce information on the pathogenesis of ovine neosporosis after natural or experimental oocyst ingestion, or on its mechanism of transplacental transmission.
  • 806
  • 30 Sep 2022
Topic Review
CD36 for Malaria Parasites
Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (PfIEs) present P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 proteins (PfEMP1s) on the cell surface, via which they cytoadhere to various endothelial cell receptors (ECRs) on the walls of human blood vessels. This prevents the parasite from passing through the spleen, which would lead to its elimination. Each P. falciparum isolate has about 60 different PfEMP1s acting as ligands, and at least 24 ECRs have been identified as interaction partners.
  • 790
  • 16 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Blastocystis in Gut Microbiome
Blastocystis is the most common gastrointestinal protist found in humans and animals. Although the clinical significance of Blastocystis remains unclear, the organism is increasingly being viewed as a commensal member of the gut microbiome. 
  • 770
  • 29 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Perception of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Worldwide
In humans, an obvious reduction of the impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) could be managed by informing the population on the risks associated with ticks and TBD, involving frequent public news media and advertisements, as currently carried out in northern countries of Europe, which are measuring their impact and adaptation. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control provide online free access to information about TBD, gaps are obvious in both the transmitted information and the ability of citizens to understand the information. The same applies to ticks feeding on pets, that have an extraordinarily high contact with humans.
  • 764
  • 27 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Microorganisms and Trypanosomatid Diseases
Trypanosomatids are the causative agents of leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, which affect about 20 million people in the world’s poorest countries, leading to 95,000 deaths per year. They are often associated with malnutrition, weak immune systems, low quality housing, and population migration. They are generally recognized as neglected tropical diseases. New drugs against these parasitic protozoa are urgently needed to counteract drug resistance, toxicity, and the high cost of commercially available drugs. Microbial bioprospecting for new molecules may play a crucial role in developing a new generation of antiparasitic drugs.
  • 718
  • 24 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Host Small GTPases in Apicomplexan Parasite Infection
The Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites responsible for several important human diseases. These protozoan organisms have evolved several strategies to modify the host cell environment to create a favorable niche for their survival. The host cytoskeleton is widely manipulated during all phases of apicomplexan intracellular infection. Moreover, the localization and organization of host organelles are altered in order to scavenge nutrients from the host. Small GTPases are a class of proteins widely involved in intracellular pathways governing different processes, from cytoskeletal and organelle organization to gene transcription and intracellular trafficking. These proteins are already known to be involved in infection by several intracellular pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoan parasites.
  • 710
  • 15 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Malaria Vaccine
A major setback in malaria eradication is the emergence of drug resistance to existing antimalarials and insecticides, along with the frequent presence of asymptomatic and submicroscopic infections in endemic regions, underscoring the need for a highly effective malaria vaccine.
  • 684
  • 27 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Structure and Architecture of BRCT Domains
The human BRCT domain was first resolved from the crystal structure of the N-terminal BRCT of the X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 1 (XRCC1), determined by X-ray crystallography to a 3.2 Å resolution. Its tertiary structure features a central core of four-stranded parallel β-sheet (β1, β2, β3, and β4) flanked by two α-helices (α1 and α3) on the C-terminal end, a single α-helix (α2) on the N-terminal end, and two surface loops connecting β1 with α1 and α2 with β3 (the overall structure being β1-α1-β2-β3-α2-β4-α3). BRCT domains have been identified in a wide group of living organisms (from bacteria, parasites to mammals) and viruses. As mentioned above, those domains take part in a variety of important cell processes including DDR and cell cycle control. In addition, a few of these protein modules have been shown to be involved in pathologies such as cancer or infectious diseases including leishmaniasis. Therefore, significant efforts have been made towards finding compounds able to specifically inhibit the functions of these protein domains.
  • 677
  • 24 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Anthelmintic Drugs and Resistance
Helminth parasitic infections are a considerable constraint to the livestock industries worldwide. Nematode parasites cause the major proportion of harm to livestock. The infections caused are accountable for severe economic losses in cattle, goat and sheep farming industries. Morbidity and mortality in livestock due to parasitic diseases are increasing alarmingly. Also, their zoonotic influence on human health is considered significant. Anthelmintic drugs have been developed occasionally to curb this disease and prevent major losses. But the development of resistance against these drugs has put another constraint on this flourishing industry. Helminth parasites have developed resistance against three main classes of anthelmintics: benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones and nicotinic agonists. With the intensification of resistance, various screening and confirmatory tests have been developed for the speedy introduction of newer drugs in the livestock industry. At the same time, designing and launching novel anthelmintics is time-consuming and economically restrained. Phytochemicals attract much attention because of their pharmacotherapeutic potential, least toxic profile and low environmental hazards. 
  • 662
  • 20 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogenic protozoan parasite that infects the nucleated cells of warm-blooded hosts leading to an infectious zoonotic disease known as toxoplasmosis. The infection outcomes might be severe and fatal in patients with immunodeficiency, diabetes, and pregnant women and infants. 
  • 660
  • 21 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Toxoplasma gondii in Marine Life of Italian Coasts
Coastal areas of Italy experience high anthropogenic pressure, with a population density estimated to be 360 people per km2. This is correlated with the production of sewage or surface runoff of water contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts and other pathogens that can in turn enter the food chain and become a public health concern.
  • 659
  • 25 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Transient Transfection of Schistosomes
The neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis is a worm infection that is caused by parasitic blood flukes. The disease is found in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the New World. Worldwide, 240 million people are infected, and 700 million people are at risk. Schistosomiasis is a debilitating, chronic disease, and the mortality is estimated at 200,000 deaths per year. Schistosomiasis control relies on the drug praziquantel, but it does not prevent reinfection after treatment. The development of new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic methods and the investigation of the biological basis of infectivity are, therefore, of critical importance. The development of transgenesis systems, as have been used for other pathogens, has been hampered by the complexity of the parasite and its life cycle.
  • 653
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
ADP-Ribosylation during Infection Establishment by Trypanosomatidae Parasites
ADP-ribosylation is a reversible post-translational protein modification, which is evolutionarily conserved in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. It governs critical cellular functions, including, but not limited to cellular proliferation, differentiation, RNA translation, and genomic repair. The addition of one or multiple ADP-ribose moieties can be catalysed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes, while in eukaryotic organisms, ADP-ribosylation can be reversed through the action of specific enzymes capable of ADP-ribose signalling regulation. In several lower eukaryotic organisms, including Trypanosomatidae parasites, ADP-ribosylation is thought to be important for infection establishment. Trypanosomatidae encompasses several human disease-causing pathogens, including Trypanosoma cruzi, T. brucei, and the Leishmania genus. These parasites are the etiological agents of Chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and leishmaniasis, respectively.
  • 647
  • 19 May 2023
Topic Review
Cysteine Proteases Secreted by G. duodenalis
Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. lamblia, G. intestinalis) is an intestinal protozoan parasite that causes giardiasis in humans and livestock, companion and wild animals. Giardiasis is a leading cause of waterborne diarrheal infections worldwide, with an estimated number of 280 million human cases per annum.
  • 634
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Proteomics Applications in Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite with the ability to infect various warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans, is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. This infection poses significant risks, leading to severe complications in immunocompromised individuals and potentially affecting the fetus through congenital transmission. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate molecular interactions between T. gondii and its host is pivotal for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. 
  • 630
  • 05 Jan 2024
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