Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort:
Hottest Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Type:
All Topic Review Biography
Topic Review
Cuscuta Parasites
Dodder species (Cuscuta spp.) are holoparasites that have extensive material exchange with their host plants through vascular connections. Parasitism represents a lifestyle in which parasitic plants obtain nutrients from hosts, causing serious biotic stresses and impacts on global agriculture. Cuscuta spp. (dodder) are rootless and leafless stem parasites throughout their lifecycle, and cannot survive independently due to their very limited or absent photosynthesis. Their wide host range includes vegetables, crops, and pastures, and they are malignant parasitic weeds. The dodder penetrates the host and forms a specific organ—the haustorium—for host attachment; the vascular connections established by the haustoria serve as an open hub for the exchange of various substances (e.g., water, nutrients, pathogens, systemic signals, and even macromolecules) between the two plants. This exchange is known as cross-species transmission.
  • 609
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Canine Leishmaniasis
During canine leishmaniasis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum (L. infantum), uncontrolled infection leads to a strong humoral immune response. As a consequence of the production of high antibody levels and the prolonged presence of parasite antigens, circulating immune complexes (CIC) are formed, which can be deposited in certain organs and tissues, inducing vasculitis, uveitis, dermatitis and especially glomerulonephritis and renal failure. A method to detect CIC, and quantify their levels in serum samples from dogs infected with L. infantum has been recently described. It allowed to demonstrate a correlation between CIC levels and disease severity. Thus, CIC measurement may be useful for diagnosis, assessment of disease progression and for monitoring response to treatment. This is an interesting finding, considering that there remains an urgent need for identification of novel biomarkers to achieve a correct diagnosis and for optimal disease staging of dogs suffering from Leishmania infection.
  • 611
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Helminths of Erinaceus roumanicus
Among Eulipotyphla, the Erinaceinae subfamily containing the well-known hedgehogs of Eurasia and Africa deserves special attention. The helminth fauna of the Northern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus was studied in the Republic of Mordovia (Russia) for the first time. A total of 54 parasite species were recorded across Erinaceus europaeus, E. roumanicus, E. concolor and E. amurensis. Among all the studied species of hedgehogs, E. europaeus (35 species) and E. roumanicus (36) have the richest helminth faunas. The diversity of the parasite communities of Erinaceus spp. is due to the wide distribution and varied diet of these mammals. Most of the helminths found in hedgehogs are transmitted along trophic chains.
  • 600
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Relationship between Latent-Toxoplasmosis and Depression
Latent infection of the globally spread parasite Toxoplasma gondii in humans has been associated with changes in personality and behavior. Numerous studies have investigated the effect of toxoplasmosis on depression, but their results are inconsistent. Our study focused on the effect of latent toxoplasmosis on depression in men and women in association with their fertility. In 2016–2018, we recruited clients (677 men and 664 women) of the Center for Assisted Reproduction and asked them to complete a standardized Beck Depression Inventory-II. In women without fertility problems, we found higher depression scores in Toxoplasma-positive than in Toxoplasma-negative (p = 0.010, Cohen’s d = 0.48). Toxoplasma-positive infertile men, on the other hand, had lower depression scores than Toxoplasma-negative infertile men (p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.48). Our results are consistent with the previously described effects of latent toxoplasmosis, which seem to go in opposite directions regarding the effect on personality and behavior of men and women. Our results could be explained by gender-contrasting reactions to chronic stress associated with lifelong infection. This suggests that due to gender differences in the impact of latent toxoplasmosis, future studies ought to perform separate analyses for women and men. 
  • 594
  • 26 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Rhipicephalus Tick in Southeast Asia
Rhipicephalus species are distributed globally with a notifiable presence in Southeast Asia (SEA) within animal and human populations. The Rhipicephalus species are highly adaptive and have established successful coexistence within human dwellings and are known to be active all year round, predominantly in tropical and subtropical climates existing in SEA.
  • 545
  • 13 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Plasmodium vivax msp1 42 Haplotypes in Southern Mexico
P. vivax msp1 42 polymorphism from parasites the control and pre-elimination phases in southern Mexico was analyzed. Nucleotide variation of pre-elimination parasites showed a population contraction. Four Haplogroups having specific B-cell epitopes displayed spatiotemporal fluctuations. 
  • 527
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Lyme Neuroborreliosis
Lyme borreliosis is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the United States, infecting ~476,000 people annually. Borrelia spp. spirochetal bacteria are the causative agents of Lyme disease in humans and are transmitted by Ixodes spp ticks. Clinical manifestations vary depending on which B. burgdorferi sensu stricto outer surface protein C (OspC) genotype infects the patient and only certain genotypes may exhibit neurotropism in humans.
  • 518
  • 30 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Taxonomy of Chagas Disease Vectors
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by members of the subfamily Triatominae.
  • 488
  • 07 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Tick-Borne Rickettsioses in the Iberian Peninsula
Tick-borne rickettsioses (TBR) are caused by obligate, intracellular bacteria of the spotted-fever group (SFG) of the genus Rickettsia (Order Rickettsiales), transmitted by hard ticks. TBR are one of the oldest known vector-borne zoonoses and pose a threat to both human and animal health, as over the years, new SFG Rickettsia spp. have been reported worldwide with the potential to be human pathogens. In Portugal and Spain, the countries that constitute the Iberian Peninsula, reported TB rickettsiae causing human disease include Rickettsia conorii conorii, Rickettsia conorii israelensis, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia raoultii, Candidatus Rickettsia rioja, Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae, and Rickettsia monacensis.
  • 468
  • 12 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Stachybotrys chartarum Enzymes and Their Possible Applications
Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold) (Stachybotriaceae) is a toxigenic fungus that is commonly found in damp environments. This fungus has the capacity to produce various classes of bio-metabolites with unrivaled structural features, including cyclosporins, cochlioquinones, atranones, trichothecenes, dolabellanes, phenylspirodrimanes, xanthones, and isoindoline and chromene derivatives.
  • 463
  • 08 Nov 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 7
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Encyclopedia of Fungi
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Feedback