Parasitology最新文献_第3页

Giardia unveiled: a proteome view of the parasite in search of drug, vaccine and diagnostic targets. 贾第鞭毛虫揭开面纱：寻找药物、疫苗和诊断目标的寄生虫蛋白质组学观点。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-27 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101899

Lorena González-López, Oscar Rodríguez-Lima, Blanca Esther Blancas-Luciano, Margarita Jacaranda Rosendo-Pineda, Nancy Guadalupe Velázquez Zavala, Luis Vaca, Margarita Cabrera-Bravo, Adolfo Cruz-Reséndiz

{"title":"Giardia unveiled: a proteome view of the parasite in search of drug, vaccine and diagnostic targets.","authors":"Lorena González-López, Oscar Rodríguez-Lima, Blanca Esther Blancas-Luciano, Margarita Jacaranda Rosendo-Pineda, Nancy Guadalupe Velázquez Zavala, Luis Vaca, Margarita Cabrera-Bravo, Adolfo Cruz-Reséndiz","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101899","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101899","url":null,"abstract":"Giardiasis remains a significant global health burden, constrained by limited diagnostic tools, the emergence of drug-resistant Giardia lamblia strains, and the absence of a licenced human vaccine. To address these critical gaps, this review provides a comprehensive functional analysis of the Giardia proteome, emphasizing molecular targets essential for the parasite's survival and pathogenesis. We systematically examine the structural proteome, specifically the tubulin reservoir and the diverse giardin family (α-, β-, γ- and δ-giardins), elucidating their indispensable roles in the ventral disc attachment mechanism. Beyond structural components, we detail the 'pathoproteome', and moonlighting enzymes, highlighting how the secretome - including cathepsin B-like cysteine proteases (notably giardipain-1) and variant-specific surface proteins facilitate immune evasion and host intestinal epithelial damage. Furthermore, the review explores the metabolic and encystation proteomes, identifying unique enzymes such as carbamate kinase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase that offer high therapeutic selectivity. By synthesizing these proteomic insights, this work identifies high-priority candidates for the development of next-generation therapeutics, prophylactic, and diagnostic interventions aimed at mitigating the global impact of this neglected disease.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-23"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147531864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The activity, selectivity and pharmacological profile of imatinib derivates against Trypanosoma cruzi. 伊马替尼衍生物对克氏锥虫的活性、选择性和药理学研究。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-25 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101887

Lucas Nesic de Freitas, Denise da Gama Jaèn Batista, Cristiane França Da Silva, Marcos Meuser Batista, Liviane De Azevedo, Luiz Pimentel, Monica Bastos, Nubia Boechat, Maria de Nazaré Correia Soeiro

{"title":"The activity, selectivity and pharmacological profile of imatinib derivates against Trypanosoma cruzi.","authors":"Lucas Nesic de Freitas, Denise da Gama Jaèn Batista, Cristiane França Da Silva, Marcos Meuser Batista, Liviane De Azevedo, Luiz Pimentel, Monica Bastos, Nubia Boechat, Maria de Nazaré Correia Soeiro","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101887","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101887","url":null,"abstract":"Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi affecting more than 6 million people worldwide. Its treatment is based in old and toxic nitroderivative drugs necessitating for new alternatives. Imatinib (IMB) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in cancer therapy, and previous reports demonstrate that some derivatives are active against T. cruzi justifying further synthesis screening of novel compounds derived from IMB. Our results demonstrate that all test derivatives are highly active against the intracellular forms of T. cruzi being similar or even more potent than the reference drug for CD - benznidazole (BZ). Besides, they were much more active than the parent molecule, displaying low EC90 values (<10 µm) and good selectivity indexes (>10), which are relevant characteristics of a novel hit compound for CD therapy. However, when screened against bloodstream trypomastigotes, only 1 derivative, named PLDC 23/19, was as active (EC50 = 18.8 µm) as BZ (EC50 = 18.8 µm), while the others did not show activity up to 20 µm.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147514005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Stressor interactions affect myxozoan abundance in a 42-year dataset from the Pearl River, Louisiana, USA. 在美国路易斯安那州珠江的42年数据集中，压力源相互作用影响黏液动物的丰度。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-25 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101917

Dakeishla M Díaz-Morales, Stephen D Atkinson, Desmond Boyd, Gabriella Commisso, Shyanne R Christner, Imani Jones, Katie L Leslie, Jolee Thirtyacre, Connor J Whalen, Armand Kuris, Justin Mann, Henry L Bart, Chelsea L Wood

{"title":"Stressor interactions affect myxozoan abundance in a 42-year dataset from the Pearl River, Louisiana, USA.","authors":"Dakeishla M Díaz-Morales, Stephen D Atkinson, Desmond Boyd, Gabriella Commisso, Shyanne R Christner, Imani Jones, Katie L Leslie, Jolee Thirtyacre, Connor J Whalen, Armand Kuris, Justin Mann, Henry L Bart, Chelsea L Wood","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101917","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101917","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental change can impact host-parasite interactions, but the effects of multiple stressors on parasites are rarely measured. Considering stressor interactions may allow parasitologists to evaluate how parasite burdens change in nature, where stressors rarely occur in isolation. This study aimed to understand how combined stressors such as warming, nutrients and pollution (i.e. metal concentrations) influence myxozoan prevalence and abundance in the Pearl River, Louisiana, USA. Fish were seined between 1963 and 2005 upstream and downstream of a pulp-mill outfall and were then preserved and accessioned into the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection of the Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute. In 2024, we dissected 1188 fish individuals across 7 host species, and we identified myxozoans in 6 species. Six myxozoan genera were detected, including Chloromyxum, Henneguya, Myxidium, Myxobolus, Thelohanellus and Unicauda, with some novel host-parasite combinations. The abundance of Myxobolus infecting Carpiodes velifer gills declined by 86% over the study period, while the abundance of Myxobolus infecting Pimephales vigilax gills was significantly lower downstream of the pulp mill outfall. Among the drivers analyzed, temperature had a significant negative effect on this parasite's abundance, metal concentrations had a positive effect, and these 2 drivers interacted. Our results highlight the differential susceptibility of wild fishes to myxozoan infections and the usefulness of museum collections for understanding historical change in myxozoan burdens in fish. Since stressor-driven changes in myxozoan abundance do not follow a single pattern across species, we expect a shift in freshwater myxozoan communities with progressing climate change and pollution.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147514020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Parasite egg shedding rhythms are independent of feeding habits in a small shorebird host. 寄生虫卵的脱落节律与小滨鸟宿主的摄食习惯无关。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-25 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101851

Simón Maldonado-Oyarzo, María Fernanda Sánchez-Méndez, Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz, Luis Vargas-Chacoff, Juan G Navedo, José O Valdebenito

{"title":"Parasite egg shedding rhythms are independent of feeding habits in a small shorebird host.","authors":"Simón Maldonado-Oyarzo, María Fernanda Sánchez-Méndez, Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz, Luis Vargas-Chacoff, Juan G Navedo, José O Valdebenito","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101851","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101851","url":null,"abstract":"Host-parasite coevolution resulted in parasites optimizing their life cycle to obtain the most benefit from the host's behaviour. In passerines, for instance, some parasite groups have found means to match their egg shedding rhythms with the hours of the day when hosts are most active. In other bird groups, such as shorebirds, whose active times are not determined by day-night cycles but by other external factors such as tidal or lunar cycles, it is not yet known whether their endoparasites exhibit any predictable pattern in their egg shedding rhythms. Here we used a simple wild-caught (captive) system, to provide a first approximation of the parasite egg shedding patterns in wintering Rufous-chested dotterels (Zonibyx modestus). We collected faeces every 2 hours over 10 days until completing a 24-hour cycle, which was coupled with continuous video recordings to determine their feeding and drinking habits. Contrary to our expectation, we showed that parasite egg shedding followed a cyclic pattern, characterized by 2 peaks: one at midnight and another in the afternoon. Importantly, this shedding pattern was not related to the birds' feeding or drinking habits. We discuss possible environmental and physiological cues that parasites might use to trigger egg production, including the potential influence of tidal cycles on our results.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147513979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Morphological and molecular characterization of Cyclopodia bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) from Australian Pteropus hosts. 来自澳大利亚翼翅目寄主的Cyclopodia bat蝇（双翅目：夜蛾科）的形态和分子特征。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-25 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101929

Robyn T Pearce, Constantin Constantinoiu, Kaitlin V Janssen-Groesbeek, Varsha V Balu, Roslyn I Hickson, Anjana C Karawita, Paul F Horwood

{"title":"Morphological and molecular characterization of Cyclopodia bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) from Australian Pteropus hosts.","authors":"Robyn T Pearce, Constantin Constantinoiu, Kaitlin V Janssen-Groesbeek, Varsha V Balu, Roslyn I Hickson, Anjana C Karawita, Paul F Horwood","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101929","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101929","url":null,"abstract":"Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites of bats and are increasingly recognised for their potential role in host-specific co-evolution and disease transmission. Despite their ecological importance, the diversity, host associations and evolutionary relationships of bat flies in Australia remain poorly characterised. This study provides the first integrative assessment of nycteribiid bat flies parasitising Pteropus species in North Queensland, combining morphological taxonomy with cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 304 bat flies were collected from 79 rescued pteropodids, representing three host species: the little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus), the black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) and the spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus). Morphological examination of the bat flies identified two taxa, Cyclopodia australis and Cyclopodia albertisii, which were further confirmed by maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of COX1 sequences with distinct clade formations delineating species. C. australis was found almost exclusively on little red flying foxes. C. albertisii was mainly associated with both black flying foxes and spectacled flying foxes, with very limited association with the little red flying foxes. These findings underscore the utility of integrative taxonomic approaches in researching bat fly diversity and host specificity. They also highlight the potential for co-evolutionary divergence and emphasise the need for expanded geographic sampling and genomic analysis. This research provides critical baseline data for understanding ectoparasite biodiversity in Australia and contributes to future studies of host-parasite interaction, vector ecology and wildlife disease surveillance.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147513977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Alternative hypotheses to explain the relationship between infestation intensity and sex ratio of ricinid lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Ricinidae) infesting hummingbirds (Apodiformes: Trochilidae). 解释蜂鸟（拟形目：绢翅目：绢翅目：绢翅目：绢翅目：绢翅目）中蓖麻毒虱侵染强度与性比关系的几种假设。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-24 DOI: 10.1017/S003118202610184X

Yoshika Oniki-Willis, Edwin O Willis, Oldřich Sychra, Terry Galloway, Lajos Rózsa

{"title":"Alternative hypotheses to explain the relationship between infestation intensity and sex ratio of ricinid lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Ricinidae) infesting hummingbirds (Apodiformes: Trochilidae).","authors":"Yoshika Oniki-Willis, Edwin O Willis, Oldřich Sychra, Terry Galloway, Lajos Rózsa","doi":"10.1017/S003118202610184X","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S003118202610184X","url":null,"abstract":"Ricinid lice are exceptionally large-bodied relative to their hosts and tend to form small infrapopulations. They exhibit a more pronounced female bias (predominance of females) than most other lice. Sex ratios (SRs; the proportions of males) of 10 hummingbird-ricinid species pairs collected from South and North America were examined. There was a significant positive relationship between infrapopulation size and SR in 5 cases, and similar non-significant tendencies in 4 cases. Two formerly constructed hypotheses had been considered to explain this relationship. First, Wolbachia infections may account for the female bias, but male aggression during mating could elevate female mortality resulting in higher male proportions in large infrapopulations. Second, the Local Mate Competition (LMC) Hypothesis predicts that highly inbred infrapopulations should exhibit female-biased SRs. Small infrapopulations are likely to be inbred because of stronger genetic drift and are also more likely to originate from single infestations. Conversely, multiple infestations can generate larger and more outbred infrapopulations that are less affected by genetic drift, leading to a shift towards more balanced SRs. This results in a positive correlation between infrapopulation size (infestation intensity) and SR. Both hypotheses provide explanation for the positive association between infestation intensity and the proportion of males, although the LMC aligns more strongly with the actual values of the observed SR bias. Notably, the former hypothesis refers to the physiological mechanism, whereas the latter refers to the adaptive value of the SR bias. These 2 hypotheses are not mutually exclusive.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147504543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Environmental risk factors for Fasciola hepatica infections in Dutch dairy cattle herds. 荷兰奶牛群中肝片形吸虫感染的环境危险因素。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-24 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101875

Lonneke Nijhuis, Deborah C K van Doorn, Manon M C Holstege, Marian Aalberts, Jaap A Wagenaar, Adriaan F G Antonis, Gerdien van Schaik

{"title":"Environmental risk factors for Fasciola hepatica infections in Dutch dairy cattle herds.","authors":"Lonneke Nijhuis, Deborah C K van Doorn, Manon M C Holstege, Marian Aalberts, Jaap A Wagenaar, Adriaan F G Antonis, Gerdien van Schaik","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101875","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101875","url":null,"abstract":"Fasciola hepatica infections in cattle often lead to significant production losses. Infection rates are expected to increase due to environmental changes at regional and global level which favour the life cycle of F. hepatica. This study aimed to identify environmental and herd factors associated with F. hepatica antibody positivity in bulk tank milk (BTM) of Dutch dairy cattle herds. In total, 10403 BTM samples were collected yearly in October, from 2018 till 2023. For each farm, monthly averages of weather factors and soil moisture level were obtained for the twelve months preceding October, along with soil type and number and grazing of dairy cows. Logistic regression analyses were performed retrospectively using generalized estimating equations, with continuous variables analysed as quartiles. The odds of F. hepatica antibody positivity in BTM are higher for farms on peat (OR 1.69, 95% CI [1.27, 2.24]) and heavy clay soils (OR 1.75, 95% CI [1.30, 2.35]) compared to those on sand soil. In addition, the odds of antibody positivity increased with higher monthly temperatures (December: ORQ1-Q4 2.94, 95% CI [1.94, 4.46]) and rainfall (November: ORQ1-Q4 2.33, 95% CI [1.62, 3.34]) at the end of the previous grazing season. Stratified analyses by soil type yielded results consistent with those across soil types. Weather patterns that favour the number of overwintering snails infected with F. hepatica seem to increase the infection risk for dairy cattle in the next grazing season, which highlights the potential of prediction tools that facilitate early detection of new F. hepatica infections.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147504585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Palaeogenomic analysis reveals helminth infections in pre-Columbian individuals consistent with fisher-gatherer subsistence at the Jabuticabeira II sambaqui, Southern Brazil. 古基因组学分析显示，在巴西南部Jabuticabeira II sambaqui，前哥伦布时期的个体感染了蠕虫，与采渔为生的人一致。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-24 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101863

Jyan Cardoso Araújo, Lorrayne Samille Santos Brito, Marcelo Pires, Carolina Furtado, Alena Mayo Iñiguez

{"title":"Palaeogenomic analysis reveals helminth infections in pre-Columbian individuals consistent with fisher-gatherer subsistence at the Jabuticabeira II sambaqui, Southern Brazil.","authors":"Jyan Cardoso Araújo, Lorrayne Samille Santos Brito, Marcelo Pires, Carolina Furtado, Alena Mayo Iñiguez","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101863","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101863","url":null,"abstract":"The sambaqui (shellmounds) people are recognized as fisher-gatherers who inhabited the coastal regions of Brazil, with a subsistence on a diet composed of fish, molluscs, and plants. Paleoparasitological investigations in these open-air sites are challenged by the severe taphonomic processes affecting parasite vestige preservation. Previous palaeogenetic work reported parasite helminth infection by Ascaris sp. in an individual from Jabuticabeira II (JABII) sambaqui, located in the Santa Catarina state, Brazil (2890 ± 55 to 1805 ± 65 years BP). To expand our knowledge about helminth infections in sambaqui people, this study applied a palaeogenomics approach in JABII. Sediments from pelvic and sacral regions of 3 JABII individuals and environmental samples underwent ancient DNA extraction and cox1 gene PCRs. High-throughput sequencing data were compared to a custom-built reference database. The JABII dataset revealed reads that are mapped against plathelminth and nematode parasites. Plathelminth observations are probably attributable to pseudo-parasitism and are associated with the animal hosts identified within the JABII faunal assemblages. Two JABII individuals exhibited Anisakis simplex, Contracaecum osculatum, and Ascaris sp. Anisakids are common parasites of marine fish, crustaceans, and mammals that infect humans by consuming fish. Most of the fish identified at the JABII site are currently documented as being infected by Anisakidae. Ascaris sp. is verified in different JABII individuals from the previous study, confirming the spread of this soil-transmitted helminthiasis. The novel data herein agree with the subsistence of the JABII fisher-gatherers, the sedentary lifestyle and the faunal surroundings in the Southern coastal region of Brazil.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147504578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Transgenic approaches in the pathogenic free-living amoebae: what are the hurdles? 致病性自由生活变形虫的转基因方法：障碍是什么？

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-10 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101772

Jillian E M McKeon, Caroline M Palmentiero, Colm P Roster, Jaelin Ammerall, Jennifer M Mason, James C Morris

{"title":"Transgenic approaches in the pathogenic free-living amoebae: what are the hurdles?","authors":"Jillian E M McKeon, Caroline M Palmentiero, Colm P Roster, Jaelin Ammerall, Jennifer M Mason, James C Morris","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101772","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101772","url":null,"abstract":"Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris and Sappinia spp. are free-living amoebae that can infect humans and cause serious disease; therefore, these organisms are commonly referred to as pathogenic free-living amoebae (pFLA). Diagnosis and treatment of pFLA infections have historically been very challenging. If a diagnosis is made, treatment regimens currently include a combination of antifungals, antimicrobials and anticancer agents that have, to date, proven to be of little help in resolving the disease. Discovery of new therapies is critical to reduce the >90% mortality rate for the brain infections that these microbes can cause. Molecular tools that allow for the study of gene function, generation of reporter cell lines and drug target validation would greatly improve drug discovery efforts. To date, transfection approaches for use with pFLA have been limited, hindering these types of molecular studies. Based on sequence comparisons, the pFLA harbour proteins that are involved in cargo delivery to the nucleus and DNA repair mechanisms, suggesting that fundamental pathways believed to be required for stable transfection are present. However, the amoebae lack homologs to genes connected to stable maintenance of transgenes and RNA interference in other systems. While these differences may limit our ability to alter gene expression, it is also possible that unrecognized components fulfill the roles of the missing homologs. Given the value of robust transfection approaches in drug discovery and gene function studies, resolving these mechanisms would be impactful, leading to improved understanding of amoebae biology and enhancement of drug discovery efforts.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147390464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Redescription of Alloceraea cretacea (Acari: Ixodida) with an additional nymphal fossil added to this species: novel insights into the evolution of the Haematobothrion. 重新描述Alloceraea白垩纪（蜱螨亚纲：易虫目），并在该物种中添加了额外的若虫化石：对Haematobothrion进化的新见解。

IF 2.4 3区医学

Parasitology Pub Date : 2026-03-05 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182026101826

Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, Constantin Mey, Danilo Harms, Jörg U Hammel, Jason Dunlop, Ulrich Kotthoff, Ben J Mans

{"title":"Redescription of Alloceraea cretacea (Acari: Ixodida) with an additional nymphal fossil added to this species: novel insights into the evolution of the Haematobothrion.","authors":"Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, Constantin Mey, Danilo Harms, Jörg U Hammel, Jason Dunlop, Ulrich Kotthoff, Ben J Mans","doi":"10.1017/S0031182026101826","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0031182026101826","url":null,"abstract":"A fossil assigned to the extant ixodid genus Haemaphysalis was previously described from the Late Cretaceous (ca. 99 Ma) Burmese amber. Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) cretacea was considered the oldest, and only, fossil representative of this genus. Significant criticism was raised regarding possible misidentification of this amber fossil. Microtomography of the original holotype and new material allows new perspectives on this controversy. A new fossil nymph is described and both fossils are considered Alloceraea cretacea comb. nov. nymphs based on a series of morphological characters: no genital aperture, eyeless, 11 festoons, coxa I simple with a short, wide triangular spur. Specific morphological features for the 'structurally primitive' Alloceraea are discussed and include palpi elongate, with long setae on palps, the hypostome dorsally longer than the chelicera and the corona visible distally and with a specific distribution of the denticles. Alloceraea and its sister genus Archaeocroton (that includes amber fossil taxa), share a common ancestor with Haemaphysalis sensu stricto, indicating a minimum divergence time of at least 100 MYA for these lineages. In addition, a fossil of Bothriocroton has also been described from Burmese amber. This genus with Cryptocroton groups basal to the Alloceraea/Archaecroton-Haemaphysalis assemblage forming a monophyletic clade named Haematobothrion. A synthesis of the fossil information and the current systematic understanding of the Haematobothrion allows new hypotheses about the origins of this group and the various lineages it comprises. Notably that the major Haematobothrion lineages originated and diverged during the time period when the Burma terrane was migrating from Australia to Asia.","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147355791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

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