Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-05-07DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.04.005
Anders Krifors, Torbjörn Larsson, Andreas Wångdahl, C Rune Stensvold
{"title":"Time to rethink Blastocystis in faecal microbiota transplantation.","authors":"Anders Krifors, Torbjörn Larsson, Andreas Wångdahl, C Rune Stensvold","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blastocystis commonly colonises the human gut, but its presence has traditionally led to the exclusion of faecal microbiota transplantation donors. Emerging evidence links it to greater microbial diversity and favourable metabolic profiles, while no harm is seen in immunocompetent recipients. Routine screening may be unnecessary, except for subtype-specific testing in immunocompromised patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"439-441"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-04-03DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.009
Skylar R Hopkins, Chelsea L Wood
{"title":"Parasite conservation now: turning knowledge into action.","authors":"Skylar R Hopkins, Chelsea L Wood","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasite conservation is already underway, using existing knowledge and tools, but it needs more coordinated participation from parasitologists. Any expert can assess parasites for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List using standardized criteria based on parasites' geographic distributions, population sizes, and, when available, population trends. Evidence is being compiled from host association data, digitized museum specimens, and literature surveys, and then peer-reviewed through the IUCN Species Survival Commission Parasite Specialist Group to ensure scientific rigor. These assessments connect directly to conservation planning under local to international biodiversity conventions and norms and can inform both in situ and ex situ management to conserve parasites. By sharing data and expertise, parasitologists can turn parasitological knowledge into conservation action.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"327-336"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147618824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.007
Haoran Zhong, Yamei Jin
{"title":"Wiring love governs female reproductive fate in schistosomes.","authors":"Haoran Zhong, Yamei Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Male regulation of female reproductive development in schistosomes depends on an intact reproductive neural network. You et al. identify a limbic system-associated membrane protein as essential for maintaining this network, enabling the efficient release of the pheromone β-alanyl-tryptamine dipeptide, which promotes female maturation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"316-318"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147593917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-04-03DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.02.010
Ryan J Marczak, Caryn Bern, Jeffrey D Whitman
{"title":"Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase antigens: immunodominance and diagnostic applications.","authors":"Ryan J Marczak, Caryn Bern, Jeffrey D Whitman","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.02.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.02.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Traditional antigens for serological diagnosis include several members of the trans-sialidase (TS) protein superfamily, which have roles in host-parasite interactions and elicit strong B cell responses. T. cruzi expresses a large TS repertoire, comprising over 3200 polymorphic genes, organized into eight subfamilies based on sequence motifs and functional characteristics. These proteins are known to facilitate infection and immune evasion. Multiple TS antigens from different subfamilies elicit strong immune responses, with a growing list from recent studies. Current diagnostic assays still rely on antigens discovered decades ago. This review article aims to cover the immunodominance of the TS protein superfamily and their use as antigens for the serological diagnosis of Chagas disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"366-376"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147616884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-03-26DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.02.011
Aurélia C Balestra, Abigail M Daniels, Boris Striepen
{"title":"The revised Cryptosporidium life cycle offers opportunities for fundamental and translational advances.","authors":"Aurélia C Balestra, Abigail M Daniels, Boris Striepen","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.02.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.02.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease, for which effective treatments and vaccines are lacking. The past decade has seen breakthrough advances in how the parasite and disease can be studied in the field and the laboratory. This has led to an increasingly molecular understanding of how parasite protein secretion orchestrates invasion and host-parasite interactions and to a revision of the Cryptosporidium life cycle. Parasite sex emerges as an engine of genomic innovation, allowing the parasite to adaptively evolve host specificity, virulence, and drug resistance. The unique importance of sex for Cryptosporidium also offers opportunities for forward genetic discovery and could provide new targets for treatment and prevention. Here, we review key concepts and discuss the outstanding questions critical to fundamental understanding and translational advancement.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"350-365"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147532891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-04-08DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.014
Gabriel Rinaldi
{"title":"Hidden drivers of schistosomiasis: a role for hyperparasitism.","authors":"Gabriel Rinaldi","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shan et al. identified nonparasite genome virus-like RNAs (ngRNAs) in Schistosoma japonicum using computational and experimental approaches. These ngRNAs, found in reproductive tissues and associated with virus-like particles in the parasite's ovary, influence egg development and disease pathology, highlighting a potential role for hyperparasites and suggesting new strategies for schistosomiasis control.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"319-321"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147646636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-04-03DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.006
Eleni Gentekaki, Supaluk Popruk, Pauline D Scanlan, Christen Rune Stensvold
{"title":"Navigating Blastocystis research - challenges in the next-generation sequencing era.","authors":"Eleni Gentekaki, Supaluk Popruk, Pauline D Scanlan, Christen Rune Stensvold","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blastocystis research has grown rapidly with molecular tools, especially next-generation sequencing, increasing subtype discovery but raising methodological and taxonomic challenges. We assess subtype designation criteria, caution against lowering divergence thresholds without biological evidence, and propose minimum standards requiring near full-length small subunit ribosomal RNA data and replication to ensure nomenclatural stability and epidemiological comparability.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"322-326"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147618820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-04-14DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.003
Eric Y Helm, Tighe Christopher, Alejandra Lopez Espinoza, Natalie Santillano, Elia D Tait Wojno
{"title":"Environmental factors that regulate host-helminth interactions.","authors":"Eric Y Helm, Tighe Christopher, Alejandra Lopez Espinoza, Natalie Santillano, Elia D Tait Wojno","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infect over a billion people worldwide. Individual outcomes vary, ranging from subclinical, mild infections to recurrent or severe disease. Emerging evidence reveals that susceptibility to STH infection reflects a multilayered integration of past and present environmental factors. At mucosal surfaces, STHs activate type 2 immune, epithelial, and neuronal circuits, while microbial- and diet-derived signals promote homeostasis. Environmental signals tune the transcriptional programs that control these events, shaping interleukin-13-driven effector functions required for worm expulsion. Concurrently, infection and inflammation history imprint immune and epithelial compartments, leading to durable epigenetic remodeling and altering responsiveness to STHs upon reexposure. Understanding how environmental factors impact host-helminth interactions offers new opportunities to predict susceptibility and design interventions that enhance anti-helminth immunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"377-389"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13205496/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147691940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}