Trends in parasitologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.001
Manuela C Aguirre-Botero, Rogerio Amino
{"title":"Tissue-dependent protection mechanisms of antibodies targeting Plasmodium sporozoites.","authors":"Manuela C Aguirre-Botero, Rogerio Amino","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria remains a major global health burden. Antibodies targeting the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), the main surface protein of Plasmodium sporozoites, have emerged as a promising prophylactic tool. Antibodies that bind to the CSP central repetitive region are the foundation of protection against sporozoite infection elicited by CSP-based vaccines. These antibodies have been shown to provide protection in both animal models and humans, although how they confer protection is not fully understood. This review explores how anti-CSP antibodies can neutralize sporozoites and how they mediate protection through tissue-specific mechanisms. Understanding these multilayered mechanisms is critical for improving vaccines and antibody-based prophylaxis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"853-867"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970667","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 : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-08-21DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2025.07.013
Pilar Alda, Annia Alba, Nicolás Bonel
{"title":"When homology fails: lessons from liver-fluke phylogenies.","authors":"Pilar Alda, Annia Alba, Nicolás Bonel","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.07.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.07.013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Misaligned sequences derail evolutionary inference. Datasets from GenBank require verification of positional homology and orientation before alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Liver-fluke case studies reveal how overlooked errors skew results, underscoring the need for rigorous checks in parasitology and all molecular research.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"834-837"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970681","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 : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-08-19DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.005
Jessica L Home, Christopher D Goodman
{"title":"Unravelling a kinase inhibitor's elusive antimalarial mode of action.","authors":"Jessica L Home, Christopher D Goodman","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A repurposed human kinase inhibitor was developed by Nardella et al. as a highly effective antimalarial with minimal cross resistance. A wide range of analyses implicated a Plasmodium kinase and haemoglobin digestion as potential drug targets, but the true mode of action remains ambiguous, highlighting the hurdles involved in drug target identification.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"829-830"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970694","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}
{"title":"Reframing transboundary animal diseases: a systems approach.","authors":"Abdul Ali, Scott Carver, John M Drake","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) represent a persistent and growing threat to global animal health, food security, rural economies, and human health. The study of TADs has remained largely pathogen-specific, with limited synthesis across ecological and epidemiological contexts. This review addresses that gap by proposing a conceptual framework that characterizes TAD transmission from (i) managed animal environments (e.g., farms) in a source country, via (ii) transboundary movement, to (iii) managed animal environments in a recipient country. Transboundary movements include legal and unregulated trade, wildlife migration, nomadic herding, and non-nomadic human travel. For each movement pathway, we synthesize the literature on relevant TADs, illustrate our framework with examples, and highlight where interventions and policies can be applied to individual and collective TAD issues.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213587","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 : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2025.07.015
Mine Altinli, Sean P Leonard, Alain Kohl, Grant L Hughes
{"title":"Bacteria-mediated dsRNA delivery for mosquito-borne virus control.","authors":"Mine Altinli, Sean P Leonard, Alain Kohl, Grant L Hughes","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.07.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.07.015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mosquito-borne viruses represent an increasing global public health threat, exacerbated by urbanisation and climate change, thus making effective mosquito control essential. RNA interference (RNAi), a sequence-specific gene regulation mechanism, can be a flexible vector control tool. RNAi effectors, such as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), can target mosquito genes or the viruses they carry, disrupting development or suppressing infection. However, current RNAi delivery methods are ineffective. Engineered bacterial symbionts offer a promising alternative for delivery, as they can produce dsRNA directly within mosquitoes. However, bacterial RNAi delivery in mosquitoes remains underexplored. We review emerging genetic tools, insights from RNAi and bacteria-mosquito interactions to outline priorities for realising bacterial RNAi as an efficient and sustainable vector control strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"880-893"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970647","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 : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-08-29DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.006
Charlotte Lubbers, Luís-Jorge Amaral, Robert Colebunders, Norbert Brattig, Amber Hadermann
{"title":"The last mile in onchocerciasis elimination: diagnostic challenges.","authors":"Charlotte Lubbers, Luís-Jorge Amaral, Robert Colebunders, Norbert Brattig, Amber Hadermann","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Global elimination of onchocerciasis is progressing. However, challenges persist in achieving elimination across all endemic regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, due to diagnostic limitations and operational complexity in coendemic, resource-constrained settings. This review synthesizes the historical and programmatic trajectory of onchocerciasis control, outlines the WHO elimination framework and evaluates diagnostic tools across programmatic phases. We examine clinical, molecular, serological, and entomological tools, highlighting the strengths and limitations while emphasizing the urgent need for field-deployable, high-sensitivity and non-invasive diagnostics to detect active Onchocerca volvulus infection. Novel tools show promise but require coordinated validation and integration into elimination programs. Success in the 'last mile' will depend on sensitive and specific diagnostics to detect low-level transmission and confirm elimination.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"894-908"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970744","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}
{"title":"Cryptosporidium passes the bile acid test to survive.","authors":"Ryan D Pardy, Danielle Karo-Atar, Irah L King","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryptosporidium spp. are an important cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. However, pathogenesis can vary between and within parasite species. Huang et al. identified CpMRP1 as a transporter of the microbial metabolite deoxycholic acid and virulence factor that determines infection outcome in susceptible mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145182112","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}
{"title":"REL2/NF-κB pathway modulates midgut bacterial homeostasis in Anopheles gambiae.","authors":"Yanhong Wang, Zhen Zou","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A recent study by Zaković et al. demonstrates that disruption of REL2 in mosquitoes induces gut dysbiosis dominated by Serratia species, increases mosquito mortality after blood feeding, and unexpectedly reduces susceptibility to malaria infection. These findings reveal complex, functionally significant crosstalk between host immunity, gut microbiota, and the development of malaria parasites.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145150977","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}
Laetitia Lempereur, Srikanta Ghosh, Ala E Tabor, Adalberto Á Pérez de León, Lenaig Halos, Marcelo Beltrão Molento, José de la Fuente
{"title":"Research-led innovation for integrated tick management and acaricide resistance mitigation in livestock.","authors":"Laetitia Lempereur, Srikanta Ghosh, Ala E Tabor, Adalberto Á Pérez de León, Lenaig Halos, Marcelo Beltrão Molento, José de la Fuente","doi":"10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ticks and tick-borne diseases represent a major threat to livestock health and productivity, particularly in (sub)tropical regions. Chemical acaricides remain the main control method, but repeated use has driven resistance and raised concerns about food safety, welfare, and environmental impact. Limited development of new ectoparasiticides has left farmers dependent on outdated options. Integrated tick management offers a sustainable approach by combining acaricides with biological controls, vaccines, resistant breeds, and improved husbandry. However, adoption is hindered by the availability, accessibility, and acceptance of current alternatives, as well as by the lack of innovative solutions. Key priorities include resistance monitoring, improving stewardship, and promoting farmer-led solutions. Long-term success will require aligning innovations with local needs, building trust, and fostering collaboration across public, private, and communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":23327,"journal":{"name":"Trends in parasitology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145139084","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}