Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"In Vitro and In Silico Investigations of the Acaricidal Activity of Carvacrol Against Rhipicephalus annulatus","authors":"Samar M. Ibrahium,&nbsp;Abdel-Azeem S. Abdel-Baki,&nbsp;Fatma I. Abo El-Ela,&nbsp;Aliaa A. Balegh,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Wahba,&nbsp;Saleh Al-Quraishy,&nbsp;Ezzat M. Awad,&nbsp;Manal Ahmed,&nbsp;Wafaa G. Mahmoud,&nbsp;Shawky M. Aboelhadid","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01346-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01346-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Carvacrol, a naturally occurring monoterpenic phenol, has attracted considerable interest as a potential botanical acaricide against hard ticks. This study evaluated the acaricidal efficacy and molecular mode of action of carvacrol against Rhipicephalus annulatus, using phoxim as a positive control. </p><h3>Methods</h3><p>An in vitro Adult Immersion Test (AIT) was conducted to assess the effects of different concentrations of carvacrol, phoxim, and their combinations on adult ticks. In addition, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured to investigate potential biochemical mechanisms underlying acaricidal activity. Molecular docking analyses were performed to identify potential molecular targets and compare the binding affinities of carvacrol and phoxim. </p><h3>Results</h3><p>Both carvacrol and phoxim exhibited concentration-dependent acaricidal activity against adult R. annulatus, with LC50 values of 43.2 and 0.22 mg/mL, respectively. Among the tested combinations, carvacrol (25 mg/mL) combined with phoxim (0.25 mg/mL) achieved 100% mortality and demonstrated a synergistic interaction. Biochemical analyses revealed that carvacrol, similar to phoxim, significantly inhibited AChE activity and depleted GSH levels, indicating disruption of both cholinergic neurotransmission and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Molecular docking provided mechanistic support for these findings, demonstrating favorable binding affinities of carvacrol toward several key tick targets, including acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-related proteins, pheromone and odorant-related receptors, and P6S tyrosinase. Notably, carvacrol exhibited binding affinities comparable to or greater than those of phoxim for several targets, supporting a multi-target mode of action. </p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Collectively, these findings indicate that carvacrol exerts acaricidal activity through coordinated disruption of neural, antioxidant, signaling, and chemosensory pathways. Furthermore, its synergistic interaction with phoxim highlights its potential as a botanical acaricide that could complement conventional synthetic compounds and contribute to sustainable control strategies against R. annulatus.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148547625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Escherichia coli-derived Silver Nanoparticles for Aedes Vector Control in Southern India","authors":"Rajalakshmi Anbalagan,&nbsp;Mortein Henri,&nbsp;M Priyadharshini,&nbsp;Farhat Syed Kaseem,&nbsp;Sathya Jeevitha,&nbsp;Balachandar Vellingiri,&nbsp;Anand Setty Balakrishnan,&nbsp;Neena Elezebeth Philip,&nbsp;Mansi Malik,&nbsp;Sulochana Shekhar,&nbsp;Jayalakshmi Krishnan","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01344-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01344-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p><i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Aedes albopictus</i> are the principal mosquito vectors in Tamil Nadu transmitting the major arboviral diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika and Yellow Fever. <i>Aedes aegypti</i> serves as the primary vector, followed by <i>Aedes albopictus</i>. Due to the limitations and environmental concerns associated with predictable chemical larvicides, there is an emergency need for alternative and sustainable vector control strategies.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p> In this study, environmentally friendly silver nanoparticles were synthesized using <i>Escherichia coli</i> through a biogenic approach that develops the bacterium’s naturally reducing and stabilizing properties. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized for size, shape, and stability using UV-Visible spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The larvicidal efficacy of silver nanoparticles was evaluated against the larvae of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Aedes albopictus</i> from the Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were estimated using probit analysis according to Finney’s method (Miller–Tainter approach) in SPSS.</p><h3>Results</h3><p> The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed strong larvicidal activity against both mosquito species, depending on the dose approach, the moderate larval mortality was observed in <i>Aedes albopictus</i> than in <i>Aedes aegypti</i>. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was estimated at 270 ± 16 mg/L for <i>Aedes aegypti and</i> 194 ± 13 mg/L for Aedes <i>albopictus</i>, and LC₉₀ values were estimated at 3480 ± 490 mg/L for <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and 2510 ± 360 mg/L for <i>Aedes albopictus</i>. The findings indicate that the biogenically synthesized silver nanoparticles are an effective alternative to chemical larvicides, offering enhanced efficacy with reduced environment impact.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p> The current study highlights the dual advantages of utilizing biological resources for nanoparticle synthesis and implementing sustainable approaches for the control of mosquito- borne diseases. Future research should focus on large-scale production, field-level efficacy assessments, and evaluation of potential effects on non-target organisms to support practical applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148519768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of Proteogenomic Approaches for Refinement of the Entamoeba histolytica Reference Genome Using High Resolution Mass-Spectrometry Data","authors":"Manjunath B. Malshetty,&nbsp;Soumi Chowdhury,&nbsp;Shubhankar Pawar,&nbsp;Mahesh Jaiwar,&nbsp;Praveen Kumar,&nbsp;Harsh Pawar","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01352-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01352-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amoebiasis or amoebic dysentery, remains a significant global health burden, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation. Despite the availability of a reference genome, a substantial proportion of predicted genes remain annotated as hypothetical proteins or lack experimental validation. Limitations inherent to automated gene prediction pipelines along with the parasite's highly AT-rich, repetitive genome architecture have resulted in numerous coding regions unresolved, underscoring the need for experimental approaches to refine genome annotation. </p><h3> Methods</h3><p>We undertook a comprehensive proteogenomic analysis by searching publicly available high-resolution proteomic datasets from E. histolytica HM-1:IMSS trophozoites against a custom six-frame translated genome database. The proteomic data was searched using Proteome Discoverer suite at 1% false discovery rate. </p><h3>Results</h3><p>Many unique peptides were identified during database dependent searches and of these, 480 peptides did not map to the reference protein database and were referred to as genome search-specific peptides (GSSPs). Mapping these GSSPs to the genome supported the identification of 41 novel protein-coding genes and corrected annotation of 18 currently annotated genes. Conserved domain analysis revealed that 78% of novel proteins harboured identifiable functional domains, including TLDc domain-containing proteins and rhomboid peptidase family proteins. Comparative analysis confirmed conserved orthologs across related Entamoeba species.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This is the first study to demonstrate proteogenomic integration of peptide-level evidence with genomic data substantially improves genome annotation in E. histolytica, expanding its known coding repertoire and providing functional insights into previously uncharacterized regions with implications for understanding parasite biology and virulence mechanisms.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148519823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acaricidal Activity and Transcriptional Modulation Induced by Randia aculeata Seed Extract in Rhipicephalus microplus","authors":"José Luis Bravo-Ramos,&nbsp;María G. Sánchez-Otero,&nbsp;Sokani Sánchez-Montes,&nbsp;Carolina Palmeros-Exsome,&nbsp;Aaron Bustos-Baena,&nbsp;Luis Arturo Ortiz-Carbajal,&nbsp;Oreth Montero-Ruíz,&nbsp;Gerardo G. Ballados-González","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01341-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01341-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The cattle tick <i>Rhipicephalus microplus</i> is a major ectoparasite affecting livestock worldwide, and its increasing resistance to synthetic acaricides has intensified the search for plant-derived alternatives. Although the hydroalcoholic seed extract of <i>Randia aculeata</i> has demonstrated acaricidal activity, its molecular effects in ticks remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the acaricidal activity of the extract and the underlying molecular mechanism against <i>R. microplus</i> larvae.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The acaricidal activity was evaluated using the larval packet test, and the underlying mechanism was investigated through transcriptional analysis of acetylcholinesterase 2 (AChE2) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes. LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were estimated by probit regression analysis. Independent larval batches were exposed to the LC₅₀ concentration for 24 h, and relative gene expression was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The extract demonstrated acaricidal activity, with 50% and 90% lethal concentration values of 2.84 mg/mL and 5.67 mg/mL, respectively. Exposure to the LC₅₀ concentration significantly reduced the expression of AChE2 (0.41   0.08-fold, <i>P</i> = 0.003) and GST (0.48   0.07-fold, <i>P</i> = 0.007) compared with controls.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The hydroalcoholic extract of <i>R. aculeata</i> exhibited acaricidal activity and was associated with transcriptional suppression of genes involved in neurotransmission and detoxification. These findings suggest that the extract may affect pathways related to cholinergic regulation and xenobiotic response. However, because the susceptibility status of the evaluated field-derived population was not determined, the observed molecular responses should be interpreted with caution. Further studies using well-characterized susceptible and resistant tick populations are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying the biological activity of the extract.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148466082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Bulbultaenia Beveridge, 1994 (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) Parasitic in Palaeotropical Birds of the Family Pycnonotidae (Passeriformes)","authors":"Yana D. Dimitrova,&nbsp;Gergana P. Vasileva,&nbsp;Boyko B. Georgiev","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01347-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01347-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Until now, <i>Bulbultaenia</i> has been considered a monotypic genus. Its type species <i>B. calcaruterina</i> (Burt, 1939) was described from the red-vented bulbul <i>Pycnonotus cafer haemorrhousus</i> (Pycnonotidae) in Sri Lanka and later recorded from three host species in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. The purpose of the present study is to revise the data on the species composition and geographical distribution of the genus <i>Bulbultaenia</i>.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Specimens deposited in museum collections were re-examined, and an additional specimen from Gabon was stained with iron acetocarmine and mounted in Canada balsam. All specimens were examined using conventional light microscopy and interference-contrast microscopy.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The redescription of the holotype of <i>B. calcaruterina</i> added several morphological details. Specimens collected in Africa from the dark-capped bulbul <i>Pycnonotus tricolor</i> (type-host) from Gabon (type-locality), and from the common bulbul <i>Pycnonotus barbatus</i> and the little greenbul <i>Eurillas virens</i> from Côte d’Ivoire, are described as <i>Bulbultaenia mariauxi</i> sp. n. Specimens from <i>E. latirostris</i> are reported as <i>Bulbultaenia</i> sp. because the small number of specimens did not allow us to determine whether they represent a distinct taxon.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study has shown that <i>Bulbultaenia</i> is not a monotypic genus. The origin of the African species of <i>Bulbultaenia</i> is probably associated with the divergence of South Asian and African <i>Pycnonotus</i> spp., estimated to have occurred approximately 2.3 million years ago. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148429538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Exosomes Derived from Hydatid Cyst Stem Cells on Human Hepatocytes","authors":"Ali Derakhshani,&nbsp;Amirabbas Abolhasani Zeraatkar,&nbsp;Seyedeh Mahdieh Khoshnazar,&nbsp;Mohammad Shafiee","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01342-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01342-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Hydatid cyst disease is a zoonotic infection that predominantly affects the liver and can lead to severe hepatic complications. Exosomes are important mediators of intercellular signaling and are capable of transferring bioactive molecules to target cells. This study aimed to investigate the biological effects of exosomes derived from hydatid cyst stem cells on human hepatocytes to better understand parasite-associated hepatic alterations.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In this in vitro experimental study, stem cells were isolated from the germinal layer of hydatid cysts and cultured. Cell identity was confirmed by flow cytometry. Exosomes were isolated using sequential filtration and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Human hepatocytes were divided into control and exosome-treated groups. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. Gene expression levels of apoptosis-related markers (Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and Caspase-7) were determined by qPCR, and protein levels were quantified using ELISA.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Exosomes derived from hydatid cyst stem cells significantly reduced the viability of human hepatocytes (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.0001). Moreover, exosome exposure was associated with increased expression and protein levels of pro-apoptotic markers, including Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-7, along with decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Hydatid cyst stem cell-derived exosomes promote apoptotic changes in human hepatocytes in vitro. These findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting a potential role for parasite-derived extracellular vesicles in hepatic cellular alterations observed during hydatid disease.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148429568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"rK39-Negative Visceral Leishmaniasis with Renal Complications from Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India: A Case-Based Clinico-Entomological Investigation Suggesting Possible Local Transmission","authors":"Suraj Kumar Maurya,&nbsp;Anil Kumar,&nbsp;Niraj Kumar,&nbsp;Gaurav Raj Dwivedi,&nbsp;Nalini Mishra","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01338-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01338-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>The Government of India has made significant progress toward the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar); however, sporadic cases continue to emerge, threatening the achievement of the elimination target. We report one confirmed case of Kala-azar from the Maharajganj district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, an area with limited previous documentation of indigenous transmission.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A 60-year-old male with no travel history (Bihar, Nepal), presenting with fever, splenomegaly, and anaemia. He tested negative by rK39, confirming by bone marrow aspirate demonstrated intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania donovani an indigenous case from Maharajganj. The patient developed acute renal impairment (serum creatinine 5.6 mg/dL). Miltefosine therapy was initiated but discontinued due to haematuria.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The detection of the competent vector in close proximity to the patient’s residence provides supportive entomological evidence for local transmission. Due to the limited scale of sampling, vector density could not be estimated; however, the confirmed presence of Phlebotomus argentipes indicates ecological suitability for transmission.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>These cases highlight the importance of maintaining robust surveillance, early diagnosis, and rapid treatment, especially for detecting indigenous transmission in regions nearing elimination. Continued vigilance is essential to achieve and sustain the elimination of Kala-azar in India.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148429533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Degranulated Eosinophilia: An Unexpected Clue in Diagnosis of Ectopic Paragonimiasis","authors":"Man Luo,&nbsp;Chao Yu,&nbsp;Tao Kong,&nbsp;Hairu Wang,&nbsp;Peixia Yu","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01339-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01339-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Paragonimiasis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by <i>Paragonimus</i> spp.</p><h3>Case Presentation</h3><p>This report details a case of <i>Paragonimus</i> infection in a 3-year-old boy in Southwest China, who presented with ectopic subcutaneous masses, which was originally based on an unexpected clue of degranulated eosinophilia, confirmed with a combination of epidemiological investigation and serum test for <i>Paragonimus-specific</i> antibody test.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our case indicates possible misdiagnosis of <i>paragonimus</i>-related disease in endemic climates, not to mention nonendemic areas, especially when it is difficult to find parasite or eggs in some settings. Furthermore, review of peripheral blood smear is of particular importance for clinical diagnosis, especially in today's modern society where automated analyzers are widely used and mainly relied upon. This case is presented not only because of its relative rarity but also for future references to both clinicians and technicians worldwide.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148429535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual RNA-seq Identifies Virulence Factors in Mesanophrys sp. and Immune Defenses in Portunus trituberculatus Hemocytes","authors":"Jianmei Hu,&nbsp;Yue Sun,&nbsp;Bo Zhang,&nbsp;Lujia Yang,&nbsp;Faisal Tasleem,&nbsp;Suming Zhou,&nbsp;Xiao Xie,&nbsp;Fei Yin","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01335-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01335-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Mesanophrys</i> sp. is a scuticociliate parasite associated with severe hemocyte damage in the swimming crab <i>Portunus trituberculatus</i>, but the molecular basis of parasite-hemocyte interaction remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to characterize host and parasite transcriptomic responses during in vitro interaction and to evaluate the potential involvement of parasite proteolytic activity in hemocyte damage.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>An in vitro <i>Mesanophry</i>s sp.-hemocyte co-culture model was established, and dual RNA-seq was used to simultaneously profile parasite and crab hemocyte transcriptomes at early (18 h) and late (72 h) interaction stages. Otherwise, gelatin zymography was used to detect gelatinolytic activity in parasite lysates, and protease inhibitor assays were conducted to assess the potential contribution of protease activity to hemocyte survival and morphology during co-culture.Results: Dual RNA-seq revealed induction of hemocyte innate immune signaling, including Toll-like receptor pathway components and downstream adaptor and MAPK-related genes, along with broad stress- and metabolism-associated responses. In the parasite, differentially expressed genes were enriched for several upregulated putative secreted proteases, including cysteine proteases, thimet oligopeptidase 1 and oligopeptidase B-like peptidases previously implicated in protozoan virulence. Gelatin zymography detected four reproducible gelatinolytic bands in parasite lysates, with distinct inhibitor sensitivity profiles, including EDTA-sensitive, PMSF-sensitive, PMSF- and leupeptin-sensitive, and leupeptin- and E-64-sensitive activities. These gelatinolytic bands showed near-neutral pH-dependent activity patterns, and the strongest temperature-dependent signals were observed at 12 °C, consistent with the low-temperature growth advantages reported for <i>Mesanophrys</i> sp. In co-culture assays, selected protease inhibitors, particularly leupeptin and E-64, were associated with higher hemocyte survival and preservation of hemocyte morphology at early time points, although these effects decreased after 72 h.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p> These results suggest that parasite proteases are candidate factors potentially associated with hemocyte damage during <i>Mesanophrys</i> sp.-hemocyte interaction in vitro. This study provides a dual transcriptomic resource for further investigation of crab-parasite interactions, but in vivo validation will be required to define the roles of these candidate proteases during infection.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148429583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Blastocystis, an Enigmatic Parasite","authors":"José Cebrián-Carmona,&nbsp;José Antonio Garrido-Cárdenas,&nbsp;Concepción Mesa-Valle","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01331-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01331-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Blastocystis</i> spp. is the most prevalent human enteric protist, yet its clinical significance remains controversial. Currently recognized as a genetically diverse stramenopile with zoonotic potential, it comprises at least 42 subtypes, of which ST1–ST4 account for most human infections. Despite more than a century of research, its pathogenic role and ecological interactions are still debated. We performed a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global scientific production on Blastocystis spp. from 1917 to 2025 using the Scopus database, retrieving 3710 publications. Temporal trends, geographic distribution, leading authors and institutions, and thematic evolution were assessed through keyword normalization and classification into five categories: classical diagnosis, PCR/molecular approaches, genetics/phylogeny, clinical/epidemiology, and microbiota. Results indicate a steady increase and a subsequent acceleration in publication trends since the late 1980s, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.56% between 1988 and 2025. Early research was dominated by microscopy-based diagnosis, whereas the introduction of PCR and sequencing technologies reshaped the field by enabling subtype identification and phylogenetic analysis. Since 2010, clinical and epidemiological studies have expanded significantly, and microbiota-oriented research has emerged as a growing line of investigation. Co-occurrence analysis indicates that Blastocystis spp. is frequently studied in the context of polyparasitism and intestinal coinfections. Overall, Blastocystis spp. research has evolved from descriptive parasitology to a multidisciplinary field integrating molecular, clinical and ecological approaches, highlighting the need for context-dependent models of host–parasite–microbiota interactions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-026-01331-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148429602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}