A. Pain

Plasmodium NEK1 coordinates MTOC organisation and kinetochore attachment during rapid mitosis in male gamete formation

This study identifies NEK1's role in organizing the MTOC and ensuring kinetochore attachment during rapid mitosis in Plasmodium male gamete formation.

Transcriptional responses of brain endothelium to Plasmodium falciparum patient-derived isolates in vitro

The paper examines how Plasmodium falciparum parasites from cerebral malaria and uncomplicated malaria affect human brain endothelial cells, finding no significant correlation between clinical syndrome type and endothelial gene expression responses.

Proteome profiling of nasopharynx reveals pathophysiological signature of COVID-19 disease severity

The paper profiles the proteome of nasopharyngeal swabs from COVID-19 patients to identify pathophysiological signatures linked to disease severity and fatality.

Epithelial cells maintain memory of prior infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae through di-methylation of histone H3

This study shows that S. pneumoniae infection induces persistent H3K4me2 in epithelial cells, altering their transcriptional response to future infections.

Reverse chemical ecology approach for sustainable palm tree protection against invasive palm weevils

This study identifies an odorant receptor in Asian palm weevils that responds to palm-emitted volatiles, showing that synthetic volatiles can enhance pheromone-based trapping for sustainable pest control.

Evolution of lineage-specific trafficking proteins and a novel post-Golgi trafficking pathway in Apicomplexa

This study identifies lineage-specific membrane-trafficking paralogs in Apicomplexa, revealing a novel post-Golgi trafficking pathway involved in parasite invasion.

Theileria annulata histone deacetylase 1 (TaHDAC1) initiates schizont to merozoite stage conversion

The paper shows that FR235222 inhibits TaHDAC1 in Theileria annulata, causing schizont to merozoite conversion and altering gene expression.

Protein Phosphatase 1 regulates atypical mitotic and meiotic division in Plasmodium sexual stages

The paper investigates the role of Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) in atypical mitotic and meiotic divisions during Plasmodium sexual stages, suggesting PP1 inhibitors could block parasite transmission.

MRE11 is crucial for malaria transmission and its absence affects expression of interconnected networks of key genes essential for life

This study shows that MRE11 is essential for Plasmodium development in mosquitoes, with its absence causing transcriptional changes in critical biological processes and blocking parasite transmission.

A divergent cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase complex controls the atypical replication of Plasmodium berghei during gametogony and parasite transmission.

This study identifies CRK5 as a critical regulator of atypical DNA replication in Plasmodium berghei during gametogony and mosquito transmission.

Short sequence motif dynamics in the SARS-CoV-2 genome suggest a role for cytosine deamination in CpG reduction.

The paper analyzes SARS-CoV-2 genomic data to show increasing C-to-U substitutions over time, suggesting APOBEC-mediated RNA editing reduces CpG frequency to evade ZAP-mediated degradation.

A subcellular atlas of Toxoplasma reveals the functional context of the proteome

This study maps the subcellular locations of thousands of proteins in Toxoplasma gondii to reveal their functional contexts and evolutionary adaptations.

miR-34c-3p regulates PKA activity independent of cAMP via ablation of PRKAR2B in Theileria annulata-infected leukocytes

This paper identifies miR-34c-3p as a regulator of PKA activity independent of cAMP in Theileria and Plasmodium infections by targeting PRKAR2B.

Insights into ancestry and adaptive evolution of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from analysis of the emerging pathogen Mycobacterium riyadhense

This paper characterizes the genome of Mycobacterium riyadhense, showing it shares ancestry with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and provides insights into the evolutionary path of the MTBC.

Plasmodium Kinesin-8X associates with mitotic spindles and is essential for oocyst development during parasite proliferation and transmission

This study identifies Plasmodium Kinesin-8X as essential for endomitotic division during oocyst development and parasite transmission.

Theileria highjacks JNK2 into a complex with the macroschizont GPI-anchored surface protein p104

This paper shows Theileria annulata hijacks JNK2 by binding it to the surface protein p104, leading to its degradation and affecting macrophage survival and dissemination.

Highly diverged novel subunit composition of apicomplexan F-type ATP synthase identified from Toxoplasma gondii

The paper identifies 20 novel subunits of the F-type ATP synthase in Toxoplasma gondii through mass spectrometry, revealing extreme sequence diversification and unique subunit composition within the alveolate clade.

A fast and cost-effective microsampling protocol incorporating reduced animal usage for time-series transcriptomics in rodent malaria parasites

This study develops a microsampling protocol for rodent malaria parasites that reduces animal usage and enables time-series transcriptomics with high correlation to traditional methods.

WhiB6 is required for the secretion-dependent regulation of ESX-1 substrates in pathogenic mycobacteria.

This study shows that WhiB6 regulates ESX-1 substrate secretion in mycobacteria, independent of structural components, through transcriptional control and protein interactions.

Timing of host feeding drives rhythms in parasite replication

This study shows that host feeding rhythms, not central circadian clocks, drive parasite replication timing in malaria, with parasite rhythms aligning to host glucose rhythms and not immune system rhythms.