Parasites and Host Interactions

Healing helminths: The disease-modifying potential of helminth-derived proteins in animal models of inflammatory disease

This paper reviews and quantitatively analyzes studies on helminth-derived immunomodulatory proteins in animal models of inflammatory diseases, finding they reduce disease severity by modulating cytokine levels.

GWAS Reveals Distinct Genetic Architecture of Schistosomiasis-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis with DGKG as a Key Mediator

This study identifies DGKG as a key mediator of schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis through GWAS and functional validation, revealing distinct genetic architecture compared to other fibrotic diseases.

Hookworm genes encoding intestinal excreted-secreted proteins are transcriptionally upregulated in response to the host's immune system

The paper identifies hookworm genes upregulated by the host immune system, focusing on intestinal-expressed genes in A. ceylanicum and their potential roles in immune evasion.

Recapitulating whipworm development in vitro using caecaloids

This study establishes an in vitro system using caecaloids to recapitulate whipworm development, showing that larvae develop anatomical features and growth patterns similar to in vivo conditions.

Schistosome esophageal gland factor MEG-8.2 drives host cell lysis and interacts with host immune proteins

The paper identifies MEG-8.2 as a key esophageal gland factor in schistosomes that drives host cell lysis and interacts with host immune proteins to aid immune evasion.

Hunting for Helminths: short- and long-read shotgun metagenomics for parasite detection in faecal samples

This study validates shotgun metagenomics for detecting soil-transmitted helminths in faecal samples, finding mitochondrial sequence mapping as the most accurate method, with short-read sequencing outperforming long-read.

Limited Impact of Schistosome Infection on Biomphalaria glabrata Snail Microbiomes

This study investigates how Schistosoma mansoni infection affects the microbiomes of Biomphalaria glabrata snails, finding limited changes in composition and no effect on bacterial density.

Hookworm genomic diversity and population structure from accessible sample types: A validated approach to generate genome-wide polymorphism datasets from individual third-stage larvae

The paper validates a method to generate genome-wide polymorphism datasets from individual hookworm larvae, showing that accurate variant calling is possible with sufficient DNA input and strict filtering.

MLL1 directs gut-associated antibody responses to helminth and bacterial infections

This study identifies MLL1 as a regulator of IgA responses to gut infections, showing its role in promoting IgA+ plasma cells and worm clearance in mice.

Transcriptome of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Reveals Suppressed MAPK/AP-1 Pathways During Ascaris-Salmonella Coinfection in Pigs

The paper identifies suppressed MAPK/AP-1 pathways in pigs during Ascaris-Salmonella coinfection using bulk RNASeq and co-expression network analysis.

Occurrence of snail intermediate host of schistosomiasis: implication for schistosomiasis control based on mass drug administration of praziquantel in Benue State, Nigeria

The paper assesses snail intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis after praziquantel mass drug administration in Nigeria, finding higher infection rates in ponds and a correlation between rainfall and snail abundance.

A Common Agrochemical Mixture Increases Snail Hosts and Ecological Drivers of Schistosomiasis Risk

This study shows that common agrochemical mixtures increase snail hosts and ecological factors that raise schistosomiasis risk.

Transcriptomic plasticity in hybrid schistosomes can contribute to their zoonotic potential

This study identifies transcriptomic plasticity in hybrid schistosomes and S. bovis across hosts, revealing genes and processes linked to zoonotic potential and host adaptation.

Determination of diagnostic cycle threshold (Ct) cut-offs for qPCR-based prevalence surveys of soil-transmitted helminth infections

The paper establishes Ct cut-offs for qPCR to detect transmissible soil-transmitted helminth infections using data from 29,980 samples.

Epidemiological Survey of Snail Intermediate Hosts of Schistosomiasis in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria and Molluscicidal Screening of Ficus exasperata Extracts

This study surveys snail hosts of schistosomiasis in Zaria and evaluates the molluscicidal potential of Ficus exasperata extracts.

Loss of vitamin C biosynthesis protects from a parasitic infection

This study shows that ascorbate deficiency protects mice from schistosomiasis by impairing schistosome egg production and reducing disease severity.

Quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics analyses identify sex-biased protein ontologies of Schistosoma japonicum

The paper identifies sex-biased proteins and phosphoproteins in Schistosoma japonicum using proteomics and phosphoproteomics, linking them to biological processes and potential drug targets.

Horizontal gene transfer of a functional cki homolog in the human pathogen Schistosoma mansoni

The paper identifies a functional cki homolog in Schistosoma mansoni, showing it acts as a tumor suppressor and suggests its origin via horizontal gene transfer from free-living ancestors.

A non-vesicular Argonaute protein is transmitted from nematode to mouse and is important for parasite survival

This study identifies an extracellular Argonaute protein from a parasitic nematode that can be internalized by mouse cells and shows it can be targeted for vaccine development.

Infection with gut parasites correlates with gut microbiome diversity across human populations in Africa

This study shows that gut microbiome diversity correlates with infection by multiple soil-transmitted helminths in African populations, using metagenomic sequencing for parasite detection.

Use of a cytochrome P450 humanised mouse model to refine schistosomiasis drug discovery.

A cytochrome P450 humanised mouse model is used to study Schistosoma mansoni development, schistosomiasis, drug metabolism and drug efficacy.

Assessing the performance of TRX and DUF148 antigens for detection of prepatent Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) infection in dogs

This study evaluates TRX and DUF148 antigens for detecting prepatent Guinea worm infection in dogs using ELISA, finding DUF148 has higher sensitivity but cross-reactivity issues.

Transglutaminase 2 predicts parasitic worm-mediated protection against hepatic steatosis in obese mice

This study identifies TGM2 as a predictive marker of hepatic steatosis improvement in obese mice infected with H. p. bakeri, showing its role in type 2 immune responses and potential therapeutic applications.

A single-cell transcriptome atlas of adult male and female human hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum

The paper generates a single-cell transcriptome atlas of adult male and female human hookworms, identifying sex-specific cell types and molecular markers to uncover new biological insights and potential therapeutic targets.

Investigating Cement-Based Surfaces as a Sustainable Flooring Solution to Improve Ascaris Egg Removal and Inactivation in Low-Resource Settings

This study evaluates the removal and survival of Ascaris eggs on cement-based surfaces in low-resource settings, finding that mopping removes over 92% of eggs and survival varies with temperature.

Fluke-borne viruses are a risk factor and diagnostic target for diseases caused by carcinogenic trematodes

The paper identifies fluke-borne viruses as risk factors and diagnostic targets for cancers caused by carcinogenic trematodes.

Structure-Activity Relationship and Target Investigation of Thiophen-2-yl-Pyrimidines against Schistosoma species

This paper identifies a new class of thiophen-2-yl pyrimidines (TPPs) with improved solubility and potency against Schistosoma species, suggesting novel targets beyond tubulin.

HpBoRB, a helminth-derived CCP domain protein which binds RELMβ

The paper identifies a helminth-derived CCP domain protein, HpBoRB, that binds RELMβ, a host protein with anti-helminth properties, suggesting a mechanism of immune evasion.

Coinfection with malaria alters the dynamics and fitness of an intestinal nematode

This study shows that malaria coinfection increases egg excretion and prolongs the persistence of an intestinal nematode in mice, mediated by reduced Th2 immunity.

A genome-scale drug discovery pipeline uncovers new therapeutic targets and a unique p97 allosteric binding site in Schistosoma mansoni

This paper identifies new drug targets in Schistosoma mansoni using a genome-scale pipeline and discovers a p97 allosteric binding site that could lead to species-selective inhibitors.