Trends in ParasitologyThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

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Heroes or villains? T regulatory cells in malaria infection.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Infection with Plasmodium parasites can cause severe disease due to a lack of protective immune responses to clear parasitemia, or to the host's inability to control excessive inflammation resulting in immunopathology. T regulatory cells (Tregs), key mediators of immune homeostasis, are increased in number and modulate disease in human and murine malaria. Several recent studies provide new insights into the mechanisms and functional consequences of Treg induction by P. falciparum. This review integrates and discusses the findings published on Tregs in human and murine malaria to date, with emphasis on Treg induction (h...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - November 12, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Scholzen A, Minigo G, Plebanski M Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Fascioliasis: can Cuba conquer this emerging parasitosis?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Fascioliasis, an emerging parasitic infection, impacts significantly on both veterinary and human health worldwide. Endemic foci are not limited only to areas of extensive livestock farming, but owing to the parasite's abilities to colonise new intermediate hosts and adapt to new environments, also occur in other places, including Cuba. In Cuba, despite a high prevalence of fascioliasis in livestock, and the widespread occurrence of two potential intermediate hosts, human infection has decreased steadily over the past 10 years. In other parts of the world, human fascioliasis is apparently becoming more frequent. Proble...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - November 10, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Rojas L, Vazquez A, Domenech I, Robertson LJ Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Protein export in malaria parasites: do multiple export motifs add up to multiple export pathways?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Intracellular malaria parasites export numerous proteins into their host cell, a process essential for parasite survival and virulence. Many of these proteins are defined by a short amino acid sequence motif termed PEXEL or VTS that mediates their export, suggesting a collective trafficking route. The existence of several PEXEL-negative exported proteins (PNEPs) indicates that alternative export pathways might also exist. We review recent data on the sequences mediating export of PNEPs and compare this process to PEXEL export taking into account novel findings on the function of this motif. Based on this we propose tha...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 28, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Spielmann T, Gilberger TW Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Erythropoietin for treating post-ivermectin Loa-related serious adverse events?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19879192 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 28, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Boussinesq M, Kamgno J, Pion SD, Mackenzie CD Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The dynamics of mutations associated with anti-malarial drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The evolution of resistance in Plasmodium falciparum against safe and affordable drugs such as chloroquine (CQ) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is a major global health threat. Investigating the dynamics of resistance against these antimalarial drugs will lead to approaches for addressing the problem of resistance in malarial parasites that are solidly based in evolutionary genetics and population biology. In this article, we discuss current developments in population biology modeling and evolutionary genetics. Despite great advancements achieved in the past decade, understanding the complex dynamics of mutations co...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 26, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Escalante AA, Smith DL, Kim Y Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The global cysteine peptidase landscape in parasites.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The accumulation of sequenced genomes has expanded the already sizeable population of cysteine peptidases from parasites. Characterization of a few of these enzymes has ascribed key roles to peptidases in parasite life cycles and has also shed light on mechanisms of pathogenesis. Here we discuss recent observations on the physiological activities of cysteine peptidases of parasitic organisms, paired with a global view of all cysteine peptidases from the MEROPS database grouped by similarity. This snapshot of the landscape of parasite cysteine peptidases is complex and highly populated, suggesting that expansion of rese...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 23, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Atkinson HJ, Babbitt PC, Sajid M Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Focusing on complement in the antiparasitic defense of mosquitoes.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium and transmitted to humans by the Anopheles mosquitoes. The mosquito immune system predominantly targets Plasmodium at the ookinete stage, and efficiently eliminates the majority of invading parasites. Identification of the components of the mosquito complement system now provides new focus for studies on the activation and control of this pathway, whose manipulation is expected to block malaria transmission at the vector level. PMID: 19853513 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 21, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Volohonsky G, Steinert S, Levashina EA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

An update on P-glycoprotein and drug resistance in Schistosoma mansoni.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19850522 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 20, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: James CE, Hudson AL, Davey MW Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Malaria vaccines - how and when to proceed?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the field of malaria vaccines, there are many barriers to moving lead candidates from the bench into developmental programmes before clinical testing. Many of the same challenges are to be found in the field of vaccines for other infectious diseases. Here, we briefly outline the process of pre-clinical development to help identify ways to support the translation of laboratory-based information into viable vaccine candidates. PMID: 19837633 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 15, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Craig AG, Holder AA, Leroy OY, Ventura RA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

ABC - antibiotics-based combinations for the treatment of severe malaria?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Almost one million people die of severe malaria every year. In recent years, artemisinin-based combination therapies have become the backbone of the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria and have helped to reduce the burden of malaria in large parts of the malaria-endemic world. However, the treatment of severe malaria, the clinical syndrome responsible for most malaria-associated deaths, remains largely unaffected by this development. Invasive bacterial infections and misdiagnosis of bacterial infections as severe malaria are well recognized phenomena, but recent data indicate that their prevalence and clinica...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 8, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Noedl H Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Redefining the role of de novo fatty acid synthesis in Plasmodium parasites.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Fatty acids are essential components of membranes, and are also involved in cell signalling. Plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria, scavenges fatty acids from its hosts. However, Plasmodium also possesses enzymes for a prokaryotic-like de novo fatty acid synthesis pathway, which resides in the apicoplast. Recent research has demonstrated that Plasmodium parasites depend on de novo fatty acid synthesis only for liver-stage development. This finding demonstrates that basic anabolic functions of Plasmodium parasites are not necessary for the growth and replication of every life cycle stage. We discuss the role of f...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - October 8, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Tarun AS, Vaughan AM, Kappe SH Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Parasitic castration: the evolution and ecology of body snatchers.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Castration is a response to the tradeoff between consumption and longevity faced by parasites. Common parasitic castrators include larval trematodes in snails, and isopod and barnacle parasites of crustaceans. The infected host (with its many unique properties) is the extended phenotype of the parasitic castrator. Because an individual parasitic castrator can usurp all the reproductive energy from a host, and that energy is limited, intra- and interspecific competition among castrators is generally intense. These parasites can be abundant and can substantially depress host density. Host populations subject to high rate...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 29, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Lafferty KD, Kuris AM Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The role of basophils in helminth infection.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Protective immunity against gastrointestinal and tissue dwelling helminths is coordinated by interaction of different effector cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Helminths induce a strong type 2 immune response which is characterized by high levels of IgE and increased numbers of Th2 cells, eosinophils, mast cells and basophils. Basophils are rapidly mobilized after helminth infection and can be efficiently recruited into lymphoid and peripheral tissues where they execute their effector functions. Recent work demonstrated that basophils contribute to initiation and execution of type 2 immunity. This review...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 23, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Voehringer D Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Are neutrophils important host cells for Leishmania parasites?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Neutrophils are the most crucial cells for early defence against infections. When appropriately activated, they can kill obligate intracellular pathogens such as Leishmania. However, once the phagocytotic killing has been evaded, neutrophils can serve as host cells for Leishmania. Parasitized neutrophils were suggested to function as a 'Trojan horse', to transfer Leishmania silently to macrophages. In vivo imaging has contributed a second evasion mechanism. We termed it the 'Trojan rabbit' strategy, whereby parasites escape dying neutrophils to infect macrophages. Here, we discuss the different experimental models used...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 14, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Ritter U, Frischknecht F, van Zandbergen G Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Oestrid flies: eradication and extinction versus biodiversity.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article focuses on two potential drivers that could be forcing these flies into extinction: (i) the highly effective and widespread use of anti-parasitic drugs for domestic livestock; and (ii) the co-extinction of oestrids associated with non-domestic hosts that are endangered. Other oestrid species could be the victims of benign neglect in that they are so poorly studied that their disappearance might go unnoticed. In addition, we explore current knowledge in each of these categories of vulnerability for oestrids, and address the potential impacts of their disappearance. Finally, we examine the potential consequences...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 14, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Colwell DD, Otranto D, Stevens JR Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Surprising variety in energy metabolism within Trypanosomatidae.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The metabolism of Trypanosomatidae differs significantly between distinct species and can even be completely different between various life-cycle stages of the same species. It has been proposed that differences in energy metabolism are related to differences in nutrient supply in the environments of the various trypanosomatids. However, the literature shows that availability of substrates does not dictate the type of energy metabolism of trypanosomatids, as Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma lewisi and African trypanosomes all live in the bloodstream of their mammalian host, but have surprisingly large differences in m...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 9, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Tielens AG, van Hellemond JJ Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Functional immunoassays using an in-vitro malaria liver-stage infection model: where do we go from here?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
For more than 25 years, the ISI assay and ILSDA have been used to study the development of the malaria parasite in the liver, to discover and characterize sporozoite and liver-stage antigens, to support the development of malaria vaccine candidates, and to search for immunological correlates of protection in animals and in humans. Although both assays have been limited by low sporozoite invasion rates, significant biological variability, and the subjective nature of manually counting hepatocytes containing parasites as the read-out, they have nevertheless been useful tools for exploring parasite biology. This review de...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 8, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: House BL, Hollingdale MR, Sacci JB, Richie TL Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Plasmodium falciparum biology: analysis of in vitro versus in vivo growth conditions.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Recent studies of Plasmodium falciparum isolated directly from infected patients indicate that alternative parasite biological states occur in the natural host that are not observed with in vitro cultivated parasites. Variation in host substrates, immune responses and other factors probably induce modifications in parasite biology. These biological states could have important implications for pathogenesis, transmission and therapy. We review the differences between P. falciparum in vitro culture systems and in vivo host environments, as well as evidence that host conditions can alter pathogen biology. For select biolog...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 8, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Leroux M, Lakshmanan V, Daily JP Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The heart of darkness: growth and form of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The first description of African trypanosomes was made over a century ago. The importance of the tsetse in transmission and cyclic development of trypanosomes was discovered soon afterwards, and has been the focus of numerous studies since. However, investigation of trypanosomes in tsetse flies requires high resource investment and unusual patience; hence, many facets of trypanosome biology in the tsetse remain to be characterised despite the long history of research. Here, current knowledge and questions about some of the developmental changes in trypanosomes that occur in tsetse flies are summarised, along with recen...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 8, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Sharma R, Gluenz E, Peacock L, Gibson W, Gull K, Carrington M Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Survival of the fittest: allergology or parasitology?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Allergologists have long recognized that only a small fraction of the environmental and food proteins that we are exposed to give rise to IgE responses. This has raised the intriguing and important question: What makes an allergen an allergen? Many protein allergens have close homologs in metazoan parasites, and as helminth genome information grows, it appears increasingly clear that not only are the immune mechanisms of allergy and anti-helminth immunity closely related, but so are the helminth and allergen proteins that induce them. This suggests that at least part of the secret of what allows some proteins to be all...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 7, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Fitzsimmons CM, Dunne DW Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The role of specific Toxoplasma gondii molecules in manipulation of innate immunity.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii stimulates an innate immune response in the host. T. gondii also induces alterations in infected monocytes and dendritic cells that probably contribute to its ability to disseminate and ultimately to establish persistent infection. Recent progress has linked specific parasite molecules to immune stimulation or the ability of the parasite to subvert intracellular signaling pathways in infected cells to evade immunity. PMID: 19744886 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 7, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Pollard AM, Knoll LJ, Mordue DG Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Predicting changing malaria risk after expanded insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership has established goals for protecting vulnerable populations with locally appropriate vector control. In many places, these goals will be achieved by the mass distribution of insecticide treated bednets (ITNs). Mathematical models can forecast an ITN-driven realignment of malaria endemicity, defined by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite rate (PfPR) in children, to predict PfPR endpoints and appropriate program timelines for this change in Africa. The relative ease of measuring PfPR and its widespread use make it particularly suitable for monitoring and evaluation. This theory prov...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 7, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Smith DL, Hay SI, Noor AM, Snow RW Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

B-cells get the T-cells but antibodies get the worms.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Two recent papers published in Immunity and Cell Host & Microbe underline the great importance of B cells and of antibodies (Abs) in orchestrating crucial T helper cell type 2 (Th2) protective immune responses to gastrointestinal nematodes. The findings in animal models now raise major questions as to how B cells and Abs carry out these functions in humans. Here we discuss recent technological advances in humanizing animal models at the level of both Abs and their Fc-receptors, that might provide some answers. PMID: 19734092 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 3, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Pleass RJ, Behnke JM Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Caught in action: mechanistic insights into antibody-mediated inhibition of Plasmodium merozoite invasion.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) plays an essential role in host cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites. A recent study by Collins et al. investigated the mode of action of an anti-AMA1 invasion-inhibitory antibody. They demonstrated the interference of this antibody with invasion complex formation, which was dependent in turn on a single conserved tyrosine residue in AMA1. Their findings reveal important new insights into parasite biology and are highly relevant for rational vaccine design. PMID: 19734093 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 3, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Treeck M, Tamborrini M, Daubenberger CA, Gilberger TW, Voss TS Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Imaging Leishmania development in their host cells.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The interactions between the Leishmania parasite and its mammalian host cells are strongly regulated dynamic processes that take place at the molecular, cellular and organ level. Several different interaction models have been developed to take advantage of the development of imaging technologies. Here, we first review how conventional imaging techniques have been applied to fixed Leishmania-loaded tissue and cell samples. Then, we show how transgenic Leishmania expressing fluorescent or bioluminescent reporters allowed characterization of their tissue and cell host niches. Most notably, the use of whole-body imaging or...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 3, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Lang T, Lecoeur H, Prina E Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

LAMP - a powerful and flexible tool for monitoring microbial pathogens.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19734095 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 3, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Karanis P, Ongerth J Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Virulence and drug resistance in malaria parasites.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Virulence and drug resistance are traits that pathogens can acquire independently, albeit these traits can influence each other. A recent publication has reported on the co-evolution of virulence and pyrimethamine resistance in malaria parasites. Here, we discuss this finding in the context of the folate biosynthesis pathway and explain how mutational changes in this pathway can affect both parasite replication rates and the development of drug resistance. PMID: 19734096 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 3, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Stein WD, Sanchez CP, Lanzer M Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Why is it important to study malaria epidemiology in India?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Malaria is a major vector-borne disease in India. Based on vast geographic areas with associated topographic and climatic diversity, the variable malaria epidemiology in India is associated with high parasite genetic diversity and rapidly evolving drug resistance, differential distribution of vector species and emerging insecticide resistance and underlying human genetic diversity and past evolutionary histories. Further, changing climatic patterns have possibly changed malaria epidemiology to a great extent. The outcome of these changes is an increased incidence of Plasmodium falciparum over the P. vivax malaria in re...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 3, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Singh V, Mishra N, Awasthi G, Dash AP, Das A Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Leishmania donovani causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka: a wolf in sheep's clothing?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Research involving leishmaniasis, a newly established disease in Sri Lanka, has focused mostly on parasitological and clinical factors, with inadequate understanding of other aspects, including its epidemiology and vector. The escalation in the spread of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases within Sri Lanka and the close resemblance (genotypic and phenotypic) between the local parasite Leishmania donovani MON-37 and the parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis in India (L. donovani MON-2), underscored by the more recent case reports of autochthonous cases of visceral and mucocutaneous-like disease, are clear warnings to the he...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - September 3, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Karunaweera ND Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Reporter genes facilitating discovery of drugs targeting protozoan parasites.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Transfection of protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Toxoplasma, with various reporter gene constructs, has revolutionized studies to understand the biology of the host-parasite interactions at the cellular level. It has provided impetus to the development of rapid and reliable drug screens both for established drugs and for new molecules against different parasites and other pathogens. Furthermore, reporter genes have proved to be an excellent and promising tool for studying disease progression. Here, we review the recent advances made by using reporter genes for in vitro and in vivo dr...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 28, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Dube A, Gupta R, Singh N Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Inappropriate measures of population health for parasitic disease?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The dominant metric for setting public health priorities, the disability-adjusted life year (DALY), is unsuited to parasitic infections. In particular, the current DALY framework fails to acknowledge the non-linear pathologies of infection, the community level dynamics of epidemiology and the co-morbidities of polyparasitism. Parasitologists must urgently provide a better way of accounting for the true costs of parasitic disease. PMID: 19720565 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 28, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Payne RJ, Turner L, Morgan ER Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

What is new about animal and human dirofilariosis?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens, the causal agents of cardiopulmonary and subcutaneous dirofilariosis, respectively, affect canine, feline and human populations with an increasing incidence in temperate and tropical areas of the world. In the past decade outstanding advances in the knowledge of dirofilariosis have been achieved. Nevertheless, questions such as the impact of climate change in the transmission and distribution of dirofilariosis, as well as a profound evaluation of both the role of Dirofilaria and Wolbachia and the proteins produced by them in the parasite-host relationship have not been fully addressed...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 28, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Simón F, Morchón R, González-Miguel J, Marcos-Atxutegi C, Siles-Lucas M Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Genetic and genomic analyses of host-pathogen interactions in malaria.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Plasmodium parasite successfully infects and replicates in both human and insect vectors. Population studies in humans have long detected the enormous selective pressure placed by the parasite on its human host, revealing the footprints of co-evolution. Available complete genomic sequences for the human and insect hosts, and additional sequences from multiple field isolates of Plasmodiumfalciparum have identified a wide array of protein and gene families that play a crucial role at the interface of host-parasite interaction. Selected examples of such interactions will be reviewed herein. PMID: 19717339 [PubMed ...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 27, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Bongfen SE, Laroque A, Berghout J, Gros P Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Immune effector mechanisms against schistosomiasis: looking for a chink in the parasite's armour.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A recombinant antigen vaccine against Schistosoma mansoni remains elusive, in part because the parasite deploys complex defensive and offensive strategies to combat immune attack. Nevertheless, research on rodent and primate models has shown that schistosomes can be defeated when appropriate responses are elicited. Acquired protection appears to involve protracted inhibition of larval migration or key molecular processes at the adult surfaces, not rapid cytolytic killing mechanisms. A successful vaccine will likely require a cocktail of antigens rather than a single recombinant protein. In addition, ways need to be fou...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 27, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Wilson RA, Coulson PS Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Does interspecific competition have a moderating effect on Taenia solium transmission dynamics in Southeast Asia?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It is well understood that sociocultural practices strongly influence Taenia solium transmission; however, the extent to which interspecific parasite competition moderates Taenia transmission has yet to be determined. This is certainly the case in Southeast Asia where T. solium faces competition in both the definitive host (people) and the intermediate host (pigs). In people, adult worms of T. solium, T. saginata and T. asiatica compete through density-dependent crowding mechanisms. In pigs, metacestodes of T. solium, T. hydatigena and T. asiatica compete through density-dependent immune-mediated interactions. Here, we...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 27, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Conlan JV, Vongxay K, Fenwick S, Blacksell SD, Thompson RC Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

New tools provide further insights into Giardia and Cryptosporidium biology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The ubiquity and importance of Giardia and Cryptosporidium as pathogens are reflected in the increasing number of publications concerning these organisms, but they are not the only reason why researchers are increasingly turning their attention to studying Giardia and Cryptosporidium. As new tools and databases become available, it is now possible to investigate fundamental issues related to their biology and relationship with their hosts. In this article, we highlight recent advances in research and outline questions arising that need to be addressed as a way of focusing the attention of the research and health commun...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 27, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Ortega-Pierres G, Smith HV, Cacciò SM, Thompson RC Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Alio intuitu: the automated reconstruction of the metabolic networks of parasites.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19717343 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - August 27, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Whitaker JW, Westhead DR, McConkey GA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Transgenic Plasmodium knowlesi: relieving a bottleneck in malaria research?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Plasmodium knowlesi is a primate malaria parasite that is phylogenetically close to the major human parasite Plasmodium vivax. P. knowlesi causes life-threatening disease in humans, infects a wide range of non-human primates and is one of few malaria parasites amenable to cyclical in vitro propagation. A robust in vivo and in vitro genetic manipulation system has been developed for this parasite, enabling in vitro-in vivo shuttling of transgenes, which (together with recent characterization of its genome and that of its macaque experimental host) offers unique opportunities to gain insight in molecular function and par...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 24, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Kocken CH, Zeeman AM, Voorberg-van der Wel A, Thomas AW Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Fluorescein angiography findings strengthen the theoretical basis for trialling neuroprotective agents in cerebral malaria.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19635680 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 24, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Maude RJ, Beare NA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Evolution of the Apicomplexa: where are we now?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Apicomplexa is the only large taxonomic group whose members are entirely parasitic and is, therefore, presumably of major interest to parasitologists. We might, for example, expect that we know a great deal about the biology of the group by now and that we have a clear phylogenetic framework within which to organize that knowledge. It might thus come as a surprise to learn that in terms of biodiversity, the Apicomplexa is actually the least-known group of all. Furthermore, the taxonomic framework for the Apicomplexa is rather tenuous in many respects. This situation is unlikely to change in the short term. PMID...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 24, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Morrison DA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

What has DNA sequencing revealed about the VSG expression sites of African trypanosomes?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Antigenic variation is crucial for the survival of African trypanosomes in mammals and involves switches in expression of variant surface glycoprotein genes, which are co-transcribed with a number of expression-site-associated genes (ESAGs) from loci termed 'bloodstream expression sites' (BESs). Trypanosomes possess multiple BESs, although the reason for this (and why ESAGs are resident in these loci) has remained a subject of debate. The genome sequence of Trypanosoma brucei, released in 2005, did not include the BESs because of their telomeric disposition. This gap in our knowledge has now been bridged by two new stu...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 22, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: McCulloch R, Horn D Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Seasonal fluctuation of drug-resistant malaria parasites: a sign of fitness cost.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19632155 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 22, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Babiker HA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Reciprocal effects between host phenotype and pathogens: new insights from an old problem.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Relationships between the host phenotype and pathogen infection are assumed to reflect either causes or consequences of the infection. In fact, these processes are likely to co-occur, even in the same phenotypic traits. For example, hosts with high ingestion rates have a higher growth rate but are also more infected by trophically transmitted pathogens that subsequently reduce the host growth rate. Here, we briefly review the empirical evidence suggesting reciprocal effects in host-pathogen interaction. We then provide a 'verbal' model that aims to predict how reciprocal effects can bias our interpretation of the relat...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 19, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Blanchet S, Thomas F, Loot G Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Transgenesis in parasitic nematodes: building a better array.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In spite of recent progress in the development of transgenesis in parasitic nematodes, several impediments remain before this methodology can become a practical and widely employed tool in parasitology. Recently published studies on transgenesis in the necromenic nematode Pristionchus pacificus from the laboratory of Ralf Sommer highlight several leads that might be valuable as efforts to refine current systems in obligate parasites go forward. PMID: 19617000 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 16, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Lok JB Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The schistosome excretory system: a key to regulation of metabolism, drug excretion and host interaction.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There is a gulf between the enormous information content of the various genome projects and the understanding of the life of the parasite in the host. In vitro studies with adult Schistosoma mansoni using several substrates suggest that the excretory system contains both P-glycoproteins and multiresistance proteins. If both these families of protein were active in vivo, they could regulate parasite metabolism and be responsible for the excretion of drugs. During skin penetration, membrane-impermeant molecules of a wide range of molecular weights can be taken into the cercaria and schistosomulum through the nephridiopor...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 16, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Kusel JR, McVeigh P, Thornhill JA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The role of host genetics in leishmaniasis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Leishmaniasis is one of the world's important infectious diseases. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world and endemic in 88 countries, with two million new cases of leishmaniasis reported annually. As a complex disease, the pathology of leishmaniasis varies and is determined by factors such as the environment, the insect vector, and parasite and host genetics. The contributing host genetics involve multiple genes; thus, the mouse model of leishmaniasis has been exploited extensively in an attempt to identify and dissect the contribution of disease modifier genes to pathogenesis. This review su...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 16, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Sakthianandeswaren A, Foote SJ, Handman E Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

snoRNAs in Giardia lamblia: a novel role in RNA silencing?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the expanding world of small regulatory RNAs, a recent paper by Saraiya and Wang has reported the identification in the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia of a novel class of small RNAs, which are derived by Dicer processing of small nucleolar RNAs and have the potential to function as micro RNAs. Interestingly, these RNAs occur not only in this parasite but also in humans. PMID: 19616476 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Parasitology)
Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 15, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Kolev NG, Ullu E Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Gene copy number and malaria biology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Alteration in gene copy number provides a simple way to change expression levels and alter phenotype. This was fully appreciated by bacteriologists more than 25 years ago, but the extent and implications of copy number polymorphism (CNP) have only recently become apparent in other organisms. New methods demonstrate the ubiquity of CNPs in eukaryotes and their medical importance in humans. CNP is also widespread in the Plasmodium falciparum genome and has an important and underappreciated role in determining phenotype. In this review, we summarize the distribution of CNP, its evolutionary dynamics within populations, it...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - June 23, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Anderson TJ, Patel J, Ferdig MT Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

The role of monitoring mosquito infection in the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In addition to monitoring infection in the human host, there is also a need to assess larval infection in the vector mosquito population to evaluate the success of interventions for eliminating lymphatic filariasis transmission from endemic communities. Here, we review the current status of the available tools for quantifying vector infection and existing knowledge and evidence regarding potential infection thresholds for determining transmission interruption, to assess the potential for using vector infection monitoring as a tool for evaluating the success of filariasis treatment programmes. PMID: 19559649 [PubMed...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - June 23, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: Pedersen EM, Stolk WA, Laney SJ, Michael E Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals

Drug resistance mechanisms in helminths: is it survival of the fittest?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Development of resistance to anthelmintic drugs is an increasing problem that decreases the productivity of livestock and threatens the success of treatment in humans. It is essential to understand the mechanisms in the development of resistance so that alternative treatment strategies can be developed. Changes in genes or in gene expression in response to drugs enable the organism to survive treatment and might reflect evolution in a toxic environment in which drug resistance leads to 'survival of the fittest'. Here, we review knowledge of resistance mechanisms, focusing on changes in drugs (identified by single-nucle...
Source: Trends in Parasitology - June 18, 2009 Category: Parasitology Authors: James CE, Hudson AL, Davey MW Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: journals