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Apicomplexa micropore: history, function, and formation (2024)
Journal Article
Yang, J., Long, S., Hide, G., Lun, Z.-R., & Lai, D.-H. (2024). Apicomplexa micropore: history, function, and formation. Trends in Parasitology, 40(5), S1471-4922(24)00079-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2024.03.008

The micropore, a mysterious structure found in apicomplexan species, was recently shown to be essential for nutrient acquisition in Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. However, the differences between the micropores of these two parasites qu... Read More about Apicomplexa micropore: history, function, and formation.

The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival (2024)
Journal Article
Dong, H., He, K., Yang, J., Zheng, W., Lai, D., Liu, J., …Long, S. (2024). The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival. eLife, 12, RP88866. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.88866.3

The apicoplast is a four-membrane plastid found in the apicomplexans, which harbors biosynthesis and organelle housekeeping activities in the matrix. However, the mechanism driving the flux of metabolites, in and out, remains unknown. Here, we used T... Read More about The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival.

The transplant rejection response involves neutrophil and macrophage adhesion-mediated trogocytosis and is regulated by NFATc3 (2024)
Journal Article
Zhao, S., Hu, Y., Yang, B., Zhang, L., Xu, M., Jiang, K., …Shen, J. (in press). The transplant rejection response involves neutrophil and macrophage adhesion-mediated trogocytosis and is regulated by NFATc3. Cell Death and Disease, 15(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-06457-4

The anti-foreign tissue (transplant rejection) response, mediated by the immune system, has been the biggest obstacle to successful organ transplantation. There are still many enigmas regarding this process and some aspects of the underlying mechanis... Read More about The transplant rejection response involves neutrophil and macrophage adhesion-mediated trogocytosis and is regulated by NFATc3.

Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria (2024)
Journal Article
Ayadi, O., Djemai, S., & Hide, G. (2024). Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria. Acta parasitologica / Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00773-z

Purpose
Avian coccidiosis is an important and widely distributed disease that affects global agricultural economies through losses. In Algeria, there is limited epidemiological and ecological knowledge about this disease and this hinders implementat... Read More about Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria.

Macrophage-mediated trogocytosis contributes to destroying human schistosomes in a non-susceptible rodent host, Microtus fortis (2023)
Journal Article
Shen, J., Zhao, S., Peng, M., Li, Y., Zhang, L., Li, X., …Wu, Z. (in press). Macrophage-mediated trogocytosis contributes to destroying human schistosomes in a non-susceptible rodent host, Microtus fortis. Cell Discovery, 9(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-023-00603-6

Schistosoma parasites, causing schistosomiasis, exhibit typical host specificity in host preference. Many mammals, including humans, are susceptible to infection, while the widely distributed rodent, Microtus fortis, exhibits natural anti-schistosome... Read More about Macrophage-mediated trogocytosis contributes to destroying human schistosomes in a non-susceptible rodent host, Microtus fortis.

Functional screening reveals Toxoplasma prenylated proteins required for endocytic trafficking and rhoptry protein sorting (2023)
Journal Article
Wang, Q., Sun, M., Tang, T., Lai, D., Liu, J., Maity, S., …Long, S. (2023). Functional screening reveals Toxoplasma prenylated proteins required for endocytic trafficking and rhoptry protein sorting. mBio, https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.01309-23

In the apicomplexans, endocytosed cargos (e.g., hemoglobin) are trafficked to a specialized organelle for digestion. This follows a unique endocytotic process at the micropore/cytostome in these parasites. However, the mechanism underlying endocytic... Read More about Functional screening reveals Toxoplasma prenylated proteins required for endocytic trafficking and rhoptry protein sorting.

The Toxoplasma micropore mediates endocytosis for selective nutrient salvage from host cell compartments (2023)
Journal Article
Wan, W., Dong, H., Lai, D., Yang, J., He, K., Tang, X., …Long, S. (in press). The Toxoplasma micropore mediates endocytosis for selective nutrient salvage from host cell compartments. Nature communications, 14(1), 997. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36571-4

Apicomplexan parasite growth and replication relies on nutrient acquisition from host cells, in which intracellular multiplication occurs, yet the mechanisms that underlie the nutrient salvage remain elusive. Numerous ultrastructural studies have doc... Read More about The Toxoplasma micropore mediates endocytosis for selective nutrient salvage from host cell compartments.

Investigation into the potential of using UV-treated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella as a local solution to immunization of chickens against caecal coccidiosis (2023)
Journal Article
Djemai, S., Mekroud, A., Hide, G., Khelifi, D., & Bellil, I. (in press). Investigation into the potential of using UV-treated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella as a local solution to immunization of chickens against caecal coccidiosis. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-022-01562-7

In this study, we aim to evaluate the immune response of chickens to UV-treated sporulated oocysts as a means of protection against caecal coccidiosis caused by field strains of Eimeria tenella. Two groups of chicks were immunized using prepared UV-t... Read More about Investigation into the potential of using UV-treated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella as a local solution to immunization of chickens against caecal coccidiosis.

Prevalence of Eimeria species, detected by ITS1-PCR, in broiler poultry farms located in seven provinces of northeastern Algeria. (2022)
Journal Article
Djemai, S., Ayadi, O., Khelifi, D., Bellil, I., & Hide, G. (2022). Prevalence of Eimeria species, detected by ITS1-PCR, in broiler poultry farms located in seven provinces of northeastern Algeria. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 54(5), 250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03252-1

Coccidiosis is an important global chickens' disease which can cause serious economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Little is known about the extent of infection or diversity, of the causative agent Eimeria spp., in Algeria. A priority, t... Read More about Prevalence of Eimeria species, detected by ITS1-PCR, in broiler poultry farms located in seven provinces of northeastern Algeria..

Transplantation of Gut Microbiota From High-Fat-Diet-Tolerant Cynomolgus Monkeys Alleviates Hyperlipidemia and Hepatic Steatosis in Rats. (2022)
Journal Article
Gao, J., Rao, J., Wei, Z., Xia, S., Huang, L., Tang, M., …Chen, J. (2022). Transplantation of Gut Microbiota From High-Fat-Diet-Tolerant Cynomolgus Monkeys Alleviates Hyperlipidemia and Hepatic Steatosis in Rats. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 876043. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.876043

Emerging evidence has been reported to support the involvement of the gut microbiota in the host's blood lipid and hyperlipidemia (HLP). However, there remains unexplained variation in the host's blood lipid phenotype. Herein a nonhuman primate HLP m... Read More about Transplantation of Gut Microbiota From High-Fat-Diet-Tolerant Cynomolgus Monkeys Alleviates Hyperlipidemia and Hepatic Steatosis in Rats..

High resistance to Toxoplasma gondii infection in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout rats (2021)
Journal Article
Wang, Z.-J., Yu, S.-M., Gao, J.-M., Zhang, P., Hide, G., Yamamoto, M., …Lun, Z.-R. (2021). High resistance to Toxoplasma gondii infection in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout rats. iScience, 24(11), 103280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.103280

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important immune molecule which acts against extra- and intracellular pathogens in most hosts. However, after knockout of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS-/-) in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, these iNOS-/- rats were found to... Read More about High resistance to Toxoplasma gondii infection in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout rats.

The relationship between the infection of Toxoplasma gondii and Alzheimer’s disease (2021)
Thesis
Alawfi, B. (2021). The relationship between the infection of Toxoplasma gondii and Alzheimer’s disease. (Thesis). University of Salford

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that commonly causes infections in a variety of warm-blooded animals including humans. This parasite causes a disease referred to as toxoplasmosis. T. gondii infections are known to have a significant impact o... Read More about The relationship between the infection of Toxoplasma gondii and Alzheimer’s disease.

An investigation into Toxoplasma gondii infection and the expression of Arginase-1 and iNOS in human lung tissue (2021)
Thesis
Soothill, H. An investigation into Toxoplasma gondii infection and the expression of Arginase-1 and iNOS in human lung tissue. (Dissertation). University of Salford

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and the expression of the immune modulating proteins Arginase-1 and iNOS in human lung biopsy samples. Previously, a 100% toxoplasmosis infection rate was found in 7... Read More about An investigation into Toxoplasma gondii infection and the expression of Arginase-1 and iNOS in human lung tissue.

Infection with Trypanosoma lewisi or Trypanosoma musculi may promote the spread of Toxoplasma gondii (2021)
Journal Article
Gao, J., Yi, S., Geng, G., Xu, Z., Hide, G., Lun, Z., & Lai, D. (2021). Infection with Trypanosoma lewisi or Trypanosoma musculi may promote the spread of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitology, 148(6), 703-711. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182021000196

Toxoplasma gondii can infect almost all warm-blooded vertebrates with pathogensis
being largely influenced by the host immune status. As important epidemiological
hosts, rodents are globally distributed and are also commonly found infected with
ha... Read More about Infection with Trypanosoma lewisi or Trypanosoma musculi may promote the spread of Toxoplasma gondii.

Investigation into the genetic variation of Toll-Like Receptor 9 in cattle using both Sanger and next-generation sequencing from FTA-Cards (2020)
Thesis
Alqurashi, A. Investigation into the genetic variation of Toll-Like Receptor 9 in cattle using both Sanger and next-generation sequencing from FTA-Cards. (Thesis). University of Salford

The susceptibility or resistance to infectious diseases depends on the host immune response. The genetic variation of immune-relevant genes such as Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) genes is associated with susceptibility or resistance to the pathogen. In thi... Read More about Investigation into the genetic variation of Toll-Like Receptor 9 in cattle using both Sanger and next-generation sequencing from FTA-Cards.

Long-term trends in helminth infections of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) from the vicinity of Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire, England (2020)
Journal Article
Behnke, J., Rogan, M., Craig, P., Jackson, J., & Hide, G. (2021). Long-term trends in helminth infections of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) from the vicinity of Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire, England. Parasitology, 184(4), 451-463. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182020002243

Helminth infections in wood mice (n=483), trapped over a period of 26 years in the woods
surrounding Malham Tarn in N. Yorkshire, were analysed. Although ten species of helminths
were identified, the overall mean species richness was 1.01 species/m... Read More about Long-term trends in helminth infections of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) from the vicinity of Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire, England.

Investigating the relationship between lung cancer and the infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii (2020)
Thesis
Tarabulsi, M. Investigating the relationship between lung cancer and the infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. (Thesis). University of Salford

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular organism that has a worldwide distribution and is highly prevalent among animals and humans. Although usually asymptomatic, it can cause serious diseases in immunocompromised individuals such as pneumoni... Read More about Investigating the relationship between lung cancer and the infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Novel organization of mitochondrial minicircles and guide RNAs in the zoonotic pathogen Trypanosoma lewisi (2020)
Journal Article
Li, S., Zhang, X., Lukeš, J., Li, B., Wang, J., Qu, L., …Lun, Z. (2020). Novel organization of mitochondrial minicircles and guide RNAs in the zoonotic pathogen Trypanosoma lewisi. Nucleic Acids Research, 48(17), 9747-9761. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaa700

Abstract Kinetoplastid flagellates are known for several unusual features, one of which is their complex mitochondrial genome, known as kinetoplast (k) DNA, composed of mutually catenated maxi- and minicircles. Trypanosoma lewisi is a member of the S... Read More about Novel organization of mitochondrial minicircles and guide RNAs in the zoonotic pathogen Trypanosoma lewisi.

Vacuolar ATPase depletion contributes to dysregulation of endocytosis in bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei (2020)
Journal Article
Xu, Z.-S., Li, F.-J., Hide, G., Lun, Z.-R., & Lai, D.-H. (2020). Vacuolar ATPase depletion contributes to dysregulation of endocytosis in bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei. Parasites and Vectors, 13(1), 214. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04068-4

BACKGROUND

Vacuolar H-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a highly conserved protein complex which hydrolyzes ATP and pumps protons to acidify vacuolar vesicles. Beyond its role in pH maintenance, the involvement of V-ATPase in endocytosis is well documented in... Read More about Vacuolar ATPase depletion contributes to dysregulation of endocytosis in bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei.

MAT Seroprevalence infers low rates of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic pigs from Yucatan, Mexico (2019)
Journal Article
Cubas-Atienzar, A., Hide, G., & Smith, J. (2019). MAT Seroprevalence infers low rates of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic pigs from Yucatan, Mexico. Journal of Parasitology, 105(5), 738-747. https://doi.org/10.1645/18-188

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of worldwide distribution. The consumption of infected pork meat has been suggested to be an important source for human infection in the tropical area of Yucatan, Mexico. We performed a cross-sectional study o... Read More about MAT Seroprevalence infers low rates of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic pigs from Yucatan, Mexico.