Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Modulation of cholesterol-related sterols during Eimeria bovis macromeront formation and impact of selected oxysterols on parasite development
Publication date: July 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 223Author(s): A. Taubert, L.M.R. Silva, Z.D. Velásquez, C. Larrazabal, D. Lütjohann, C. HermosillaAbstractObligate intracellular apicomplexan parasites are considered as deficient in cholesterol biosynthesis and scavenge cholesterol from their host cell in a parasite-specific manner. Compared to fast proliferating apicomplexan species producing low numbers of merozoites per host cell, (e. g. Toxoplasma gondii), the macromeront-forming protozoa Eimeria bovis is in extraordinary need for cholesterol for offspring production (≥ 170,000 meroz...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 10, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Characterization of a Plasmodium falciparum rRNA methyltransferase
Publication date: July 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 223Author(s): Kirti Gupta, Ankit Gupta, Saman HabibAbstractThe ribosomal RNA adenine dimethyltransferases (rAD) of KsgA/Dim1 family are universally conserved with eukaryotic rADs separated into distinct cytosolic Dim1 and organellar KsgA/TFB homologs. Among the two putative KsgA proteins encoded by the Plasmodium falciparum genome, we found that PfKsgA1 was dually localised in the cytoplasm and the mitochondrion. The protein interacted specifically with small ribosomal subunit as detected by ribosome pull-down using anti-PfKsgA1 antibodies. R...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 10, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Revealing genetic hybridization and DNA recombination of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica in nuclear introns of the hybrid Fasciola flukes
Publication date: July 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 223Author(s): Weerachai Saijuntha, Chairat Tantrawatpan, Takeshi Agatsuma, Chennan Wang, Pewpan M. Intapan, Wanchai Maleewong, Trevor N. PetneyAbstractFasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are ruminant liver flukes that are found worldwide. They can occur sympatrically and hybridize, consequently producing an intermediate form (Fasciola sp.), especially in Africa and Asia. The bridge intron (TkBridgeInt) and intron 4 of domain 2 (TkD2Int4) of the taurocyamine kinase gene were cloned and sequenced from 14 F. hepatica, 18 F. gigantica, and 12 Fasc...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 10, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Optimising genetic transformation of Trypanosoma cruzi using hydroxyurea-induced cell-cycle synchronisation
Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical ParasitologyAuthor(s): Francisco Olmo, Fernanda C. Costa, Gurdip Singh Mann, Martin C. Taylor, John M. KellyABSTRACTThe limited flexibility and time-consuming nature of the genetic manipulation procedures applicable to Trypanosoma cruzi continue to restrict the functional dissection of this parasite. We hypothesised that transformation efficiency could be enhanced if electroporation was timed to coincide with DNA replication. To test this, we generated epimastigote cultures enriched at the G1/S boundary using hydroxyurea-induced cell-cycle sync...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 10, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Recombinant and native TviCATL from Trypanosoma vivax: enzymatic characterisation and evaluation as a diagnostic target for animal African trypanosomosis
Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical ParasitologyAuthor(s): Lauren E-A Eyssen, Perina Vather, Laurelle Jackson, Phindile Ximba, Nicolas Biteau, Théo Baltz, Alain Boulangé, Philippe Büscher, Theresa H T CoetzerAbstractAfrican animal trypanosomosis (nagana) is caused by tsetse-transmitted protozoan parasites. Their cysteine proteases are potential chemotherapeutic and diagnostic targets. The N-glycosylated catalytic domain of Trypanosoma vivax cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, rTviCATLcat, was recombinantly expressed and purified from culture supernatants while native TviCATL w...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 10, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Optimising genetic transformation of Trypanosoma cruzi using hydroxyurea-induced cell-cycle synchronisation
Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical ParasitologyAuthor(s): Francisco Olmo, Fernanda C. Costa, Gurdip Singh Mann, Martin C. Taylor, John M. KellyABSTRACTThe limited flexibility and time-consuming nature of the genetic manipulation procedures applicable to Trypanosoma cruzi continue to restrict the functional dissection of this parasite. We hypothesised that transformation efficiency could be enhanced if electroporation was timed to coincide with DNA replication. To test this, we generated epimastigote cultures enriched at the G1/S boundary using hydroxyurea-induced cell-cycle sync...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 8, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Recombinant and native TviCATL from Trypanosoma vivax: enzymatic characterisation and evaluation as a diagnostic target for animal African trypanosomosis
Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical ParasitologyAuthor(s): Lauren E-A Eyssen, Perina Vather, Laurelle Jackson, Phindile Ximba, Nicolas Biteau, Théo Baltz, Alain Boulangé, Philippe Büscher, Theresa H T CoetzerAbstractAfrican animal trypanosomosis (nagana) is caused by tsetse-transmitted protozoan parasites. Their cysteine proteases are potential chemotherapeutic and diagnostic targets. The N-glycosylated catalytic domain of Trypanosoma vivax cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, rTviCATLcat, was recombinantly expressed and purified from culture supernatants while native TviCATL w...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 8, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Identification and functional analysis of a stress-responsive MAPK15 in Entamoeba invadens
In this study, we have identified a stress-responsive MAPK which gets upregulated under different stress conditions, including encystation. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic classification show that the MAPK belongs to the atypical MAPK15 family (henceforth, named EiMAPK15), which does not require an upstream MAPKK for its phosphorylation and activation. The in vitro kinase activity of recombinant EiMAPK15 exhibits its auto-phosphorylation ability. Immunolocalization studies reveal that the protein is mainly cytosolic under normal growing conditions but gets translocated into the nucleus under stress conditions. Knockdown...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Screening of the MMV and GSK open access chemical boxes using a viability assay developed against the kinetoplastid Crithidia fasciculata
Publication date: June 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 222Author(s): Wakisa Kipandula, Simon A. Young, Stuart A. MacNeill, Terry K. SmithAbstractDiseases caused by the pathogenic kinetoplastids continue to incapacitate and kill hundreds of thousands of people annually throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. Unfortunately, in the countries where these neglected diseases occur, financial obstacles to drug discovery and technical limitations associated with biochemical studies impede the development of new, safe, easy to administer and effective drugs. Here we report the development and optimisation...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Editorial Board
Publication date: June 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 222Author(s): (Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology)
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Stage-specific expression of the proline-alanine transporter in the human pathogen Leishmania
Publication date: June 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 222Author(s): T. Liburkin-Dan, D. Schlisselberg, R. Fischer-Weinberger, P. Pescher, E. Inbar, M. Ephros, D. Rentsch, G.F. Späth, D. ZilbersteinAbstractLeishmania are obligatory intracellular parasites that cycle between the sand fly midgut (extracellular promastigotes) and mammalian macrophage phagolysosomes (intracellular amastigotes). They have developed mechanisms of adaptation to the distinct environments of host and vector that favor utilization of both proline and alanine. LdAAP24 is the L. donovani proline-alanine transporter. It is a...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

G-protein-coupled receptor genes of Dirofilaria immitis
Publication date: June 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 222Author(s): Thangadurai Mani, Catherine Bourguinat, Roger K. PrichardAbstractThe diversity and uniqueness of nematode heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) provides impetus for identifying ligands that can be used as therapeutics for treating diseases caused by parasitic nematode infections. In human medicine, GPCRs have represented the largest group of ‘drugable’ targets exploited in the market today. In the filarial nematode Dirofilaria immitis, which causes heartworm disease, the macrocyclic lactones (ML) have been used ...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Identification and characterization of a calmodulin binding domain in the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase from Trypanosoma equiperdum
Publication date: June 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 222Author(s): José Rubén Ramírez-Iglesias, María Carolina Pérez-Gordones, Jesús Rafael del Castillo, Alfredo Mijares, Gustavo Benaim, Marta MendozaAbstractThe plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) from trypanosomatids lacks a classical calmodulin (CaM) binding domain, although CaM stimulated activities have been detected by biochemical assays. Recently we proposed that the Trypanosoma equiperdum CaM-sensitive PMCA (TePMCA) contains a potential 1–18 CaM-binding motif at the C-terminal region of the pump. In the present study, we evaluated...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

A Cas9 transgenic Plasmodium yoelii parasite for efficient gene editing
Publication date: June 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 222Author(s): Pengge Qian, Xu Wang, Zhenke Yang, Zhenkui Li, Han Gao, Xin-zhuan Su, Huiting Cui, Jing YuanAbstractThe RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 has applied as an efficient gene-editing method in malaria parasite Plasmodium. However, the size (4.2 kb) of the commonly used Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) limits its utility for genome editing in the parasites only introduced with cas9 plasmid. To establish the endogenous and constitutive expression of Cas9 protein in the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii, we replaced the coding re...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research

Differential tissue distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi during acute experimental infection: Further evidence using natural isolates
Publication date: June 2018Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 222Author(s): Mariana Strauss, Daniela A. Velázquez López, Diego M. Moya, P. Carolina Bazán, Alejandra L. Báez, H. Walter Rivarola, Patricia A. Paglini-Oliva, M. Silvina Lo PrestiAbstractIn the present work, we evaluated the effect of mixed Trypanosoma cruzi infections, studying the biological distribution of the different parasites in blood, heart and skeletal muscle during the acute phase. Albino Swiss mice were infected with different parasite strain/isolates or with a combination of them. The parasites in the different tissues were ty...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - July 5, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research