Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 
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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.Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream forms express highly specific and separate transporters for adenine and hypoxanthine; evidence for a new protozoan purine transporter family?
Publication date: March 2018 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 220 Author(s): Gustavo D. Campagnaro, Khalid J. Alzahrani, Jane C. Munday, Harry P. De Koning The transport of nucleobases and nucleosides in protozoan parasites is known to be performed by Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter (ENT) family members, including the extensively studied P1 and P2 nucleoside transporters of T. brucei bloodstream forms. Studies with P2 knockout parasites suggested the existence of as yet uncharacterised purine transport mechanisms in these cells. Here, we deleted several ENT genes, in addition to P2, includin...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - February 12, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
A novel encystation specific protein kinase regulates chitin synthesis in Entamoeba invadens
In this study, we have identified a novel protein kinase named as EiCSpk ( Entamoeba invadens cyst specific protein kinase) which expressed almost exclusively during encystation. It is an active Protein kinase C with a characteristic substrate phosphorylation and auto-phosphorylation property. Gene silencing study has unveiled its role as a regulator of chitin synthesis through transcriptional activation of the chitin synthesis pathway genes along with glycogen phosphorylases that are involved in the influx of glucose from glycogen breakdown for chitin synthesis. (Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology)
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - February 12, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Fibrinogen and fibrin are novel substrates for Fasciola hepatica cathepsin L peptidases
In this study, we examined the Fasciola cathepsin L peptidases FhCL1, FhCL2, and FhCL3 and the schistosomal cathepsin peptidases SmCB1 and SmCL3 for their anticoagulant properties. Although no direct anticoagulant effect of these peptidases was observed, we discovered that cathepsin peptidases from Fasciola, but not from Schistosoma, were able to degrade purified fibrinogen, with FhCL1 having the highest fibrinogenolytic activity. Additionally, FhCL1 and FhCL2 both efficiently degraded fibrin. The lack of a direct anticoagulant or fibrinolytic effect of these peptidases is explained by their inhibition by plasma components...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - February 12, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Knockout of the CCCH zinc finger protein TcZC3H31 blocks Trypanosoma cruzi differentiation into the infective metacyclic form
Publication date: April 2018 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Volume 221 Author(s): Monica Visnieski Alcantara, Rafael Luis Kessler, Rosana Elisa Gonçalves Gonçalves, Newmar Pinto Marliére, Alessandra Aparecida Guarneri, Gisele Fernanda Assine Picchi, Stenio Perdigão Fragoso In the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi – the causative agent of Chagas disease − gene expression control is mainly post-transcriptional, where RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a central role, by controlling mRNA stability, distribution and translation. A large variety of RBPs are encoded in the T. cruzi genome, inclu...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - February 12, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Biochemical characterization of unusual cysteine protease of P. falciparum, metacaspase-2 (MCA-2)
In this report, we have biochemically characterized metacaspase-2 (PfMCA-2) of P.falciparum. Enzymatic assay showed that PfMCA-2 efficiently cleaved arginine/lysine specific peptide, but not caspase-specific substrate. Consistently, PfMCA-2 activity was sensitive to effector caspases inhibitor, Z-FA-FMK, and mildly inhibited by aprotinin and E-64. However, general caspase inhibitors such as Z-VAD-FMK and Z-DEVD-FMK had no effect on PfMCA-2 activity. Z-FA-FMK inhibits parasite growth with an IC50 value of 2.7 μM along with the notable morphological changes. PfMCA-2 specifically expressed in schizonts and gametocyte stage...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - January 6, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Sequence and functional divergence of gametocyte-specific parasitophorous vacuole membrane proteins in Plasmodium parasites
Publication date: Available online 4 January 2018 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Elena Deligianni, Maria Andreadaki, Konstantinos Koutsouris, Inga Siden-Kiamos Plasmodium parasites develop within red blood cells in a Parasitophorous Vacuole enclosed by a Membrane, the PVM. The protein family ETRAMP (Early Transcribed Membrane Protein) comprises small proteins inserted in the PVM via a single transmembrane domain. Among those, Pfs16 is specifically found in P. falciparum gametocyte PVM. The P. berghei gene PBANKA_1003900 is syntenic with pfs16. The encoded proteins have a similar domain struc...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - January 4, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Distinct effects of HIV protease inhibitors and ERAD inhibitors on zygote to ookinete transition of the malaria parasite
In this study we tested the putative effect of three HIV protease inhibitors, two general aspartyl protease inhibitors and three AAA-p97 ATPase inhibitors on the zygote to ookinete transition of the Plasmodium parasite. Apart from the two general aspartyl inhibitors, all other compounds had a profound effect on the development of the parasites. HIVPIs inhibited zygote to ookinete conversion by 75%–90%, while the three AAA-p97 ATPase inhibitors blocked conversion by 50%–90% at similar concentrations, while electron microscopy highlighted nuclear and structural abnormalities. Our results highlight a potential of HIV prot...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - January 3, 2018 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Enrichment of Cryptosporidium parvum from in vitro culture as measured by total RNA and subsequent sequence analysis
Publication date: Available online 29 December 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Jessica C. Kissinger, Karen E. Hermetz, Keith M. Woods, Steve J. Upton Cryptosporidium parvum is an apicomplexan parasite that infects a wide range of hosts including humans. Due to the parasite’s quasi-intracellular, intermembrane location on the host cell, it is difficult to purify parasites from in vitro and in vivo infections for molecular studies. We have developed a method to greatly enrich in vitro C. parvum merozoites from host cells. The efficiency of the protocol was assessed with C. parvum (KSU-1 ...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 29, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Depletion of the extracellular-signal regulated kinase 8 homolog in Trypanosoma brucei in vivo reduces its virulence in a mouse target validation study
Publication date: Available online 26 December 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Haitham Elaadli, Inyoung Kim, Zachary B. MackeyGraphical abstract (Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology)
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 26, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Characterization of three salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) genes with fibronectin II domains expressed by tegumental type 1 glands
Publication date: Available online 12 December 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Ewa Harasimczuk, Aina-Cathrine Øvergård, Sindre Grotmol, Frank Nilsen, Sussie Dalvin The salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Copepoda: Caligidae), is currently the most significant pathogen affecting the salmon farming industry in the Northern Hemisphere. Exocrine glands of blood-feeding parasites are believed to be important for the host-parasite interaction, but also in the production of substances for integument lubrication and antifouling. In L. salmonis; however, we have limited knowledge about the ...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 13, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Substrate specificity profiling of M32 metallocarboxypeptidases from Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei
Publication date: Available online 12 December 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Alejandra P. Frasch, León A. Bouvier, Florencia M. Oppenheimer, Maria Aparecida Juliano, Luiz Juliano, Adriana K. Carmona, Juan José Cazzulo, Gabriela T. Niemirowicz Metallocarboxypeptidases (MCPs) of the M32 family, while broadly distributed among prokaryotic organisms, have so far been only found in a few eukaryotes including trypanosomatids. Among these organisms are human and animal pathogens of medical relevance such as Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, the respective causative agents of sle...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 13, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
TbVps15 is required for vesicular transport and cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei
Publication date: Available online 16 November 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Alejandra C. Schoijet, Kildare Miranda, Tamara Sternlieb, Nadia M. Barrera, Wendell Girard-Dias, Wanderley de Souza, Guillermo D. Alonso The class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) Vps34 is an important regulator of key cellular functions, including cell growth, survival, intracellular trafficking, autophagy and nutrient sensing. In yeast, Vps34 is associated with the putative serine/threonine protein kinase Vps15, however, its role in signaling has not been deeply evaluated. Here, we have identified...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 5, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Analysis of codon usage pattern of mitochondrial protein-coding genes in different hookworms
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Bornali Deb, Arif Uddin, Gulshana Akthar Mazumder, Supriyo Chakraborty The phenomenon of unequal usage of synonymous codons encoding an amino acid in which some codons are more preferred to others is the codon usage bias (CUB) and it is species specific. Analysis of CUB helps in understanding evolution at molecular level and acquires significance in mRNA translation, design of transgenes and new gene discovery. In our current study, we analyzed synonymous codon usage pattern and the factors influencing it on m...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 5, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Expression, purification and characterization of two leucine aminopeptidases of the blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni
Publication date: Available online 21 November 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Gabriela Maggioli, Gabriel Rinaldi, Ines Giaudrone, Patricia Berasain, José F. Tort, Paul J. Brindley, Carlos Carmona Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease (NTD) and considered the most important of the human helminthiases in terms of morbidity and mortality. Whereas treatment with praziquantel has been effective since the 1980s, the potential for the emergence of drug resistance has propelled the search for new interventions. Studies have revealed key roles of proteases in parasitic helmin...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 5, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
Application of SHAPE reveals in vivo RNA folding under normal and growth-stressed conditions in the human parasite Entamoeba histolytica
Publication date: Available online 23 November 2017 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): Ashwini Kumar Ray, Sarah Naiyer, Shashi Shekhar Singh, Alok Bhattacharya, Sudha Bhattacharya Selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) is a versatile sequence independent method to probe RNA structure in vivo and in vitro. It has so far been tried mainly with model organisms. We show that cells of Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite of humans are hyper-sensitive to the in vivo SHAPE reagent, NAI, and show rapid loss of viability and RNA integrity. We optimized treatment co...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - December 5, 2017 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research
