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Microorganisms Jun 2024When animals perceive an acute stressor like a predator, they typically undergo a suite of physiological changes that function to improve survival during the encounter,...
When animals perceive an acute stressor like a predator, they typically undergo a suite of physiological changes that function to improve survival during the encounter, such as elevation in cardiac output, to supply more energy to muscles. If bodily energy is limited, such as by parasites or infections, these functions could become less efficient and lessen host survival. In the aquatic world of microorganisms, individuals can become colonized by other organisms on their surface (epibionts), which could sap energy from their host from their weight, or even compete with the host for food. Here, we tested if one epibiont (a ciliated protozoan, spp.) affects its hosts' ability to mount a physiological stress reaction. We collected wild daphnia () that had varying burdens of these on their bodies and exposed them to a simulated stressor (crushed daphnia, to simulate nearby predation) under a microscope while monitoring for changes in their heart rates in real time. Out of 121 daphnia, those with no epibionts showed no meaningful changes in their heart rate after exposure, but those with light or heavy burdens showed immediate elevations (within 5 min). Moreover, the heart rates of heavily burdened daphnia continued to rise for 1.5 h thereafter, to as much as 17% higher than at baseline. These patterns were unexpected, as they suggest that the ciliated epibionts act to elevate their hosts' physiological reaction, rather than dampen it, perhaps by churning the water column around the host, thereby enhancing the chemical alarm cue. The procedures used in this study may be useful for future investigations into the acute stress reactions of daphnia or other microorganisms.
PubMed: 38930601
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061219 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024: Malaria continues to be a significant global health challenge. The efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) has declined in many parts of the Greater...
: Malaria continues to be a significant global health challenge. The efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) has declined in many parts of the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Vietnam, due to the spread of resistant malaria strains. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of the Dihydroartemisinin (DHA)-Piperaquine (PPQ) regimen in treating uncomplicated malaria and to conduct molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance in Binh Phuoc and Dak Nong provinces. : The study included 63 uncomplicated malaria falciparum patients from therapeutic efficacy studies (TES) treated following the WHO treatment guidelines (2009). Molecular marker analysis was performed on all 63 patients. Methods encompassed Sanger sequencing for mutations and quantitative real-time PCR for the gene. : This study found a marked decrease in the efficacy of the DHA-PPQ regimen, with an increased rate of treatment failures at two study sites. Genetic analysis revealed a significant presence of mutations and amplifications, indicating emerging resistance to artemisinin and its partner drug. : The effectiveness of the standard DHA-PPQ regimen has sharply declined, with rising treatment failure rates. This decline necessitates a review and possible revision of national malaria treatment guidelines. Importantly, molecular monitoring and clinical efficacy assessments together provide a robust framework for understanding and addressing detection drug resistance in malaria.
Topics: Humans; Artemisinins; Quinolines; Vietnam; Antimalarials; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Female; Adult; Plasmodium falciparum; Drug Resistance; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Drug Therapy, Combination; Young Adult; Protozoan Proteins; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Mutation; Piperazines
PubMed: 38929629
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60061013 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024In the last ten years, multimorbidity in children under the age of five years has become an emerging health issue in developing countries. The study of multimorbidity of...
In the last ten years, multimorbidity in children under the age of five years has become an emerging health issue in developing countries. The study of multimorbidity of anaemia, malaria, and malnutrition (MAMM) among children in Nigeria has not received significant attention. This study aims to investigate what risk factors are associated with the prevalence of multimorbidity among children aged 6 to 59 months in Nigeria. This study used two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and the 2018 National Human Development Report. A series of multilevel mixed-effect ordered logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between child/parent/household variables (at level 1), community-related variables (at level 2) and area-related variables (at level 3), and the multimorbidity outcome (no disease, one disease only, two or more diseases). The results show that 48.3% (4917/10,184) of the sample of children aged 6-59 months display two or more of the disease outcomes. Being a female child, the maternal parent having completed higher education, the mother being anaemic, the household wealth quintile being in the richest category, the proportion of community wealth status being high, the region being in the south, and place of residence being rural were among the significant predictors of MAMM ( < 0.05). The prevalence of MAMM found in this study is unacceptably high. If suitable actions are not urgently taken, Nigeria's ability to actualise SDG-3 will be in grave danger. Therefore, suitable policies are necessary to pave the way for the creation/development of integrated care models to ameliorate this problem.
Topics: Humans; Nigeria; Anemia; Infant; Malaria; Female; Male; Child, Preschool; Risk Factors; Prevalence; Multimorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Malnutrition; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 38929011
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060765 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Multidrug- and artemisinin-resistant (ART-R) parasites represent a challenge for malaria elimination worldwide. Molecular monitoring in the Kelch domain region gene...
Multidrug- and artemisinin-resistant (ART-R) parasites represent a challenge for malaria elimination worldwide. Molecular monitoring in the Kelch domain region gene allows tracking mutations in parasite resistance to artemisinin. The increase in illegal miners in the Roraima Yanomami indigenous land (YIL) could favor ART-R parasites. Thus, this study aimed to investigate ART-R in patients from illegal gold mining areas in the YIL of Roraima, Brazil. A questionnaire was conducted, and blood was collected from 48 patients diagnosed with or mixed malaria (). The DNA was extracted and the gene was amplified by PCR. The amplicons were subjected to DNA-Sanger-sequencing and the entire amplified fragment was analyzed. Among the patients, 96% (46) were from illegal mining areas of the YIL. All parasite samples carried the wild-type genotypes/ART-sensitive phenotypes. These data reinforce the continued use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in Roraima, as well as the maintenance of systematic monitoring for early detection of parasite populations resistant to ART, mainly in regions with an intense flow of individuals from mining areas, such as the YIL. This is especially true when the achievement of falciparum malaria elimination in Brazil is planned and expected by 2030.
Topics: Artemisinins; Brazil; Plasmodium falciparum; Humans; Antimalarials; Drug Resistance; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Mining; Adult; Female; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Genotype
PubMed: 38928926
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060679 -
Genes May 2024Malaria results in more than 550,000 deaths each year due to drug resistance in the most lethal () species . A full genome was published in 2002, yet 44.6% of its...
BACKGROUND
Malaria results in more than 550,000 deaths each year due to drug resistance in the most lethal () species . A full genome was published in 2002, yet 44.6% of its genes have unknown functions. Improving the functional annotation of genes is important for identifying drug targets and understanding the evolution of drug resistance.
RESULTS
Genes function by interacting with one another. So, analyzing gene co-expression networks can enhance functional annotations and prioritize genes for wet lab validation. Earlier efforts to build gene co-expression networks in have been limited to a single network inference method or gaining biological understanding for only a single gene and its interacting partners. Here, we explore multiple inference methods and aim to systematically predict functional annotations for all genes. We evaluate each inferred network based on how well it predicts existing gene-Gene Ontology (GO) term annotations using network clustering and leave-one-out crossvalidation. We assess overlaps of the different networks' edges (gene co-expression relationships), as well as predicted functional knowledge. The networks' edges are overall complementary: 47-85% of all edges are unique to each network. In terms of the accuracy of predicting gene functional annotations, all networks yielded relatively high precision (as high as 87% for the network inferred using mutual information), but the highest recall reached was below 15%. All networks having low recall means that none of them capture a large amount of all existing gene-GO term annotations. In fact, their annotation predictions are highly complementary, with the largest pairwise overlap of only 27%. We provide ranked lists of inferred gene-gene interactions and predicted gene-GO term annotations for future use and wet lab validation by the malaria community.
CONCLUSIONS
The different networks seem to capture different aspects of the biology in terms of both inferred interactions and predicted gene functional annotations. Thus, relying on a single network inference method should be avoided when possible.
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Attached.
Topics: Plasmodium falciparum; Gene Regulatory Networks; Malaria, Falciparum; Humans; Gene Ontology; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Protozoan Proteins
PubMed: 38927622
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060685 -
Biomolecules Jun 2024Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contain at least one oxygen atom and one or more unpaired electrons and include singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical,... (Review)
Review
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contain at least one oxygen atom and one or more unpaired electrons and include singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl radical, and free nitrogen radicals. Intracellular ROS can be formed as a consequence of several factors, including ultra-violet (UV) radiation, electron leakage during aerobic respiration, inflammatory responses mediated by macrophages, and other external stimuli or stress. The enhanced production of ROS is termed oxidative stress and this leads to cellular damage, such as protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, and base modifications. This damage may manifest in various pathological states, including ageing, cancer, neurological diseases, and metabolic disorders like diabetes. On the other hand, the optimum levels of ROS have been implicated in the regulation of many important physiological processes. For example, the ROS generated in the mitochondria (mitochondrial ROS or mt-ROS), as a byproduct of the electron transport chain (ETC), participate in a plethora of physiological functions, which include ageing, cell growth, cell proliferation, and immune response and regulation. In this current review, we will focus on the mechanisms by which mt-ROS regulate different pathways of host immune responses in the context of infection by bacteria, protozoan parasites, viruses, and fungi. We will also discuss how these pathogens, in turn, modulate mt-ROS to evade host immunity. We will conclude by briefly giving an overview of the potential therapeutic approaches involving mt-ROS in infectious diseases.
Topics: Reactive Oxygen Species; Humans; Mitochondria; Animals; Oxidative Stress; Infections; Immunity
PubMed: 38927073
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060670 -
Malaria Journal Jun 2024Although Tanzania adopted and has been implementing effective interventions to control and eventually eliminate malaria, the disease is still a leading public health...
High prevalence and risk of malaria among asymptomatic individuals from villages with high prevalence of artemisinin partial resistance in Kyerwa district of Kagera region, north-western Tanzania.
BACKGROUND
Although Tanzania adopted and has been implementing effective interventions to control and eventually eliminate malaria, the disease is still a leading public health problem, and the country experiences heterogeneous transmission. Recent studies reported the emergence of parasites with artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R) in Kagera region with high prevalence (> 10.0%) in two districts of Karagwe and Kyerwa. This study assessed the prevalence and predictors/risk of malaria infections among asymptomatic individuals living in a hyperendemic area where ART-R has emerged in Kyerwa District of Kagera region, north-western Tanzania.
METHODS
This was a community-based cross-sectional survey which was conducted in July and August 2023 and involved individuals aged ≥ 6 months from five villages in Kyerwa district. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, parasitological, type of house inhabited and socio-economic status (SES) data were collected using electronic capture tools run on Open Data Kit (ODK) software. Predictors/risks of malaria infections were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and the results were presented as crude (cORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
Overall, 4454 individuals were tested using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and 1979 (44.4%) had positive results. The prevalence of malaria infections ranged from 14.4% to 68.5% and varied significantly among the villages (p < 0.001). The prevalence and odds of infections were significantly higher in males (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.08 -1.51, p = 0.003), school children (aged 5-≤10 years (aOR = 3.88, 95% CI 3.07-4.91, p < 0.001) and 10-≤15 years (aOR = 4.06, 95% CI 3.22-5.13, p < 0.001)) and among individuals who were not using bed nets (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.46, p = 0.024). The odds of malaria infections were also higher in individuals with lower SES (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.17-1.72, p < 0.001), and living in houses without windows (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.46-2.96, p < 0.001), partially open (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.11-1.58, p = 0.002) or fully open windows (aOR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.05-1.61, p = 0.015).
CONCLUSION
The five villages had a high prevalence of malaria infections and heterogeneity at micro-geographic levels. Groups with higher odds of malaria infections included school children, males, and individuals with low SES, living in poorly constructed houses or non-bed net users. These are important baseline data from an area with high prevalence of parasites with ART-R and will be useful in planning interventions for these groups, and in future studies to monitor the trends and potential spread of such parasites, and in designing a response to ART-R.
Topics: Tanzania; Male; Prevalence; Female; Humans; Artemisinins; Cross-Sectional Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Adult; Young Adult; Antimalarials; Middle Aged; Infant; Drug Resistance; Malaria; Aged; Malaria, Falciparum; Risk Factors; Plasmodium falciparum
PubMed: 38926854
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-05019-5 -
Malaria Journal Jun 2024Malaria, a severe health threat, significantly affects total antioxidant status (TAS) levels, leading to considerable oxidative stress. This systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Malaria, a severe health threat, significantly affects total antioxidant status (TAS) levels, leading to considerable oxidative stress. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to delineate differences in TAS levels between malaria patients and healthy controls, and assess correlations between disease severity and parasite density.
METHODS
The systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under registration number CRD42023448761. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases such as Embase, MEDLINE, Journals@Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar to identify studies reporting data on TAS levels in malaria patients. Data from the included studies were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Differences in TAS levels between malaria patients and controls were pooled using a random effects model, with Hedges' g as the effect size measure.
RESULTS
Of 1796 identified records, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. The qualitative synthesis of these studies revealed a marked decrease in TAS levels in patients with malaria compared to non-malaria cases. The meta-analysis results showed a significant decrease in TAS levels in patients with malaria compared to non-malaria cases (P < 0.01, Hedges' g: - 2.75, 95% CI - 3.72 to -1.78, I: 98.16%, 13 studies), suggesting elevated oxidative stress in these patients. Subgroup analyses revealed that TAS level variations were significantly influenced by geographical region, age group, Plasmodium species, and method for measuring TAS. Notably, TAS levels were significantly lower in severe malaria cases and those with high parasite density, indicating a potential relationship between oxidative stress and disease severity.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the potential utility of TAS as a biomarker for disease risk and severity in malaria. The significant decrease in TAS levels in malaria patients compared to controls implies increased oxidative stress. Further well-designed, large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings and elucidate the intricate mechanisms linking TAS and malaria.
Topics: Malaria; Antioxidants; Humans; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 38926807
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-05003-z -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2024Trichomonosis is a common infection in small animals, mostly manifesting in gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. Although oral trichomonads are also known, the...
BACKGROUND
Trichomonosis is a common infection in small animals, mostly manifesting in gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. Although oral trichomonads are also known, the species found colonizing the large intestine are more frequently detected protozoa.
METHODS
In the present study, four wildcats, 94 domestic cats, and 25 dogs, originating from 18 different locations in Hungary, were investigated for the presence of oral and large intestinal trichomonads based on the 18S rRNA gene and ITS2.
RESULTS
All oral swabs were negative by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, Tritrichomonas foetus was detected in a high proportion among tested domestic cats (13.8%) and dogs (16%), and Pentatrichomonas hominis only in two domestic cats. In addition, a novel Tritrichomonas genotype was identified in one cat, probably representing a new species that was shown to be phylogenetically most closely related to Tritrichomonas casperi described recently from mice. All positive dogs and half of the positive cats showed symptoms, and among cats, the most frequent breed was the Ragdoll.
CONCLUSIONS
With molecular methods, this study evaluated the prevalence of oral and intestinal trichomonads in clinical samples of dogs and cats from Hungary, providing the first evidence of T. foetus in dogs of this region. In contrast to literature data, P. hominis was more prevalent in cats than in dogs. Finally, a hitherto unknown large intestinal Tritrichomonas species (closely related to T. casperi) was shown to be present in a cat, raising two possibilities. First, this novel genotype might have been a rodent-associated pseudoparasite in the relevant cat. Otherwise, the cat was actually infected, thus suggesting the role of a predator-prey link in the evolution of this trichomonad.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Dogs; Cat Diseases; Dog Diseases; Phylogeny; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Hungary; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Tritrichomonas; DNA, Protozoan; Female; Male; Genotype; Prevalence; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tritrichomonas foetus
PubMed: 38926778
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06343-0 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Malaria; Global Health
PubMed: 38925798
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q1408