Prevalence and attributable health burdens of vector-borne parasitic infectious diseases of poverty, 1990-2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Vector-borne parasitic infectious diseases associated with poverty (referred to as vb-pIDP), such as malaria, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and onchocerciasis, are highly prevalent in many regions around the world. This study aims to characterize the recent burdens of and changes in these vb-pIDP globally and provide a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of geographical and temporal trends.

Methods: Data on the prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of the vb-pIDP were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 for 21 geographical regions and 204 countries worldwide, from 1990-2021.

Revisiting the antigen markers of vector-borne parasitic diseases identified by immunomics: identification and application to disease control.

Introduction: Protein microarray is a promising immunomic approach for identifying biomarkers. Based on our previous study that reviewed parasite antigens and recent parasitic omics research, this article expands to include information on vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs), namely, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis.

Areas Covered: We revisit and systematically summarize antigen markers of vector-borne parasites identified by the immunomic approach and discuss the latest advances in identifying antigens for the rational development of diagnostics and vaccines.

A versatile microfluidic platform for malaria infection screening and Plasmodium species genotyping.

Background: Malaria, a widespread parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium species, remains a significant global health concern. Rapid and accurate detection, as well as species genotyping, are critical for effective malaria control.

Methods: We have developed a Flexible, Robust, Equipment-free Microfluidic (FREM) platform, which integrates recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based detection, enabling simultaneous malaria infection screening and Plasmodium species genotyping.

Polymorphism of Drug Resistance Genes and in Isolates among Chinese Migrant Workers Who Returned from Ghana in 2013.

In 2013, an epidemic of falciparum malaria involving over 820 persons unexpectedly broke out in Shanglin County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, after a large number of migrant workers returned from Ghana, where they worked as gold miners. Herein, we selected 146 isolates randomly collected from these patients to investigate the resistance characteristics of the parasite to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) by screening mutations in the and genes. All 146 isolates were successfully genotyped for , and only 137 samples were successfully genotyped for .

Diagnostic Efficacy of Plasma-Based Real-Time PCR for Schistosomiasis Japonica in Mice before and after Treatment with Praziquantel.

The prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica in China is now characterized by a low epidemic rate and low-intensity infections. Some diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and specificity are urgently needed to better monitor this disease in the current situation. In this study, the detection efficacy of a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was assessed for schistosomiasis japonica in mice, and before and after treatment with praziquantel (PZQ).

[Application and development of systems biology in computer-aided drug design].

With the advances in medicine, people have deeply understood the complex pathogenesis of diseases. Revealing the mechanism of action and therapeutic effect of drugs from an overall perspective has become the top priority of drug design. However, the traditional drug design methods cannot meet the current needs.

Reemergence of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Henan Province, China.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was widely prevalent in Henan Province in the 1950s. Through active efforts by the government, there were no local cases reported from 1984 to 2015. In 2016, local VL cases reoccurred, and there was an increasing trend of VL cases in Henan Province.

Two Molecular Plasma-Based Diagnostic Methods to Evaluate Early Infection of and Schistosomiasis Japonica.

The prevalence and infectious intensity of schistosomiasis japonica has decreased significantly in China in the past few decades. However, more accurate and sensitive diagnostic methods are urgently required for the further control, surveillance, and final elimination of the disease. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic efficacy of a real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) method and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with a lateral-flow dipstick (LFD) assay for detecting early infections of and different infection intensities.

Genetic diversity and natural selection of rif gene (PF3D7_1254800) in the Plasmodium falciparum global populations.

To reveal the genetic characteristics of one member of the Plasmodium falciparum repetitive interspersed family (rif), we sequenced the rif gene (PF3D7_1254800) in 53 field isolates collected from Ghana-imported cases into China and compared them with 350 publicly available P. falciparum rif sequences from global populations. In the Ghana-imported population, the nucleotide diversities were 0.

The association of intensity and duration of non-pharmacological interventions and implementation of vaccination with COVID-19 infection, death, and excess mortality: Natural experiment in 22 European countries.

Background: Critical questions remain regarding the need for intensity to continue NPIs as the public was vaccinated. We evaluated the association of intensity and duration of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and vaccines with COVID-19 infection, death, and excess mortality in Europe.

Methods: Data comes from Our Word in Data.

A Molecular Investigation of Malaria Infections From High-Transmission Areas of Southern Togo Reveals Different Species of Parasites.

Malaria particularly burdens people in poor and neglected settings across the tropics of Africa. Meanwhile, a large proportion of the Togo population have poor understanding of malaria epidemiology and parasites. This study carried out a molecular survey of malaria cases in southern Togo during 2017-2019.

Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection of Duffy Binding Protein-II From China-Myanmar Border of Yunnan Province, China.

Malaria incidence has declined dramatically over the past decade and China was certified malaria-free in 2021. However, the presence of malaria in border areas and the importation of cases of malaria parasites are major challenges for the consolidation of the achievements made by China. Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) performs a significant role in erythrocyte invasion, and is considered a promising vaccine.

Crystal Structure of Inorganic Pyrophosphatase From Reveals the Mechanism of Chemicals and Substrate Inhibition.

Soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases (PPases) are essential for facilitating the growth and development of organisms, making them attractive functional proteins. To provide insight into the molecular basis of PPases in (PPase), we expressed the recombinant PPase, analyzed the hydrolysis mechanism of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), and measured its activity. Moreover, we solved the crystal structure of PPase in complex with orthophosphate (Pi) and performed PPi and methylene diphosphonic acid (MDP) docking into the active site.

From 30 million to zero malaria cases in China: lessons learned for China-Africa collaboration in malaria elimination.

Malaria was once one of the most serious public health problems in China, with more than 30 million malaria cases annually before 1949. However, the disease burden has sharply declined and the epidemic areas has shrunken after the implementation of an integrated malaria control and elimination strategy, especially since 2000. Till now, China has successfully scaled up its efforts to become malaria-free and is currently being evaluated for malaria-free certification by the WHO.

Genome-Wide Scans for Ghanaian Genes Under Selection From Local and Chinese Host Populations.

Initial malarial infection mostly causes symptomatic illness in humans. Infection that is not fatal induces complete protection from severe illness and death, and thus complete protection from severe illness or death is granted with sufficient exposure. However, malaria parasite immunity necessitates constant exposure.

Identification of a Novel RAMA/RON3 Rhoptry Protein Complex in Merozoites.

Malaria causes a half a million deaths annually. The parasite intraerythrocytic lifecycle in the human bloodstream is the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Apical organelles of merozoite stage parasites are involved in the invasion of erythrocytes.

Epidemiology of Blastocystis infection from 1990 to 2019 in China.

Background: Blastocystis is ubiquitous presence in animals and humans worldwide and has a high level genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to conduct a summary of Blastocystis prevalence, subtypes (STs) in humans and animals in China and depict their distribution.

Methods: We searched for the articles related to epidemiology of Blastocystis in humans and animals throughout China which published from January 1, 1990, to July 31, 2019 in the following databases: PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database.