The Plasmodium falciparum schizont phosphoproteome reveals extensive phosphatidylinositol and cAMP-protein kinase A signaling.

The asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum cause the most lethal form of human malaria. During growth within an infected red blood cell, parasite multiplication and formation of invasive merozoites is called schizogony. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the phosphoproteome of P.

Exploring the Plasmodium falciparum cyclic-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PfPKA) as a therapeutic target.

One of the prototype mammalian kinases is PKA and various roles have been defined for PKA in malaria pathogenesis. The recently described phospho-proteomes of Plasmodium falciparum introduced a great volume of phospho-peptide data for both basic research and identification of new anti-malaria therapeutic targets. We discuss the importance of phosphorylations detected in vivo at different sites in the parasite R and C subunits of PKA and highlight the inhibitor sites in the parasite R subunit.

Construction of a Plasmodium falciparum Rab-interactome identifies CK1 and PKA as Rab-effector kinases in malaria parasites.

Background Information: The pathology causing stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum reside within red blood cells that are devoid of any regulated transport system. The parasite, therefore, is entirely responsible for mediating vesicular transport within itself and in the infected erythrocyte cytoplasm, and it does so in part via its family of 11 Rab GTPases. Putative functions have been ascribed to Plasmodium Rabs due to their homology with Rabs of yeast, particularly with Saccharomyces that has an equivalent number of rab/ypt genes and where analyses of Ypt function is well characterized.

Management of a Cryptosporidium hominis outbreak in a day-care center.

Background: Cryptosporidium outbreaks in day-care centers (DCCs) occur commonly. However, controlling spread of infection in these settings is difficult, and data about effectiveness of different control strategies are sparse. In this study, a Cryptosporidium outbreak in a large DCC located in Brussels is described with evaluation of hygienic and therapeutic interventions.

Disseminated infection with a new genovar of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a renal transplant recipient.

Disseminated microsporidiosis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection. Here, we report about a previously undescribed genovar of Encephalitozoon cuniculi causing disseminated infection in a non-HIV-infected renal transplant recipient. Disseminated microsporidiosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic fever in renal allograft recipients, even those without urinary symptoms.

[Trichinellosis].

Trichinellosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by several species of the viviparous nematode of the genus Trichinella. Trichinellosis is a food borne zoonosis and can be contracted by eating raw or rare meat. This disease can be prevented by domestic and public health measures.

Fetal anal incontinence evaluated by amniotic fluid digestive enzyme assay in myelomeningocele spina bifida.

The goals of this study were to determine whether anal sphincter dysfunction in spina bifida develops during fetal life or after birth and whether it reflects the severity of spina bifida and therefore can be used as a criterion to select the cases that could benefit from in uterosurgery. Total protein and digestive enzyme activities [gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), aminopeptidase M (AMP), and alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes including the intestinal form (iALP)] were assayed retrospectively in amniotic fluid from 80 myelomeningocele spina bifida cases without unrelated associated malformation (gestational age 14-33 wk). A normal enzyme activity profile was observed in 46 of the 80 cases.