Publications by authors named "Laudine M C Petralia"
Article Synopsis
- - The study focuses on zwitterions phosphorylcholine (PC) and phosphoethanolamine (PE), which are commonly attached to sugars in biological structures like polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, playing a role in how certain parasites evade host immunity by modifying N-glycans and glycosphingolipids.
- - Researchers used functional metagenomic screening to find a novel bacterial enzyme, GlcNAc-PDase, that specifically removes PC from the sugar N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc-6-PC), showing strong substrate preference and limited activity on other modified sugars.
- - GlcNAc-PDase is classified in a new subfamily of the
Article Synopsis
- * Current serological tests are not fully effective due to cross-reactive antibodies and lingering antibodies from past infections, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic methods.
- * Recent research has identified specific glycan antigens from the nematodes that stimulate distinct IgG responses, showing potential for more accurate diagnostics by analyzing IgG responses in infected individuals.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the role of serum N-glycans as potential biomarkers for infections in rhesus macaques, specifically during infection with the parasitic worm Brugia malayi, which causes lymphatic filariasis in humans.
- Researchers utilized advanced techniques (MALDI-TOF-MS and HILIC-UPLC) to analyze changes in N-glycan profiles over time, starting from infection onset, with notable changes observed as soon as 5 weeks post-infection.
- The findings highlight that specific alterations in N-glycan structures may distinctively correlate with lymphatic filariasis, as compared to changes seen with other infections, like those caused by dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis.
Article Synopsis
- Millions are infected with filarial nematodes, causing diseases like lymphatic filariasis (LF), and while elimination efforts have decreased infections, better diagnostic tools are needed to monitor populations.
- Researchers explored the glycan structure of the filarial nematode Brugia malayi, identifying key glycan types through specialized techniques and demonstrating their potential as antigens for diagnostics.
- The study found that anti-glycan antibodies from hosts, particularly in infected humans and rhesus macaques, responded to B. malayi glycans, indicating these glycan markers could help in diagnosing and monitoring LF.
Filariases are diseases caused by infection with filarial nematodes and transmitted by insect vectors. The filarial roundworm Dirofilaria immitis causes heartworm disease in dogs and other carnivores. D.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF