Inhibition of alternative oxidase disrupts the development and oviposition of Biomphalaria glabrata snails.

Background: Biomphalaria glabrata is one of the main intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the most widespread species of Schistosoma. Our previous studies proved that alternative oxidase (AOX), the terminal oxidase in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, widely exists in several species of intermediate host snails of Schistosoma. Meanwhile, inhibition of AOX activity in Oncomelania hupensis snails could dramatically enhance the molluscicidal effect of niclosamide.

The identification of alternative oxidase in intermediate host snails of Schistosoma and its potential role in protecting Oncomelania hupensis against niclosamide-induced stress.

Background: Snail intermediate hosts are mandatory for the transmission of schistosomiasis, which has to date infected more than 200 million people worldwide. Our previous studies showed that niclosamide treatment caused the inhibition of aerobic respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, and the disruption of energy supply, in one of the intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis, Oncomelania hupensis, which eventually led to the death of the snails. Meanwhile, the terminal oxidase in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, alternative oxidase (AOX), was significantly up-regulated, which was thought to counterbalance the oxidative stress and maintain metabolic homeostasis in the snails.

Morphology and activities of cell populations of haemocytes in Oncomelania hupensis following Schistosoma japonicum infection.

Oncomelania hupensis is the only obligatory intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, the pathogen of zoonosis schistosomiasis. Haemocytes play a critical role in the cellular immune defence of O. hupensis against S.

[The Role of Virtual Reality Technology in Medical Education in the Context of Emerging Medical Discipline].

According to Healthy China, a national strategy of the Government of China, new requirements were put forward for high-quality medical education, high-level surgical research, and precise clinical diagnosis and treatment. In the context of Emerging Medical Discipline, a strategic blueprint of medical education in China, this paper reviews the concept and core value of virtual reality (VR) and its significant role in the medical industry. On that basis, we explore the role of VR technology in medical training against the background of Emerging Medicine Discipline.

Mechanism by which the combination of SjCL3 and SjGAPDH protects against Schistosoma japonicum infection.

A vaccine is an important method to control schistosomiasis. Molecules related to lung-stage schistosomulum are considered potential vaccine candidates. We previously showed that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and cathepsin L3 (CL3) displayed differential expression in the lung-stage schistosomula of Schistosoma japonicum cocultured with host cells.

The genetic variation of different developmental stages of Schistosoma japonicum: do the distribution in snails and pairing preference benefit the transmission?

Background: Schistosoma japonicum is a waterborne parasite that causes schistosomiasis in humans and in more than 40 animal species. Schistosoma japonicum shows distinct genetic differentiation among geographical populations and multiple hosts, but the genetic diversity of different developmental stages of S. japonicum from is less studied.

Metabolic profiles of Oncomelania hupensis after molluscicidal treatment: Carbohydrate metabolism targeted and energy deficiency.

Oncomelania hupensis is the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, one of the Schistosoma species that can cause human schistosomiasis. Molluscicidal treatment remains the primary means to control snail. Niclosamide is the only molluscicide recommended by the World Health Organization, and it has been used throughout schistosomiasis-endemic areas in China for almost 30 years.

Characteristics and function of cathepsin L3 from Schistosoma japonicum.

Schistosomiasis is still prevalent and seriously endangering the health of people and livestock in many countries. There have been great efforts to develop vaccines against schistosomiasis for prolonged protection in epidemic areas. Molecules from lung-stage schistosomula have been regarded as potential vaccine candidates against schistosomiasis.

[Enzymology of snails under treatment of molluscicides].

Studies on the enzymology of snails are important in the study of molluscicidal mechanism. The alteration of activities of enzymes after molluscicidal treatment was reported in large numbers of papers. This paper reviews the progress of studies on the enzymology of snails under the treatment of molluscicides.

[Survey of knowledge and practice of residents about schistosomiasis prevention and control in endemic areas of Jingzhou City].

Objective: To investigate the knowledge and practice of residents about schistosomiasis prevention and control in endemic areas of Jingzhou City, Hubei Province after the disease transmission being controlled, so as to provide the valuable information for formulating an efficient health education and intervention strategy.

Methods: The residents were selected by using the cluster sampling method and investigated with questionnaires in Jiangling County and Gong'an County, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, and the data were analyzed by using the descriptive analysis method, Chi-square tests and logistic regression.

Results: In a total, 826 available questionnaires were obtained with 100% of valid rate.

[Progress of molecular detection of ].

Schistosomiasis diagnosis plays an important role in the schistosomiasis control. The early detection of schistosomiasis can help to find the infectious source and prevent advanced schistosomiasis effectively. Up to now, serodiagnosis and parasitological diagnosis are used commonly to detect the infection of .

[Identification of a myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in against infection].

Objective: To identify a myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in , and characterize the role of MyD88 against infection.

Methods: The complete cDNA of MyD88 in was obtained by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), and homologues sequences and conserved domains were aligned and the structure of MyD88 was predicted either. A phylogenetic tree of MyD88 was further constructed with other species.

Identification of Toll-like receptor family members in Oncomelania hupensis and their role in defense against Schistosoma japonicum.

The amphibious snail, Oncomelania hupensis, primarily distributed in the Far East, is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, which causes the most virulent form of schistosomiasis. Obligatory parasitism of snails is the main vehicle for human and livestock infection and depends primarily on parasite infectivity, snail defense capacity and specificity, and parasite-snail compatibility. Therefore, the schistosome-snail interaction is biomedically significant, particularly the molecular mechanisms involved in the innate immune response against S.

Influence of Schistosoma japonicum programmed cell death protein 10 on the growth and development of schistosomula.

Background: Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum is among the most serious endemic zoonoses in China. To study interactions between schistosomula, the pre-adult juvenile stage, and hosts, it is important to study the functions of key genes involved in schistosomula growth and development. Programmed cell death protein 10 (pcdp10) is an important apoptosis-related gene with various biological functions.

Morphological and enzymatical observations in Oncomelania hupensis after molluscicide treatment: implication for future molluscicide development.

A preparation of niclosamide named 50 % wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPN), the only chemical molluscicide available in China, has been widely used for Oncomelania hupensis control over the past 20 years, but its molluscicidal mechanism has not been elucidated yet. Recently, a derivative of niclosamide, the salt of quinoid-2',5-dichloro-4'-nitro-salicylanilide (Liu Dai Shui Yang An, LDS), has been proven to have equivalent molluscicidal effects as WPN but with lower cost and significantly lower toxicity to fish than WPN. In our previous study, gene expression profiling of O.

[Progress of pattern recognition receptors of molluscs].

Molluscs have established complete innate immunity to defense against pathogens. The pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are the sensory receptors of molluscs to resist outside invaders, as the first reactor to initiate the innate immune response. Some PRRs have been identified in several molluscs, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs) , C-type lectins, galectins, lipopolysaccharide-β-1,3-glucan binding protein (LGBP), Clq domain-containing protein (ClqDC), and peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP).

De Novo transcriptome analysis of Oncomelania hupensis after molluscicide treatment by next-generation sequencing: implications for biology and future snail interventions.

The freshwater snail Oncomelania hupensis is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, which causes schistosomiasis. This disease is endemic in the Far East, especially in mainland China. Because niclosamide is the only molluscicide recommended by the World Health Organization, 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPN), the only chemical molluscicide available in China, has been widely used as the main snail control method for over two decades.

[Views for research development of control of parasitic diseases].

With the social and technological development, new understandings have been emerged for the research development of the control of parasitic diseases. The present review argues that: the traditional point of view for the control of parasitic diseases, eliminating parasites/media, should be updated. For the long-term interests of science and human perspective, biological diversity, including the parasite biodiversity, and ecological environment should be paid much more attention during the control of parasitic diseases.

Cloning and characterization of a bone morphogenetic protein homologue of Schistosoma japonicum.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are known to play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and apoptosis in many vertebrates and invertebrates through the TGF-β signaling pathway. Although the TGF-β signaling pathway exists in schistosomes, BMP homologue, a ligand of TGF-β in Schistosoma japonicum, has not yet been identified. In this study, a BMP homologue of S.

Studies on the establishment of a co-culture system of lung stage Schistosoma japonicum with host cells.

Due to their role in eliciting protective Th1 cell-mediated immune responses in definitive hosts lung stage schistosomula are in the focus of intensive research. In vitro culture approaches in the past exhibited significant differences in gene expression profiles between lung stage schistosomula isolated from hosts and those cultured conventionally. Therefore, new approaches to culture schistosomula are of broad interest.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in Oncomelania hupensis chronically infected with Schistosoma japonicum.

Oncomelania hupensis is the unique intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. The schistosome-snail interaction is biomedically important. To identify differentially expressed transcripts in O.

Efficacy of praziquantel and artemisinin derivatives for the treatment and prevention of human schistosomiasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Praziquantel has been used as first-line drug for chemotherapy of schistosomiasis since 1984. Besides praziquantel, artemether and artesunate have also been used for the control of this infectious disease since late 1990s. In this article, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the antischistosomal efficacy of different medication strategies including monotherapy or combination therapies of these drugs.

Effects of protein extract from head-foot tissue of Oncomelania hupensis on the growth and gene expression of mother sporocysts of Schistosoma japonicum.

Oncomelania hupensis is the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. In the present study, we investigated the effects of protein extracts from head-foot or gland tissue of O. hupensis on mother sporocysts of S.

Conservation and variation in mitochondrial genomes of gastropods Oncomelania hupensis and Tricula hortensis, intermediate host snails of Schistosoma in China.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of intermediate host snails for Schistosoma in China were sequenced, including the sub-species Oncomelania hupensis hupensis in two types, and O. hupensis robertsoni, intermediate hosts for S. japonicum, and Tricula hortensis, the intermediate host of S.