An algorithm for annotation and classification of T. cruzi MASP sequences: towards a better understanding of the parasite genetic variability.

Background: Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan causing Chagas disease, is responsible for a neglected tropical disease affecting millions in Latin America. Its genome contains rapidly evolving multigene families, such as mucins (TcMUC), trans-sialidases (TS), and mucin-associated surface proteins (MASP), which are essential for parasite transmission and disease mechanisms. However, methodological challenges in genome assembly and annotation have limited the characterization of these gene families, particularly MASPs.

Modulation of host cell membrane biophysics dynamics by Neospora caninum: A study using LAURDAN fluorescence with hyperspectral imaging and phasor analysis.

Neospora caninum is known to manipulate host cell organelles and recruit lipids for its survival. However, the impact of this lipid redistribution on host cell membranes remains poorly understood. This study used LAURDAN fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging, and phasor plot analysis to investigate how N.

evolution from monoresistance to pre-extensive drug resistance during a prolonged household outbreak.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is sensitive tool for the analysis of tuberculosis transmission and drug-resistance. We used WGS to analyze the evolution from isoniazid monoresistance to MDR/preXDR during a prolonged household outbreak. The outbreak started with a isoniazid resistant strain (katG S315T mutation) and evolve in two cases to pre-XDR phenotype (with mutations in katG, rpoB, embB, pncA and gyrA genes).

From Trypomastigotes to Trypomastigotes: Analyzing the One-Way Intracellular Journey of by Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy.

The protozoan parasite is the causative agent of Chagas disease, also called American trypanosomiasis. This neglected tropical disease affects millions of individuals across the Americas. To complete its life cycle, parasitizes both vertebrate hosts and its vector, commonly known as the 'kissing bug'.

New insights into the pro-oxidant mechanism of dehydroleucodine on Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is one of the most important neglected diseases in Latin America. The limited use of the current nitro-derivative-based chemotherapy highlights the need for alternative drugs and the identification of their molecular targets.

Insights into the Cell Division of .

is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite responsible for causing neosporosis in a range of animal species. It results in substantial economic losses in the livestock industry and poses significant health risks to companion and wild animals. Central to its survival and pathogenicity is the process of cell division, which remains poorly understood in this parasite.

Paracrine Signaling Mediated by the Cytosolic Tryparedoxin Peroxidase of .

Peroxiredoxins are abundant and ubiquitous proteins that participate in different cellular functions, such as oxidant detoxification, protein folding, and intracellular signaling. Under different cellular conditions, peroxiredoxins can be secreted by different parasites, promoting the induction of immune responses in hosts. In this work, we demonstrated that the cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase of (cTXNPx) is secreted by epimastigotes and trypomastigotes associated with extracellular vesicles and also as a vesicle-free protein.

Overoxidation and Oligomerization of Cytosolic and Mitochondrial Peroxiredoxins.

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) have been shown to be important enzymes for trypanosomatids, counteracting oxidative stress and promoting cell infection and intracellular survival. In this work, we investigate the in vitro sensitivity to overoxidation and the overoxidation dynamics of Prxs in parasites in culture and in the infection context. We showed that recombinant m-TXNPx, in contrast to what was observed for c-TXNPx, exists as low molecular mass forms in the overoxidized state.

Genome-wide chromatin interaction map for Trypanosoma cruzi.

Trypanosomes are eukaryotic, unicellular parasites, such as Trypanosoma brucei, which causes sleeping sickness, and Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. Genomes of these parasites comprise core regions and species-specific disruptive regions that encode multigene families of surface glycoproteins. Few transcriptional regulators have been identified in these parasites, and the role of spatial organization of the genome in gene expression is unclear.

Deep serological profiling of the Trypanosoma cruzi TSSA antigen reveals different epitopes and modes of recognition by Chagas disease patients.

Background: Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, displays a highly structured population, with multiple strains that can be grouped into 6-7 evolutionary lineages showing variable eco-epidemiological traits and likely also distinct disease-associated features. Previous works have shown that antibody responses to 'isoforms' of the polymorphic parasite antigen TSSA enable robust and sensitive identification of the infecting strain with near lineage-level resolution. To optimize the serotyping performance of this molecule, we herein used a combination of immunosignaturing approaches based on peptide microarrays and serum samples from Chagas disease patients to establish a deep linear B-cell epitope profiling of TSSA.

Comparative microRNA profiling of infected human cells.

Introduction: , the causative agent of Chagas disease, can infect almost any nucleated cell in the mammalian host. Although previous studies have described the transcriptomic changes that occur in host cells during parasite infection, the understanding of the role of post-transcriptional regulation in this process is limited. MicroRNAs, a class of short non-coding RNAs, are key players in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, and their involvement in the host- interplay is a growing area of research.

Biochemical characterization of GAF domain of free-R-methionine sulfoxide reductase from Trypanosoma cruzi.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causal agent of Chagas Disease and is a unicellular parasite that infects a wide variety of mammalian hosts. The parasite exhibits auxotrophy by L-Met; consequently, it must be acquired from the extracellular environment of the host, either mammalian or invertebrate. Methionine (Met) oxidation produces a racemic mixture (R and S forms) of methionine sulfoxide (MetSO).

Trypanosoma cruzi Isolates Naturally Adapted to Congenital Transmission Display a Unique Strategy of Transplacental Passage.

Chagas disease is mainly transmitted by vertical transmission (VT) in nonendemic areas and in endemic areas where vector control programs have been successful. For the present study, we isolated natural Trypanosoma cruzi strains vertically transmitted through three generations and proceeded to study their molecular mechanism of VT using mice. No parasitemia was detected in immunocompetent mice, but the parasites were able to induce an immune response and colonize different organs.

Redox sensitive human mitochondrial aconitase and its interaction with frataxin: In vitro and in silico studies confirm that it takes two to tango.

Mitochondrial aconitase (ACO2) has been postulated as a redox sensor in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Its high sensitivity towards reactive oxygen and nitrogen species is due to its particularly labile [4Fe-4S] prosthetic group which yields an inactive [3Fe-4S] cluster upon oxidation. Moreover, ACO2 was found as a main oxidant target during aging and in pathologies where mitochondrial dysfunction is implied.

New Insights into the Role of the Aldo-Keto Reductase AKR.

Chagas disease is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasite . It is distributed worldwide, affecting around 7 million people; there is no effective treatment, and it constitutes a leading cause of disability and premature death in the Americas. Only two drugs are currently approved for the treatment, Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, and both have to be activated by reducing the nitro-group.

-Derived Molecules Induce Anti-Tumour Protection by Favouring Both Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Thus, the development of strategies against this type of cancer is of high value. Parasite infections can correlate with lower cancer incidence in humans and their use as vaccines has been recently explored in preclinical models.

A holstein heifer infected with NcUru3 congenitally transmits this strain to a viable offspring although infection does not protect her from aborting by a different genotype in the subsequent gestation.

is a leading cause of bovine abortion worldwide. Although the genetic diversity of this apicomplexan parasite has long been recognized, there is little information on whether infection with different genotypes results in different clinical outcomes or whether infection by a given genotype impairs protective immunity against abortion induced by different genotypes. Here, we provide evidence supporting that natural subclinical infection with isolate NcUru3 of in a pregnant heifer did not provide protection against abortion caused by a different genotype in the subsequent gestation.

Genomic and proteomic analysis of Tausonia pullulans reveals a key role for a GH15 glucoamylase in starch hydrolysis.

Basidiomycetous yeasts remain an almost unexplored source of enzymes with great potential in several industries. Tausonia pullulans (Tremellomycetes) is a psychrotolerant yeast with several extracellular enzymatic activities reported, although the responsible genes are not known. We performed the genomic sequencing, assembly and annotation of T.

Indigenous Ancestry and Admixture in the Uruguayan Population.

The Amerindian group known as the Charrúas inhabited Uruguay at the timing of European colonial contact. Even though they were extinguished as an ethnic group as a result of a genocide, Charrúan heritage is part of the Uruguayan identity both culturally and genetically. While mitochondrial DNA studies have shown evidence of Amerindian ancestry in living Uruguayans, here we undertake whole-genome sequencing of 10 Uruguayan individuals with self-declared Charruan heritage.

GH Overexpression Alters Spermatic Cells MicroRNAome Profile in Transgenic Zebrafish.

Overexpression of growth hormone (GH) in -transgenic zebrafish of a highly studied lineage F0104 has earlier been reported to cause increased muscle growth. In addition to this, GH affects a broad range of cellular processes in transgenic fish, such as morphology, physiology, and behavior. Reports show changes such as decreased sperm quality and reduced reproductive performance in transgenic males.

Maxicircle architecture and evolutionary insights into Trypanosoma cruzi complex.

We sequenced maxicircles from T. cruzi strains representative of the species evolutionary diversity by using long-read sequencing, which allowed us to uncollapse their repetitive regions, finding that their real lengths range from 35 to 50 kb. T.

Preclinical Studies in Anti- Drug Development.

The trypanosomatid parasites , and are the causative agents of human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis, respectively. These infections primarily affect poor, rural communities in the developing world, and are responsible for trapping sufferers and their families in a disease/poverty cycle. The development of new chemotherapies is a priority given that existing drug treatments are problematic.

Nanopore Long Read DNA Sequencing of Protozoan Parasites: Hybrid Genome Assembly of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Due to highly repetitive genome sequences, short-read-based Trypanosoma cruzi genomes are extremely fragmented. Contiguous trypanosomatid genomes assemblies have resulted in the advent of third-generation sequencing technologies. Long reads span several to hundreds of kbps allowing to correct assemblies of repeated and low complexity DNA regions.