Immune modulation of goat monocytes by Fasciola gigantica Legumain-1 protein (Fg-LGMN-1).

Legumains belonging to C_13 peptidase family of proteins, and are ubiquitously disseminated among all vertebrate and invertebrate organisms, and have been implicated in innumerable biological and cellular functionality. Herein, we characterized and evaluated immunoregulatory characteristics of Legumain-1 from Fasciola gigantica (Fg-LGMN-1) during its interaction with host immune cells. The isopropyl-ß-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) stimulated RFg-LGMN-1 protein was positively detected by rat serum containing anti-RFg-LGMN-1 polyclonal antibodies.

ZooPathWeb: a comprehensive web resource for zoonotic pathogens.

Motivation: Zoonotic pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, can be transmitted from animals to humans, causing a wide range of diseases that can vary from mild to life-threatening. These pathogens typically exhibit a broad host range, infecting domestic and/or wild animals, which serve as reservoirs of infection. Human infection can occur through direct contact with infected animals or their body fluids, consumption of contaminated food or water, or via bites from infected arthropod vectors.

CD8TCEI-EukPath: A Novel Predictor to Rapidly Identify CD8 T-Cell Epitopes of Eukaryotic Pathogens Using a Hybrid Feature Selection Approach.

Computational prediction to screen potential vaccine candidates has been proven to be a reliable way to provide guarantees for vaccine discovery in infectious diseases. As an important class of organisms causing infectious diseases, pathogenic eukaryotes (such as parasitic protozoans) have evolved the ability to colonize a wide range of hosts, including humans and animals; meanwhile, protective vaccines are urgently needed. Inspired by the immunological idea that pathogen-derived epitopes are able to mediate the CD8 T-cell-related host adaptive immune response and with the available positive and negative CD8 T-cell epitopes (TCEs), we proposed a novel predictor called CD8TCEI-EukPath to detect CD8 TCEs of eukaryotic pathogens.

Machine Learning and Its Applications for Protozoal Pathogens and Protozoal Infectious Diseases.

In recent years, massive attention has been attracted to the development and application of machine learning (ML) in the field of infectious diseases, not only serving as a catalyst for academic studies but also as a key means of detecting pathogenic microorganisms, implementing public health surveillance, exploring host-pathogen interactions, discovering drug and vaccine candidates, and so forth. These applications also include the management of infectious diseases caused by protozoal pathogens, such as , , , , and , a class of fatal or life-threatening causative agents capable of infecting humans and a wide range of animals. With the reduction of computational cost, availability of effective ML algorithms, popularization of ML tools, and accumulation of high-throughput data, it is possible to implement the integration of ML applications into increasing scientific research related to protozoal infection.

Transcriptomic landscape of hepatic lymph nodes, peripheral blood lymphocytes and spleen of swamp buffaloes infected with the tropical liver fluke Fasciola gigantica.

The tropical liver fluke Fasciola gigantica is a parasitic helminth that has been frequently reported to infect mammals, typically involving water buffaloes. In this study, we characterized the tissue transcriptional landscape of buffaloes following infection by F. gigantica.

Comparative Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Sporulated Oocysts and Tachyzoites of Reveals Stage-Specific Patterns.

is an obligate intracellular protozoan of severe threat to humans and livestock, whose life history harbors both gamic and apogamic stages. Chinese 1 (ToxoDB#9) was a preponderant genotype epidemic in food-derived animals and humans in China, with a different pathogenesis from the strains from the other nations of the world. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins were critical mediators of the biology, developmental transforms, and pathogenesis of protozoan parasites.

Global phosphoproteome analysis reveals significant differences between sporulated oocysts of virulent and avirulent strains of Toxoplasma gondii.

In this study, the differences in the phosphoproteomic landscape of sporulated oocysts between virulent and avirulent strains of Toxoplasma gondii were examined using a global phosphoproteomics approach. Phosphopeptides from sporulated oocysts of the virulent PYS strain (Chinese ToxoDB#9) and the avirulent PRU strain (type II) were enriched by titanium dioxide (TiO) affinity chromatography and quantified using IBT approach. A total of 10,645 unique phosphopeptides, 8181 nonredundant phosphorylation sites and 2792 phosphoproteins were identified.

Fasciola gigantica tegumental calcium-binding EF-hand protein 4 exerts immunomodulatory effects on goat monocytes.

Background: The liver fluke Fasciola gigantica secretes excretory-secretory proteins during infection to mediate its interaction with the host. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of a recombinant tegumental calcium-binding EF-hand protein 4 of F. gigantica (rFg-CaBP4) on goat monocytes.

Differential expression of microRNAs and tRNA fragments mediate the adaptation of the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica to its intermediate snail and definitive mammalian hosts.

The tropical liver fluke Fasciola gigantica affects livestock and humans in many Asian countries, large parts of Africa, and parts of Europe. Despite the public health and economic impacts of F. gigantica, understanding of F.

Proteomic Profiling of the Liver, Hepatic Lymph Nodes, and Spleen of Buffaloes Infected with .

In the present study, we used an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomics technology to characterize the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the liver, hepatic lymph nodes (hLNs), and spleen of buffaloes infected with . We also used the parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) method to verify the expression levels of the DEPs in the three infected tissues. At three days post-infection (dpi), 225, 1821, and 364 DEPs were detected in the liver, hLNs, and spleen, respectively.

Transcriptomic Profiling of Mouse Brain During Acute and Chronic Infections by Oocysts.

Infection by the protozoan can have a devastating impact on the structure and function of the brain of the infected individuals, particularly immunocompromised patients. A systems biology view of the brain transcriptome can identify key molecular targets and pathways that mediate the neuropathogenesis of cerebral toxoplasmosis. Here, we performed transcriptomic analysis of the brain of mice infected by Pru strain oocysts at 11 and 33 days post-infection (dpi) compared to uninfected (control) mice using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).

Advances in the Development of Anti- Vaccines: Challenges, Opportunities, and Perspectives.

The gastrointestinal nematode parasite () is a resident of tropical and subtropical regions worldwide that imposes significant production losses, economic losses, and animal health issues in the small ruminant industry, particularly sheep and goats. Considerable efforts have been made to understand how immunity is elicited against infection. Various potential vaccine antigens have been tested by different methods and strategies applied in animal models, and significant progress has been made in the development of vaccines against .

Prevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in soil in China.

In the present study, we performed a cross-sectional survey to determine the occurrence and genotype distribution of T. gondii DNA in soil samples collected from different sources from six geographic regions in China. Between March 2015 and June 2017, 2100 soil samples were collected from schools, parks, farms and coastal beaches, and examined for T.

Label-Free Quantitative Acetylome Analysis Reveals Genotype-Specific Acetylomic Signatures.

Distinct genotypic and pathogenic differences exist between genotypes. For example, genotype I is highly virulent, whereas genotype II and genotype III are less virulent. Moreover, Chinese 1 genotype (ToxoDB#9) is also virulent.

Complex and dynamic transcriptional changes allow the helminth Fasciola gigantica to adjust to its intermediate snail and definitive mammalian hosts.

Background: The tropical liver fluke, Fasciola gigantica causes fasciolosis, an important disease of humans and livestock. We characterized dynamic transcriptional changes associated with the development of the parasite in its two hosts, the snail intermediate host and the mammalian definitive host.

Results: Differential gene transcription analysis revealed 7445 unigenes transcribed by all F.

Global serum proteomic changes in water buffaloes infected with Fasciola gigantica.

Background: The liver fluke Fasciola gigantica modulates several signaling pathways in infected buffaloes to facilitate its survival and establishment of persistent infection. In response to the parasite invasion, buffaloes activate innate and adaptive immune responses to counter the parasite infection. To detect new proteins that might be involved in the interaction between F.

Differential Brain MicroRNA Expression Profiles After Acute and Chronic Infection of Mice With Oocysts.

Brain microRNAs (miRNAs) change in abundance in response to infection. However, their precise role in the pathogenesis of cerebral infection with oocyst remains unclear. We studied the abundance of miRNAs in the brain of mice on days 11 and 33 post-infection (dpi) in order to identify miRNA pattern specific to early (11 dpi) and late (33 dpi) infection.

Hepatic Metabolomics Investigation in Acute and Chronic Murine Toxoplasmosis.

poses a great threat to human health, with no approved vaccine available for the treatment of infection. infections are not limited to the brain, and may also affect other organs especially the liver. Identification of host liver molecules or pathways involved in replication process may lead to the discovery of novel anti- targets.

Molecular characterization of Blastocystis from pigs in Shaanxi province of China.

Blastocystis is an enteric eukaryote of mystery for its ubiquitous presence in animals and humans worldwide and a broad diversity genetically. The animals have been suggested to be an important reservoir to transmit Blastocystis to humans because of high colonization frequency and the presence of zoonotic subtypes. In the present study, the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis in pigs in Shaanxi province of China were determined using the molecular technique based on the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene fragment.