Modulation of Rumen Microbes Through Extracellular Vesicle Released by the Rumen Fluke .

Parasite derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed to play key roles in the establishment and maintenance of infection. is a newly emerging parasite of livestock with many aspects of its underpinning biology yet to be resolved. This research is the first in-depth investigation of EVs released by adult EVs were successfully isolated using both differential centrifugation and size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and morphologically characterized though transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

CowPI: A Rumen Microbiome Focussed Version of the PICRUSt Functional Inference Software.

Metataxonomic 16S rDNA based studies are a commonplace and useful tool in the research of the microbiome, but they do not provide the full investigative power of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics for revealing the functional potential of microbial communities. However, the use of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic technologies is hindered by high costs and skills barrier necessary to generate and interpret the data. To address this, a tool for Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) was developed for inferring the functional potential of an observed microbiome profile, based on 16S data.

The anti-fecundity effect of 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC) on Schistosoma mansoni is linked to dis-regulated transcription, translation and stem cell activities.

Uncontrolled host immunological reactions directed against tissue-trapped eggs precipitate a potentially lethal, pathological cascade responsible for schistosomiasis. Blocking schistosome egg production, therefore, presents a strategy for simultaneously reducing immunopathology as well as limiting disease transmission in endemic or emerging areas. We recently demonstrated that the ribonucleoside analogue 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC) inhibited Schistosoma mansoni oviposition, egg maturation and ovarian development.

Accumulation and exchange of parasites during adaptive radiation in an ancient lake.

In the ancient Lake Baikal, Russia, amphipod crustaceans have undergone a spectacular adaptive radiation, resulting in a diverse community of species. A survey of microsporidian parasites inhabiting endemic and non-endemic amphipod host species at the margins of Lake Baikal indicates that the endemic amphipods harbour many microsporidian parasite groups associated with amphipods elsewhere in Eurasia. While these parasites may have undergone a degree of adaptive radiation within the lake, there is little evidence of host specificity.

The rumen microbiome: an underexplored resource for novel antimicrobial discovery.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising drug candidates to target multi-drug resistant bacteria. The rumen microbiome presents an underexplored resource for the discovery of novel microbial enzymes and metabolites, including AMPs. Using functional screening and computational approaches, we identified 181 potentially novel AMPs from a rumen bacterial metagenome.

Characterization of the Microbiome along the Gastrointestinal Tract of Growing Turkeys.

The turkey microbiome is largely understudied, despite its relationship with bird health and growth, and the prevalence of human pathogens such as spp. In this study we investigated the microbiome within the small intestine (SI), caeca (C), large intestine (LI), and cloaca (CL) of turkeys at 6, 10, and 16 weeks of age. Eight turkeys were dissected within each age category and the contents of the SI, C, LI, and CL were harvested.

Exploring and Expanding the Fatty-Acid-Binding Protein Superfamily in Fasciola Species.

The liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica infect livestock worldwide and threaten food security with climate change and problematic control measures spreading disease. Fascioliasis is also a foodborne disease with up to 17 million humans infected.

Proteomics and in silico approaches to extend understanding of the glutathione transferase superfamily of the tropical liver fluke Fasciola gigantica.

Fasciolosis is an important foodborne, zoonotic disease of livestock and humans, with global annual health and economic losses estimated at several billion US$. Fasciola hepatica is the major species in temperate regions, while F. gigantica dominates in the tropics.

Genetic diversity of the feminising microsporidian parasite Dictyocoela: new insights into host-specificity, sex and phylogeography.

Microsporidia of the genus Dictyocoela are parasites of gammarid amphipod Crustacea. They typically exhibit low virulence and efficient vertical transmission and at least some strains are capable of feminising their hosts. Sequencing of a region of the 16S rDNA of Dictyocoela spp.

Distribution and host range of the microsporidian Pleistophora mulleri.

Microsporidia of the genus Pleistophora are important parasites of fish and crustacea. Pleistophora mulleri has been described previously as a parasite of the gammarid amphipod crustacean Gammarus duebeni celticus in Irish freshwater habitats. Through a survey of European G.