An Improved Sporozoite Seroneutralization Assay for the Identification of East Coast Fever Immune Correlates.

Background: Immune correlates of protection are ideal tools to predict treatment or vaccine efficacy. However, the accuracy of the immune correlate and the capability to robustly predict the outcome of a vaccine candidate are determined by the performance of the in vitro immunoassay used. Several sporozoite seroneutralization assays have previously been used to assess antibody functional activities; however, a common limitation has been the need for fresh material, target cells and sporozoites, and operator-to-operator bias.

Genome Editing in Apicomplexan Parasites: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Possibilities.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) technology has revolutionized genome editing across various biological systems, including the Apicomplexa phylum. This review describes the status, challenges, and applications of CRISPR-Cas9 editing technology in apicomplexan parasites, such as , , , , and . The discussion encompasses successfully implemented CRISPR-Cas9-based techniques in these parasites, highlighting the achieved milestones, from precise gene modifications to genome-wide screening.

Metagenomic Characterization of Poultry Cloacal and Oropharyngeal Swabs in Kenya Reveals Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Genes.

Poultry enteric bacterial diseases are of significant economic importance because they are responsible for production losses due to weight loss, increased morbidity and mortality, and increased cost of production arising from poor feed conversion and treatment. This cross-sectional purposive study characterized enteric bacterial pathogens in poultry from selected agroclimatic regions in Kenya and investigated their antimicrobial resistance gene profiles. Cloacal ( = 563) and oropharyngeal ( = 394) swabs were collected and pooled into 16 and 14 samples, respectively, to characterize bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance gene profiles.

The Hypervariable Tpr Multigene Family of Theileria Parasites, Defined by a Conserved, Membrane-Associated, C-Terminal Domain, Includes Several Copies with Defined Orthology Between Species.

Multigene families often play an important role in host-parasite interactions. One of the largest multigene families in Theileria parva, the causative agent of East Coast fever, is the T. parva repeat (Tpr) gene family.