Molecular Mechanisms of Response to Different Sources of Oxidative Stress.

Oxidative stress is a biological principle affecting all life on Earth and is also an important factor in the pathogen-host relationship. The pathogenic free-living amoeba has several pathways to cope with reactive oxygen species and the damage that they cause. In this study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the amoeba's response to different sources of oxidative stress.

Performance evaluation of nine reference centers and comparison of DNA extraction protocols for effective surveillance of Leishmania-infected Phlebotomine sand flies: Basis for technical recommendations.

Background: Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania protozoan parasites transmitted by Phlebotomine sand flies, is a significant public health concern in the Mediterranean basin. Effective monitoring of Leishmania-infected sand flies requires standardized tools for comparing their distribution and infection prevalence. Consistent quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) parameters and efficient DNA extraction protocols are crucial for reliable results over time and across regions.

Zoonotic Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus Complex (Acari: Ixodidae) From Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Kosovo.

Introduction: Ixodes ricinus, the castor bean tick, is the most prevalent tick species in Europe. It favours habitats such as shrubs, deciduous and mixed forests, but can also be found in urban environments. Due to its high vector competence, it is of enormous veterinary as well as medical importance, transmitting tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus, Borrelia burgdorferi s.

A Novel Methylene Blue Indicator-Based Aptasensor for Rapid Detection of .

is a significant opportunistic pathogen highly prevalent in the environment, requiring early detection methods to prevent infections in vulnerable individuals. The most specific aptamer for , F23, has been used for the development of various assays and sensors for early diagnosis and monitoring. In this study, a novel F23-based electrochemical aptasensor was designed using disposal gold screen-printed electrodes (Au-SPEs) with high reproducibility.

Evaluating the amoeba thioredoxin reductase selenoprotein as potential drug target for treatment of Acanthamoeba infections.

The genus Acanthamoeba comprises facultative pathogens, causing Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). In both diseases, treatment options are limited, and drug development is challenging. This study aimed to investigate the role of the large thioredoxin reductase selenoprotein of Acanthamoeba (AcTrxR-L) as a potential drug target assessing the effects of the thioredoxin reductase inhibitors auranofin, TRi-1, and TRi-2 on AcTrxR-L activity and on the viability of Acanthamoeba trophozoites.

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Bosnia and Herzegovina: distribution, ecology and environmental preferences.

Sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are the principal vectors for the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and for phleboviruses. The sand fly fauna on the Balkan Peninsula, including Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), is diverse and the circulation of Leishmania infantum as well as phleboviruses has been proven.

A cross-sectional study on phlebotomine sand flies in relation to disease transmission in the Republic of Kosovo.

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are blood-feeding insects that transmit the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and various arboviruses. The Balkan region, including the Republic of Kosovo, harbours a diverse sand fly fauna.

Ecological setting of phlebotomine sand flies in the Republic of Kosovo.

Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) are the principal vectors of spp., the causative agents of leishmaniasis, as well as phleboviruses. In the Balkans, the endemicity and spreading of sand fly-borne diseases are evident, particularly in the Republic of Kosovo, a country with a predominantly humid continental climate.

Characterization of novel extracellular proteases produced by Acanthamoeba castellanii after contact with human corneal epithelial cells and their relevance to pathogenesis.

Background: Proteases produced by Acanthamoeba spp. play an important role in their virulence and may be the key to understanding Acanthamoeba pathogenesis; thus, increasing attention has been directed towards these proteins. The present study aimed to investigate the lytic factors produced by Acanthamoeba castellanii during the first hours of in vitro co-culture with human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs).

Validation and redescription of Acanthamoeba terricola Pussard, 1964 (Amoebozoa: Acanthamoebidae).

Acanthamoeba castellanii (Douglas, 1930) Page, 1967 is the type species of a widespread genus of free-living amoebae, potentially pathogenic for humans and animals. The Neff strain is one of the most widely used in biological research, serving as a model for both A. castellanii and the whole genus in general.

Parasites and microorganisms associated with the snakes collected for the "festa Dei serpari" in Cocullo, Italy.

While in much of the Western world snakes are feared, in the small, rural, mountainous town of Cocullo, in the middle of central Italy, snakes are annually collected and celebrated in a sacro-profane ritual. Every 1st of May, Serpari (snake catchers) capture and showcase dozens of non-venomous snakes to celebrate the ritual of San Domenico. In order to detect potential zoonotic pathogens within this unique epidemiological context, parasites and microorganisms of snakes harvested for the "festa dei serpari" ritual were investigated.

Use of In Vivo Corneal Confocal Microscopy to Guide Excimer Laser With Adjunctive Mitomycin C for Treatment of Recalcitrant Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe 3 cases of recalcitrant Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) that were successfully treated using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) to guide excimer laser ablation depth with adjunctive mitomycin C 0.02%.

Methods: Three patients diagnosed with AK did not respond to several weeks of intensive topical therapy with antiamoebic agents.

Zoonotic dirofilariases: one, no one, or more than one parasite.

Dirofilaria spp. are vector-borne filarial nematodes that affect a variety of animal species, including humans. Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are the two main zoonotic species, but also other wildlife-associated Dirofilaria species are occasionally reported as causative agents of human dirofilariasis, including Dirofilaria striata, Dirofilaria tenuis, Dirofilaria ursi, Dirofilaria spectans, and Dirofilaria magnilarvata.

The changing epidemiology of human leishmaniasis in the non-endemic country of Austria between 2000 to 2021, including a congenital case.

Background: Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with intracellular protozoans of the genus Leishmania. Transmission occurs predominantly by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies, other routes, including congenital transmission, are rare. The disease manifests as either cutaneous, visceral or mucosal/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

Reconstructing the post-glacial spread of the sand fly Phlebotomus mascittii Grassi, 1908 (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Europe.

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are the principal vectors of Leishmania spp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). In Central Europe, Phlebotomus mascittii is the predominant species, but largely understudied.

A probabilistic-deterministic approach for assessing climate change effects on infection risks downstream of sewage emissions from CSOs.

The discharge of pathogens into urban recreational water bodies during combined sewer overflows (CSOs) pose a potential threat for public health which may increase in the future due to climate change. Improved methods are needed for predicting the impact of these effects on the microbiological urban river water quality and infection risks during recreational use. The aim of this study was to develop a novel probabilistic-deterministic modelling approach for this purpose building on physically plausible generated future rainfall time series.

First Detection and Molecular Analysis of DNA in Sand Flies of Kosovo.

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are the principal vectors of phleboviruses and spp., the causative agents of leishmaniases. The Mediterranean sand fly fauna is diverse, and leishmaniasis, mainly caused by is endemic in the Balkan countries.

Evaluation and validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR gene expression in Naegleria gruberi.

Naegleria gruberi is a free-living amoeboflagellate commonly found in freshwater and in soils around the world. It is a non-pathogenic relative of Naegleria fowleri, which is the etiologic agent of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM occurs world-wide and it is considered a rare disease, but its fatality rate is high (96%) mainly because of delay in initiation of treatment due to misdiagnosis and lack of a specific treatment.

Non-invasive detection of (Banks, 1910) and (Doetschman, 1944) (Acari: Halarachnidae) in free-ranging synanthropic South American sea lions (Shaw, 1800).

Respiratory mites of the genera and (Acari: Halarachnidae) are causative agents of nasopharyngeal/nasopulmonary acariasis in pinnipeds and sea otters. Until now, these endoparasitic mites were mainly diagnosed via necropsies and invasive procedures. So far, non-invasive diagnostic techniques have neither been developed nor applied in free-ranging pinnipeds.

On predatory fungi feeding on free-living amoebae harbouring yeast-like endoparasites.

Amoebae of the genus Vannella isolated from an ornamental fish aquarium were found to be infected with fungi. Upon plate culture, amoeba-trapping hyphal filaments were developed, and the amoeba trophozoites were found to harbour yeast-like parasites in their cytoplasm. Transfection of hyphae to a laboratory strain of Vannella resulted in the formation of conidia indicating the possible presence of zygomycetes of the genus Acaulopage, while efforts to culture the endoparasite remained unsuccessful.

Snakes and Souks: Zoonotic pathogens associated to reptiles in the Marrakech markets, Morocco.

The world-famous markets of Marrakech, also known in Arabic as souks, harbor a vast diversity of reptiles that are sold for medicinal/magic/pet purposes or used for snake charming. This unique epidemiological context has never been studied considering the interactions of humans, reptiles, and zoonotic pathogens. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the parasites and pathogens present in blood and feces associated with handled reptiles in the markets of Marrakech to assess the risk of zoonotic transmission within the reptile-human interface.