Publications by authors named "Xi-Chen Zhang"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the global prevalence and risk factors of fascioliasis (liver disease caused by the Fasciola parasite) in humans and domestic ruminants, finding that 17% of cattle, 13% of sheep, and 5% of humans are affected.
  • - Researchers analyzed 4422 articles, narrowing it down to 371 relevant studies, and employed various statistical methods to assess prevalence and identify risk factors, particularly focusing on altitude and age.
  • - The findings highlight the widespread nature of fascioliasis and emphasize the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies based on identified risk factors.
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Arthrobotrys flagrans, a nematode-eating fungus, is an effective component of animal parasitic nematode biocontrol agents. In the dried formulation, the majority of spores are in an endogenous dormant state. This study focuses on dormant chlamydospore and nondormant chlamydospore of A.

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The morphological and structural differences of different types of chlamydospore of Arthrobotrys flagrans, a nematophagous fungus, were studied under light microscope and electron microscope to provide a reference for the biological control of parasitic nematodiasis. In this study, A. flagrans isolate F088 dormant chlamydospore and nondormant chlamydospore were selected as the research objects.

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Introduction: is a widespread respiratory pathogen in pigs, causing swine pneumonia and atrophic rhinitis, and the capsular serogroups A and D are the main epidemic serogroups in infected animals. This study investigated the protective effects of serogroup A and D bacterins against current circulating strains, to better understand the immunity generated by bacterins.

Method: 13 serogroup A (seven A: L3 and six A: L6 strains) and 13 serogroup D (all D: L6 strains) strains were isolated, and used as inactivated whole cell antigen to prepare bacterins.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The study isolated the cross antigen gene TPD52 from T. spiralis and developed an antiserum to investigate its effects on osteosarcoma, using various assays and animal models.
  • * Results revealed that anti-TPD52 antiserum effectively inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation and growth, inducing apoptosis while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed.
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Background: Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes neosporosis, N. caninum infection is a major cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. Currently, specific treatment for neosporosis is not available.

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Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are the most abundant leukocytes and are among the first line of immune system defense. PMNs can form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in response to some pathogens. The release of NETs plays an important role in trapping and killing invading parasites.

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Background: Giardia duodenalis causes giardiasis, with diarrhea as the primary symptom. The trophozoite proliferation of this zoonotic parasite is mainly affected by telomerase, although the mechanism of telomerase regulation has not been thoroughly analyzed.

Methods: This study was performed to identify the telomerase RNA-binding domain (TRBD)-interacting protein in G.

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This study aims to investigate the molecular phylogenetic analysis, morphological variability, nematode-capturing ability, and other biological properties of Chinese Duddingtonia flagrans isolates. We isolated 13 isolates of D. flagrans and found features that have never been reported before, such as two to three septa incluing club-shaped conidia.

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The aim of the present study was to detect the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in yaks in Gansu province, China. Serum samples from 974 white yaks and 610 black yaks were tested by a commercial competitive-inhibition ELISA for the detection of specific anti-N. caninum antibodies.

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The trichomonad species and were recently detected in the feces of dogs with diarrhea. However, little information is available on the prevalence and pathogenicity of these parasites in the canine population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization of trichomonads infecting pet dogs in Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, east China.

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Pentatrichomonas hominis is an anaerobic amitochondrial flagellated protist that primarily colonizes the large intestines of a number of species, including cats, dogs, nonhuman primates, and humans. The prevalence of this parasite in dogs, monkeys, and humans is, however, poorly understood. In this study, a total of 362 fecal samples including 252 dogs, 60 monkeys, and 50 humans from northern China were collected for an epidemiological survey of P.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines how gut microbes affect the survival and reproduction of the parasitic worm Trichinella spiralis, focusing on the role of specific intestinal bacteria.
  • Findings revealed that beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus improve nematode survival and reproduction, while harmful bacteria such as Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 negatively impact them.
  • The research identified 514 proteins linked to these responses, indicating that gut microbes could influence both human health and parasitic infections through gene and protein regulation, offering potential insights for therapeutic development.
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Giardia lamblia trophozoites were cultivated axenically in TYI-S-33 modified medium containing 1.345 mg/ml of osthole (24 h IC50). The parasites were observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopes after treated with osthole for 24 h.

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A trichomonad-like parasite isolated from canine fecal samples in Changchun, China was successfully cultivated in vitro using RPMI1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated calf serum and antibiotics. These were then subjected to scanning and transmission electron microscopy for ultrastructural study. This parasite has four anterior flagella of unequal length, one independent flagellum, and one recurrent flagellum.

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Coccidiosis is one of the most important protozoan diseases and inflicts severe economic losses on the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to deliver apical membrane antigen1 (AMA1) of Eimeria maxima to stimulate specific cellular and humoral immune responses in chickens. Day-old birds were immunized twice with rBCG/pMV261-AMA1, rBCG/pMV361-AMA1, or BCG via oral, intranasal, and subcutaneous routes and then orally challenged with homologous E.

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Pulsatilla chinensis is a medicinal root plant that has been used to treat a wide range of disease conditions. Our study determined the antiprotozoal activity of various P. chinensis extracts and fractions against Giardia intestinalis including their effects on parasite growth, cell viability, adherence, and morphology.

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Article Synopsis
  • Trypanosoma lewisi has traditionally been viewed as harmless to humans, but rising infection cases suggest it can affect humans under certain conditions.
  • A study in Huadu, China tested 238 wild rats using wet blood smear, PCR, and LAMP methods for T. lewisi, revealing infection rates of 6.7%, 12.6%, and 18.9%, respectively.
  • The LAMP method proved effective by detecting all positive samples from microscopy and PCR, marking the first use of LAMP for T. lewisi detection in wild rats and confirming a close genetic relationship among various isolated strains.
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Trichinella spiralis has restrain effect on tumors. Different amount of T. spiralis can emerge different tumor inhibition effect T.

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Objective: To clone and express S-dsRNA gene of Cryptosporidium parvum virus, and investigate the reactogenicity of the recombinant.

Methods: Total RNA was extracted from Cryptosporidium parvum and S-dsRNA gene was amplified by RT-PCR. The PCR product was cloned into pET-28a(+) expression vector.

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In this study, we described a novel display method to identify surface adhesion proteins of Cryptosporidium parvum. A cDNA library of the sporozoite and oocyst stages of C. parvum was expressed on ribosome and selectively and specifically screened with intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from newborn Cryptosporidium-free Holstein calves.

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Our previous studies showed that in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast, the tumor cells that overlie focal myoepithelial cell layer disruptions (FMCLDs) are generally arranged as finger-like projections that bud into the stroma. These budding cells have significantly more genetic instability and invasion-related gene expression, and less estrogen receptor (ER) expression, than their epithelial cell counterparts. This study aimed to assess these cells for potential molecular markers that are uniquely associated with cell adhesion and motility.

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Objective: To inhibit the expression of pyruvate kinase (PK) mRNA in Giardia lamblia by specific hammerhead ribozyme.

Methods: The constructed hammerhead-GCV vector (pGCV-PKH) which aims to PK mRNA was electroporated into G. lamnblia trophozoites (group A).

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A novel strategy was developed to prepare nanospheres and vesicles as drug carriers. The drug-loaded pectin nanospheres and vesicles were fabricated in aqueous media containing Ca2+ and CO3(2-) ions under very mild conditions, which did not involve any surfactant. Through adjusting the preparation conditions, nanosized drug delivery systems with diverse morphologies, that is, nanospheres and vesicles, could be obtained.

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