Proteomic Identification and Functional Analysis of Reveals Heparin-Binding Proteins.

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) molecules on the surface of red blood cells play an important regulatory role in the invasion of merozoites of apicomplexan protozoa. Heparan sulfate, a type of GAG molecule, has been identified as an important receptor facilitating the invasion of red blood cells by these parasites. Proteins in the parasite that exhibit strong affinity for heparin may play a pivotal role in this invasion process.

The protective effects of BMSA1 and BMSA5-1-1 proteins against Babesia microti infection.

The intracellular parasite Babesia microti is among the most significant species causing human babesiosis and is an emerging threat to human health worldwide. Unravelling the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of babesiosis is crucial in developing new diagnostic and preventive methods. This study assessed how priming with B.

Enhanced phosphatidylserine exposure and erythropoiesis in -infected mice.

Introduction: is the dominant species responsible for human babesiosis, which is associated with severe hemolytic anemia and splenomegaly because it infects mammalian erythrocytes. The actual prevalence of is thought to have been substantially underestimated.

Methods: In this study, Bagg's albino/c (BALB/c) mice were intraperitoneally injected with -infected erythrocytes, and parasitemia was subsequently measured by calculating the proportion of infected erythrocytes.

Extremely Soft, Stretchable, and Self-Adhesive Silicone Conductive Elastomer Composites Enabled by a Molecular Lubricating Effect.

Softness, adhesion, stretchability, and fast recovery from large deformations are essential properties for conductive elastomers that play an important role in the development of high-performance soft electronics. However, it remains an ongoing challenge to obtain conductive elastomers that combine these properties. We have fabricated a super soft (Young's modulus 2.

Proteomic and Immunological Identification of Diagnostic Antigens from Spirometra erinaceieuropaei Plerocercoid.

Human sparganosis is a food-borne parasitic disease caused by the plerocercoids of Spirometra species. Clinical diagnosis of sparganosis is crucial for effective treatment, thus it is important to identify sensitive and specific antigens of plerocercoids. The aim of the current study was to identify and characterize the immunogenic proteins of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei plerocercoids that were recognized by patient sera.

Molecular Characterization and Immunological Evaluation of Truncated Rhoptry Neck Protein 2 as a Vaccine Candidate.

is a protozoan that infects red blood cells. Babesiosis is becoming a new global threat impacting human health. Rhoptry neck proteins (RONs) are proteins located at the neck of the rhoptry and studies indicate that these proteins play an important role in the process of red blood cell invasion.

Establishment and application of the National Parasitic Resource Center (NPRC) in China.

The National Parasitic Resource Center (NPRC) was created in 2004. It is a first-level platform under the Basic Condition Platform Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. The resource centre involves 21 depository institutions in 15 regions of the country, including human parasite and vector depository, animal parasite depository, plant nematode characteristic specimen library, medical insect characteristic specimen library, trematode model specimen library, parasite-vector/snail model specimen library, etc.

[Effect of transfusing blood components containing on infection in BALB/c mice].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of intravenous injection of different blood components containing on infection in mice.

Methods: Healthy mice were infected with , and then blood samples were collected from the mouse orbit to prepare whole blood, serum-free blood components and pure red blood cells containing . Twenty seven BALB/c mice were divided into three groups, including the whole blood group, the serum-free blood component group and the pure red blood cell group, of 9 mice in each group, and then, each group was divided into three subgroups, of 3 mice in each subgroup, which were injected with 100 μL of blood components containing at concentrations of 9.

Prevalence and risk factors of Fascioliasis in China.

Fascioliasis has emerged as a significant public health problem among ruminants and humans. Human fascioliasis is a neglected food-borne parasitic disease, which has emerged or reemerged in more than 60 countries worldwide. In China, the first case of human fascioliasis was reported in 1921 in Fujian Province.

[Dynamics of routine blood tests in BALB/c mice with infection].

Objective: To understand the changes in body weight, spleen weight and complete blood cells in BALB/c mice infected with .

Methods: For the infection group, six weeks old BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 100 μL of infected blood (20% RBC infection rate, each mouse). For the determination of the progression of infection up to 28 days of the infection, the microscopic visualization of thin blood smears of tail blood stained with Giemsa staining was performed in the infection group.

Screening for biomarkers reflecting the progression of Babesia microti infection.

Background: Babesiosis is caused by the invasion of erythrocytes by parasites of the Babesia spp. Babesia microti is one of the primary causative agents of human babesiosis. To better understand the status of the disease, discovering key biomarkers of the different infection stages is crucial.

Molecular characterization of Babesia microti seroreactive antigen 5-1-1 and development of rapid detection methods for anti-B. microti antibodies in serum.

Babesiosis has become a new global threat impacting human health, and most human babesiosis cases are caused by Babesia microti. Until now few antigens of B. microti have been described which can be used for the diagnosis of human babesiosis.

[Research progress of rhoptry associated proteins].

parasites are obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoa and important pathogens causing babesiosis of humans and animals. They have conserved subcellular structures and invasion mechanism. Rhoptry-associated proteins, which are released into the host cell, are considered to be the key molecules of invasion and replication of parasites in the host cell and are immunosuppressive factors of the host cell mediated immunity in the stage of parasitophorous vacuole (PV) formation.

Four Human Cases of (Eucestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) in China with a Brief Review of Chinese Cases.

We described 4 human infection cases of zoonotic fish-tapeworm, , identified with morphological and molecular characters and briefly reviewed Chinese cases in consideration of it as an emerging parasitic disease in China. The scolex and mature and gravid proglottids of some cases were seen, a rosette-shaped uterus was observed in the middle of the mature and gravid proglottids, and the diphyllobothriid eggs were yellowish-brown in color and displayed a small knob or abopercular protuberance on the opposite end of a lid-like opening. The average size of the eggs was recorded as 62-6742-45 μm.

Urgent needs in fostering neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) laboratory capacity in WHO Western Pacific Region: results from the external quality assessment on NTDs diagnosis in 2012-2015.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a heterogeneous group of mainly chronic, debilitating and often stigmatizing diseases that largely affects low-income and politically marginalized populations, causing a large burden of public health, social and economies in the NTDs endemic countries. NTDs are caused by infections with a range of pathogen, including bacteria, parasites, protozoa and viruses. The accurate diagnosis of NTDs is important for reducing morbidity, preventing mortality and for monitoring of control programs.

Human Cases of Fascioliasis in Fujian Province, China.

Fascioliasis is a foodborne zoonotic parasitic disease. We report 4 cases occurring in the same family, in whom diagnosis of acute fascioliasis was established after series of tests. One case was hospitalized with fever, eosinophilia, and hepatic lesions.

DNA Microarray Detection of 18 Important Human Blood Protozoan Species.

Background: Accurate detection of blood protozoa from clinical samples is important for diagnosis, treatment and control of related diseases. In this preliminary study, a novel DNA microarray system was assessed for the detection of Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia in humans, animals, and vectors, in comparison with microscopy and PCR data. Developing a rapid, simple, and convenient detection method for protozoan detection is an urgent need.

[Sequencing and Phylogenetic Tree Construction of 18S Ribosomal DNA from Five Species of Plasmodium from Yunnan Border between China and Myanmar and Other Areas].

Objective: To analyze sequence variation and construct phylogenetic tree based on 18S ribosomal DNA among five species of Plasmodium in Yunnan border between China and Myanmar and other areas.

Methods: Blood samples (or DNA samples)from malaria patients were collected from 2000 to 2015 in Yunnan border and Myanmar and other areas. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and the 18S rDNA fragment was amplified, sequenced and aligned with relevant sequences available in the GenBank.

[Digital Description and Identification of 11 Kinds of Principal Parasite Eggs].

Objective: To facilitate the identification of parasite eggs using computer technology, establish the automation-based applications, and propose an algorithm for egg classification.

Methods: Eggs of 11 parasites, Clonorchis sinensis, Taenia solium, Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Spirometra mansoni, Diphyllobothrium latum, Ancylostoma duodenale, Schistosoma japonicum, Paragonimus westermani and Fasciolopsis buski, were selected and divided into two groups, the training group and the testing group, and were microphotographed. The eigenvalue was extracted using the VC++-based method.

[Establishment of animal model for Pneumocystis carinii and study on etiological and molecular biological detection technology].

Objective: To establish an animal model for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and to study the etiological and molecular biological technology for PCP detection.

Methods: SD and Wistar rats were divided into experimental and control groups randomly. The animals in the experimental group were immunosuppressed by subcutaneous injection with dexamethasone 2 mg per time per rat, twice a week, while those in the control group underwent the same way of injection with physiological saline simultaneously.

[Analysis on parasitic infection of clinical samples from hospitals in Shanghai during 2011-2013].

Objective: To analyze the results of parasitic pathogen detection on clinical samples from Shanghai hospitals during 2011-2013.

Methods: Samples of serum, stool, sputum, body fluid and biopsy were collected from hospitals. The etiological, serological and molecular biology methods were used to detect parasitic infection cases.

[Establishment of A1E3 and B1C4 monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for detecting circulating antigen of Schistosoma japonicum and its preliminary application].

Objective: To establish A1E3 and B1C4 monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for detecting circulating antigen of Schistosoma japonicum and explore its application value in the field.

Methods: The characteristics of A1E3 and B1C4 monoclonal antibodies were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The SEA-based ELISA was used to evaluate the titers of A1E3 and B1C4.

Field comparison of circulating antibody assays versus circulating antigen assays for the detection of schistosomiasis japonica in endemic areas of China.

Background: Schistosomiasis remains a serious public health problem in affected countries, and routine, highly sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic methods are lacking. We evaluated two immunodiagnostic techniques for the detection of Schistosoma japonicum infections: circulating antibody and circulating antigen assays.

Methods: A total of 1864 individuals (between 6 and 72 years old) residing in five administrative villages in Hubei province were screened by serum examination with an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA).