Here we assess the role of parasite genetic variation in host disease phenotype in human schistosomiasis by implementing concepts and techniques from environmental association analysis in evolutionary epidemiology. Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease that affects more than 200 million people worldwide and is caused by parasitic flatworms belonging to the genus Schistosoma. While the role of host genetics has been extensively studied and demonstrated, nothing is yet known on the contribution of parasite genetic variation to host disease phenotype in human schistosomiasis. In this study microsatellite genotypes of 1561 Schistosoma mansoni larvae collected from 44 human hosts in Senegal were linked to host characteristics such as age, gender, infection intensity, liver and bladder morbidity by means of multivariate regression methods (on each parasite locus separately). This revealed a highly significant association between allelic variation at the parasite locus L46951 and host infection intensity and bladder morbidity. Locus L46951 is located in the 3' untranslated region of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase gene that is expressed in reproductive organs of adult schistosome worms and appears to be linked to egg production. This putative link between parasite genetic variation and schistosomiasis disease phenotype sets the stage for further functional research.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.07.010 | DOI Listing |
J Biophotonics
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation and Neurorepair, Integrative regeneration laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China.
Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, with microglia regulating this process through pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes. Studies have shown that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) modulate neuroinflammation by secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines. Photobiomodulation (PBM), a non-invasive therapy, has demonstrated significant potential in alleviating neuroinflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Institute for Cardiovascular Science & Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, China.
Despite advancements in engineered heart tissue (EHT), challenges persist in achieving accurate dimensional accuracy of scaffolds and maturing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), a primary source of functional cardiac cells. Drawing inspiration from cardiac muscle fiber arrangement, a three-dimensional (3D)-printed multi-layered microporous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold is created with interlayer angles set at 45° to replicate the precise structure of native cardiac tissue. Compared with the control group and 90° PCL scaffolds, the 45° PCL scaffolds exhibited superior biocompatibility for cell culture and improved hiPSC-CM maturation in calcium handling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Prog
January 2025
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
The recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has clearly exemplified the need for broad-spectrum antiviral (BSA) medications. However, previous outbreaks show that about one year after an outbreak, interest in antiviral research diminishes and the work toward an effective medication is left unfinished. Martin et al.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCirc Res
January 2025
British Heart Foundation Centre for Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, James Black Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom (C.Y.H., M.-Y.W., J.T., S.A., L.D., G.A., R.H., C.M.S.).
Background: Vascular calcification is a detrimental aging pathology markedly accelerated in patients with chronic kidney disease. Prelamin A is a biomarker of vascular smooth muscle cell aging that accelerates calcification however the mechanisms remain undefined.
Methods: Vascular smooth muscle cells were transduced with prelamin A using an adenoviral vector and epigenetic modifications were monitored using immunofluorescence and targeted polymerase chain reaction array.
Front Plant Sci
January 2025
Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.
Stripe rust of wheat is a serious disease caused by f. sp. ().
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