Abstract:
BACKGROUND:Human babesiosis is an infectious disease that is epidemic in various regions all over the world. The predominant causative pathogen of this disease is the intra-erythrocytic parasite Babesia microti. The thioredoxin system is one of the major weapons that is used in the resistance to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) produced by host immune system. In other intra-erythrocytic apicomplexans like the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, anti-oxidative proteins are promising targets for the development of anti-parasitic drugs. However, to date, the sequences and biological properties of thioredoxins and thioredoxin-like molecules of B. microti remain unknown. Understanding the molecular characterization and function of B. microti thioredoxins may help to develop anti-Babesia drugs and controlling babesiosis. METHODS:The full-length B. microti thioredoxin 2 (BmTrx2) gene was obtained using a rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method, and the deduced BmTrx2 amino acid sequence was analyzed using regular bioinformatics tools. Recombinant BmTrx2 protein was expressed in vitro and purified using His-tag protein affinity chromatography resins. Reverse transcription PCR, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to detect the expression and native proteins of BmTrx2. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to localize BmTrx2 in B. microti. Bovine insulin reduction assays were used to determine the enzyme activity of the purified recombinant BmTrx2 protein. RESULTS:The full-length BmTrx2 was 564 bp with a 408 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 135 amino acids. The predicted molecular weight of the protein was 15.5 kDa. A conserved thioredoxin-like family domain was found in BmTrx2. The expression of BmTrx2 was upregulated on both the third and eighth day post-infection in mice, whereas expression was downregulated during the beginning and later stages. The results of Western blot analysis showed the native BmTrx2 in parasite lysates could be detected by mouse anti-BmTrx2 serum and that the recombinant BmTrx2 protein could be recognized by serum of B. microti-infected mice. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that BmTrx2 localized in the cell cytoplasm of B. microti merozoites in B. microti-infected red blood cells. The results of bovine insulin reduction assay indicated the purified recombinant BmTrx2 protein possesses antioxidant enzyme activity. Dihydroartemisinin and quinine, known anti-malaria drugs, and clindamycin, a known anti-babesiosis drug, induced significantly higher upregulation of BmTrx2 mRNA. CONCLUSIONS:Our results indicate that BmTrx2 is a functional enzyme with antioxidant activity and may be involved in the response of B. microti to anti-parasite drugs.
journal_name
Parasit Vectorsjournal_title
Parasites & vectorsauthors
Huang J,Xiong K,Zhang H,Zhao Y,Cao J,Gong H,Zhou Y,Zhou Jdoi
10.1186/s13071-018-2619-9subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2018-01-15 00:00:00pages
38issue
1issn
1756-3305pii
10.1186/s13071-018-2619-9journal_volume
11pub_type
杂志文章abstract:BACKGROUND:The diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) might be difficult, in particular in endemic areas where different species of Leishmania can cause lesions of very similar appearance and where other skin diseases with similar clinical symptoms occur. Even today, the parasitological diagnosis of CL remains the g...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-420
更新日期:2014-09-04 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Vector-borne diseases (VBD) are of growing global importance. Sand flies are potential vectors for phleboviruses (family Phenuiviridae) including Toscana virus (TOSV), Sicilian virus, Sandfly fever, Naples virus, and Leishmania parasites in Europe. To date, only two phlebotomine species have been recorded fo...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-020-04058-6
更新日期:2020-04-21 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Survival to dry season conditions of sub-Saharan savannahs is a major challenge for insects inhabiting such environments, especially regarding the desiccation threat they are exposed to. While extensive literature about insect seasonality has revealed morphologic, metabolic and physiological changes in many ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1289-0
更新日期:2016-01-07 00:00:00
abstract::Presently, 45% of the total human population of Europe, as well as their domestic and companion animals, are exposed to the risk of vector-borne helminths (VBH) causing diseases. A plethora of intrinsic biological and extrinsic factors affect the relationship among helminths, vectors and animal hosts, in a constantly ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-16
更新日期:2013-01-16 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Throughout large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, seasonal malaria transmission follows mosquito density, approaching zero during the dry season and peaking during the wet season. The mechanisms by which malaria mosquitoes survive the long dry season, when no larval sites are available remain largely unknown, de...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2556-z
更新日期:2017-12-27 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Culex quinquefasciatus is a hematophagous insect from the Culicidae family that feeds on the blood of humans, dogs, birds and livestock. This species transmits a wide variety of pathogens between humans and animals. The midgut environment is the first location of pathogen-vector interactions for blood-feedin...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0985-0
更新日期:2015-07-16 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:An active immune surveillance and a range of barriers to infection allow the host to effectively eliminate microbial pathogens. However, pathogens may use diverse strategies to subdue such host defences. For instance, one such mechanism is the use of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins by pathogens (microbial...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1842-5
更新日期:2016-10-21 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Bed bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) are a group of blood-feeding ectoparasites. They mainly specialize on bats and birds, but a few species are important human pests. They exhibit several unique adaptations for their parasitic lifestyle. Among those, bed bug aggregations represent a striking example of a sub-s...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3659-5
更新日期:2019-08-13 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Opisthorchiasis and Opisthorchis viverrini-associated bile duct cancer represent major public health threats in Thailand and Laos. The tegument of this food borne fluke plays pivotal roles in parasite metabolism, homeostasis and osmoregulation. Excretory/secretory products also pass from the fluke to the bil...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-224
更新日期:2014-05-14 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Schistosomiasis remains prevalent in Africa, Asia and South America with an estimated burden of 1.9 million disability-adjusted life years in 2016. Targeting snails as a key to success for schistosomiasis control has been widely approved, but the long-term quantitative effects of interventions on snail contr...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-020-04273-1
更新日期:2020-08-05 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Methods currently used in sampling adult Aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses are limited for effective surveillance of the vector and accurate determination of the extent of virus transmission during outbreaks and inter - epidemic periods. Here, we document the use of natural hum...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-451
更新日期:2014-09-23 00:00:00
abstract::In Italy, dogs and cats are at risk of becoming infected by different vector-borne pathogens, including protozoa, bacteria, and helminths. Ticks, fleas, phlebotomine sand flies, and mosquitoes are recognized vectors of pathogens affecting cats and dogs, some of which (e.g., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorf...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-3-2
更新日期:2010-01-11 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Widespread deforestation occurring in the tropics is hypothesized to impact the transmission of vector-borne diseases (VBD). Predicting how environmental changes will impact VBD transmission is dependent on understanding the ecology and behaviour of potential vector species outside of domestic settings. Howe...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2926-1
更新日期:2018-06-14 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Antigen B (EgAgB) is an abundant lipoprotein released by the larva of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus into the host tissues. Its protein moiety belongs to the cestode-specific family known as hydrophobic ligand binding protein (HLBP), and is encoded by five gene subfamilies (EgAgB8/1-EgAgB8/5). The funct...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1350-7
更新日期:2016-02-04 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:In Brazil, preventive chemotherapy targeting soil-transmitted helminthiasis is being scaled-up. Hence, spatially explicit estimates of infection risks providing information about the current situation are needed to guide interventions. Available high-resolution national model-based estimates either rely on a...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-440
更新日期:2014-09-18 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The human helminth infections include ascariasis, trichuriasis, hookworm infections, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis. It is estimated that almost 2 billion people worldwide are infected with helminths. Whilst the WHO treatment guidelines for helminth infections are mostly aimed ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2656-4
更新日期:2018-01-31 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:There is a continuing need for novel approaches to tick control in dogs. One such approach lies in the ability of lotilaner (Credelio™), an isoxazoline with a rapid onset of action, to provide sustained efficacy against ticks. Two studies were undertaken to confirm lotilaner's efficacy, at the minimum dose r...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章,随机对照试验
doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2477-x
更新日期:2017-11-01 00:00:00
abstract::Major efforts are currently underway to develop novel, complementary methods to combat mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquito genetic control strategies (GCSs) have become an increasingly important area of research on account of their species-specificity, track record in targeting agricultural insect pests, and their envir...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3222-9
更新日期:2018-12-24 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) have been considered an important strategy for disrupting the malaria transmission cycle, especially for Plasmodium vivax malaria, which undergoes gametocytogenesis earlier during infection. Pvs25 and Pvs28 are transmission-blocking vaccine candidates for P. vivax malari...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-224
更新日期:2011-11-28 00:00:00
abstract::Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is a blinding parasitic disease that threatens the health of approximately 120 million people worldwide. While 99% of the population at-risk for infection from onchocerciasis live in Africa, some 500,000 people in the Americas are also threatened by infection. A relatively recent arriv...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-205
更新日期:2011-10-25 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tick-borne disease with a global distribution, caused by Ehrlichia canis. The inflammatory response to E. canis infection includes changes in certain acute phase proteins (APP) and in biomarkers of the oxidative status. APP responses are considered part of the innate ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0798-1
更新日期:2015-03-23 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Merozoite proteins of the malaria parasites involved in the invasion of red blood cells are selected by host immunity and their diversity is greatly influenced by changes in malaria epidemiology. In the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), malaria transmission is concentrated along the international borders and t...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3803-2
更新日期:2019-11-20 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Cysteine peptidases of clan CA, family C1 account for a major part of proteolytic activity in the haematophagous monogenean Eudiplozoon nipponicum. The full spectrum of cysteine cathepsins is, however, unknown and their particular biochemical properties, tissue localisation, and involvement in parasite-host ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2666-2
更新日期:2018-03-06 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Carboxylesterase overproduction is a frequently observed resistance mechanism of insects to organophosphate insecticides. As a major transmitter of human diseases, mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex have evolved 13 carboxylesterase alleles (Ester) that confer organophosphate resistance. Six alleles, Est...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-5-209
更新日期:2012-09-24 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Toxoplasma gondii infections and cases of clinical toxoplasmosis have been recorded in zoo animals. Wild felids in human care can serve as definitive hosts that shed oocysts, but also as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Some felid species, such as the Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) or sand cat (Felis ma...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3706-2
更新日期:2019-09-11 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Chagas disease is a major public health concern in Latin America and it is transmitted by insects of the subfamily Triatominae, including Rhodnius spp. Since palm trees are ubiquitous in Colombia and a habitat for Rhodnius spp., the presence of palms near villages could increase contact rates between vectors...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1884-8
更新日期:2016-11-18 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Birds harbour an astonishing diversity of haemosporidian parasites. Renewed interest in avian haemosporidians as a model system has placed a greater emphasis on the development of screening protocols to estimate parasite prevalence and diversity. Prevalence estimates are often based on the molecular or blood...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2066-z
更新日期:2017-03-06 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Persistent covert infections of the myxozoan, Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, in primary invertebrate hosts (the freshwater bryozoan, Fredericella sultana) have been proposed to represent a reservoir for proliferative kidney disease in secondary fish hosts. However, we have limited understanding of how covert...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2495-8
更新日期:2017-11-02 00:00:00
abstract::Mosquito salivary proteins are involved in several biological processes that facilitate their blood feeding and have also been reported to elicit an IgG response in vertebrates. A growing number of studies have focused on this immunological response for its potential use as a biological marker of exposure to arthropod...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-33
更新日期:2011-03-08 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsiae can cause febrile diseases with or without rash in humans worldwide. In Germany only limited data are available about their medical significance. Serological screening tests for antibodies against rickettsiae usually only distinguish between SFG and Typhus Group (TG) Ric...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0745-1
更新日期:2015-03-23 00:00:00