Molecular and biochemical parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): A promising tool for rapid, point-of-care diagnosis of parasitic diseases in low-income countries","authors":"Kevin Polpitiya,&nbsp;Madhavi Hewadikaram","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic diseases pose a major burden throughout the globe, especially in low-income countries, which are disproportionately affected due to factors such as overpopulation, vector-control challenges, financial difficulties, etc. Because access to advanced diagnostic technologies is limited in low-income regions, early and accurate diagnosis, which is critical in preventing diseases from progressing to their fatal stages, is not possible. Methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are often impractical in such regions due to their complexity and high running costs. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a promising alternative diagnostic technology that amplifies and detects a specific DNA sequence from a sample. Its features, such as high sensitivity and specificity, affordability, simplicity and versatility, make it an attractive alternative for poorer countries. Moreover, LAMP operates under isothermal conditions, thereby reducing the need for expensive equipment. This review evaluates the applicability of LAMP to be used as an alternative POC diagnostic method for parasitic infections by comparing it with routinely used diagnostic methods. Furthermore, several emerging trends in LAMP technology, such as multiplex LAMP, reverse transcription LAMP, microfluidic chip-incorporated LAMP, digital LAMP, and single nucleotide polymorphism LAMP, are discussed, further illustrating the potential of improving the diagnostic accuracy and affordability of LAMP. The need for cost-effective and accurate diagnostic tools is critical, particularly in regions where parasitic diseases are most prevalent. LAMP represents a viable solution to reduce the burden of parasitic diseases through improved diagnostic capabilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111704"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface molecules of Leishmania: From virulence determinants to therapeutic and vaccine targets","authors":"Túlio Custódio Reis ,&nbsp;Ana Clara Lunardi Yagi ,&nbsp;Ana Laura Dias Ramos ,&nbsp;Angela Maria Arenas Velásquez ,&nbsp;Natália Caroline Costa Coelho ,&nbsp;Márcia A.S. Graminha","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leishmaniasis is a group of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) caused by protozoa of the genus <em>Leishmania</em> that affect vulnerable populations in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease manifests in cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral clinical forms. This major public health disease presents high morbidity, and despite the global impact of leishmaniasis, there are few therapeutic options available and no currently licensed human vaccines. Besides, the available therapeutic agents are associated with high toxicity and treatment failure. These limitations highlight the importance of identifying new therapeutic targets, which will contribute to the development of more effective, safer and shorter treatment options. In this context, surface molecules of <em>Leishmania</em> emerge as attractive therapeutic targets due to their roles in host cell adhesion, immune evasion, and intracellular survival. In addition to their translational potential for drug discovery and vaccine development, these surface molecules are key virulence factors that play central roles in parasite biology and disease pathogenesis. Understanding their structure and function is essential not only for elucidating mechanisms of host–parasite interaction, but also for identifying novel therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Importantly, molecules such as GP63 (a major surface metalloprotease), LPG (lipophosphoglycan), and KMP-11 (kinetoplastid membrane protein 11) combine essential biological functions with demonstrated immunogenic properties, making them promise as targets for both chemotherapeutic and prophylactic interventions. This review aims to explore the structural and functional characteristics of major surface virulence factors in <em>Leishmania</em>, highlighting their roles in the parasite–host interaction and discussing their translational potential for therapeutic and vaccine development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111702"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145206841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Computational investigation of mutations in PfCRT and PfDHFR proteins for emerging resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarial drugs","authors":"Sushruta Ghosh ,&nbsp;Deepesh Joshi ,&nbsp;Chandra Sekar Ponnusamy ,&nbsp;Bhavani Sridharan ,&nbsp;Mahesh Velusamy","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of multidrug resistance in <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> poses a serious threat to antimalarial treatment, particularly with growing resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and partner drugs like piperaquine. Mutations in key proteins, such as PfCRT (<em>P. falciparum</em> chloroquine resistance transporter) and PfDHFR (<em>P. falciparum</em> dihydrofolate reductase), play a critical role in this resistance. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is essential for the development of effective antimalarial therapies. This study aimed to investigate the structural and functional impact of polymorphisms on drug-target interactions and resistance mechanisms in <em>P. falciparum</em>. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to analyze interactions of the mutated PfCRT and PfDHFR proteins with nine antimalarial drugs, including piperaquine. The PfCRT-K76A piperaquine complex strong binding affinity (-9.5 kcal/mol) with moderate structural deviation (0.970 ± 0.202 nm) and greater solvent accessibility (246.01 ± 6.135 nm²), suggesting favourable binding conditions. The PfDHFR-N51I–piperaquine complex showed even stronger binding (-10.8 kcal/mol) but higher structural fluctuation (RMSD: 4.491 ± 1.462 nm) and increased compactness (1.861 ± 0.029 nm), which may reflect restricted ligand accommodation and possible resistance. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into how PfCRT and PfDHFR mutations contribute to drug resistance and establish a foundation for designing more effective antimalarial strategies. Future research should integrate experimental validation and explore additional resistance-associated mutations to develop targeted therapies for combating multidrug-resistant <em>P. falciparum</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111700"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding Leishmania in equines: A comparative analysis of molecular targets","authors":"Muhammad Adnan Sabir Mughal ,&nbsp;Muhammad Kasib Khan ,&nbsp;He Lan ,&nbsp;Rao Zahid Abbas ,&nbsp;Muhammad Imran ,&nbsp;Zaheer Abbas ,&nbsp;Muhammad Shahid Mehmood ,&nbsp;Sultan Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic diseases caused by <em>Leishmania</em> spp. create considerable health concerns in animals, resulting in a considerable financial impact. They causes a complex infection in equines, affecting weight gain, skin, liver, and spleen. To date, there is a lack of reports on the occurrence of <em>Leishmania</em> in equines in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, highlighting the need for molecular epidemiological surveillance. The current study focused on determining the prevalence of <em>Leishmania</em> in the equine population from District Rahim Yar Khan, Southern Punjab, Pakistan, through amplification of mitochondrial (<em>Cytochrome b</em>) and nuclear (<em>18S rRNA</em>) genes of the parasite. For this purpose, a total of 384 equine - i.e. horses, mules, and donkeys - blood specimens, determined by calculation of the sample size formula, were obtained from District Rahim Yar Khan. The parasite was examined through the Microhematocrit method under the microscope. <em>Leishmania</em> was detected from the buffy coat layer after centrifugation of blood-filled microhematocrit tubes. To detect and characterize <em>Leishmania</em> spp.at the molecular level, DNA extraction from blood samples was carried out using standardized commercial kits, followed by PCR amplification. Information on potential risk factors was gathered through a structured questionnaire. The overall prevalence of <em>Leishmania</em> infection was observed to be 2.1 % via microscopy and 7.3 % and 8.8 % by amplification of the <em>18S rRNA</em> and <em>Cytochrome b</em> genes using molecular methods. A significantly higher infection percentage was observed in female animals compared to males, and in older and underweight animals compared to younger and healthier ones. Additionally, the infection was non-significantly (P ≥ 0.05) more prevalent in gestating, non-dewormed, symptomatic, and poor body condition animals. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses confirmed that the identified gene sequences clustered within the <em>Leishmania</em> (<em>Leishmania</em>) <em>infantum</em> clade, consistent with strains reported in different animal hosts from various regions. In conclusion, the nuclear gene, i.e., <em>18S rRNA</em> proved to be a more sensitive molecular marker for detecting <em>Leishmania</em> infection in equines compared to the mitochondrial gene, i.e., <em>Cytochrome b</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111699"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145006396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pepscan and bioinformatic strategies for identification of potential B-cell epitopes for a peptide-based vaccine for tick control","authors":"Vinícius Andrade-Silva ,&nbsp;Jéssica Waldman ,&nbsp;Maria Aparecida Juliano ,&nbsp;Lucas Tirloni ,&nbsp;Itabajara da Silva Vaz Jr.","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111692","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cattle tick <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em> poses a major problem to the livestock industry worldwide, with acaricides resistance presenting an increasing challenge. On other hand, vaccination has been suggested as a better strategy for tick control, and peptide-based vaccines could be developed to target multiple tick antigens. Nevertheless, there are still limitations to the identification of epitopes in tick candidate antigens, as the bioinformatics tools currently available were developed almost exclusively based on mammalian genomes. Therefore, improving the performance of B-cell epitope predictor algorithms is essential to achieve an effective multi-epitope vaccine for tick control. The aim of this study was to reduce costs and increase the efficacy in identifying epitopes in tick antigens. We first evaluated the performance of B-cell epitope predictor algorithms in replicating the results of an <em>in vitro</em> epitope mapping result for the tick salivary serpin RmS-17 as a “benchmark”. Then the algorithm with the best performance was employed to predict epitopes for the tick salivary serpin RmS-6, and we screened the candidate epitopes based on predictions that were close to the reactive center loop (RCL), the region of the serpin that interacts with the target protease. Antibodies raised against p1RmS-6 and p3RmS-6 neutralize RmS-6 activity. Using this strategy, we were able to adjust an <em>in silico</em> algorithm predictor based on a Pepscan result to identify epitopes in another serpin. Our strategy offers a cost-effective way to identify neutralizing epitopes in serpins. Furthermore, this strategy can be applied to identify epitopes in serpins and other proteins from other tick species, potentially leading to the development of a peptide-based anti-tick vaccine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 111692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biophysical analysis of an oligomerization-attenuated variant of the Leishmania donovani dynamin-1-like protein","authors":"Ellen Wuyts ,&nbsp;Ramasubramanian Sundaramoorthy ,&nbsp;Lindsay Tulloch ,&nbsp;Pieter Monsieurs ,&nbsp;Thomas C. Eadsforth ,&nbsp;Isabel Pintelon ,&nbsp;Jean-Pierre Timmermans ,&nbsp;Jean-Claude Dujardin ,&nbsp;Malgorzata Anna Domagalska ,&nbsp;Guy Caljon ,&nbsp;Manu De Rycker ,&nbsp;Vincent L.G. Postis ,&nbsp;Susan Wyllie ,&nbsp;Yann G.-J. Sterckx","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111691","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chemotherapy is a cornerstone in the battle against leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by <em>Leishmania</em> parasites that affects millions worldwide. An alarming number of reports are describing treatment failure with currently available drugs, thereby explaining the dire need for the discovery of novel compounds, preferably with yet unexplored modes of action. In this respect <em>L. donovani</em> dynamin-1 like protein (<em>Ldo</em>DLP1) is of interest as mutations in <em>Ldo</em>DLP1 were recently shown to confer resistance to a new antileishmanial compound, suggesting it to be a potential drug target. Through a combination of biochemical, structural, and biophysical methods, we were able to show that wild-type <em>Ldo</em>DLP1 has a strong inherent propensity to self-assemble into higher-order oligomers. Guided by structural modeling, a selection of nine point mutations (including resistance markers) were screened for oligomerization behavior to generate self-assembly impaired <em>Ldo</em>DLP1 mutants that would occur in solution as dimers and/or tetramers. This led to the identification of a double mutant (G354D/R357S) that exhibits significantly altered and reduced, yet not completely abolished, oligomerization behavior. Further characterization of the <em>Ldo</em>DLP1 G354D/R357S double mutant using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed that a fraction of the protein population occurs as a dimer in solution. Additionally, SAXS analysis experimentally confirmed that <em>Ldo</em>DLP1, like other dynamin-like proteins, lacks the structurally defined pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of classical dynamins but instead possesses an intrinsically disordered B insert, grouping it among the dynamin-like proteins that play key roles in processes such as mitochondrial fission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 111691"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144862336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the efficacy of Perillyl alcohol in the treatment of Eimeria tenella infection","authors":"Qingyang Song ,&nbsp;Yihao Yu ,&nbsp;Shujing Wang ,&nbsp;Hongmei Li ,&nbsp;Xiaomin Zhao ,&nbsp;Ningning Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111690","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111690","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, there has been an increased focus on the development of novel anti-parasitic drugs that exhibit both highly efficacy and low toxicity due to growing concerns associated with the widespread use of such drugs. Natural products have garnered significant interest owing to their diverse biological activities and minimal adverse effects. In this study, we assessed the anti-<em>Eimeria tenella</em> activity of four plant compounds belonging to the Lamiaceae family, namely Perillyl alcohol, Carvone, Menthone and Perilla aldehyde. Our <em>in vitro</em> experiments demonstrated that all four compounds, particularly Perillyl alcohol, exhibited potent inhibition against sporulation formation of <em>E. tenella</em> oocyst. Furthermore, our in vivo tests revealed that treatment with these four compounds at a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly reduced oocyst shedding as well as cecal lesions and weight loss caused by <em>E. tenella</em> infection, thereby demonstrating moderate anti-<em>E. tenella</em> activity. Notably, Perillyl alcohol displayed the highest efficacy against <em>E. tenella</em> with an anticoccidial index (ACI) value of 161.4. In summary, our findings indicate that these four compounds derived from the Lamiaceae family exhibit anti-<em>E. tenella</em> activity both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>, with Perillyl alcohol displaying particularly robust inhibitory effects on <em>E. tenella</em>. It is worthy of further investigation to explore its mechanism of action and potential therapeutic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 111690"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144757144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular detection and population genetic diversity analysis of Theileria ovis in partial regions of Xinjiang, China","authors":"Na Zhou ,&nbsp;Meiling Wang ,&nbsp;Xueqing Zhao ,&nbsp;Abudukadier Mijiti ,&nbsp;Wenying Dang ,&nbsp;Licui Wen ,&nbsp;Wenyu Shi ,&nbsp;Lu Gan ,&nbsp;Caishan Li ,&nbsp;Bayinchahan Gailike","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111689","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111689","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ovine theileriosis is a disease caused by the genus <em>Theileria</em> (e.g., <em>T. ovis, T. lestoquardi</em>), preventing the sheep farming industry from developing, particularly in regions reliant on sheep for milk, meat, and associated economic benefits. However, there is limited information available on the epidemiological data and genetic diversity of <em>T. ovis</em> in Xinjiang. This study was conducted in May 2024 to investigate the molecular prevalence of <em>T. ovis</em> in sheep from five counties (Shaya, Wensu, Aketao, Keping, Awati) in Xinjiang. A total of 357 blood samples were screened for the presence of <em>Theileria</em> DNA through the amplification of the <em>18S rRNA</em> gene using PCR, the genetic diversity among the chosen <em>T. ovis</em> sequences from geographical regions (including sequences in this study) was subsequently analyzed. BLAST analysis confirmed that the detected <em>Theileria</em> pathogen was <em>T. ovis</em>. Statistical results showed that the infection rate of <em>T. ovis</em> in sheep was 44.5 % (159/357). The highest infection rate was observed in Awati County, while the lowest was recorded in Shaya County. The prevalence exhibited significant variation among the sampling sites (χ² = 115.3, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). To characterize the phylogenetic relationships within the detected <em>Theileria</em> populations, the sequenced <em>T. ovis</em> isolates were analyzed and found to be 96.6–99.8 % similar, showing a high degree of similarity to isolates from Turkey. Haplotype analysis further demonstrated that H1 constitutes the core haplotype (including sequences from Turkey, Iraq and Saudi Arabia), surrounded by derivative haplotype. To further investigate these haplotype distributions, population structure analysis revealed distinct genetic diversity patterns among groups, showing that genetic groups G1 and G4 had high haplotype diversity (Hd) but low nucleotide diversity (Pi), whereas G2 and G3 had low Hd and high Pi. In addition, Tajima's D＜0 in all four <em>T. ovis</em> populations. These biological and genetic indices suggest that these populations are possibly undergoing expansion. Our results suggest that the protozoan parasitizing local sheep is <em>T. ovis</em>. Moreover, the local population of <em>T. ovis</em> is as rich in genetic diversity and population expansion as other populations in different geographical locations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 111689"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144634423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization and immunogenicity analysis of glutathi- one S-transferase from Otodectes cynotis","authors":"Hongbo Wang,&nbsp;Meilin Tan,&nbsp;Yinbo Gui,&nbsp;Xiaofang Wu,&nbsp;Maochuan Guo,&nbsp;Ran He","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111688","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111688","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Otodectes cynotis</em> (ear mite), the primary etiological agent of feline otitis externa, represents a significant veterinary concern due to its high prevalence and treatment challenges. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), a detoxifying and immunogenic enzyme in various parasites, is a potential molecular target for vaccine development. In this study, we cloned and heterologously expressed the GST gene from <em>O. cynotis</em>, confirmed its recombinant protein activity using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as a substrate, and determined its optimal enzymatic conditions (pH 8, 30 °C). Bioinformatic analysis revealed high sequence conservation with arthropod homologs, predicted functional domains, and identified several immunogenic B- and T-cell epitopes. Molecular docking with ethacrynic acid indicated stable binding, suggesting GST as a potential drug target. This study presents the first functional and immunogenic characterization of <em>O. cynotis</em> GST, suggesting its critical role in oxidative stress mitigation and drug detoxification, and supporting its potential as an anti-mite vaccine candidate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 111688"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144567547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification and initial characterisation of Trypanosoma Cox17 copper metallochaperone","authors":"Murtala Bindawa Isah,&nbsp;Mwenya Chitembusha Kwangu,&nbsp;J.P. Dean Goldring,&nbsp;Theresa H.T. Coetzer","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111687","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111687","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper plays an essential role in organisms as a catalytic co-factor for key enzymes like cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase. Copper importation, distribution and secretion is carried out by copper transport and copper-binding proteins known as copper chaperones. Cox17 is a chaperone that conveys copper to Cox11 and Sco1 for metalation of the Cu_B and Cu_A of Cox1 and Cox2 respectively in eukaryotes. Cox17 from <em>Trypanosoma brucei brucei</em> and <em>T. congolense</em> were recombinantly expressed and affinity purified as MBP-fusion proteins. An ascorbic acid oxidation assay, a BCA-release assay and an <em>in vivo</em> growth inhibition assay confirmed the presence of copper bound to the proteins. Trypanosomal Cox17 and other copper-binding proteins are expressed at higher levels in the insect procyclic stage where cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase is active, compared to the bovine bloodstream forms. <em>In silico</em> docking models suggests possible interaction partners for Cox17.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 111687"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}