Molecular and biochemical parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Proteomic analysis reveals differential responses to praziquantel in two Schistosoma mansoni strains with distinct phenotypes","authors":"Marilia Bergamini Valentini,&nbsp;Tiago Manuel Fernandes Mendes,&nbsp;Fernanda Janku Cabral,&nbsp;Silmara Marques Allegretti","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111709","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111709","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Different <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em> strains may exhibit distinct phenotypes, which can influence parasite distribution, treatment outcomes, and control strategies. In this study, we conducted a label-free quantitative proteomic analysis to compare two strains of <em>S</em>. <em>mansoni</em>, Belo Horizonte (SmBH) and Sergipe (SmSE), which differ in phenotypic traits and susceptibility to praziquantel (PZQ). BALB/c mice were infected and treated with a sub-curative dose of PZQ (50 mg/kg) 45 days post-infection. Male and female worms were recovered 15 days after treatment, and pooled samples were processed for trypsin digestion and mass spectrometry. Over 1000 proteins were identified. No significant differences were observed in protein expression between untreated females of the two strains. In untreated males, 16 proteins showed differential expression: 11 upregulated in SmBH, mostly related to metabolic and energy production pathways, and 5 upregulated in SmSE. PZQ exposure did not significantly alter protein expression in SmBH worms. In contrast, SmSE males showed 74 differentially expressed proteins post-treatment, with 58 upregulated, including proteins with antioxidant and antiapoptotic functions commonly associated with drug resistance. SmSE females showed upregulation of three proteins after treatment, mostly related to cytoskeletal and muscular structure, suggesting less PZQ-induced damage. These results suggest that SmSE exhibits adaptive proteomic responses to PZQ-induced oxidative stress, which may contribute to its increased survival after treatment. Our findings provide molecular insight into strain-specific responses to PZQ and highlight potential mechanisms underlying reduced drug susceptibility in <em>S</em>. <em>mansoni</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111709"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145391441","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":"Recent advancements in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases","authors":"Sundas Afresham ,&nbsp;Muhammad Kasib Khan ,&nbsp;Muhammad Adnan Sabir Mughal ,&nbsp;Muhammad Shahid Mehmood ,&nbsp;Sultan Ali ,&nbsp;Maryam Bashir ,&nbsp;Zaheer Abbas ,&nbsp;Abdullah Azeem ,&nbsp;Waqar Ahmed ,&nbsp;Muhammad Imran ,&nbsp;Rao Zahid Abbas ,&nbsp;Zia-ud-Din Sindhu ,&nbsp;Muhammad Sohail Sajid","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic infections present a significant health risk to the public, affecting millions of people, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries. In developing countries, these infections are also responsible for causing significant economic challenges due to elevated healthcare expenditure. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment methods are essentially required to combat this global issue. For decades, traditional diagnostic methods such as microscopy, serological testing, histopathology, and culturing have been used for the diagnosis of these parasitic infections. While these methods can be effective and helpful in many ways, they often consume a lot of time, require an elevated level of expertise, and have limited applications particularly in endemic regions having issues like poor infrastructure and limited access to healthcare facilities. This review aims to highlight the urgent need for a revolution to replace these conventional techniques with more affordable, quick, and field-adjustable tools such as rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and molecular methods and provides a comprehensive picture of advanced diagnostic tools used in the identification of parasites. With the advancements in science and technology, molecular methods such as Polymerase chain reaction, Next generation sequencing, and isothermal loop-mediated amplification have remarkably enhanced the sensitivity and accuracy of parasite detection and identification. The range of these diagnostic methods has further extended by advanced serological methods, imaging techniques, and immunological methods. Moreover, the innovations in nanotechnology, CRISPR-Cas methods, and multi-omics techniques for identification of parasite DNA, antigens, metabolites, and host responses are invaluable for diagnostic accuracy, comprehensive understanding of parasite biology, and for the discovery of new therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. However, further research and developments are required for an effective and long-lasting impact of these advancements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111706"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362934","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":"Can flukes cause cancer? Insight into molecular links between parasites and carcinogenesis","authors":"Maria Paluch,&nbsp;Maja Cudzik,&nbsp;Aleksandra Kędra,&nbsp;Martyna Olszyna,&nbsp;Agata Dziura,&nbsp;Paulina Jaskulska,&nbsp;Grzegorz Król,&nbsp;Wioleta Kondziołka","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111707","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cancer deaths are increasing year by year worldwide. Many factors contribute to the development of cancer, including genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as environmental factors such as diet, physical activity, stimulants (tobacco, alcohol), exposure to excessive UV radiation, stress, and infections. In recent years, many studies have shown a strong correlation between parasitic infections and the oncogenic process leading to the development of human cancers. Studies indicate an association between progressive inflammation, risk of infection, or bacterial/viral co-infection during parasitosis and oncogenesis. This article discusses six species of flukes listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (<em>Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni, Opisthorchis viverrini</em>, <em>Clonorchis sinensis</em>, and <em>Opisthorchis felineus</em>) for their carcinogenic potential, biology, and epidemiology. Particular attention was paid to the molecular mechanisms that are altered during fluke invasion, which ultimately lead to the development of neoplastic lesions in humans and animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111707"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145370347","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":"Targeted inhibition of human Tankyrase-1 (TNKS1) by ZT-5483 exhibited anti-parasitic activity in Toxoplasma gondii: An in silico–based, high–throughput virtual screen and in vitro approach","authors":"Yasser Alraey","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111705","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111705","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and Aim</h3><div>Toxoplasmosis is considered one of the leading causes of mortality resulting from foodborne illness. This disease is caused by infection with the <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> parasite. Given the serious side effects and recurrence of resistance, there is an unmet need to develop effective novel drugs with low toxicity against <em>T. gondii.</em> This study aims to identify novel anti-parasitic compounds targeting human Tankyrase-1 involved in <em>T. gondii</em> infection using bioinformatics and <em>in vitro</em> approaches.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>For lead identification, high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) against the ChemBridge library was followed by Protein-Ligand Interaction Profiler, GROMACS, and GMX_MMPBSA techniques. Human TNKS1 (PARP5A) colorimetric assay was performed. The RH-2F strain of <em>T. gondii</em> tachyzoites that expressed beta-galactosidase was maintained in the human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) to determine the parasite growth-inhibitory efficacy of the lead candidate. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibition rate on host cell viability.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>HTVS identified ZT-5483 with favorable binding affinities of 8.8 kcal/mol towards TNKS1. Molecular dynamic simulations demonstrated stable binding interactions for ZT-5483 and TNKS1 with Root Mean Square Deviation values around 0.04 nm. The ΔG binding calculation was −43.09 kcal/mol, favoring sturdy binding. ADME analysis supported favorable small-molecule characteristics. ZT-5483 dose responsively inhibited TNKS1 activity with an IC₅₀ value of 140.8 nM. ZT-5483 suppressed the parasite growth with an IC₅₀ value of 297.8 nM. The compound's cytotoxicity to HFF host cells (TD₅₀ value) was determined to be 3354 nM. The <em>in vitro</em> toxicity index (TI) of ZT-5483 was 11.26 based on the IC₅₀ and TD₅₀ values.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Together, these findings suggest that ZT-5483 could be a potential novel candidate against <em>T. gondii</em>. However, further preclinical and pharmacological evaluations are warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111705"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318501","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":"Stage-dependent expression and vacuolar localization of Plasmodium berghei chloroquine resistance transporter (CRT)","authors":"Francois Korbmacher ,&nbsp;Manuel Rauch ,&nbsp;Sanketha Kenthirapalan ,&nbsp;Taco W.A. Kooij ,&nbsp;Alexander G. Maier ,&nbsp;Kai Matuschewski","doi":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molbiopara.2025.111703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Plasmodium</em> parasites encode a chloroquine resistance transporter (CRT), which is an integral membrane protein of the digestive vacuole and transports the antimalarial compound chloroquine out of this organelle. Here, we profiled the spatio-temporal expression of CRT during life cycle progression employing CRT-mCherry <em>Plasmodium berghei</em> parasites. We show that CRT is expressed during asexual blood stage growth and localizes to the hemozoin-containing digestive vacuole. The compartmentalized CRT-mCherry signal is also abundant in gametocytes and ookinetes, indicating that CRT continues to exert important functions in this digestive organelle up until mosquito midgut colonization. Expression is switched off during sporogony and early liver infection but CRT-mCherry is present again in mature liver stages, likely in preparation for blood infection. Together, visualization of the <em>P. berghei</em> digestive vacuole by endogenous tagging of <em>Pb</em>CRT revealed expression of this transport protein and the presence of this cellular compartment beyond asexual propagation inside erythrocytes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18721,"journal":{"name":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 111703"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280680","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":"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}