Trends in parasitology最新文献

The regulation of gene expression in Plasmodium spp., the causative agents of malaria, relies on precise transcriptional control. Malaria parasites encode a limited repertoire of sequence-specific transcriptional regulators dominated by the apicomplexan APETALA 2 (ApiAP2) protein family. ApiAP2 DNA-binding proteins play critical roles at all stages of the parasite life cycle. Recent studies have provided mechanistic insight into the functional roles of many ApiAP2 proteins. Two major areas that have advanced significantly are the identification of ApiAP2-containing protein complexes and the role of ApiAP2 proteins in malaria parasite sexual development. In this review, we present recent advances on the functional biology of ApiAP2 proteins and their role in regulating gene expression across the blood stages of the parasite life cycle.

Integrated malaria molecular surveillance (iMMS) systems are essential for Africa's expanding malaria genomics initiatives. Here we highlight a few initiatives and demonstrate how iMMS can support evidence-based decisions and policies for National Malaria Programs and other malaria control stakeholders. We conclude with key considerations for advancing these malaria genomics initiatives towards sustainable iMMS.

Individual hosts and populations frequently harbour multiple parasite species simultaneously. Despite their commonness, the consequences of interspecific interactions among parasites for determining infection outcomes are still poorly understood. We review and propose several expectations for multiple infections involving different species. We highlight that interspecific interactions affect the outcome of competition within hosts and that heterospecific parasites engage in cotransmission, gene exchange, and reproductive interference. Studies specifically comparing intra- and inter-specific coinfections and knowledge from community ecology may be instrumental to fully understand the consequences of interspecific multiple infections for parasite life history, ecology, and evolution.

The genetics of Plasmodium as an intracellular, mostly haploid, sexually reproducing, eukaryotic organism with a complex life cycle, presents unprecedented challenges in studying drug resistance. This article summarizes current knowledge on the genetic basis of artemisinin resistance (AR) - a main component of current drug therapies for falciparum malaria. Although centered on nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs), we describe multifaceted resistance mechanisms as part of a complex, cumulative genetic trait that involves regulation of expression by a wide array of polymorphisms in noncoding regions. These genetic variations alter transcriptome profiles linked to Plasmodium's development and population dynamics, ultimately influencing the emergence and spread of the resistance.

Recent studies by Girgis et al. and de Cesare et al. promise to advance malaria genomic surveillance using inexpensive and portable long-read amplicon-sequencing technologies. These technologies allow rapid characterization of drug-resistance markers, antigenic diversity, and diagnostic target loci from dried blood spots, providing new tools for surveillance in endemic regions and informing interventions to combat malaria more effectively.

The management of parasitic nematodes calls for a shift from conventional, indiscriminate, anthelmintic use to a more precise approach, directed by diagnostics. We should accept those parasite infection intensities that have minimal impact on production and welfare rather than attempt to eliminate them. The diagnostic toolbox for gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) faces challenges due to anthelmintic resistance (AR), which is species-specific, drug-class-specific, and varies by region. We discuss which traditional tools may become obsolete and which tools need development to gain widespread use. Social science research highlights the need for dialogue between farmers and veterinarians that emphasises effective parasite management and upskilling the veterinary workforce for more sustainable practices centred on diagnostics to be adopted in practice by 2030.

Parasitoid wasps represent a group of parasitic insects with high species diversity that have played a pivotal role in biological control and evolutionary studies. Over the past 20 years, developments in genomics have greatly enhanced our understanding of the biology of these species. Technological leaps in sequencing have facilitated the improvement of genome quality and quantity, leading to the availability of hundreds of parasitoid wasp genomes. Here, we summarize recent progress in parasitoid wasp genomics, focusing on the evolution of genome size (GS) and the genomic basis of several key traits. We also discuss the contributions of genomics in studying venom evolution and endogenization of viruses. Finally, we advocate for increased sequencing and functional research to better understand parasitoid biology and enhance biological control.