Co-infections with Plasmodium knowlesi and Other Malaria Parasites, Myanmar

To determine the frequency of co-infections with Plasmodium species in southern Myanmar, we investigated the prevalence of P. knowlesi. More than 20% of patients with malaria had P. knowlesi infection, which occurred predominantly as a co-infection with either P. falciparum or P. vivax

Mapping the Binding between the Tetraspanin Molecule (Sjc23) of Schistosoma japonicum and Human Non-Immune IgG

BACKGROUND: Schistosomal parasites can establish parasitization in a human host for decades; evasion of host immunorecognition including surface masking by acquisition of host serum components is one of the strategies explored by the parasites. Parasite molecules anchored on the membrane are the main elements in the interaction. Sjc23, a member of the tetraspanin (TSP) family of Schistosoma japonicum, was previously found to be highly immunogenic and regarded as a vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis. However, studies indicated that immunization with Sjc23 generated rapid antibody responses which were less protective than that with other antigens. The biological function of this membrane-anchored molecule has not been defined after decades of vaccination studies. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, we explored affinity pull-down and peptide competition assays to investigate the potential binding between Sjc23 molecule and human non-immune IgG. We determined that Sjc23 could bind human non-immune IgG and the binding was through the interaction of the large extra-cellular domain (LED) of Sjc23 (named Sjc23-LED) with the Fc domain of human IgG. Sjc23 had no affinity to other immunoglobulin types. Affinity precipitation (pull-down assay) in the presence of overlapping peptides further pinpointed to a 9-amino acid motif within Sjc23-LED that mediated the binding to human IgG. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: S. japonicum parasites cloak themselves through interaction with human non-immune IgG, and a member of the tetraspanin family, Sjc23, mediated the acquisition of human IgG via the interaction of a motif of 9 amino acids with the Fc domain of the IgG molecule. The consequence of this interaction will likely benefit parasitism of S. japonicum by evasion of host immune recognition or immunoresponses. This is the first report that an epitope of schistosomal ligand and its immunoglobulin receptor are defined, which provides further evidence of immune evasion strategy adopted by S. japonicum

Phylogenetic Analysis of Mitochondrial Genome of Tabanidae (Diptera: Tabanidae) Reveals the Present Status of Tabanidae Classification

Tabanidae suck the blood of humans and animals, are important biological vectors for the transmission of diseases, and are of considerable economic and medical significance. However, current knowledge about the mitochondrial genome of this family is limited. More complete mitochondrial genomes of Tabanidae are essential for the identification and phylogeny. Therefore, this study sequenced and analyzed six complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences of four genera of Tabanidae for the first time. The complete mt genomes of the six new sequences are circular molecules ranging from 15,851 to 16,107 base pairs (bp) in size, with AT content ranging from 75.64 to 77.91%. The six complete mitochondrial genomes all consist of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (RRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and a control region, making a total of 37 functional subunits. ATT/ATG was the most common start codon, and the stop codon was TAA of all PCGS. All tRNA except tRNA Ser1 had a typical clover structure. Phylogeny was inferred by analyzing the 13 concatenated amino acid sequences of the 22 mt genomes. Bayesian inference, maximum-likelihood trees, and maximum-parsimony inference analyses all showed consistent results. This study supports the concept of monophyly of all genus, ratifies the current taxonomic classification, and provides effective genetic markers for molecular classification, systematics, and genetic studies of Tabanidae

Lactobacillus bulgaricus or Lactobacillus rhamnosus Suppresses NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Protects against AFB1-Induced Hepatitis: A Novel Potential Preventive Strategy for Aflatoxicosis?

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a mycotoxin found in food and feed, is immunotoxic to animals and poses significant threat to the food industry and animal production. The primary target of AFB1 is the liver. To overcome aflatoxin toxicity, probiotic-mediated detoxification has been proposed. In the present study, to investigate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of Lactobacillus bulgaricus or Lactobacillus rhamnosus against liver inflammatory responses to AFB1, mice were administered with AFB1 (300 μg/kg) and/or Lactobacillus intragastrically for 8 weeks. AML12 cells were cultured and treated with AFB1, BAY 11-7082 (an NF-κB inhibitor), and different concentrations of L. bulgaricus or L. rhamnosus. The body weight, liver index, histopathological changes, biochemical indices, cytokines, cytotoxicity, and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway were measured. AFB1 exposure caused changes in liver histopathology and biochemical functions, altered inflammatory response, and activated the NF-κB pathway. Supplementation of L. bulgaricus or L. rhamnosus significantly prevented AFB1-induced liver injury and alleviated histopathological changes and inflammatory response by decreasing NF-κB p65 expression. The results of in vitro experiments revealed that L. rhamnosus evidently protected against AFB1-induced inflammatory response and decreased NF-κB p65 expression when compared with L. bulgaricus. These findings indicated that AFB1 exposure can cause inflammatory response by inducing hepatic injury, and supplementation of L. bulgaricus or L. rhamnosus can produce significant protective effect against AFB1-induced liver damage and inflammatory response by regulating the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway

First Description of the Mitogenome Features of <i>Neofoleyellides</i> Genus (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) Isolated from a Wild Bird (<i>Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax</i>)

The Onchocercidae family is composed of more than 30 valid nematode species with notable zoonotic potential. Current limitations in molecular characterization methods and species identification are the main obstacles to a better understanding of the biology of Onchocercidae species, particularly in wildlife. This study describes for the first time the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of Neofoleyellides sp. isolated from a wild bird (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and belonging to the Neofoleyellides genus (Nematoda: Onchocercidae). The mt genome of Neofoleyellides sp. (GenBank accession number: ON641583) was a typical circular DNA molecule of 13,628 bp in size with an AT content of 76.69%. The complete mt genome comprised 36 functional subunits, including 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The most common start codon was ATT/ATG except for nad2 with TTG, and TAA was the termination codon for all protein-coding genes (PCGs). Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated and aligned amino acid sequences of the 12 PCGs showed that the trees generated using different methods (Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood) with different partition schemes shared similar topologies. The isolated Neofoleyellides sp. was placed in the Onchocercidae family and formed a sister branch with the genera Onchocerca and Dirofilaria. The entire mt genome of Neofoleyellides sp. presented in this study could provide useful data for studying the population genetics and phylogenetic relationships of Onchocercidae species

The CD4+CD25highregulatory T Cell Reconstitution after Allogenetic Stem Cell Transplantation and Its Correlations with aGVHD

Abstract Background CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell (Treg), the most significant subset of regulatory T cells, has been found to play an important role in suppressing allogenetic immune response and controlling GVHD recently. The present single-center study monitored the ratio of CD4+CD25high T cells and the expression of FOXP3 gene in peripheral blood post-transplant to assess the reconstitution of CD4+CD25high Treg early after allogenetic stem cell transplantation and its correlations with aGVHD. Methods: 22 patients undergoing allo-HSCT were enrolled. To detect the CD4+CD25+T cells and the CD4+CD25high T cells subpopulations ratio in CD4+ T lymphocytes(CD4+CD25+/CD4+ ACD4+CD25high/CD4+) Athe CD4+CD25high T cells subpopulations ratio in CD4+CD25+ T cells(CD4+CD25high/CD4+ CD25+) Aand the expression of FOXP3 mRNA in the donor graft and periperal blood frequently after transplantation with the flow cytometry and real-time PCR assays. Results: \|[Dagger]\|@CD4 +CD25high/CD4+ and CD4+CD25high/CD4+CD25+ ratios in the donor graft were significantly lower in the aGVHD group(P&amp;lt;0.05)‡AEarly after transplantation, Both groups’CD4+CD25+/CD4+ ratio in peripheral blood increased significantly than that in the donor graft(P&amp;lt;0.05).CD4+CD25high/CD4+ and CD4+CD25high/CD4+CD25+ ratios were also significantly higher than that in donor graft in the aGVHD group, but not in the no-aGVHD group.‡BThe expression of FOXP3 in two groups after transplantation increased gradually, until six months after transplantation, its expression was still below the control level(P&amp;lt;0.05). The expression of FOXP3 was lower in the aGVHD group. Conclusion: \|[Dagger]\|@The early activation and proliferation of the CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells is critical for the maintainance of immune hemostasis and the control of aGVHD.‡AThe occurrence of aGVHD is related with lower ratios of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells in CD4+T cells and activated CD4+ effector T cells.‡BaGVHD may affect the quantities of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells and the expression of FOXP3.</jats:p