Parasitology & Mycology December 2024 Journal Club

Keep informed about evolving science and clinical practice with our December 2024 compilation of the latest studies, guidelines, and perspectives in parasitology & mycology.

ANISAKIDOSIS

• Bellini I, Scribano D, Ambrosi C, et al. Anisakis extracellular vesicles elicit immunomodulatory and potentially tumorigenic outcomes on human intestinal organoids. Parasites Vectors. 2024;17, 393. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06471-7 
• Takano T, Sata N, Iwaki T, et al. Anisakid larvae in the skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis captured in Japanese waters: Two-year monitoring of infection levels after the outbreak of human anisakiasis in 2018. Parasitol Int. 2024;103:102938. doi:10.1016/j.parint.2024.102938

ASPERGILLOSIS

• Gibert C, Tirard Collet P, Miossec C, et al. Reverse-transcriptase real-time PCR in the diagnostic strategy for invasive infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. J Clin Microbiol. 2024;62:e00791-24. doi:10.1128/jcm.00791-24

BRUCELLOSIS

• Ketterer M, Chiquet P, Esposito M, et al. The putative type 4 secretion system effector BspD is involved in maintaining envelope integrity of the pathogen Brucella. mSphere. 2024;9:e00232-24. doi:10.1128/msphere.00232-24

CANDIDIASIS

• Kashyap B, Padala SR, Kaur G, et al. Candida albicans Induces Oral Microbial Dysbiosis and Promotes Oral Diseases. Microorganisms. 2024;12(11):2138. doi:10.3390/microorganisms12112138
• Kim M, White AM, Mitchell AP. Strain variation in Candida albicans glycolytic gene regulation. 2024;mSphere9:e00579-24. doi:10.1128/msphere.00579-24
• Morschhäuser J. Adaptation of Candida albicans to specific host environments by gain-of-function mutations in transcription factors. PLoS Pathog. 2024;20(11):e1012643. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1012643
• Rocha AR, Inada NM, da Silva AP, et al. Photodynamic inactivation strategies for maximizing antifungal effect against Sporothrix spp. and Candida albicans in an in vitro investigation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024;18(11):e0012637. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012637  
• Tesfamariam M, Vij R, Trümper V, et al. Shining a light on Candida-induced epithelial damage with a luciferase reporter. mSphere. 2024;9:e00509-24. doi:10.1128

CHAGAS

• Cruz-Saavedra L, Ospina C, Gutiérrez SA. et al. Exploring Trypanosoma cruzi transmission dynamics in an acute Chagas disease outbreak using next-generation sequencing. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17, 395. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06445-9
• Lozano N, Prescilla-Ledezma A, Calabuig E, et al. Circulating extracellular vesicles in sera of chronic patients as a method for determining active parasitism in Chagas disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024;18(11):e0012356. doi:10.371/journal.pntd.0012356

ECHINOCOCCOSIS

• Autier B, Robert-Gangneux F, Dion S. Chemotherapy for the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis: Where are we? Parasite. 2024;31:56. doi:10.1051/parasite/2024055
• Bağcı U, Ulusan Bağcı Ö. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature between 1945 and 2024 about urinary tract echinococcosis. Parasitol Int. 2024;103:102945. doi:10.1016/j.parint.2024.102945
• Kamali W, Wang SY, Luo WD, et al. Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto in the East Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China. Parasitol Res. 2024;123,388. doi:10.1007/s00436-024-08394-9
• Sun T, Yang Y, Qiu Y, et al. High PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression correlates with host immune suppression in patients and a mouse model infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. Parasit Vectors. 2024.17,437. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06511-2
• Qian YY, Huang FF, Chen SY, et al. Therapeutic effect of recombinant Echinococcus granulosus antigen B subunit 2 protein on sepsis in a mouse model. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17, 467. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06540-x
• Wang M, Deng B, Jiang T, et al. Upregulation of CD244 promotes CD8⁺ T cell exhaustion in patients with alveolar echinococcosis and a murine model. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,483. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06573-2
• Zheng W, Lv G, Li J, et al. Repurposing of a library for high-content screening of inhibitors against Echinococcus granulosus. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,373. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06456-6

FASCIOLIASIS

• Cuervo PF, Bargues MD, Artigas P, et al. Global warming induced spread of the highest human fascioliasis hyperendemic area. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,434. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06514-z 
• Tang W, Zhou Y, Li L, et al. Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola hybrid form co-existence in yak from Tibet of China: application of rDNA internal transcribed spacer. Parasitol Res. 2024;123, 366. doi:10.1007/s00436-024-08383-y

FILARIASIS

• Bytyqi A, Karas C, Pechmann K, et al. Oro-facial filariasis–A systematic review of the literature. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024;18(11):e0012610. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012610

LEISHMANIASIS

• Da Rosa G, Ries AS, Cargnelutti JF, et al. Detection of DNA of Leishmania infantum in the brains of dogs without neurological signs in an endemic region for leishmaniasis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Parasitol Res. 2024;123,372. doi:10.1007/s00436-024-08395-8
• Donato G, Baxarias M, Solano-Gallego L et al. Clinical significance of blood cell ratios in healthy and sick Leishmania infantum-seropositive dogs. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,435. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06522-z
• Israël DK, Coulibaly CA, Joël V, et al. Demographic and Clinical Features of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Chad: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Survey. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024;111(6):1192-1197. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.23-0033
• Santos IFM, Moreira D, Costa KF, et al. Ascorbate peroxidase modulation confirms key role in Leishmania infantum oxidative defence. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,472. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06562-5

TOXOPLASMOSIS

• Ahmed N, Rani NA, Robin TB, et al. Designing a multi-epitope subunit vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii through reverse vaccinology approach. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2024;260:111655. doi:10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111655
• Akins GKH, Furtado JM, Smith JR. Diseases Caused by and Behaviors Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Pathogens. 2024; 13(11):968. doi:10.3390/pathogens13110968
• Chen Y, He X, Chen Y, et al. IL-33 deficiency inhibits Toxoplasma gondii infection by promoting NLRP3 inflammasome. Parasitol Res. 2024;123,391. doi:10.1007/s00436-024-08414-8
• Kakimori MTA, Osman AM, Silva ACS, et al. Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in ruminants from Somalia. Parasitol Res. 2024;123,376. doi:10.1007/s00436-024-08397-6
• Li J, Kang Y, Wu ZX, et al. Live-attenuated PruΔgra72 strain of Toxoplasma gondii induces strong protective immunity against acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in mice. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,377. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06461-9
• Li J, Wu K, Liu X, et al. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii effects of XYP1-derived peptides and regulatory mechanisms of XYP1. Parasit Vectors, 2024;17,376. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06455-7
• Lozano TdSP, Benitez A, Santos JCd, et al. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Associated Risk Factors in Pregnant Women in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil: A Multi-Level Analysis. Microorganisms. 2024;12(11):2183.  doi:10.3390/microorganisms12112183
• Renovato RS, Amorim-da-Silva R, de Oliveira PRF, et al. Comprehensive evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep intended for human consumption in Brazil: seroprevalence, isolation, and genotyping. Parasitol Res. 2024;123,381. doi:10.1007/s00436-024-08410-y
• Scott J, Morris A, Hawley J, et al. Evaluating the significance of Toxoplasma gondii sporozoite antibodies in cats: a pilot study. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,497. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06553-6
• Sun W, Zhang F, Zhu J, et al. The microneme protein1 (MIC1) of Chinese 1 Toxoplasma regulates pyroptosis through the TLR4/NLRP3 pathway in macrophages. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,495. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06584-z
• Wang J, Lin P, Li D, et al. Analysis of the Correlation Between Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity and Alzheimer’s Disease. Pathogens. 2024;13(11):1021. doi:10.3390/pathogens13111021
• Wang Z, Jiao W, Yang Y, et al. Role of inflammasomes in Toxoplasma and Plasmodium infections. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,466. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06529-6

TOXOCARIASIS

• Winterfeld DT, Schauer B, Globokar M, et al. Comparison of different diagnostic protocols for the detection of Toxocara spp. in faecal samples of cats and dogs. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,436. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06524-x

SHISTOSOMIASIS

• Beyene B, Vaz Nery S, Lambiyo T, et al. Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminth infections among schoolchildren living along the shore of Lake Hawassa, southern Ethiopia. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,498. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06578-x
• Colt S, Edielu A, Lewander D, et al. Associations of poor water, sanitation, and hygiene and parasite burden with markers of environmental enteric dysfunction in preschool-age children infected with Schistosoma mansoni in Uganda. Trop Med Int Health. 2024. doi:10.1111/tmi.14061
• Chaponda MM, Lam HYP. Schistosoma antigens: A future clinical magic bullet for autoimmune diseases? Parasite. 2024;31:68. doi:10.1051/parasite/2024067
• El Skhawy N, Diab HE, Hassan SA, et al. Potential anti-schistosomal effect of Daflon, a repurposed drug targeting different stages of Schistosome maturity. Parasitol Res 2024;123,402. doi:10.1007/s00436-024-08418-4
• Ferreira da Silva VA, Kampel M, Silva dos Anjos R, et al. Mapping schistosomiasis risk landscapes and implications for disease control: A case study for low endemic areas in the Middle Paranapanema river basin, São Paulo, Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024;18(11): e0012582. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012582
• Neto AP, Vitoriano-Souza J, Khouri MI, et al. Co-expression gene module analysis in response to attenuated cercaria vaccine reveals a critical role for NK cells in protection against Schistosoma mansoni. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,476. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06505-0 
• Nkurunungi G, Nassuuna J, Natukunda A, et al. The effect of intensive praziquantel administration on vaccine-specific responses among schoolchildren in Ugandan schistosomiasis-endemic islands (POPVAC A): an open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Glob Health. 2024;12(11):e1826-e1837. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00280-8
• Rubio Maturana C, Dantas de Oliveira A, Zarzuela F, et al. Development of an automated artificial intelligence-based system for urogenital schistosomiasis diagnosis using digital image analysis techniques and a robotized microscope. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024;18(11):e0012614. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012614
• Sékré JBK, Diakité NR, Assaré RK, et al. Potential associations between Schistosoma mansoni infection and physico-chemical characteristics and water-related human activities in Côte d’Ivoire: a cross-sectional study. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,422. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06466-4
• Sokouri EA, Ahouty B, Abé IA, et al. Evaluation of the epidemiological situation of intestinal schistosomiasis using the POC-CCA parasite antigen test and the Kato-Katz egg count test in school-age children in endemic villages in western Côte d’Ivoire.  Parasite. 2024;31:66. doi:10.1051/parasite/2024049
• Ferreira da Silva VA, Kampel M, Silva dos Anjos R, et al. Mapping schistosomiasis risk landscapes and implications for disease control: A case study for low endemic areas in the Middle Paranapanema river basin, São Paulo, Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024;18(11): e0012582. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012582
• Zhou L, Lin P, Deng G, et al. IRF4 regulates myeloid-derived suppressor cells expansion and function in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,492. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06543-8

STRONGYLOIDIASIS

• Hall AD, Salibindla D, Luckett KM. Strongyloides Hyperinfection Syndrome and Disseminated Disease with Negative Serology. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024;111(6):1155-1156. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.24-0460
• Papaiakovou M, Cimino RO, Pilotte N, et al. Comparison of multi-parallel quantitative real-time PCRs targeting different DNA regions and detecting soil-transmitted helminths in stool. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,390. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06464-6
• Weerasekera CJ, Gunathilaka N, Menike C, et al. Detection of human strongyloidiasis among patients with a high risk of complications attending selected tertiary care hospitals in Colombo, Sri Lanka using molecular and serological diagnostic tools. Parasit Vectors. 2024;17,427. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06508-x

OTHER

• Boakye-Yiadom E, Odoom A, Osman A-H, et al. Fungal Infections, Treatment and Antifungal Resistance: The Sub-Saharan African Context. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2024;11. doi:10.1177/20499361241297525
• Lv C, Chen Y, Cheng Z, et al. Global burden of zoonotic infectious diseases of poverty, 1990–2021. Infect Dis Poverty. 2024;13,82 (2024). doi:10.1186/s40249-024-01252-x
• Salmanton-García J. Update on invasive fungal infections: emerging trends in the incidence of fungal infections in immunosuppressed patients and associated conditions. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2024;11. doi:10.1177/20499361241282835