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Dirofilariasis is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by filarial nematodes belonging to the genus Dirofilaria. Sri Lanka has reported the highest prevalence of human dirofilariasis cases in Asia. Molecular-based detection of Dirofilaria vector species has not yet been conducted in Sri Lanka, which could provide more sensitive information by directly detecting and analyzing genetic material. The present study aimed to analyze the distribution of canine dirofilariasis and to determine the Dirofilaria vector species in Gampaha district, Sri Lanka, using molecular-based techniques. Mosquito sampling (n=300) was performed from October to December 2024 from different sites in Gampaha district. The gut of the mosquitoes was dissected. Genomic DNA extraction followed by PCR was performed with specific primers for Dirofilaria species. The blood samples of different dog breeds (n=500) were also collected from the Gampaha district, and they were subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing. The data were analyzed by bioinformatics tools. Analysis of the sequence data confirmed the first molecular detection of the dirofilariasis vector in Sri Lanka; Armigeres subalbatus as the potential vector mosquito for Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria asiatica n. sp. The sequence of D. repens recorded from Sri Lanka is not available in the literature/or any database, and the sequence of D. repens was also determined. Further, in different dog breeds, the infection rate of microfilariae was found to be different, and the Rottweiler breed was recorded with the highest infection rate. D. repens and D. asiatica n. sp. were found in dog blood samples. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the query sequence of the D.repens parasites isolated from the present study showed considerable homology and proximity to the D. repens recorded from India. Armigeres subalbatus is the vector mosquito for D.repens and D.asiatica n. sp., which caused canine dirofilariasis in the Gampaha district of Sri Lanka. No other mosquito species were identified as potential vectors of Dirofilaria species in the study area. This is, to our knowledge, the first D. repens sequence found in the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka. The present study findings provide very important insights for targeted vector control programs for Dirofilaria parasites in Sri Lanka.

Equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi exhibits a wide clinical spectrum ranging from acute disease to lifelong asymptomatic carriage, posing significant diagnostic and epidemiological challenges. In this cross-sectional case-control study, equines were classified as acutely infected, asymptomatic carriers, or uninfected controls based on clinical examination and quantitative PCR. Hematological and biochemical alterations were assessed, and plasma miRNA profiles were characterized using small RNA sequencing, followed by qRT-PCR validation of selected miRNAs. Cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was quantified, and integrated miRNA-mRNA target prediction, pathway enrichment, and network analyses were performed. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Acutely infected equines exhibited high parasite burden, hemolytic anemia, and pronounced upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, accompanied by widespread dysregulation of circulating miRNAs. In contrast, asymptomatic carriers maintained near-normal hematological parameters and displayed a distinct miRNA signature associated with immune regulation rather than overt inflammation. Several miRNAs showed significant correlations with parasite load, erythrocytic indices, and cytokine expression. Enriched pathways included NF-κB, JAK/STAT, TGF-β signaling, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Selected circulating miRNAs demonstrated strong diagnostic accuracy and effectively discriminated acute infection from asymptomatic carriage. These findings indicate that circulating miRNA signatures reflect disease severity and immune status in T. equi infection, highlighting their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and providing insight into miRNA-mediated immune modulation underlying equine piroplasmosis.

Avian malaria parasites and related haemosporidians are diverse and widespread vector-borne parasites that circulate within complex host-vector networks. Despite their ecological importance, their diversity and circulation within mosquito communities remain poorly understood in temperate North America. The Midwestern United States, located along major North American migratory flyways, supports diverse avian habitats and mosquito assemblages, providing an ideal setting to investigate these interactions. Here, we characterized the occurrence, phylogenetic diversity, and mosquito-lineage associations of avian haemosporidians in mosquitoes. A total of 233 pools comprising 6170 unfed female mosquitoes from seven species were collected from 38 protected natural areas in northern, central, and southern Illinois. Samples were screened for avian haemosporidian DNA by nested PCR targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Positive samples were analyzed by multiplex PCR and sequencing to identify parasite lineages and assess potential mixed infections. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed, and mosquito-lineage associations were visualized using a bipartite network. Infection rates were estimated using maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and minimum infection rate (MIR), and factors associated with infection prevalence in pooled samples were evaluated using pooled-binomial regression. Of 233 pools, 44 (18.9%) were positive for avian haemosporidians. Eleven lineages were identified, including nine Plasmodium and two Haemoproteus lineages; one Plasmodium lineage was novel. pTUMIG03 (Plasmodium unalis) was the most frequently detected lineage, whereas pSYAT05 (P. vaughani) showed the broadest mosquito distribution. Culex restuans harbored the highest lineage diversity and infection rate among the mosquito species examined. Mosquito species was a significant predictor of infection prevalence estimated from pooled samples, and Cx. restuans was most strongly associated with avian Plasmodium detection. Additionally, a deer-associated non-avian Plasmodium lineage was incidentally detected in two pools. Mosquito populations in Illinois harbor a diverse assemblage of avian haemosporidians, with heterogeneous lineage distributions across mosquito taxa. Culex restuans emerged as the species most strongly associated with avian Plasmodium prevalence, suggesting an important role in local enzootic circulation. These findings expand current knowledge of avian haemosporidian diversity in North American mosquito communities and provide a basis for future studies integrating mosquito surveillance, avian host sampling, and vector competence experiments.

Potassium superoxide (KO2), a superoxide anion donor, can be applied to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggered pain and inflammation. trans-Chalcone (TC) is an atypical flavonoid because its molecular structure does not possess intrinsic antioxidant properties. This characteristic allows investigating the mechanisms of action of flavonoids excluding inherent chemical antioxidant effect. In the present study, we investigated the activity and mechanisms of TC in a model of inflammation and pain triggered by a superoxide anion donor, which to our knowledge have not been assessed yet. Overt pain-like behavior, mechanical hyperalgesia, edema, leukocyte recruitment, oxidative stress markers, cytokine dosage by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation by Western blotting, mRNA expression by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and neuronal activity by calcium levels were assessed. TC was administered orally 30 min before stimulation with KO2, and a dose of 30 mg/kg was selected based on previous study. TC inhibited abdominal contortion, mechanical hyperalgesia, paw edema, and myeloperoxidase activity (an indirect marker of macrophage/neutrophil recruitment). TC induced antioxidant activity (assessed by ferric reducing ability and free radical scavenging), while reducing superoxide anion production and lipid peroxidation, at least in part, by upregulating Nrf2 and downregulating Gp91phox and Cox-2 mRNA expression. TC inhibited KO2-induced NF-κβ phosphorylation as well as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, and IL-33 production. Finally, TC reduced the activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1+) and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1+) nociceptive neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. These results demonstrate that the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of TC involve neuronal and non-neuronal mechanisms, and that non-antioxidant flavonoids are still biologically active.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a major global health challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings where coinfections like toxoplasmosis exacerbate morbidity and mortality. Due to limited epidemiological and serological data on Toxoplasma gondii infection and its association with HIV disease progression, particularly in Egypt, this study aimed to assess the T. gondii serological profile in Egyptian HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients compared with controls, and to identify independent predictors of anti-Toxoplasma IgM seropositivity. This cross-sectional study included 274 adult participants divided into two equal groups: HIV-positive and controls. IgG and IgM antibodies were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HIV infection was confirmed by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA), and viral load was measured by real-time PCR. IgM and isolated IgM (IgG-/IgM+) positivity were significantly higher, whereas dual seronegativity (IgG-/IgM-) was significantly lower in HIV patients (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.001, p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.001, and p=&#xa0;0.037). However, IgG positivity, isolated IgG (IgG+/IgM-), and dual seropositivity (IgG+/IgM+) did not differ significantly. Median HIV viral load was 2200 (IQR: 500-32,000) IU/mL, with most patients in stage 1 (99/137; 72.3%). Significant correlations were found between CD4 count, HIV stage, and viral load (all p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.001). Both viral load and CD4 showed good discriminatory performance in predicting IgM seropositivity (AUC: 0.857 and 0.821, p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.001). Multivariate analysis identified advanced HIV stage, high viral load, low CD4, and weight loss as independent predictors of IgM seropositivity (all p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.001). HIV/AIDS patients have a significant burden of T. gondii infection. Targeted serological screening and integration of clinical, immunological, and virological markers are essential for early detection and management in high-risk individuals.

Pancreatic islets of Langerhans are central to the pathogenesis of all major forms of diabetes. The ability to study human islets ex vivo has advanced our understanding of diabetes and aided in the development of novel therapeutics. However, for decades, very few laboratories had access to this critical resource and experiments on human islets were typically underpowered. More recently, multiple consortia around the world have started to enable islet biology at scale, enriching our understanding of the intra-individual variability of islet function and disease mechanisms. This article reviews and compares existing large-scale human islet tissue and data resources, offering suggestions for their improvement and for developing new resources.

Sialic acid commonly decorates the surface of cells and secreted proteins of Eukaryotes. It plays roles in cell signalling and adhesion, affects immune reactions and alternative complement pathways, and neurogenesis. While sialic acid is a saccharide present in high abundance in vertebrates, its minor representation was reported in arthropods and among medically necessary parasites. Ixodes ricinus tick is a significant vector of pathogens causing severe infections in humans and livestock. It has been known mainly through indirect evidence that sialylated glycoproteins are present in tick tissues. As a blood-feeding parasite, the host's blood, full of sialylated molecules, could be the source of such glycoproteins within the tick's body. To detect solely the tick sialylated glycoproteins, we used an azide-modified precursor of sialic acid to be metabolically incorporated by the tick cell line IRE/CTVM20 originating in this tick or by ticks if the corresponding biosynthetic pathway is present and active. Our I. ricinus genome screen revealed two sialyltransferase genes, which were expressed in all ticks' life stages, and we confirmed sialyltransferase activity in tick cells. We combined in vitro feeding along with Click chemistry to track the presence of sialylated glycoproteins from fed female ticks through their eggs to the larvae. Similarly, sialylated glycoproteins were produced by the IRE/CTVM20 cell line. Thus, we confirmed the ability of ticks to produce their own sialylated glycoproteins in addition to those originating from the host blood.

Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen responsible for invasive nosocomial infections with high mortality rates. Recent detection of C. auris in natural environments suggests the existence of an environmental reservoir, prompting investigation into the potential role of azole fungicides used for plant protection in the development of resistance to antifungals used in human medicine. Here, we assessed the impact of azole fungicides on in vitro resistance development in two C. auris strains (B11220 and B11221) through sequential exposure to epoxiconazole, propiconazole, or tebuconazole. Exposure resulted in a rapid and significant increase in fungicide MICs, accompanied by a reduced susceptibility to four azole antifungals (fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole), and to a new antifungal agent, the manogepix. Several strains with elevated MICs exhibited stable phenotypes and were associated with a mutation in the TAC1B gene. One of these strains showed a significant overexpression of the efflux pump CDR1. These findings provide experimental evidence that azole fungicides can drive resistance to azole antifungals and reduce susceptibility to manogepix, underscoring the need for integrated One Health antifungal stewardship strategies to combat C. auris. Candida auris is a yeast that causes infection in humans and has been detected in the environment. We have shown that fungicides used in agriculture can reduce the susceptibility of C. auris to antifungal drugs used in human medicine.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is frequently preceded by new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM), yet differentiating PDAC-associated DM from type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains clinically challenging. We investigated whether plasma proteomic profiling combined with machine learning could discriminate these conditions. Plasma samples from individuals with PDAC (with and without DM), long-standing T2D, and controls were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Spectral features were processed through a nested cross-validation framework to prevent data leakage, and model interpretability was explored using SHAP values. In parallel, low-molecular-weight proteins were characterized by GeLC-MS followed by LC-MS/MS and differential abundance analysis. Machine learning models distinguished PDAC-associated DM from T2D with a balanced accuracy of 85%. Proteomic analyses identified distinct signatures in PDAC- associated DM, including downregulation of erythrocyte-related proteins and PPBP, and upregulation of acute-phase reactants such as FGA, CP, and SERPINA3. Treatment-na&#xef;ve cases displayed increased circulating epithelial and keratin-associated proteins, which were attenuated after therapy, suggesting dynamic tumor-related remodeling. These findings demonstrate that integrating MALDI-TOF profiling with machine learning can capture plasma signatures associated with PDAC-associated DM. Although exploratory, this approach supports further validation in prospective cohorts aimed at improving PDAC risk stratification among individuals with NODM. SIGNIFICANCE: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a dismal 5-year survival rate, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis. The frequent occurrence of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) as a paraneoplastic syndrome offers a critical window for early detection. However, the clinical challenge of distinguishing PDAC-associated diabetes (PDAC-DM) from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) has hindered the implementation of effective screening strategies. This study addresses this significant clinical problem by leveraging a multi-faceted proteomics approach. We demonstrate that the integration of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry peptide profiling with machine learning algorithms can accurately discriminate PDAC-DM from T2D with 85% accuracy. Furthermore, we used LC-MS/MS to identify specific low molecular weight proteins that are differentially regulated between these conditions, providing a molecular basis for the observed discrimination. Our work is significant as it presents a novel, high-throughput pipeline for biomarker discovery that combines the scalability of MALDI-TOF with the analytical power of LC-MS/MS and machine learning. The identified plasma signatures hold strong translational potential to improve risk stratification in patients with new-onset diabetes, ultimately enabling earlier diagnosis of PDAC and improving patient survival prospects. This research directly contributes to the field of clinical proteomics by providing a robust methodological framework and candidate biomarkers for the early detection of one of oncology's most challenging diseases.

We quantified incident pregnancies among reproductive-aged women with and without Schistosoma haematobium infection. Among 245 women, 59 (24.1%) became pregnant during a median follow-up of 370 days. Women with S. haematobium infection had a 52% lower rate of pregnancy within the study period compared with uninfected women (hazard ratio = 0.48 [0.29-0.80], P = .005).

BACKGROUND Toxocariasis has a wide geographic distribution, with high prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions. Ocular larva migrans is one of the most common manifestations in China and classically presents with peripheral granuloma, posterior granuloma, and chronic endophthalmitis. This report describes an atypical case of ocular toxocariasis in an adolescent male patient, initially misdiagnosed as chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. CASE REPORT A 17-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with a 4-month history of progressive vision loss in his right eye, initially misdiagnosed as chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, at a nearby facility. Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy identified a tractional retinal detachment accompanied by a granulomatous tubercle above the temporal peripheral retina in his right eye. The diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis was established by aqueous humor analysis, which revealed markedly elevated intraocular anti-Toxocara IgG levels and a significantly increased Goldmann-Witmer coefficient. The patient subsequently underwent scleral buckling, and 532 nm retinal laser photocoagulation 1 day after scleral buckling, resulting in successful anatomical reattachment. However, he developed retinal granulomatous lesions and vitritis 5 months following the surgery. Oral prednisone and albendazole effectively controlled intraocular inflammation and prevented further granulomatous progression. CONCLUSIONS Ocular toxocariasis may present with nonspecific findings, and serology and the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient are crucial for diagnosis. Scleral buckling is recommended for proliferative retinal changes, with adjunctive systemic therapy and long-term follow-up to prevent recurrence and preserve vision.

Tubulin polyglutamylation is a post-translational modification that modulates microtubule interactions with associated proteins and motor proteins, thereby contributing to the regulation of microtubule dynamics. Although its roles are well established in higher eukaryotes, the functional significance of this modification in protozoan parasites remains poorly understood. In the present study, we characterize two polyglutamylases, TTLL4C and TTLL6B, in the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, a protozoan organism that possesses a subpellicular, nematic array of highly stable microtubules. Using gene knockout and overexpression approaches combined with immunofluorescence, western blotting, and mass spectrometry, we show that TTLL4C functions as an initiator for &#x3b1;-tubulin polyglutamylation, specifically catalyzing monoglutamylation at residue E445. Loss of TTLL4C perturbs posterior cytoskeletal architecture, resulting in blunt cell ends and reduced cell length. By contrast, TTLL6B functions as an elongase with preferential activity on &#x3b2;-tubulin, extending polyglutamate chains after initiation. TTLL6B depletion results in an elongated cell morphology, organelle mispositioning, and delayed cytokinesis. Together, these findings delineate complementary roles of TTLL4C and TTLL6B in maintaining cytoskeletal integrity and cell shape in T. brucei, underscoring the importance of balanced polyglutamylation for morphogenesis and cell cycle progression in kinetoplastids. Post-translational modifications of microtubules, collectively known as the tubulin code, are increasingly recognized as key determinants in the modulation of microtubule properties. Notably, these modifications have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including specific forms of neurodegeneration and ciliopathies. A comprehensive understanding of this regulatory layer is therefore of considerable biological and medical significance. Moreover, the conservation of tubulin post-translational modifications across eukaryotic evolution underscores their fundamental cellular importance. In this study, the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is used as a model system to examine the functional roles of two microtubule polyglutamylases, TTLL4C and TTLL6B. The findings reveal that these enzymes are essential for maintaining cytoskeletal integrity, cell morphology, organelle positioning, and normal cell growth. Collectively, this work advances our understanding of microtubule regulation and highlights the broader cellular functions governed by tubulin polyglutamylation.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the main agents of campylobacteriosis, a globally prevalent foodborne illness predominantly linked to the consumption of contaminated poultry products. The increasing antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter requires innovative control strategies throughout the poultry production chain. Bacteriophages, highly specific bacterial viruses, represent a promising biocontrol approach capable of selectively targeting Campylobacter without disrupting the natural microbiota. However, early-stage validation in intermediate models, such as Galleria mellonella, is essential to ensure safety and efficacy before application in poultry, as has been established for other zoonotic pathogens. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of a novel four-phage cocktail targeting Campylobacter. In vitro assays showed that the phage cocktail successfully lysed all 13 strains tested, and each individual phage displayed a broad lytic spectrum, with most strains being susceptible to multiple phages. In vivo virulence screening in G. mellonella revealed marked strain-dependent virulence, with only five of 13 strains reducing larval survival below 50%. Phage efficacy in vivo was optimized using C. jejuni CJE065, the most virulent strain in the model. The phage cocktail applied at MOI 10 increased the G. mellonella survival from 25.5% in untreated controls to 57.5% (p <&#x202f;0.001), whereas lower MOIs provided only transient protection. Phage-antibiotic therapy combining phage cocktail and either erythromycin or ciprofloxacin further enhanced larval survival rates, reaching up to 88.8 and 83.8%, respectively (p <&#x202f;0.001). Overall, these findings support the potential use of this phage cocktail as an early-stage intervention against Campylobacter and highlight G. mellonella as a suitable intermediate model for optimizing phage-based treatments while reducing the need for vertebrate models.

Anemia remains a significant global public health challenge, affecting approximately 25% of the world's population and disproportionately impacting pregnant women, with an estimated 40% prevalence worldwide. Intestinal helminth infections exacerbate this burden, with anemia prevalence reported as high as 55.6% among infected pregnant women compared to 16.4% in those uninfected. This study aimed to determine the burden of anemia and its determinants among pregnant women with helminthiasis attending antenatal care at tertiary Hospitals in western Uganda. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st November 2022-1st March 2023, enrolling 420 pregnant women diagnosed with helminthiasis attending antenatal clinics. Data were collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires and laboratory records. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 23 to identify factors independently associated with anemia. Results: The prevalence of anemia was 26.2% (95% CI: 22.2-30.6), with 39.1% (95% CI: 30.5-48.4) mild, 35.5% (95% CI: 27.1-44.7) moderate, and 25.5% (95% CI: 18.2-34.3) severe cases. Multivariate analysis showed that moderate and heavy hookworm intensities increased anemia risk nearly two-fold (aOR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.16-3.54; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.028) and 2.4-fold (aOR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.06-5.41; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.041), respectively. Protective factors included being a student (aOR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.05-0.63; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.008), deworming &#x2265;3 months prior (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01-0.88; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.038), using borehole water (aOR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.36-1.00; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.048), and gestational age 14-27 weeks (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.35-0.92; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.020). Conclusions: Maternal anemia showed a clear dose-response with hookworm intensity, with risk increasing from moderate to heavy infection. Delayed deworming and unsafe water increased odds, whereas being a student and second-trimester gestation were protective. Timely anthelminthic treatment, improved water access, and strengthened antenatal care are critical in endemic settings.

Natural enemies are a good alternative for pest control. To enhance their role as biocontrol agents, understanding their biology and ecology is necessary. Pentatomid hemipterans are pests of important crops, and tachinids are natural enemies of their adult stage. Neobrachelia edessae (Diptera: Tachinidae) is a Neotropical parasitoid fly of the stink bug Edessa meditabunda (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), with practically unknown biology. We evaluated the life history of this parasitoid when developing on adults of E. meditabunda, and described the morphology of larval instars. Differences in developmental times and longevity were evaluated considering the number of parasitoid larvae per host, sex of the parasitized host and sex of the fly offspring. Egg to pupa development time was affected by the number of larvae developing within the host. On average, 27&#xa0;days were needed to complete larval development if there was a single larva per host, whereas 30&#xa0;days on average were needed when more than one larva developed within a host. Pupa to adult development time was on average 19&#xa0;days, and average adult longevity was 11&#xa0;days. Developmental time and longevity of parasitoid offspring were not affected by either host sex or parasitoid sex. Given that biological information for this species is scarce, as is the case for most tachinid species, these results are relevant for the design of biological control programs in the future.

Parasitological studies in Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch), with emphasis on the identification of monopisthocotyls have reported 17 species, but only one has been documented from Peru. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to record the dactylogyrids that parasitize H. malabaricus acquired in the Peruvian Amazon. Twenty H. malabaricus were collected in Zungaro Cocha market, in Iquitos, Loreto, Peru. Parasites were removed from gills or sediment with dissection needles, and specimens were cleared in Hoyer's medium to study sclerotized structures. Two new species were registered; Urocleidoides fasacoi n. sp. that resembles U. vanini Santos-Neto & Domingues, 2023 in the morphology of the MCO, but it differs mainly by the number of rings (five and a half vs. three and a half), additionally in presence of a sclerotized vaginal sclerite and Urocleidoides chuquipiondoi n. sp. Urocleidoides chuquipiondoi n. sp. resembles U. macrosoma Santos-Neto & Domingues, 2023 in the morphology of the MCO that is a sclerotized tube with one counterclockwise ring, but it differs mainly by the absence of vaginal sclerite, additionally presents longer anchors with straight point. The discovery and description of two new species of Urocleidoides increases the number of valid species to 87, highlighting the first two species of this genus described from Peruvian Amazon.

The host's ability to clear parasites (resistance) and their capacity to reduce the impact of a given parasite burden (tolerance) is often described under conditions of a single pathogen challenge. We developed a mouse infection model to investigate the impact of co-infection on host resistance and tolerance to Heligmosomoides bakeri. C57BL/6 mice were infected with the helminth parasite H. bakeri and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), that both reside in the small intestine. Two infection protocols were used to also investigate the impact of the order of pathogen administration on host resistance and tolerance (H-V protocol: helminth first and V-H protocol: virus first). Non-infected controls, H.bakeri only and TMEV only infected animals were also included. Our data showed that co-infection in the H-V protocol, resulted in significantly improved resistance to H.bakeri, as measured by 30% lower number of H. bakeri recovered (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.023) and a 57% reduction in eggs in colon (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.035) compared to mice infected with H. bakeri only. It also led to a 39% improvement in tolerance against H. bakeri infection compared to mice infected with H. bakeri only (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.052). The positive impact on the resistance to H. bakeri was evident but less pronounced in mice in the V-H protocol. Our hypothesis that resistance and tolerance of animals are penalised from increased pathogen load is rejected with important implications for disease control.

Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are Aedes-borne diseases (ABDs) of global health significance. Epidemiological studies with sensitive case detection are critical for evaluating vector control strategies to prevent ABDs; however, data on which surveillance method is most effective are limited. The performance of five surveillance methods (home visits, phone calls, SMS reminders, toll-free phone line (TF) and the Ministry of Health surveillance platform) was assessed, and the clinical characteristics of ABD cases in the targeted indoor residual spraying trial, which quantified the efficacy of preventive indoor residual insecticide applications against ABDs in Merida, Mexico, were described. A cohort of 4,461 children was monitored over three transmission seasons (July-December 2021-2023), with surveillance methods rotated weekly to detect illnesses. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests compared the time from symptom onset to laboratory testing across methods. Analysis of variance, t- and &#x3c7;2 tests assessed differences in utilization of surveillance methods across demographic factors. Of 1,902 illnesses detected, 920 (48.4%) met suspected ABD criteria; 825 provided blood samples (89%), and 422 (51%) were confirmed as ABDs. Dengue represented 70.4% of confirmed cases (n = 297/422). Among confirmed cases, clinical manifestations were diverse, with fever (>94%), myalgia (80-100%), and headache (70-100%) being most frequent. Twenty-seven patients (9%; n = 27/297) had dengue with warning signs. TF detected 55.2% (n = 233/422) of confirmed cases and achieved the fastest time to laboratory testing. These results demonstrate case detection can be optimized. TF proved effective in rapidly identifying symptomatic reports, underscoring the value of integrated, low-barrier reporting systems for early arboviral detection.

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound exhibits various bioactivities, including antimalarial and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the long-term antimalarial effects of curcumin through in vivo experiments using Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice, complemented by in vitro and in silico analyses targeting the plasmodial GSK3 protein. Through in vitro, the antimalarial activity of curcumin was assessed on P. falciparum K1 (multi-drug resistant strain) and 3D7 (sensitive strain) as well as P. knowlesi A1H1 of Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay, alongside cytotoxic effects on Vero cells using the MTT assay. Curcumin demonstrated its bioactivity to disrupt the parasite's growth and replication based on the effective inhibition on both P. falciparum (3D7 EC50=8.11&#xb5;M; K1 EC50=31.21&#xb5;M) and P. knowlesi (EC50=4.51&#xb5;M). Molecular docking studies explored curcumin's interaction with the ATP-binding pocket of P. falciparum glycogen synthase kinase-3 (PfGSK3) with favourable binding affinity (-8.72kcal/mol), revealing it potential as a selective inhibitor. Further, in vivo experiments validated curcumin's immunomodulatory activities and therapeutic effects in P. berghei-infected mice. Prolonged curcumin treatment has shown to significantly reduce the parasitaemia compared to the controls. Cytokine profiling via ELISA showed enhanced levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-4) and decreased pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-&#x3b1;, IFN-&#x3b3;), mitigating systemic inflammation associated with malaria. Histopathological analysis revealed reduction of tissue damage in the curcumin-treated mice, including decreasing parasite sequestration, inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatocyte necrosis and hemorrhages. This study highlights curcumin's potentials in inhibiting PfGSK3, regulating immune responses, and attenuating tissue damage which support its therapeutic role against malarial infection.