Gene function in schistosomes: recent advances towards a cure
Gene function in schistosomes: recent advances towards a cure

Author: Arnon Dias Jurberg

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2015-06-17

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 2889195562

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Schistosomes are human parasites distributed worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes, especially in developing countries and impoverished regions. These neglected tropical disease (NTD) pathogens causes debilitating illnesses, which include hepatosplenomegaly, hepatic fibrosis, haemorrhagic necrotic ulcerations in the intestinal mucosa, urogenital tract diseases, in addition to cardiopulmonary, renal and neurologic lesions due to egg accumulation in the liver, intestines, uro-genital tissues and other sites. Urogenital schistosomiasis is a risk factor for bladder cancer and increases the risk of transmission of HIV infection. Despite extensive effort to control this NTD over the years, deployment on a considerable scale of commercially available drugs in endemic populations has induced the emergence of resistant isolates and raised the need to identify new targets for alternative therapies. Because of the availability of genomes of the three major species of human schistosomiasis, and through advances in functional genomics and live imaging, studies on schistosomes have now come into focus as models to investigate adaptations to parasitism and developmental biology of trematodes and cestodes, and indeed flatworms and Lophotrochozoans, at large. This Research Topic aims at gathering state-of-art essays on schistosome genetics, genetics, pathobiology and immunobiology. It also aims to highlight advances in understanding of the host-parasite relationship, in paradigms that address this NTD, and to discuss new perspectives and advances in chemotherapy and immunoprophylaxis.

Interrelationships of the Platyhelminthes
Interrelationships of the Platyhelminthes

Author: D T J Littlewood

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2014-04-21

Total Pages: 373

ISBN-13: 1482268213

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Interrelationships of the Platyhelminthes elucidates the role of the flatworms in the animal kingdom. It brings together results from an international group of experts, spanning many disciplines, who give evidence for the phylogeny of flatworms and constituent major taxa. A combined approach, using traditional comparative techniques along with the modern techniques of molecular phylogeny, is utilized to show that the monophyly of the phylum is not fully established, and that the phylum may in fact consist of two groups: the acoels and their relatives, which are basal metazoans, and the Rhabditophora, which is a more derived group.

Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis

Author: Iracilda Zeppone Carlos

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-10-28

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 3319119125

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The book presents current affairs of Sporotrichosis as emergent disease with emphasis on the potential factors associated with genetic polymorphisms in Sporothrix complex. Constitutive and inducible factors play an essential role in the response of the fungal cell to the environment as determinant in the immunopathogenicity, highlighting clinical forms of Sporotrichosis and host immunocompetence. Also, a current issue interest in zoonotic transmission showing that a cat is the animal species most affected by Sporothrix species and their importance in the involvement in the human transmission. Readers can associate parameters of experimental immune response to disease development as well as the diagnostic, prophylaxis, and therapies that can be applied in the near future.

Reproduction and Development in Platyhelminthes
Reproduction and Development in Platyhelminthes

Author: T. J. Pandian

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2020-01-28

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 1000054888

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This book is a comprehensive elucidation on aspects of reproduction and development in platyhelminthes covering from acoelids to taeniids. With the unique presence of neoblasts, turbellarians serve as a model for studies on cancer and senescence. Of ~ 27,000 species, ~ 77% are parasites; they are harmful to man and his food basket from livestock and fish. The stress hormone, cortisol level is responsible for susceptibility and resistance of the host. In digeneans, the propagatory multiplication potency is retained by all the larval forms and in either direction in sporocyst. The higher clonal diversity, mixing and selection in Second Intermediate Host (SIH) may purge inbreeding depression suffered by the fluke on propagatory multiplication in First Intermediate Host (FIH). Of 12,012 digeneans, 88% may engage 33,014 potential SIH species. They have the choice to select one among the available/awaiting 3.5 host species. The motility of vertebrate host and euryxenic flexibility/scope for selection of SIH species has increased lineage diversification in digeneans. The life cycle of cestodes is divided into aquatic and terrestrial patterns. The former includes (i) oncosphere and (ii) coracidium types and the latter (iii) hexacanth-cysticercoid, (iv) hexacanth-tetrathyridium and (v) hexacanth-cysticercus types. The share for the oncosphere, coracidium and hexacanth types is 17.0, 29.5 and 46.5%, respectively. The staggering fecundity and adoption of the intermediate host in the herbivorous/insectivorous food chain have enriched Taenioidea as the most (2,264) speciose order. Sex specific genes Smed-dmd 1 and macbol have been identified, and neuropeptides and dipeptides are involved in sexualization. Trematodes are unable to parasitize elasmobranchs, as they cannot suck body fluid/blood containing a high level of urea. Relatively higher fecundity supplemented with propagatory multiplication, incorporation of SIH in 88% species, clonal selection in SIH, and euryxenic flexibility and the widest choice for selection of SIH have led to the highest lineage diversification to render digeneans as the most speciose order in Platyhelminthes.

Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery
Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery

Author: Rossen Donev

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2021-02-22

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 0323853145

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Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery, Volume 124 discusses the latest information on protein kinases and how they modify other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them. New chapters in this release include Transport Proteins and AMPs: Implications in Human Disease, Protein kinase CK2 inhibition as a pharmacological strategy, Emerging role of Protein kinase in diabetes mellitus: From Mechanism to therapy, Dual Roles of ATP-binding site in Protein Kinases: Orthosteric inhibition and Allosteric Regulation, Pseudokinases in drug discovery and development: progress, challenges and future prospects, Comparison of knowledge-based vs. combinatorial peptide library approaches for the identification of protein kinase substrates, and more. Contains timely chapters written by well-renown authorities in their field Includes a number of high-quality illustrations, figures and tables, and targets a very wide audience of specialists, researchers and students Integrates experimental and computational methods for studying the role of protein kinases in different diseases, along with sections on the design of suitable protein kinase inhibitors for use in the treatment of patients

The Biology and Evolution of Trematodes
The Biology and Evolution of Trematodes

Author: K. V. Galaktionov

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-12-01

Total Pages: 605

ISBN-13: 9401732477

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The book by K. V. Galaktionov and A. A. Dobrovolskij maintains the tra- tion of monographs devoted to detailed coverage of digenetic tr matodes in the tradition of B. Dawes (1946) and T. A. Ginetsinskaya (1968). In this - spect, the book is traditional in both its form and content. In the beginning (Chapter 1), the authors provide a consistent analysis of the morphological features of all life cycle stages. Importantly, they present a detailed char- terization of sporocysts and rediae whose morphological-functional orga- zation has never been comprehensively described in modern literature. The authors not only list morphological characteristics, but also analyze the functional significance of different morphological structures and hypothesize about their evolution. Special attention is given to specific features of m- phogenesis in all stages of the trematode life cycle. On this basis, the authors provide several original suggestions about the possible origins of morp- logical evolution of the parthenogenetic (asexual) and the hermaphroditic generations. This is followed by a detailed consideration of the various m- phological-biological adaptations that ensure the successful completion of the complex life cycles of these parasites (Chapter 2). Life cycles inherent in different trematodes are subject to a special analysis (Chapter 3). The authors distinguish several basic types of life cycles and suggest an original interpretation of their evolutionary origin. Chapter 4 features the analysis of structure and the dynamics of trematode populations and is unusual for a monograph of this type.

Parasitology
Parasitology

Author: Eric Loker

Publisher: Garland Science

Published: 2015-03-02

Total Pages: 577

ISBN-13: 1317407725

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Parasitology: A Conceptual Approach focuses on the conceptual basis of parasitology, with the goal of providing students with an enriched view of parasites and their biology. Concentrating on concepts will enable readers to gain a broader perspective that will increase their ability to think critically about all kinds of parasitic associations. The interfaces between the study of parasitism and prominent biological disciplines such as biodiversity, immunology, ecology, evolution, conservation biology, and disease control are highlighted. Studying individual parasites is an essential part of parasitology so Parasitology: A Conceptual Approach contains an appendix which provides a concise overview of the biology of important human and veterinary parasites. End-of-chapter questions are provided, as is an instructor manual.

Parasitic Flatworms
Parasitic Flatworms

Author: Aaron G. Maule

Publisher: CABI

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 470

ISBN-13: 1845930398

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Parasitic flatworms include Cestodes (tapeworms) and trematodes (flukes, schistosomes, etc) and are the cause of a number of major diseases of medical and veterinary significance. Much recent research has focused on molecular biology and genomics. this book aims to review advances in our understanding of these and related topics such as flatworm biochemistry, immunology and physiology. Where appropriate, comparisons are made between different parasitic flatworms and between parasitic and free-living species. Contributors to the book include leading authorities from Europe, North and South America, and Australia.

Gene Prediction
Gene Prediction

Author: Martin Kollmar

Publisher: Humana Press

Published: 2019-05-19

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13: 9781493991723

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This volume introduces software used for gene prediction with focus on eukaryotic genomes. The chapters in this book describe software and web server usage as applied in common use-cases, and explain ways to simplify re-annotation of long available genome assemblies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary computational requirements, step-by-step, readily reproducible computational protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Gene Prediction: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for researchers and research groups working on the assembly and annotation of single species or small groups of species. Chapter 3 is available open access under a CC BY 4.0 license via link.springer.com.