A5028882961- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Complement system in diseases
- Malaria Research and Control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Parasitic infections in humans and animals
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
Genomic Health (United States)
2024
Wellcome Sanger Institute
2013-2022
Genomics (United Kingdom)
2014
University of Bath
2009-2012
University of Georgia
2012
Tapeworms (Cestoda) cause neglected diseases that can be fatal and are difficult to treat, owing inefficient drugs. Here we present an analysis of tapeworm genome sequences using the human-infective species Echinococcus multilocularis, E. granulosus, Taenia solium laboratory model Hymenolepis microstoma as examples. The 115- 141-megabase genomes offer insights into evolution parasitism. Synteny is maintained with distantly related blood flukes but find extreme losses genes pathways...
Parasitic nematodes (roundworms) and platyhelminths (flatworms) cause debilitating chronic infections of humans animals, decimate crop production are a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Here we report broad comparative study 81 genomes parasitic non-parasitic worms. We have identified gene family births hundreds expanded families at key nodes in the phylogeny that relevant parasitism. Examples include modulate host immune responses, enable parasite migration though tissues or...
Taisei Kikuchi, Mark Viney, Matthew Berriman and colleagues report the genome sequences of six species nematodes from Strongyloides clade nematodes, including human animal pathogens, facultative parasites a free-living species. They find that expansions astacin SCP/TAPS gene families are associated with parasitism in these Soil-transmitted genus, cause one most prevalent neglected tropical diseases. Here we compare genomes four species, pathogen stercoralis, their close relatives...
Single-cell RNA-sequencing is revolutionising our understanding of seemingly homogeneous cell populations but has not yet been widely applied to single-celled organisms. Transcriptional variation in unicellular malaria parasites from the Plasmodium genus associated with critical phenotypes including red blood invasion and immune evasion, transcriptional at an individual parasite level examined depth. Here, we describe adaptation a single-cell (scRNA-seq) protocol deconvolute for more than...
ABSTRACT We present case histories of four patients treated with artemether-lumefantrine for falciparum malaria in UK hospitals 2015 to 2016. Each subsequently presented recurrent symptoms and Plasmodium parasitemia within 6 weeks treatment no intervening travel countries where is endemic. Parasite isolates, all African origin, harbored variants at some candidate resistance loci. No evidence pfk13 -mediated artemisinin was found. Vigilance signs unsatisfactory antimalarial efficacy among...
Over 250 million people suffer from schistosomiasis, a tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms known as schistosomes. Humans become infected free-swimming, water-borne larvae, which penetrate the skin. The earliest intra-mammalian stage, called schistosomulum, undergoes series of developmental transitions. These changes are critical for parasite to adapt its new environment it navigates through host tissues reach niche, where will grow reproductive maturity. Unravelling mechanisms...
Schistosomes infect more than 200 million people. These parasitic flatworms rely on a syncytial outer coat called the tegument to survive within vasculature of their host. Although is pivotal for survival, little known about maintenance this tissue during decades schistosomes in bloodstream. Here, we demonstrate that relies stem cells (neoblasts) specify fusogenic progenitors replace tegumental lost turnover. Molecular characterization neoblasts and led discovery two flatworm-specific zinc...
Whipworms are large metazoan parasites that inhabit multi-intracellular epithelial tunnels in the intestine of their hosts, causing chronic disease humans and other mammals. How first-stage larvae invade host epithelia establish infection remains unclear. Here we investigate early events using both Trichuris muris infections mice murine caecaloids, first in-vitro system for whipworm organoid model live helminths. We show degrade mucus layers to access cells. In syncytial tunnels, completely...
Multiomic profiling of single cells by sequencing is a powerful technique for investigating cellular diversity. Existing droplet-based microfluidic methods produce many cell-free droplets, underutilizing bead barcodes and reagents. Combinatorial indexing on microplates more efficient barcoding but labor-intensive. Here we present Overloading And unpacKing (OAK), which uses system initial compartmentalization followed second aliquoting round to achieve combinatorial indexing. We demonstrate...
Abstract Background Sparganosis is an infection with a larval Diphyllobothriidea tapeworm. From rare cerebral case presented at clinic in the UK, DNA was recovered from biopsy sample and used to determine causative species as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei through sequencing of cox1 gene. same DNA, we have produced draft genome, first its kind for this species, it perform comparative genomics analysis investigate known potential tapeworm drug targets Results The 1.26 Gb genome S. currently...
Despite improvements in the CRISPR molecular toolbox, identifying and purifying properly edited clones remains slow, laborious, low-yield. Here, we establish a method to enable clonal isolation, selection, expansion of cells, using OptoElectroPositioning technology for single-cell manipulation on nanofluidic device. Briefly, after electroporation primary T cells with CXCR4-targeting Cas9 ribonucleoproteins, single are isolated chip expanded into colonies. Phenotypic consequences editing...
Background Guinea worm– Dracunculus medinensis– was historically one of the major parasites humans and has been known since antiquity. Now, worm is on brink eradication, as efforts to interrupt transmission have reduced annual burden disease from millions infections per year in 1980s only 54 human cases reported globally 2019. Despite enormous success eradication date, complication arisen. Over last few years, hundreds dogs found infected with this previously apparently anthroponotic...
Abstract Multiomic profiling of single cells by sequencing is a powerful technique for investigating cellular diversity in complex biological systems. Although the existing droplet-based microfluidic methods have advanced single-cell sequencing, they produce plethora cell-free droplets and underutilize barcoding capacities due to their low cell concentration prerequisites. Meanwhile, combinatorial indexing on microplates can index more effective way; however, it requires time-consuming...
This study examined nine prominent commercially available single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) kits across four technology groups. Each kit was characterized using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a single donor, which enabled consistent assessment of factors such as analytical performance, protocol duration and cost. The Chromium Fixed Profiling 10× Genomics, with its probe-based detection method, demonstrated the best overall performance. Rhapsody WTA Becton Dickinson...
Abstract RIC‐3 enhances the functional expression of certain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in vertebrates and invertebrates increases availability cultured cells Xenopus laevis oocytes. Maximal activity may be cell‐type dependent, so neither mammalian nor invertebrate proteins is optimal amphibian We cloned X. ric‐3 cDNA tested frog protein oocyte studies. shares 52% amino acid identity with human only 17% that Caenorhabditis elegans . used C. receptor, ACR‐16, to compare...
Abstract Over 250 million people suffer from schistosomiasis, a tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms known as schistosomes. Humans become infected free-swimming, water-borne larvae, which penetrate the skin. The earliest intra-mammalian stage, called schistosomulum, undergoes series of developmental transitions. These changes are critical for parasite to adapt its new environment it navigates through host tissues reach niche, where will grow reproductive maturity. Unravelling...
Abstract Single-cell RNA-sequencing is revolutionising our understanding of seemingly homogeneous cell populations, but has not yet been applied to single organisms. Here, we established a method successfully investigate transcriptional variation across individual malaria parasites. We discover an unexpected, discontinuous program transcription during asexual growth previously masked by bulk analyses, and uncover novel among sexual stage parasites in their expression gene families important...
Sparganosis is an infection with a larval Diphyllobothriidea tapeworm. From rare cerebral case presented at clinic in the UK, DNA was recovered from biopsy sample and used to determine causative species as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei through sequencing of cox1 gene. same DNA, we have produced draft genome, first its kind for this species, it perform comparative genomics analysis investigate known potential tapeworm drug targets The 1.26 Gb genome S. currently largest reported any flatworm....
Abstract Whipworms are large metazoan parasites that inhabit distinct multi-intracellular epithelial burrows described as syncytial tunnels, in the intestine of their hosts. How first-stage larvae invade host epithelia and establish infection remains unclear. Here, we investigate early events both using Trichuris muris infections mice murine caecaloids, first in-vitro system for whipworm infection. We show degrade mucus layers to access cells. In completely intracellular but woven through...
High-throughput single-cell sequencing is a powerful technique for investigating the cellular diversity of complex biological systems. Throughput, cost effectiveness, and experimental simplicity are crucial forefronts technological advancement in profiling single cells. We developed "overloading unpacking" (OAK), method that enables robustprofiling hundreds thousands cells effective manner. This protocol describes using OAK conjunction with Chromium Next GEM Single Cell Multiome ATAC + Gene...
Abstract Background Guinea worm – Dracunculus medinensis was historically one of the major parasites humans and has been known since antiquity. Now, is on brink eradication, as efforts to interrupt transmission have reduced annual burden disease from millions infections per year in 1980s only 30 human cases reported globally last year. Despite enormous success eradication date, complication arisen. Over few years, hundreds dogs found infected with this previously apparently anthroponotic...