A5019288725- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Helminth infection and control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Immune cells in cancer
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Fecal contamination and water quality
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Myxozoan Parasites in Aquatic Species
- Trace Elements in Health
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- interferon and immune responses
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Protease and Inhibitor Mechanisms
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
University of Alberta
2016-2025
University of Lethbridge
2024
Beibu Gulf University
2020
University of New Mexico
2009-2010
Abstract Biomphalaria snails are instrumental in transmission of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni . With World Health Organization's goal to eliminate schistosomiasis as a global health problem by 2025, there is now renewed emphasis on snail control. Here, we characterize genome glabrata, lophotrochozoan protostome, and provide timely important information biology. We describe aspects phero-perception, stress responses, immune function regulation gene expression that support...
Invertebrates lack adaptive immune systems homologous to those of vertebrates, yet it is becoming increasingly clear that they can produce diversified antigen recognition molecules. We have previously noted the snail Biomphalaria glabrata produces a secreted lectin, fibrinogen-related protein 3 (FREP3), unusual among invertebrate defense molecules because somatically by gene conversion and point mutation. Here we implicate FREP3 in playing central role resistance major group pathogens,...
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, owes its continued success to freshwater snails that support production of prolific numbers human-infective cercariae. Encounters between schistosomes and do not always result in the snail becoming infected, part because can mount immune responses prevent schistosome development. Fibrinogen-related protein 3 (FREP3) has been previously associated with defense against digenetic trematode infection. It is member large family molecules unique...
Schistosomiasis, a devastating disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affects over 260 million people worldwide especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Schistosomes must undergo their larval development within specific species snail intermediate hosts, trait that is shared among almost all digenean trematodes. This unique long-standing host-parasite relationship presents an opportunity to study both importance conserved immunological features novel roles, as...
Abstract Mammalian macrophage CSF (MCSF; CSF-1) is the primary regulator of mononuclear phagocyte lineage. We, for first time, report complete sequencing five MCSF cDNAs from three fish species, rainbow trout, zebrafish, and goldfish. Despite difference in lengths transcripts, all molecules encode a signal peptide, CSF-1 domain, transmembrane an intracellular region. Each gene has unique exon/intron structure. The primordial may have had nine exon/eight intron In this model, insertion exon 6...
Significance Snails serve as hosts for the larval development of many medically and agriculturally important parasitic flatworms, including schistosomes, blood flukes that collectively infect more than 260 million people globally. Here, we functionally characterize a granulin-like snail growth factor drives immune cells, thereby making schistosome-susceptible resistant to infection. This study presents functional characterization an endogenous gastropod well demonstrated reversal susceptible...
Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Despite effective chemotherapeutic treatments, this disease continues to afflict hundreds millions people. Understanding natural intermediate snail hosts schistosome parasites vital suppression disease. A recently identified genomic region in Caribbean Biomphalaria glabrata snails strongly influences their resistance infection by Schistosoma mansoni. This contains novel genes having structural similarity known pathogen...
Abstract Despite over 100 years of digenean trematode parasite species descriptions, from a wide diversity vertebrate and invertebrate host species, our ability to recognize the within single lake remains an incredible challenge. The most challenging aspect is identification larval stages derived intermediate hosts, due disjointed data adult worm morphological which are named, links corresponding molecular identifiers in depauperate databases. Cryptic also play significant role challenge...
Immune factors in snails of the genus Biomphalaria are critical for combating Schistosoma mansoni, predominant cause human intestinal schistosomiasis. Independently, many these play an important role in, but do not fully define, compatibility between model snail B. glabrata, and S. mansoni. Here, we demonstrate association four previously characterized humoral immune molecules; BgFREP3, BgTEP1, BgFREP2 Biomphalysin. We also identify unique determinants plasma mansoni-resistant glabrata that...
Morphological, gene sequence, host tissue tropism, and life cycle characteristics were utilized to describe the myxozoan,
ABSTRACT The ability to accurately detect harmful aquatic invasive species in a species‐specific manner is crucial monitoring and management efforts. Canadian province of Alberta currently harbors North America's only Prussian Carp populations, addition Goldfish populations. quickly distinguish between these phenotypically similar fish, while also determining their presence various waterbodies, important tracking invasions. In this work, we develop cytochrome B–based assay, as well an...
Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) regulates mononuclear cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The functions of CSF-1 are well documented in mammals; however, little is known about biology lower vertebrates. This the first report on identification functional characterization a fish molecule expressed highly spleen phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated monocytes. Goldfish 199-amino acid protein that possesses required cysteine residues to form important intra-chain...
Swimmer's itch (cercarial dermatitis) is a nuisance encountered by bathers and recreational water users worldwide. The condition caused the penetration of larval digenean trematodes (cercariae) family Schistosomatidae, into skin, following their release freshwater from pulmonate snails that serve as intermediate hosts for these parasites. This study utilizes qPCR-based cercariometry to monitor quantify cercariae samples collected at 5 lakes in northern Michigan. resolution provided qPCR...