A5063678380- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Helminth infection and control
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Malaria Research and Control
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Parasitic infections in humans and animals
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses
Smith College
2016-2025
University of Massachusetts Amherst
2013-2024
University of Oxford
2020-2024
John Radcliffe Hospital
2020-2024
Oxford Brookes University
2023
Jackson Memorial Hospital
2021
Hampton University
2021
Mississippi State Department of Health
2021
Federation University
2021
University of Mississippi Medical Center
2021
Parasitic nematodes that cause elephantiasis and river blindness threaten hundreds of millions people in the developing world. We have sequenced approximately 90 megabase (Mb) genome human filarial parasite Brugia malayi predict 11,500 protein coding genes 71 Mb robustly assembled sequence. Comparative analysis with free-living, model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans revealed that, despite these having maintained little conservation local synteny during 350 million years evolution, they...
Background The soil transmitted helminths are a group of parasitic worms responsible for extensive morbidity in many the world’s most economically depressed locations. With growing emphasis on disease mapping and eradication, availability accurate cost-effective diagnostic measures is paramount importance to global control elimination efforts. While real-time PCR-based molecular detection assays have shown great promise, date, these utilized sub-optimal targets. By performing next-generation...
Successful mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns have brought several countries near the point of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) elimination. A diagnostic tool is needed to determine when prevalence levels decreased a that MDA can be discontinued without threat recrudescence. six-country study was conducted assessing performance seven tests, including tests for microfilariae (blood smear, PCR), parasite antigen (ICT, Og4C3) and antifilarial antibody (Bm14, PanLF, Urine SXP). One community...
We developed and evaluated real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti DNA in human blood mosquitoes. An assay based on detection of the W. "LDR" repeat sequence was more sensitive than an Wolbachia 16S rDNA. The LDR-based microfilarial dried membrane filters or filter paper. also compared PCR with conventional (C-PCR) mosquito samples collected endemic areas Egypt Papua New Guinea. Although two methods had comparable sensitivity filarial reference...
This paper is the first large-scale molecular phylogenetic study on filarial parasites (family Onchocercidae) which includes 16 species of 6 genera : Brugia beaveri Ash et Little, 1964 ; B. buckleyi Dissanaike Paramananthan, 1961 malayi (Brug, 1927) Buckley, 1960; pahangi (Buckley Edeson, 1956) patei (Buckley, Nelson Heisch, 1958) timori Partono al, 1977; Wuchereria bancrofti (Cobbold, 1877) Seurat, 1921; W. kalimantani Palmieri , Purnomo, Dennis and Marwoto, 1980; Mansonella perstans...
To identify Wuchereria bancrofti DNA sequences that could be used as the basis for a simple and rapid parasite detection assay, genomic library of W. was constructed screened highly repeated DNA. The repeat found with highest copy number 195 basepairs (bps) long, 77% AT, 300 copies per haploid genome. This sequence designated Ssp I because it has unique recognition site restriction endonuclease in all or most copies. family is dispersed, genus-specific, exists different geographic isolates...
A 320-base-pair repeated sequence was observed when DNA samples from the filarial parasites Brugia malayi and pahangi were digested with restriction endonuclease Hha I. 640-base-pair dimer of B. inserted into plasmid pBR322. When dot hybridization used, copy number repeat in found to be about 30,000. The I sequences are arranged direct tandem arrays comprise 12% genome. has a related that cross-hybridizes cloned repeat. Dot shows is present but not four other species parasites. an extremely...
This study employed various monitoring methods to assess the impact of repeated rounds mass drug administration (MDA) on bancroftian filariasis in Papua New Guinea, which has largest problem Pacific region.
Seven rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) have been administered in Leogane, Haiti, an area hyperendemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF). Sentinel site surveys showed that the prevalence microfilaremia was reduced to <1% from levels as high 15.5%, suggesting transmission had reduced. A separate 30-cluster survey 2- 4-year-old children conducted determine if MDA interrupted transmission. Antigen and antifilarial antibody were 14.3% 19.7%, respectively. Follow-up done 6 villages, including...
Helminth and protozoan infections affect more than 1 billion children globally. Improving water quality, sanitation, handwashing, nutrition could be sustainable control strategies for parasite mass drug administration, while providing other quality of life benefits.We enrolled geographic clusters pregnant women in rural western Kenya into a cluster-randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01704105) that tested 6 interventions: treatment, improved handwashing with soap, combined...
Background Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are increasingly being used as diagnostic tools for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs; Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and A. ceylanicum), Strongyloides stercoralis Schistosoma in human stool. Currently, there is a large diversity of NAATs applied, but an external quality assessment scheme (EQAS) these diagnostics lacking. An EQAS involves blinded process where test results reported by...
We have used a tag sequencing approach to survey genes expressed in the third stage infective larvae of human filarial nematode parasite Brugia malayi. RNA was isolated from late vector-stage L3 after days 9 or 10 infection mosquitos, and converted cDNA by reverse transcriptase. Double-stranded produced either conventional methods (non-SL library) PCR using spliced leader (SL1) oligo(dT) primers (SL library). Two clone libraries (one SL one non-SL cDNAs) were constructed lambda ZapII. A set...
Human blood samples and indoor-resting Culex pipiens were collected in 33 randomly selected houses from different sectors of a village the Nile Delta Egypt which was endemic for Wuchereria bancrofti. Blood also subjects with no history living filarial areas. divided assessed by both membrane filtration polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Similarly, mosquito dissection PCR. pools representing each household tested If pool gave positive result, then individual specimens Of tested, assayed PCR...
There is need for sensitive, rapid, species-specific diagnosis of Brugia filarial parasites because traditional methods are tedious and time-consuming, with little guarantee species specificity. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed using the Hha I family highly repeated DNA sequences from Brugia. The tested on 124 human blood samples collected in a field study Indonesia. These included 66 microfilaria-positive patients an area endemic Brugia, 30 healthy individuals...
The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) was launched in 2000. To understand why some national programs have been more successful than others, a panel of individuals with expertise LF elimination efforts met assess available data from 8 countries. goal identify: 1) the factors determining success for (defined as rapid, sustained reduction microfilaremia/antigenemia after repeated mass drug administration [MDA]); 2) priorities operational research enhance efforts. Of 40...
A total of 688 isolates Campylobacter jejuni and coli were screened for the presence plasmid DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis tested susceptibility to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, streptomycin, tetracycline. Of examined, 32% noted harbor DNA, ranging in size from 2.0 162 kilobases. Only tetracycline resistance was correlate with plasmids. Plasmids capable transferring via conjugation ranged 42 100 The Bg/II Bc/I restriction endonuclease profiles 31 plasmids examined showed...
Background Mass drug administration (MDA) programs have dramatically reduced lymphatic filariasis (LF) incidence in many areas around the globe, including American Samoa. As infection rates decline and MDA end, efficient sensitive methods for detecting infections are needed to monitor recrudescence. Molecular methods, collectively termed ‘molecular xenomonitoring,’ can identify parasite DNA or RNA human blood-feeding mosquitoes. We tested mosquitoes trapped throughout inhabited islands of...
Molecular-based surveys have indicated that Ancylostoma ceylanicum, a zoonotic hookworm, is likely the second most prevalent hookworm species infecting humans in Asia. Most current PCR-based diagnostic options for detection of target Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions ribosomal gene cluster. These possess considerable degree conservation among this genus and can lead to misidentification or require additional labor accurate species-level determination. We developed novel, real-time...
Background Proper collection and storage of fecal samples is necessary to guarantee the subsequent reliability DNA-based soil-transmitted helminth diagnostic procedures. Previous research has examined various methods preserve for microscopic analysis or determination overall DNA yields obtained following extraction. However, only limited focused on preservation in stool stored at ambient temperature maintained a cold chain extended periods time. Methodology Quantitative real-time PCR was...
There is growing interest in local elimination of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection endemic settings. In such settings, highly sensitive diagnostics are needed to detect STH infection. We compared double-slide Kato-Katz, the most commonly used copromicroscopic detection method, multi-parallel quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) 2,799 stool samples from children aged 2–12 years a setting rural Bangladesh with predominantly low intensity. estimated sensitivity and specificity...
With the expansion of soil transmitted helminth (STH) intervention efforts and corresponding decline in infection prevalence, there is an increased need for sensitive specific STH diagnostic assays. Previously, through next generation sequencing (NGS)-based identification targeting non-coding, high copy-number repetitive DNA sequences, we described development a panel improved quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR)-based assays detection Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, ceylanicum,...
ABSTRACT The search for appropriate vaccine candidates and drug targets against onchocerciasis has so far been confronted with several limitations due to the unavailability of biological material, molecular resources, knowledge parasite biology. To identify or chemotherapy development we have undertaken two approaches. First, cDNA expression libraries were constructed from life cycle stages that are critical establishment Onchocerca volvulus infection, third-stage larvae (L3) molting L3. A...