Blastocystis, an unrecognized parasite: an overview of pathogenesis and diagnosis Blastocystis sp. is among the few enteric parasites with a prevalence that often exceeds 5% in the general population of industrialized countries and can reach 30–60% in developing countries. This par...

Epilogue: More info about Blastocystis virulence, specifically, can be found here in this comprehensive paper:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #MPMXXXVI #Parasitology

Blastocystis Gut Parasite: Healthy or Harmful? Study shows gut parasite Blastocystis linked to healthy diet, better cardiometabolic health outcomes, and weight loss in 1,124 participants.

More general info about the mysterious #parasite Blastocystis and its contested #virulence can be found here:

frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/p...

(Note that "subtypes" are incredibly genetically diverse!)

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #MPMXXXVI #Parasitology

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More highlights from #MPMXXXVI!

Work by Roaa Zedan et al. developed a point-of-care diagnostic test for #Blastocystis, a fascinating #protist found across the world (including industrialized nations) in the human gut #microbiome, implicated in diseases such as #IBS.
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@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025

A Silicon Rhodamine‐fused Glibenclamide to Label and Detect Malaria‐infected Red Blood Cells A far-red fluorescent silicon rhodamine-conjugated glibenclamide (SiR-glib) is synthesized. Labeling experiments in cells reveal the endoplasmic reticulum as the primary target of SiR-glib, and is ap....

Check out their publication on this exciting and fascinating #research:

chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #MPMXXXVI #Parasitology
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More highlights from #MPMXXXVI!

Work by Claudia Bastl et al. designed and applied a fluorescent dye that stains structures in red blood cells to allow imaging of #malaria #parasites using portable smartphone-based microscopes, enabling rapid diagnosis in rural areas lacking #medical resources.
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More highlights from #MPMXXXVI!

Work by Lindsay Clark et al. predicts protein function based on existing gene sequences of #parasites in @veupathdb.org, annotating otherwise uncharacterized proteins based on their structure & helping inform drug discovery efforts.
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@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025

More highlights from #MPMXXXVI!

Work by Ismael L. Orbegon et al. shows Verbena litoralis, a medicinal plant, has significant in vitro activity against parasitic worms infecting sheep, showing promise for addressing the growing threat of drug resistance.
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@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #Parasitology

Onchocerciasis (river blindness) Transmitted by the bites of infected blackflies, river blindness causes severe itching and eye lesions, leading to visual impairment and permanent blindness. Almost eliminated in the region of the Ame...

More highlights from #MPMXXXVI:

Work by Lum Abienwi Ambe et al. has begun to develop a non-invasive assay for detecting Onchocerca volvulus from urine samples, making it easier to treat #onchocerciasis - a devastating parasitic #disease causing blindness.

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #Parasitology

Hey, #MPMXXXVI attendees! Just a reminder today is the last day to vote for your favourite talks and posters from this year's meeting. I've highlighted a few in my posts below!

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #Parasitology

Highlights from #MPMXXXVI:

#Ticks! (woot!) Work by Isaac A. Hinne et al. identified stage-specific gene expression profiles in developing #tick embryos (Ixodes scapularis).

Targeting embryonic development in ticks offers a unique point of #vector control.

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #Parasitology

Highlights from #MPMXXXVI:
Work by Atena Hesami et al. shows the efficacy of thyme extract incorporated into silver #nanoparticles for use against Leishmania major - a #parasite causing flesh-eating disease - showing the value of naturally sourced compounds as augmentative antiparasitic agents. 1/2

Computational approaches for drug discovery against trypanosomatid-caused diseases During three decades, only about 20 new drugs have been developed for malaria, tuberculosis and all neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This critical situation was reached because NTDs represent only ...

How? By inhibiting the uptake of metabolically essential amino acids and disrupting the parasite's lifecycle.

You can learn more about some of their work here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

#Parasitology #MPMXXXVI #MPM2025
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Highlights from #MPMXXXVI:

Work by Melisa Sayé et al. explores repurposing benztropine - a Parkinson's disease drug - against infection by Trypanosome cruzi, a #parasite causing Chagas disease which affects >7 million people worldwide.

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #Parasitology

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Toxoplasma is a common parasite that causes birth defects – but the US doesn’t screen for it during pregnancy Pregnant people can contract toxoplasmosis, which causes birth defects like blindness and brain defects. The parasite is more common than you might think.

Here is just one implication for ease-of-use #AI tools that can assist #healthcare in considering #parasites as relevant pathogens: theconversation.com/toxoplasma-i...
#MPM2025 #MPMXXXVI #Parasitology
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The medical #diagnosis of #parasites, despite its importance, is often overlooked given the lack of time and experts to do so. #AI tools can expedite the process and make #parasitology more amenable to #healthcare providers and testing labs, potentially saving lives.
#MPM2025 #MPMXXXVI
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Highlights from #MPMXXXVI:

A review by Dr. Mohammad Taghi Ahady et al. reveals high accuracy (>97%) of #AI and #MachineLearning tools in identifying #parasites in microscopic images of #medical samples, both blood and stool.

@parasitesrule.org #MPM2025 #Parasitology
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Patricia J. Johnson's research works | University of California, Los Angeles and other places Patricia J. Johnson's 154 research works with 7,033 citations, including: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) use different, strain-dependent mechanisms to kill the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis

Highlights from #MPMXXXVI:

Did you know the most common non-viral #STD in the world is caused by the #parasite Trichomonas vaginalis?

Thanks to keynote speaker P.J. Johnson for sharing her expertise on this woefully understudied pathogen.

Check out her work!
www.researchgate.net/scientific-c...

Molecular Parasitology Community - MPM XXXVI Download the full abstract book v2

The 36th Molecular #Parasitology Meeting was a smashing success! Thanks @parasitesrule.org for bringing together parasitologists from around the world, reminding us why we love this #niche field of absolutely fascinating and #essential research.

#MPMXXXVI #mpm2025

www.parasitesrule.com/mpm-xxxvi

Missed a talk at #mpm2025? Recordings are accessible for two weeks!

With an action-packed conference buzzing with parasitologists over just 5 days, the opportunity to re-watch our favourite presentations (or the ones where we may-or-may-not-have spaced out a little) is much appreciated!

#MPMXXXVI

🚨 #MPMXXXVI Update! The abstract submission deadline is June 27 — don’t miss your chance to share your research!

📅 Check out all key dates and details here ⬇️

🔗 mesamalaria.org/updates/mole...

#Malaria #Parasitology #MPM2025