mRNA vaccines encoding variant forms of Sm-TSP-2 confer protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni.

Despite the global burden of helminth infections, no human vaccines have yet been licensed against these parasites. This study explored the development and evaluation of mRNA vaccine candidates targeting tetraspanin-2 ( -TSP-2), an antigen currently under evaluation as a protein vaccine. We designed constructs encoding either full-length -TSP-2, or its large extracellular loop (EC2) domain in secretory, membrane-anchored, or cytosolic forms.

Parasite contamination of soil in different Peruvian locations and outside built environments.

Background: Soil is a reservoir for many parasites that can affect human and animal health, especially in tropical regions where soil-transmitted helminths and protozoa thrive. Understanding how environmental factors influence parasite distribution will provide a basis for relating how climate changes may intensify their impacts, altering parasite habitats and increasing transmission risks. We surveyed soil parasite prevalence, burden, and diversity in several different Peruvian environmental ecologies to catalog current parasite presence and provide a baseline for future surveys.

Altering the intracellular trafficking of Necator americanus GST-1 antigen yields novel hookworm mRNA vaccine candidates.

Background: The antigen Na-GST-1, expressed by the hookworm Necator americanus, plays crucial biochemical roles in parasite survival. This study explores the development of mRNA vaccine candidates based on Na-GST-1, building on the success of recombinant Na-GST-1 (rNa-GST-1) protein, currently assessed as a subunit vaccine candidate, which has shown promise in preclinical and clinical studies.

Methodology/findings: By leveraging the flexible design of RNA vaccines and protein intracellular trafficking signal sequences, we developed three variants of Na-GST-1 as native (cytosolic), secretory, and plasma membrane-anchored (PM) antigens.

Expression profiling of Clostridium thermocellum B8 during the deconstruction of sugarcane bagasse and straw.

The gram-positive bacterium Clostridium thermocellum contains a set of carbohydrate-active enzymes that can potentially be employed to generate high-value-added products from lignocellulose. In this study, the gene expression profiling of C. thermocellum B8 was provided during growth in the presence of sugarcane bagasse and straw as a carbon source in comparison to growth using microcrystalline cellulose.

Aag-2 Cell Proteome Modulation in Response to Chikungunya Virus Infection.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a single-stranded positive RNA virus that belongs to the genus and is transmitted to humans by infected and bites. In humans, CHIKV usually causes painful symptoms during acute and chronic stages of infection. Conversely, virus-vector interaction does not disturb the mosquito's fitness, allowing a persistent infection.

Two viruses from Stylosanthes guianensis may represent a new genus within Potyviridae.

Forage crops occupy large areas of tropical pastures for cattle feeding in Brazil. The use of stylos (Stylosanthes spp.) in these pastures, which are leguminous shrubs, has increased in the country due to their outstanding nutritional value and for being an efficient and alternative source for nitrogen fixation in the soil.

Dynamic proteomic analysis of Aedes aegypti Aag-2 cells infected with Mayaro virus.

Background: Mayaro virus (MAYV) is responsible for a mosquito-borne tropical disease with clinical symptoms similar to dengue or chikungunya virus fevers. In addition to the recent territorial expansion of MAYV, this virus may be responsible for an increasing number of outbreaks. Currently, no vaccine is available.

Tomato Chlorotic Spot Virus (TCSV) Putatively Incorporated a Genomic Segment of Groundnut Ringspot Virus (GRSV) Upon a Reassortment Event.

Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) and groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) share several genetic and biological traits. Both of them belong to the genus (family ), which is composed by viruses with tripartite RNA genome that infect plants and are transmitted by thrips (order Thysanoptera). Previous studies have suggested several reassortment events between these two viruses, and some speculated that they may share one of their genomic segments.

Identification and genome analysis of tomato chlorotic spot virus and dsRNA viruses from coinfected vegetables in the Dominican Republic by high-throughput sequencing.

The Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) was first reported in the 1980s, having its occurrence limited to Brazil and Argentina. Due to an apparent mild severity in the past, molecular studies concerning TCSV were neglected. However, TCSV has disseminated over the USA and Caribbean countries.

The NSm proteins of phylogenetically related tospoviruses trigger Sw-5b-mediated resistance dissociated of their cell-to-cell movement function.

The cell-to-cell movement protein (NS) of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has been recently identified as the effector of the single dominant Sw-5b resistance gene from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Although most TSWV isolates shows a resistance-inducing (RI) phenotype, regular reports have appeared on the emergence of resistance-breaking (RB) isolates in tomato fields, and suggested a strong association with two point mutations (C118Y and T120N) in the NS protein.

Cell death triggering and effector recognition by Sw-5 SD-CNL proteins from resistant and susceptible tomato isolines to Tomato spotted wilt virus.

Only a limited number of dominant resistance genes acting against plant viruses have been cloned, and further functional studies of these have been almost entirely limited to the resistance genes Rx against Potato virus X (PVX) and N against Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Recently, the cell-to-cell movement protein (NS ) of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has been identified as the avirulence determinant (Avr) of Sw-5b-mediated resistance, a dominant resistance gene which belongs to the class of SD-CC-NB-LRR (Solanaceae domain-coiled coil-nucleotide-binding-leucine-rich repeat, SD-CNL) resistance genes. On transient expression of the NS protein in tomato and transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana harbouring the Sw-5b gene, a hypersensitive cell death response (HR) is triggered.

The Tomato spotted wilt virus cell-to-cell movement protein (NSM ) triggers a hypersensitive response in Sw-5-containing resistant tomato lines and in Nicotiana benthamiana transformed with the functional Sw-5b resistance gene copy.

Although the Sw-5 gene cluster has been cloned, and Sw-5b has been identified as the functional gene copy that confers resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), its avirulence (Avr) determinant has not been identified to date. Nicotiana tabacum 'SR1' plants transformed with a copy of the Sw-5b gene are immune without producing a clear visual response on challenge with TSWV, whereas it is shown here that N. benthamiana transformed with Sw-5b gives a rapid and conspicuous hypersensitive response (HR).

Characterization of bean necrotic mosaic virus: a member of a novel evolutionary lineage within the Genus Tospovirus.

Background: Tospoviruses (Genus Tospovirus, Family Bunyaviridae) are phytopathogens responsible for significant worldwide crop losses. They have a tripartite negative and ambisense RNA genome segments, termed S (Small), M (Medium) and L (Large) RNA. The vector-transmission is mediated by thrips in a circulative-propagative manner.

An RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of a distinct Brazilian tospovirus.

The tospoviral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp), or L proteins, perform several conserved functions during virus replication in host cells. In this study, an L segment sequence of 9,040 bp from a new tospovirus (family Bunyaviridae) naturally infecting bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants was characterized.