Unraveling the mechanisms of benzimidazole resistance in hookworms: A molecular docking and dynamics study.

Background: Benzimidazole resistance is an emerging challenge among parasitic helminths. It is caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in specific loci in helminths' β-tubulin genes. Field studies and laboratory investigations reported resistance-associated SNPs in 4 codon locations with 7 allelic variations among hookworms.

Benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations improve the dimerization of hookworm tubulin: An additional resistance mechanism.

Background And Aim: Mutations in the β-tubulin genes of helminths confer benzimidazole (BZ) resistance by reducing the drug's binding efficiency to the expressed protein. However, the effects of these resistance-associated mutations on tubulin dimer formation in soil-transmitted helminths remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of these mutations on the dimerization of hookworm α- and β-tubulins using open-source bioinformatics tools.

Benzimidazole Resistance-Associated Mutations in the β-tubulin Gene of Hookworms: A Systematic Review.

There is a growing number of reports on the occurrence of benzimidazole resistance-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene of various helminths of veterinary, and public health concerns. However, a comprehensive analysis of their occurrence, and their contributions to conferring benzimidazole resistance among hookworms has yet to be done. The objectives of this systematic review are to summarize and synthesize peer-reviewed evidence on the occurrence of these resistance-associated mutations in hookworms, document their geographical distribution, and assess their contributions to conferring phenotypic resistance.

Construction and validation of a novel multi-epitope in silico vaccine design against the paramyosin protein of Opisthorchis viverrini using immunoinformatics analyses.

Liver fluke infection caused by Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini) remains a significant but neglected health threat across Southeastern Asia. The early infective anabolic growth stage of O.

Epigenetic Biomarkers and the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Opisthorchis viverrini-associated Cholangiocarcinoma: A Scoping Review on Therapeutic Opportunities.

Background: Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, are pivotal in regulating gene expression pathways related to inflammation and cancer. While there is substantial research on epigenetic markers in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), Opisthorchis viverrini-induced cholangiocarcinoma (Ov-CCA) is overlooked as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) with limited representation in the literature. Considering the distinct etiological agent, pathogenic mechanisms, and pathological manifestations, epigenetic research plays a pivotal role in uncovering markers and potential targets related to the cancer-promoting and morbidity-inducing liver fluke parasite prevalent in the Great Mekong Subregion (GMS).