This Week in Parasitism

Vincent and Dickson review an   in silico   pipeline for identifying molecular mimicry candidate proteins in the genomes of parasites, and catch up on listener email.

Vincent and Dickson discuss immune evasion by the cruzain protease of   T. cruzi , and novel tetraspanin antigens of   S. japonicum .

Vincent and Dickson discuss the promising results of a phase III trial of a malaria vaccine in African children.

Vincent and Dickson have a broad-ranging conversation with Charles Knirsch of Pfizer, Inc. about how public-private partnerships can function to control and eliminate infectious diseases.

Vincent and Dickson converse with Peter Hotez about global health, vaccinology, and neglected tropical diseases.

Vincent and Dickson discuss medical entomology with Robert W. Gwadz, Assistant Chief of the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research at NIAID.

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of trematodes, or flukes, which have a snail as a reservoir host.

Vincent and Dickson take on the schistosomes, agents of a series of related diseases in humans referred to as schistosomiasis.

Vincent and Dickson review  Wuchereria bancrofti , the nematode that causes lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis.

Vincent and Dickson discuss the life cycle and pathogenesis of   Onchocerca volvulus,  the vector-borne filarial nematode parasite that causes onchocerciasis, or river blindness.

Vincent and Dickson review the life cycle and pathogenesis of the world's most unusual parasite, Strongyloides stercoralis .

Vincent and Dickson discuss possibly the most socially and politically important nematode of humans, the hookworm  Ancylostoma duodenale  and  Necator americanus .

Vincent and Dickson review the biology and pathogenesis of   Ascaris lumbricoides , one of the largest nematodes to infect humans.

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of nematodes with the whipworm  Trichuris trichiura . Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Trichuris trichiura adult female (jpg) Trichuris trichiura adult male (jpg) Trichuris trichiura in situ (jpg) Trichuris trichiura life cycle (jpg) Exploitation of the intestinal microflora by T. muris Letters read on TWiP...

Vincent and Dickson move on to nematodes with a discussion of the pinworm Enterobius vermicularis . Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Enterobius vermicularis adult female (jpg) Enterobius vermicularis in appendix (jpg) Enterobius vermicularis embryonated eggs (jpg) Enterobius vermicularis life cycle (jpg) Letters read on TWiP 19 Contact Send your questio...

Vincent and Dickson discuss the intracellular parasite Cryptosporidium, which causes diarrheal disease in most mammalian species. Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Cryptosporidium parvum electron micrograph (jpg) Cryptosporidium parvum meronts (jpg) Cryptosporidium parvum life cycle (jpg) Cryptosporidium page at CDC Letters read on TWiP 18 Contact Send y...

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of protozoan parasites that cause diarrhea with a review of amebic dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica . Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Entamoeba histolytica cyst (jpg) Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite (jpg) Entamoeba histolytica life cycle (jpg) Galactose prevents attachment of amoebae to cells (jp...

Vincent and Dickson review the life cycle and pathogenesis of the flagellated protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia . Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Giardia lamblia trophozoite (jpg) Giardia lamblia cyst (jpg) Giardia lamblia life cycle (jpg) Heather's view of T. canis life cycle (pdf) Letters read on TWiP 16

Vincent and Dickson discuss the life cycle and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma . Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Metacyclic trypanomastigote (jpg) Tsetse fly (jpg) T. brucei life cycle (jpg) T. brucei parasitemia (jpg) Kissing bug nymph (jpg) T. cruzi life cycle (jpg) Letters read on TWiP 15

Vincent and Dickson consider the life cycle and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite  Leishmania . Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: L. braziliensis life cycle ( jpg ) L. donovani life cycle ( jpg ) L. tropica life cycle ( jpg ) L. major lesion ( jpg ) Transgenic mosquito delivers Leishmania vaccine (thanks, Geoffrey) Plasmodium falciparum accompanied...

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii with a consideration of the clinical consequences of infection and pathogenesis. Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Isopod fish parasites (thanks, Kevin!) Farmscraper on Word Spy (thanks, Mitchell!) Toxoplasma and personalities (thanks, Greg!) Science p...

Vincent and Dickson introduce the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii , one of the most successful parasites on earth. Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Global clinical burden of malaria ( PLoS Medicine ) T. gondii sporulated oocysts ( jpg ) T. gondii tachyzoites in parasitophorous vacuole ( jpg ) T. gondii life cycle ( jpg ) Insect bioter...

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of malaria, with emphasis on clinical aspects of the disease. Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: The quest for a malaria vaccine ( Meet the Scientist 49 ) Science issue on malaria and tuberculosis Malaria pathogenesis ( pdf ) Malaria pathogenesis ( jpg ) Letters read on TWiP 11

Vincent and Dickson trace the life cycle of  Plasmodium in a mosquito and in a human host. Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Mosquito cycle - sporogany ( jpg ) Plasmodium falciparum cycle ( jpg ) Plasmodium vivax cycle ( jpg ) Plasmodium falciparum ring forms and gametocytes in blood ( jpg ) Plasmodium stages ( jpg ) Letters read on TWiP 10

Vincent and Dickson move on to protozoan parasites with a discussion of the early history of malaria. Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Links for this episode: Malaria history at CDC Radio New Zealand show on hookworms (thanks James!) Tapeworm brain infection serious health concern (thanks Jim!) Pig farmers try to limit pork tapeworm spread (thanks Gopal!) Bizarre tongue-eating...