All Outputs (152)

A novel cross-priming amplification technique combined with lateral flow strips for rapid and visual detection of zoonotic Toxoplasma gondii (2025)
Journal Article
Liang, Y., He, Y.-H., Yang, S.-F., Xie, S.-C., Lv, Y.-H., Cong, W., Elsheikha, H. M., & Zhu, X.-Q. (2025). A novel cross-priming amplification technique combined with lateral flow strips for rapid and visual detection of zoonotic Toxoplasma gondii. Veterinary Parasitology, 334, Article 110402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110402

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan, infects almost all warm-blooded animals and humans, with felines serving as its sole definitive hosts. Cats release T. gondii oocysts into the environment through feces, contributing to environm... Read More about A novel cross-priming amplification technique combined with lateral flow strips for rapid and visual detection of zoonotic Toxoplasma gondii.

Glabridin exhibits potent inhibitory effects against Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and in vivo (2024)
Journal Article
Wang, L., Zhai, B., Wang, C., Elsheikha, H. M., Guo, H., Zheng, X.-N., Zhou, C., & Zhu, X.-Q. (2024). Glabridin exhibits potent inhibitory effects against Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and in vivo. Parasites and Vectors, 17(1), Article 522. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06610-0

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate protozoan parasite capable of infecting a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans. Current treatment options, primarily pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, have limitations, such as high recurrence rates... Read More about Glabridin exhibits potent inhibitory effects against Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and in vivo.

A novel single-tube LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12b method for rapid and visual detection of zoonotic Toxoplasma gondii in the environment (2024)
Journal Article
Liang, Y., Xie, S.-C., Lv, Y.-H., He, Y.-H., Zheng, X.-N., Cong, W., Elsheikha, H. M., & Zhu, X.-Q. (2024). A novel single-tube LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12b method for rapid and visual detection of zoonotic Toxoplasma gondii in the environment. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 13(1), Article 94. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-024-01266-5

Background: Toxoplasma gondii oocysts, excreted in cat feces, pose a significant health risk to humans through contaminated soil and water. Rapid and accurate detection of T. gondii in environmental samples is essential for public health protection.... Read More about A novel single-tube LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12b method for rapid and visual detection of zoonotic Toxoplasma gondii in the environment.

Comprehensive analysis of the global impact and distribution of tick paralysis, a deadly neurological yet fully reversible condition (2024)
Journal Article
Deng, Y.-P., Fu, Y.-T., Elsheikha, H. M., Cao, M.-L., Zhu, X.-Q., Wang, J.-L., Zhang, X., Xie, S.-C., Yao, C., & Liu, G.-H. (2024). Comprehensive analysis of the global impact and distribution of tick paralysis, a deadly neurological yet fully reversible condition. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 37(4), Article e00074-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/cmr.00074-24

Tick paralysis is a potentially fatal condition caused by neurotoxins secreted by the salivary glands of certain ticks. Documented cases have been reported worldwide, predominantly in the United States, Canada, and Australia, with additional reports... Read More about Comprehensive analysis of the global impact and distribution of tick paralysis, a deadly neurological yet fully reversible condition.

Metagenomic profiling of cecal microbiota and antibiotic resistome in rodents (2024)
Journal Article
Shang, K.-M., Elsheikha, H. M., Ma, H., Wei, Y.-J., Zhao, J.-X., Qin, Y., Li, J.-M., Zhao, Z.-Y., & Zhang, X.-X. (2024). Metagenomic profiling of cecal microbiota and antibiotic resistome in rodents. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 286, Article 117186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117186

The rodent gut microbiota is a known reservoir of antimicrobial resistance, yet the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within rodent cecal microbial communities and the specific bacterial species harboring these ARGs remain largely un... Read More about Metagenomic profiling of cecal microbiota and antibiotic resistome in rodents.

Urban estuary serves as a critical nexus for the land-sea transfer of the terrestrial pathogen Toxoplasma gondii (2024)
Journal Article
Zhu, X.-K., Elsheikha, H. M., Yang, T., Li, M.-Y., & Cong, W. (2024). Urban estuary serves as a critical nexus for the land-sea transfer of the terrestrial pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. Science of the Total Environment, 955, Article 176983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176983

Terrestrial runoff is a key pathway for the transmission of the terrestrial pathogen Toxoplasma gondii from land to sea, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Understanding the mechanisms by which T. gondii is transported from terrestrial... Read More about Urban estuary serves as a critical nexus for the land-sea transfer of the terrestrial pathogen Toxoplasma gondii.

A Colour Atlas of Companion Animal Parasites: Life Cycles and Morphological Identification (2024)
Book
McGarry, J. W., Elsheikha, H. M., & Taylor, S. (2024). A Colour Atlas of Companion Animal Parasites: Life Cycles and Morphological Identification. CAB International

Functional Characterization of Six Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System (2024)
Journal Article
Kou, Y.-J., Gao, J., Li, R., Ma, Z.-Y., Elsheikha, H. M., Wu, X.-J., Zheng, X.-N., Wang, M., & Zhu, X.-Q. (2024). Functional Characterization of Six Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(14), Article 7834. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147834

Eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) are crucial for initiating protein translation and ensuring the correct assembly of mRNA-ribosomal subunit complexes. In this study, we investigated the effects of deleting six eIFs in the apicomplexan... Read More about Functional Characterization of Six Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System.

Altered landscape of total RNA, tRNA and sncRNA modifications in the liver and spleen of mice infected by Toxoplasma gondii (2024)
Journal Article
Zhang, X.-X., Sun, Y.-Z., Wang, W., Gao, Y., Wei, X.-Y., Sun, H.-C., Wang, C.-R., Ni, H.-B., Yang, X., Elsheikha, H. M., & Guo, H.-P. (2024). Altered landscape of total RNA, tRNA and sncRNA modifications in the liver and spleen of mice infected by Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 18(6), Article e0012281. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012281

Background

Pathogens can impact host RNA modification machinery to establish a favorable cellular environment for their replication. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on host RNA modification profiles... Read More about Altered landscape of total RNA, tRNA and sncRNA modifications in the liver and spleen of mice infected by Toxoplasma gondii.

Comparative cytotoxicity of Acanthamoeba castellanii-derived conditioned medium on human corneal epithelial and stromal cells (2024)
Journal Article
Alhazmi, A., Sidney, L. E., Hopkinson, A., & Elsheikha, H. M. (2024). Comparative cytotoxicity of Acanthamoeba castellanii-derived conditioned medium on human corneal epithelial and stromal cells. Acta Tropica, 257, Article 107288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107288

Soluble factors in the secretome of Acanthamoeba castellanii play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Investigating the pathological effects of A. castellanii-derived conditioned medium (ACCM) on ocular cells can provide... Read More about Comparative cytotoxicity of Acanthamoeba castellanii-derived conditioned medium on human corneal epithelial and stromal cells.

Trx4, a novel thioredoxin protein, is important for Toxoplasma gondii fitness (2024)
Journal Article
Zhang, Z.-W., Wang, M., Sun, L.-X., Elsheikha, H. M., Lei, C.-L., Wang, J.-L., Fu, B.-Q., Luo, J.-X., Zhu, X.-Q., & Li, T.-T. (2024). Trx4, a novel thioredoxin protein, is important for Toxoplasma gondii fitness. Parasites and Vectors, 17(1), Article 178. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06259-9

Background To successfully replicate within the host cell, Toxoplasma gondii employs several mechanisms to overcome the host cell defenses and mitigate the harmful effects of the free radicals resulting from its own metabolic processes using effector... Read More about Trx4, a novel thioredoxin protein, is important for Toxoplasma gondii fitness.

Global prevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2024)
Journal Article
Chen, C., Qin, S.-Y., Yang, X., Li, X.-M., Cai, Y., Lei, C.-C., Zhao, Q., Elsheikha, H. M., & Cao, H. (2024). Global prevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 226, Article 106187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106187

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to identify the global prevalence and factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds. Six bibliographic databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Journal... Read More about Global prevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Expression profiles of host miRNAs and circRNAs and ceRNA network during Toxoplasma gondii lytic cycle (2024)
Journal Article
Wang, S.-S., Wang, X., He, J.-J., Zheng, W.-B., Zhu, X.-Q., Elsheikha, H. M., & Zhou, C.-X. (2024). Expression profiles of host miRNAs and circRNAs and ceRNA network during Toxoplasma gondii lytic cycle. Parasitology Research, 123(2), Article 145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08152-x

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan parasite that is highly prevalent in the human population and can lead to adverse health consequences in immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. Noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and cir... Read More about Expression profiles of host miRNAs and circRNAs and ceRNA network during Toxoplasma gondii lytic cycle.

An in silico and in vitro assessment of the neurotoxicity of mefloquine (2024)
Journal Article
El Sharazly, B. M., Ahmed, A., Elsheikha, H. M., & Carter, W. G. (2024). An in silico and in vitro assessment of the neurotoxicity of mefloquine. Biomedicines, 12(3), Article 505. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030505

Mefloquine (MQ) is a quinoline-based anti-malarial drug used for chemoprophylaxis or as treatment in combination with artesunate. Although MQ has clear anti-Plasmodium properties, it can induce neurotoxicity and undesired neuropsychiatric side effect... Read More about An in silico and in vitro assessment of the neurotoxicity of mefloquine.

The transcription factor AP2XI-2 is a key negative regulator of Toxoplasma gondii merogony (2024)
Journal Article
Wang, J.-L., Li, T.-T., Zhang, N.-Z., Wang, M., Sun, L.-X., Zhang, Z.-W., Fu, B.-Q., Elsheikha, H. M., & Zhu, X.-Q. (2024). The transcription factor AP2XI-2 is a key negative regulator of Toxoplasma gondii merogony. Nature Communications, 15(1), Article 793. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44967-z

Sexual development in Toxoplasma gondii is a multistep process that culminates in the production of oocysts, constituting approximately 50% of human infections. However, the molecular mechanisms governing sexual commitment in this parasite remain poo... Read More about The transcription factor AP2XI-2 is a key negative regulator of Toxoplasma gondii merogony.

Global prevalence of Plasmodium infection in wild birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2024)
Journal Article
Yan, W. L., Sun, H. T., Zhao, Y. C., Hou, X. W., Zhang, M., Zhao, Q., Elsheikha, H. M., & Ni, H. B. (2024). Global prevalence of Plasmodium infection in wild birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Research in Veterinary Science, 168, Article 105136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105136

Avian malaria is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium infection transmitted to birds by mosquitoes. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the global prevalence of malaria and risk factors associated with infection in wild... Read More about Global prevalence of Plasmodium infection in wild birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Toxoplasma protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit (TgPP6C) is essential for cell cycle progression and virulence (2023)
Journal Article
Liang, Q. L., Nie, L. B., Elsheikha, H. M., Li, T. T., Sun, L. X., Zhang, Z. W., Wang, M., Fu, B. Q., Zhu, X. Q., & Wang, J. L. (2023). The Toxoplasma protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit (TgPP6C) is essential for cell cycle progression and virulence. PLoS Pathogens, 19(12), Article e1011831. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011831

Protein phosphatases are post-translational regulators of Toxoplasma gondii proliferation, tachyzoite-bradyzoite differentiation and pathogenesis. Here, we identify the putative protein phosphatase 6 (TgPP6) subunits of T. gondii and elucidate their... Read More about The Toxoplasma protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit (TgPP6C) is essential for cell cycle progression and virulence.

The splicing factor SR2 is an important virulence factor of Toxoplasma gondii (2023)
Journal Article
Wu, X.-J., Nanzheng, X.-N., Elsheikha, H. M., Li, T.-T., Kou, Y.-J., & Zhu, X.-Q. (2023). The splicing factor SR2 is an important virulence factor of Toxoplasma gondii. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, Article 1302512. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1302512

Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are key factors with important roles in constitutive and alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs. However, the role of SR splicing factors in the pathogenicity of T. gondii remains largely unexplored. Here, we invest... Read More about The splicing factor SR2 is an important virulence factor of Toxoplasma gondii.

A newly characterized dense granule protein (GRA76) is important for the growth and virulence of Toxoplasma gondii (2023)
Journal Article
Zheng, X.-N., Sun, L.-X., Elsheikha, H. M., Li, T.-T., Gao, J., Wu, X.-J., Zhang, Z.-W., Wang, M., Fu, B.-Q., Zhu, X.-Q., & Wang, J.-L. (2024). A newly characterized dense granule protein (GRA76) is important for the growth and virulence of Toxoplasma gondii. International Journal for Parasitology, 54(2), 109-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.09.001

Pathogenicity of the zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii largely depends on the secretion of effector proteins into the extracellular milieu and host cell cytosol, including the dense granule proteins (GRAs). The protein-encoding gene TGME49_299780 w... Read More about A newly characterized dense granule protein (GRA76) is important for the growth and virulence of Toxoplasma gondii.

Global prevalence and factors affecting the level of Cryptosporidium contamination in soil: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression (2023)
Journal Article
Zuo, M.-R., Li, X.-T., Xu, R.-Z., Sun, W.-C., Elsheikha, H. M., & Cong, W. (2023). Global prevalence and factors affecting the level of Cryptosporidium contamination in soil: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Science of the Total Environment, 891, Article 164286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164286

Soil contamination with Cryptosporidium is a serious environmental and public health concern. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we estimated the global prevalence of Cryptosporidium contamination in soil and evaluated its association with c... Read More about Global prevalence and factors affecting the level of Cryptosporidium contamination in soil: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.