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Category: publications

A chromosome-scale genome assembly and functional studies implicate the viral RNA polymerase in transcription of most Microplitis demolitor bracovirus late genes

Donna Huber on July 17, 2026

Microgastroid parasitoids lay eggs in other insects and harbor bracoviruses (BVs), which evolved from a nudivirus. BV genomes are endogenized in the wasp germline and consist of nudivirus-like genes plus proviral segments with virulence genes. Nudivirus genes produce virions in the ovary calyx cells, which wasps use to transfer virulence genes to hosts. Here, we …

Unlocking the potential of ommatins as sustainable photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy

Donna Huber on July 17, 2026

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has demonstrated efficacy in cancer treatment, with recent advancements concentrating on photosensitizers that generate high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light irradiation while exhibiting minimal dark toxicity. In this study, we explored the photophysical properties of ommatins, specifically xanthommatin (Xa), decarboxylated xanthommatin (Dc-Xa), and protected uncyclized xanthommatin (Uc-Xa), and assessed …

Glycocalyx-Driven Immunomodulation in Trypanosoma cruzi: Structures, Host Responses, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targeting

Donna Huber on July 10, 2026

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains an important neglected infection due to underdiagnosis, global spread resulting from increased migration of people infected with T. cruzi and concomitant organ transplantation and blood transfusion, and limited availability of chemotherapy. The parasite’s surface is covered by a dense glycocalyx enriched in GPI-anchored mucins, trans-sialidases, and glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs), …

Memory regulatory T cells reprogram into protective TFH cell-like effectors in recurrent malaria

Donna Huber on June 22, 2026

Although people living in malaria-endemic areas experience repeated infections with Plasmodium, the role of regulatory T (Treg) cells in recurrent malaria remains poorly understood. During a primary infection with Plasmodium, Treg cells suppress protective immunity by inhibiting germinal center (GC) reactions, thereby impeding the control of parasitemia. In contrast, memory Treg (mTreg) cells remaining after the clearance of initial Plasmodium infection …

Microbiological Risks in Sauces and Dressings: A Review

Donna Huber on June 16, 2026

The global sauce market continues to expand, driven by increased consumption, international trade, and development of new formulations. As a result, ensuring the microbiological safety of sauces has become increasingly important. Although sauces are often considered as low-risk products due to factors such as the presence of preservatives, high acidity, low water activity, and high …

The inner membrane complex protein, IMC55, is dispensable for intraerythrocytic development of Plasmodium falciparum

Donna Huber on June 10, 2026

  Plasmodium falciparum, an obligate intracellular Apicomplexan parasite and the causative agent of malaria, must reside and replicate within a host cell during the intraerythrocytic stage. At the end of its replicative cycle, the parasite breaks down two biological membranes using a proteolytic cascade to release invasive daughter cells known as merozoites to continue its asexual …

Structure-Guided Optimization of Novel Inhibitors of Plasmodium Lysyl-tRNA Synthetase with Multistage Activity against Malaria Parasites

Donna Huber on June 2, 2026

A fused dihydropyrrolidino-pyrimidine hit with low lipophilicity and excellent ligand efficiency was identified in a biochemical screen of the Global Health Chemical Diversity Library (GHCDL) against Plasmodium lysyl-tRNA synthetase (KRS). Structure-guided lead optimization delivered analogues with potent parasite growth inhibition, excellent biochemical and cellular selectivity (>1000-fold), and oral efficacy in the malaria NOD-scid-IL2Rγnull (SCID) mouse model. Structural …

A dual-aptazyme system for genetic complementation reveals stage-specific roles for the Trypanosoma cruzi cytoskeleton-associated protein 5.5

Donna Huber on May 29, 2026

  Parasitic trypanosomatids, such as Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania spp., cause devastating tropical diseases, with T. cruzi being increasingly recognized as a public health concern in the United States due to established sylvatic cycles and rising autochthonous transmission. Although T. brucei has long served as the model trypanosomatid due to the array of molecular tools available for its study, T. cruzi shares …

First continuous in vitro culture of Plasmodium coatneyi reveals insights into barriers to human infection

Donna Huber on May 27, 2026

Plasmodium coatneyi is an important model for severe malaria due to its P. falciparum-like sequestration, yet research has been limited by the lack of in vitro culture systems. Recently, molecular evidence of human P. coatneyi infections (3.5%, 3/85 of identified simian malarias in Malaysian archival samples), suggested a zoonotic potential. We report the first continuous …

Legacy 4(1 H)-Quinolone Scaffolds Activity against Acute and Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Donna Huber on May 26, 2026

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite capable of infecting most warm-blooded animals, including humans, and can cause severe disease in immunocompromised individuals and the developing fetus. Current treatments for toxoplasmosis are effective only against the acute stage of infection and have limited or no activity against the latent bradyzoite stage found within tissue cysts. The mitochondrion …