Proteomic analysis of glycosomes from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

In Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, the first seven steps of glycolysis are compartmentalized in glycosomes, which are authentic but specialized peroxisomes. Besides glycolysis, activity of enzymes of other metabolic processes have been reported to be present in glycosomes, such as β-oxidation of fatty acids, purine salvage, pentose-phosphate pathway, gluconeogenesis and biosynthesis of ether-lipids, isoprenoids, sterols and pyrimidines. In this study, we have purified glycosomes from T. cruzi epimastigotes, collected the soluble and membrane fractions of these organelles, and separated peripheral and integral membrane proteins by Na2CO3 treatment and osmotic shock. Proteomic analysis was performed on each of these fractions, allowing us to confirm the presence of enzymes involved in various metabolic pathways as well as identify new components of this parasite’s glycosomes

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 236: Prime-and-trap vaccine for malaria

Marion Avril of MalarVx, Inc. joins TWiP to discuss an accelerated prime-and-trap regimen using repRNA-based circumsporozoite vaccine

Exploring the experiences of a diverse group of learners in an online environment

On-line education is increasingly popular at all levels of education. Gaining an understanding of the experiences of online learners can both lead to improved provision and support within a course it can be applied in other comparable situations, for example the development of a new course. The Study Course in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is a nine months course to prepare individuals with a primary medical qualification for the professional qualification of Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM and H), which is awarded by the Royal College of Physicians in London (RCP). The Glasgow course has been running as an on-campus part time evening course for around 20 years with small student numbers. In order to accommodate a growing interest in the course and to offer maximum study flexibility, in 2015 the course was converted to follow a blended model. The majority of content is taught asynchronously online in weekly blocks, with a core on-campus laboratory teaching week. Fortnightly live online tutorials consolidate learning. The blended course attracts a diverse and international group of students with regards to age, stages of career and medical. Anecdotal evidence gathered over three years suggests that there are wide differences with respect to the experiences the students, including levels of confidence with which they interact with the online environment. In this study, we explore how diverse learners experience the online environment of this course, focusing on the active learning components embedded in the course. In a first instance, we aimed to tease out differences and similarities in the experience of these groups with the online learning environment using an online survey. The survey includes questions about previous online learning experiences, the use of digital technologies in general, the interaction with the active learning activities on the course VLE and finally the confidence with which students use the interactive learning activities. The survey is followed up by interviewing a small number of participants to gain a more in depth understanding of the learning experiences. This presentation summarises initial findings of this ongoing study

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 218: Malaria parasite evades mosquito

TWiP solves two cases this week, the Man with Issues after COVID-19, and the Man with Left Arm Weakness, then describe how the malaria parasite evades mosquito immunity by glutaminyl cyclase–mediated posttranslational protein modification

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 217: ChatGPT solves the case

TWiP solves the case of the Man With Dog Exposure, and discuss rapid and spontaneous post-partum clearance of Plasmodium falciparum related to expulsion of the placenta

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 234: Hookworms and a leech – parasites suck!

TWiP discusses hookworm infection and the phase 1 clinical trial for a hookworm vaccine that could one day protect children from the hookworm anaemia, and reduce transmission of this infection

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 195: Shocking diseases in attractive NY accents

Christina returns to the TWiP trifecta to solve the case of the Beachgoer with Red Lines on Her foot, and an experimental malaria vaccine based on the junctional region of the circumsporozoite protein displayed on a virus-like particle

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 198: Cyclospora in the dining room with the salad bar

The TWiP quadfecta solves the case of the Traveler With Watery Diarrhea, and reveals that a heat-shock response regulated by a transcription factor protects human malaria parasites from the high temperatures of fever

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 216: A challenging case

Eyal joins TWiP to solve the case of the case of the feverish patient from Israel, and reveals his training and experience with travel medicine in Israel

This Week in Parasitism - TWiP 235: The case of the regurgitated wriggler

TWiP solves the case of a man in his 50s reporting months of abdominal discomfort, who takes mebendazole and some time afterwards vomits a worm into the sink