Genetic Deep Dive Dispels Fear of Hybrid Worm Threat

Genetic deep dive dispels fear of hybrid worm threat

Parasitic worms that infect humans are not interbreeding with those that infect cattle as previously thought. This is good news for when it comes to controlling schistosomiasis, a disease caused by these worms that affects more than 200 million people globally.

Researchers uncover novel immune mechanism that protects the intestine

A team of scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (The Institute) has made a landmark discovery that sheds light on how the immune system protects the gut during infection. By studying intestinal worms—also known as helminths—the team, led by Professor Irah King, uncovered a previously unknown immune mechanism that preserves intestinal function in the presence of persistent infection.

A suite of selective pressures supports the maintenance of alleles of a Drosophila immune peptide

The innate immune system provides hosts with a crucial first line of defense against pathogens. While immune genes are often among the fastest evolving genes in the genome, in Drosophila, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are notable exceptions. Instead, AMPs may be under balancing selection, such that over evolutionary timescales, multiple alleles are maintained in populations. In this study, we focus on the Drosophila AMP Diptericin A, which has a…

Researchers Identify Immune Mechanism That Protects Gut Function During Helminth Infections

Researchers have identified a previously unknown immune […] The post Researchers Identify Immune Mechanism That Protects Gut Function During Helminth Infections first appeared on GeneOnline News. The post Researchers Identify Immune Mechanism That Protects Gut Function During Helminth Infections appeared first on GeneOnline News.