Featured Publications
Babesia duncani, a Model Organism for Investigating Intraerythrocytic Parasitism and Novel Antiparasitic Therapeutic Strategies
Fang T, Mamoun C. Babesia duncani, a Model Organism for Investigating Intraerythrocytic Parasitism and Novel Antiparasitic Therapeutic Strategies. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2024, 230: 263-270. PMID: 39052743, PMCID: PMC11272067, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae191.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConsequences of malariaDevelopment of future therapiesIntraerythrocytic parasitesHost red blood cellsDrugs in vitroB. duncaniIn vitro culture systemRed blood cellsFuture therapiesTherapeutic strategiesAnimal modelsWell-annotated genomeBlood cellsResistance mechanismsPathological consequencesMode of actionBabesia duncaniCulture systemParasite biologyPathogensMalariaPlasmodiumTherapyAnimalsCulture conditionsBabesia duncani multi-omics identifies virulence factors and drug targets
Singh P, Lonardi S, Liang Q, Vydyam P, Khabirova E, Fang T, Gihaz S, Thekkiniath J, Munshi M, Abel S, Ciampossin L, Batugedara G, Gupta M, Lu X, Lenz T, Chakravarty S, Cornillot E, Hu Y, Ma W, Gonzalez L, Sánchez S, Estrada K, Sánchez-Flores A, Montero E, Harb O, Le Roch K, Mamoun C. Babesia duncani multi-omics identifies virulence factors and drug targets. Nature Microbiology 2023, 8: 845-859. PMID: 37055610, PMCID: PMC10159843, DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01360-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug targetsVirulence factorsCandidate virulence factorsRNA-seq dataIntraerythrocytic life cycleAttractive drug targetB. duncaniNuclear genomeGenome annotationApicomplexan parasitesApicomplexan pathogensEpigenetic profilesEpigenetic analysisParasite metabolismMalaria-like diseaseHuman erythrocytesLife cycle stagesBabesia speciesGenomeMetabolic requirementsCycle stagesLife cycleBiologySmall moleculesPotent inhibitor
2024
A set of diagnostic tests for detection of active Babesia duncani infection
Chand M, Vydyam P, Pal A, Thekkiniath J, Darif D, Li Z, Choi J, Magni R, Luchini A, Tonnetti L, Horn E, Tufts D, Ben Mamoun C. A set of diagnostic tests for detection of active Babesia duncani infection. International Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2024, 147: 107178. PMID: 39025200, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107178.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchB. microtiB. duncaniBlood samplesLife-threatening infectionsAntigen capture assayTick-borne diseasesFatal tick-borne diseaseP. falciparumBabesia genusScreening of blood samplesBabesia speciesB. divergensActive infectionAccurate diagnosisEffective disease managementPoint-of-care testingDiagnostic testsReservoir hostsBabesiaInfectionHuman babesiosisIntraerythrocytic parasitesImmunodominant antigensMolecular assaysCapture assay
2022
Babesia duncani in Culture and in Mouse (ICIM) Model for the Advancement of Babesia Biology, Pathogenesis, and Therapy.
Kumari V, Pal A, Singh P, Mamoun C. Babesia duncani in Culture and in Mouse (ICIM) Model for the Advancement of Babesia Biology, Pathogenesis, and Therapy. Bio-protocol 2022, 12 PMID: 36620533, PMCID: PMC9795036, DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4549.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMouse modelHuman red blood cellsRed blood cellsC3H/HeJ miceBlood cellsHuman babesiosisMalaria-like illnessB. duncaniImportant health impactsTick-borne diseaseBlood transfusionTick biteLethal infectionHeJ miceRare caseBabesia duncaniImmunocompromised miceAnimal modelsHuman infectionsParasitic diseasesBabesia microtiDiseaseElderly peopleIntraerythrocytic parasitesB. microtiBabesia duncani as a Model Organism to Study the Development, Virulence, and Drug Susceptibility of Intraerythrocytic Parasites In Vitro and In Vivo
Pal AC, Renard I, Singh P, Vydyam P, Chiu JE, Pou S, Winter RW, Dodean R, Frueh L, Nilsen AC, Riscoe MK, Doggett JS, Mamoun C. Babesia duncani as a Model Organism to Study the Development, Virulence, and Drug Susceptibility of Intraerythrocytic Parasites In Vitro and In Vivo. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2022, 226: 1267-1275. PMID: 35512141, PMCID: PMC10233494, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac181.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLethal infectionC3H/HeJ miceMalaria-like illnessB. duncaniMouse genetic backgroundSurvival outcomesHeJ miceSevere diseaseBabesia duncaniMouse modelDifferent mouse genetic backgroundsDrug susceptibilityBabesia microtiHuman babesiosisIntraerythrocytic parasitesUnique pathogenParasite loadMiceSpecies of BabesiaApicomplexa phylumInfectionBabesia parasitesFree merozoitesHuman erythrocytesGenetic background