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- Alsmark, UCM, et al.
(author)
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Two outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis associated with cattle spring pasture events
- 2018
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In: Veterinary Parasitology. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-9390. ; 14, s. 71-74
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Over a period of less than four weeks, 50 human cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported from a relatively small geographical area in Sweden. All cases were associated with visits to cattle spring pasture events at two farms (referred to as Farm A and B). Epidemiological and microbiological evidence show that contact with calves at the farms was the most likely source of Cryptosporidium infections. Gp60 sequences from human and calf isolates at Farm A were identical to each other, but differed from those at Farm B where, again, human and calf gp60 sequences were identical, proving that the two outbreaks had no common origin. As a direct consequence of these two outbreaks, and guided by knowledge gained from the outbreak investigations, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and all relevant farmer advisory organizations have updated their hygiene instructions for farm visits.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Siv GE, et al.
(author)
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The genome sequence of Rickettsia prowazekii and the origin of mitochondria
- 1998
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In: Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 396:6707, s. 133-140
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We describe here the complete genome sequence (1,111,523 base pairs) of the obligate intracellular parasite Rickettsia prowazekii, the causative agent of epidemic typhus. This genome contains 834 protein-coding genes. The functional profiles of these genes show similarities to those of mitochondrial genes: no genes required for anaerobic glycolysis are found in either R. prowazekii or mitochondrial genomes, but a complete set of genes encoding components of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the respiratory-chain complex is found in R. prowazekii. In effect, ATP production in Rickettsia is the same as that in mitochondria. Many genes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of biosynthesis of amino acids and nucleosides in free-living bacteria are absent from R. prowazekii and mitochondria. Such genes seem to have been replaced by homologues in the nuclear (host) genome. The R. prowazekii genome contains the highest proportion of non-coding DNA (24%) detected so far in a microbial genome. Such non-coding sequences may be degraded remnants of 'neutralized' genes that await elimination from the genome. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that R. prowazekii is more closely related to mitochondria than is any other microbe studied so far.
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| 3. |
- Vikeved, Elisabet
(author)
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Drug discovery against leishmaniasis : Bio- and chemoinformatic guided strategies for target evaluation and hit identification
- 2019
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease mainly affecting poor people in developing countries. It is caused by infections of flagellated protozoa belonging to genus Leishmania. The few available drugs are associated with problems such as low effectiveness, severe side effects and resistance development. The overall aim of this thesis is to aid in drug discovery against leishmaniasis – primarily using bio- and chemoinformtic approaches.In the first part of the thesis potential drug targets in Leishmania parasites were identified and hits against these targets were thereafter suggested. In paper I bioinformatics together with experimental work were used to evaluate lateral gene transfer (LGT) in genus Leishmania. LGTs of prokaryote origin often lack human homologs, and are therefore hypothesized to be valuable drug targets. LGT in genus Leishmania is shown to be a dynamic process in which some acquired genes are conserved in the recipient genomes and others are degraded and eventually lost. Some LGTs have also undergone pseudogenization. It is thus important to evaluate LGT products before exploring them as potential drug targets.In paper II ligand-based virtual screening and molecular docking were used to suggest potential hits against the LGT product pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) and the two-domain enzyme dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) both involved in folate metabolism. DHFR-TS is not encoded by an LGT but it has been hypothesised that several enzymes in the folate pathway need to be inhibited to affect the viability of Leishmania parasites. One potential hit compound against PTR1 and the DHFR-domain and four hit compounds against PTR1 and the TS-domain were identified and tested on Leishmania tropica promastigotes. The suggested PTR1/TS inhibitors had no effect in the promastigote assay, however one of them enhanced the effect of the PTR1/DHFR inhibitor, which also had effect on its own.In the second part of the project, focus shifted towards predictions of targets for compounds with known anti-leishmanial activity but unknown mechanisms of actions. In paper III a ligand-based-target fishing (LBTF) method was developed. The reference compounds were metabolites to metabolic enzymes and similarities were assessed with Euclidean distance calculations in chemical property space. The LBTF approach was used to suggest potential targets to a set of anti-leishmanial agents retrieved from ChEMBL-database. The theory behind the LBTF method developed in paper III was also used in paper IV to predict targets of two sponge-derived alkaloids that where shown to have anti-leishmanial activity.
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