Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

"Jun Li"

Case Report

Amoebic enteritis: A clinicopathological analysis of 14 cases and literature review: Lining Wang, Linghong Kong, Yang Jiao, Jun Li, Xinpeng Zhang, Huizhong Xue, Xiaogang Liu; Parasites Hosts Dis 2025;63(2):168-173.
Published online May 26, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/PHD.24081

Abstract
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Amoebic enteritis is often misdiagnosed or overlooked due to its nonspecific clinical presentation. This study presents a comprehensive clinicopathological analysis of 14 confirmed cases of amoebic enteritis, examining their clinical manifestations, histopathological features, and responses to treatment. Periodic acid-Schiff and hexamine silver stains were employed to aid in diagnosis. A review of the relevant literature is also included to improve recognition and diagnostic accuracy of this uncommon but clinically significant condition.

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Original Articles

Development of Toxoplasma gondii Chinese I genotype Wh6 Strain in Cat Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Guihua Zhao, Lixin Zhang, Lisha Dai, Haozhi Xu, Chao Xu, Ting Xiao, Jun Li, Hui Sun, Beibei Zhou, Kun Yin; Korean J Parasitol 2022;60(4):241-246.
Published online August 24, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2022.60.4.241

Felids are the unique definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii. The intestine of felid is the only site for initiating Toxoplasma gondii sexual reproduction. T. gondii excretes millions of infectious oocysts from the intestine, which are the primary source of infection. There are many difficulties in developing vaccines and drugs to control oocyst excretion due to the lack of an appropriate experimental model. Here, we established an in vitro feline intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) infection system and an efficient animal model of T. gondii Chinese 1 genotype, Wh6 strain (TgCtwh6). The Kunming mice brain tissues containing TgCtwh6 cysts were harvested 42-day post-infection. The bradyzoites were co-cultured with cat IECs in vitro at a ratio of 1:10. Five 3-month-old domestic cats were orally inoculated with 600 cysts each. The oocysts were detected by daily observation of cat feces by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. We found that the parasite adhered and invaded cat IECs in vitro, transformed into tachyzoites, and then divided to form rose-like structures. These parasites eventually destroyed host cells, escaped, and finished the asexual reproduction process. Schizonts associated with sexual reproduction have not been observed during development in vitro cultured cells. However, schizonts were detected in all infected cat intestinal epithelial cells, and oocysts were presented in all cat feces. Our study provides a feasible cell model and an efficient infection system for the following studies of T. gondii sexual reproduction, and also lays a foundation to develop drugs and vaccines for blocking excretion and transmission of oocysts.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Detection and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in environmental samples in Gaza, Palestine: A combined parasitological and molecular approach
Zuhair Dardona, Adnan Al Hindi, Mohamed Hafidi, Ali Boumezzough, Fadel Sharif, Samia Boussaa
One Health Bulletin.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The development and excretion of Toxoplasma gondii oocyst manipulate the gut microbiota in its definitive host
Gui-Hua Zhao, Bei-Bei Zhou, Zhi-Heng Cao, Ting Xiao, Ya-Nan Li, Wen-Ju Zhu, Hang Sun, Huan-Huan Xie, Xiao-Man Xie, Jun-Mei Zhang, Qi Wang, Xin Zhang, Jin-Jing Xie, Hong-Jie Dong, Chao Xu, Kun Yin
Parasites & Vectors.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Toxoplasma gondii alters gut microbiota and systemic metabolism in cats: A multi-omics approach
Ji-Xin Zhao, Xue-Yao Wang, Xuancheng Zhang, Lu-Yao Tang, Shi-Chen Xie, Yi-Han Lv, Zhi Zheng, Ying-Qian Gao, Jing Jiang, Xiao-Xuan Zhang, He Ma
The Veterinary Journal.2025; 314: 106455. CrossRef
Proteomics analysis of Toxoplasma gondii merozoites reveals regulatory proteins involved in sexual reproduction
Guihua Zhao, Hongjie Dong, Lisha Dai, Huanhuan Xie, Hang Sun, Junmei Zhang, Qi Wang, Chao Xu, Kun Yin
Microbial Pathogenesis.2024; 186: 106484. CrossRef

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Crossref

Codon Usage Bias and Determining Forces in Taenia solium Genome: Xing Yang, Xusheng Ma, Xuenong Luo, Houjun Ling, Xichen Zhang, Xuepeng Cai; Korean J Parasitol 2015;53(6):689-697.
Published online December 31, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2015.53.6.689

Abstract
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The tapeworm Taenia solium is an important human zoonotic parasite that causes great economic loss and also endangers public health. At present, an effective vaccine that will prevent infection and chemotherapy without any side effect remains to be developed. In this study, codon usage patterns in the T. solium genome were examined through 8,484 protein-coding genes. Neutrality analysis showed that T. solium had a narrow GC distribution, and a significant correlation was observed between GC12 and GC3. Examination of an NC (ENC vs GC3s)-plot showed a few genes on or close to the expected curve, but the majority of points with low-ENC (the effective number of codons) values were detected below the expected curve, suggesting that mutational bias plays a major role in shaping codon usage. The Parity Rule 2 plot (PR2) analysis showed that GC and AT were not used proportionally. We also identified 26 optimal codons in the T. solium genome, all of which ended with either a G or C residue. These optimal codons in the T. solium genome are likely consistent with tRNAs that are highly expressed in the cell, suggesting that mutational and translational selection forces are probably driving factors of codon usage bias in the T. solium genome.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Distinct codon usage signatures reflecting evolutionary and pathogenic adaptation in the Acinetobacter baumannii complex
Ujwal Dahal, Anuj Sharma, Karan Paul, Anu Bansal, Shelly Gupta
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.2025; 44(11): 2803. CrossRef
Evolution of codon usage in Taenia saginata genomes and its impact on the host
Siddiq Ur Rahman, Hassan Ur Rehman, Inayat Ur Rahman, Muazzam Ali Khan, Fazli Rahim, Hamid Ali, Dekun Chen, Wentao Ma
Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Comparative analysis of codon usage patterns and phylogenetic implications of five mitochondrial genomes of the genus Japanagallia Ishihara, 1955 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Megophthalminae)
Min Li, Jiajia Wang, Renhuai Dai, Guy Smagghe, Xianyi Wang, Siying You
PeerJ.2023; 11: e16058. CrossRef
Codon Usage is Influenced by Compositional Constraints in Genes Associated with Dementia
Taha Alqahtani, Rekha Khandia, Nidhi Puranik, Ali M. Alqahtani, Yahia Alghazwani, Saad Ali Alshehri, Kumarappan Chidambaram, Mohammad Amjad Kamal
Frontiers in Genetics.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Analysis of codon usage bias of lumpy skin disease virus causing livestock infection
Siddiq Ur Rahman, Hassan Ur Rehman, Inayat Ur Rahman, Abdur Rauf, Abdulrahman Alshammari, Metab Alharbi, Noor ul Haq, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Sayed Haidar Abbas Raza
Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Codon usage pattern in Gnetales evolved in close accordance with the Gnetifer hypothesis
Aasim Majeed, Harpreet Kaur, Amitozdeep Kaur, Sreemoyee Das, Josepheena Joseph, Pankaj Bhardwaj
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.2021; 196(4): 423. CrossRef
Analysis of codon usage bias in mitochondrial CO gene among platyhelminthes
Gulshana A. Mazumder, Arif Uddin, Supriyo Chakraborty
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.2021; 245: 111410. CrossRef
Genetic evolution and codon usage analysis of NKX-2.5 gene governing heart development in some mammals
Arup Kr. Malakar, Binata Halder, Prosenjit Paul, Himangshu Deka, Supriyo Chakraborty
Genomics.2020; 112(2): 1319. CrossRef
Selection constraints determine preference for A/U-ending codons in Taxus contorta
Aasim Majeed, Harpreet Kaur, Pankaj Bhardwaj
Genome.2020; 63(4): 215. CrossRef
Analysis of codon usage pattern of mitochondrial ND genes in Platyhelminthes
Gulshana A. Mazumder, Arif Uddin, Supriyo Chakraborty
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.2020; 238: 111294. CrossRef
Compositional Analysis of Flatworm Genomes Shows Strong Codon Usage Biases Across All Classes
Guillermo Lamolle, Santiago Fontenla, Gastón Rijo, Jose F. Tort, Pablo Smircich
Frontiers in Genetics.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
Compositional bias coupled with selection and mutation pressure drives codon usage in Brassica campestris genes
Prosenjit Paul, Arup Kumar Malakar, Supriyo Chakraborty
Food Science and Biotechnology.2018; 27(3): 725. CrossRef
Whole genome analysis of codon usage in Echinococcus
Lucas L. Maldonado, Georgina Stegmayer, Diego H. Milone, Guilherme Oliveira, Mara Rosenzvit, Laura Kamenetzky
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.2018; 225: 54. CrossRef
Comprehensive Analysis of Codon Usage on Rabies Virus and Other Lyssaviruses
Xu Zhang, Yuchen Cai, Xiaofeng Zhai, Jie Liu, Wen Zhao, Senlin Ji, Shuo Su, Jiyong Zhou
International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2018; 19(8): 2397. CrossRef
Codon Usage Patterns of Tyrosinase Genes in Clonorchis sinensis
Young-An Bae
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2017; 55(2): 175. CrossRef

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Age-Related CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Regulatory T-Cell Responses During Plasmodium berghei ANKA Infection in Mice Susceptible or Resistant to Cerebral Malaria: Ying Shan, Jun Liu, Yan-Yan Pan, Yong-Jun Jiang, Hong Shang, Ya-Ming Cao; Korean J Parasitol 2013;51(3):289-295.
Published online June 30, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2013.51.3.289

Abstract
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Different functions have been attributed to CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) during malaria infection. Herein, we describe the disparity in Treg response and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA between young (3-week-old) and middle-aged (8-month-old) C57BL/6 mice. Young mice were susceptible to cerebral malaria (CM), while the middle-aged mice were resistant to CM and succumbed to hyperparasitemia and severe anemia. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, in young CM-susceptible mice were markedly higher than in middle-aged CM-resistant mice. An increased absolute number of Tregs 3-5 days post-inoculation, co-occurring with elevated IL-10 levels, was observed in middle-aged CM-resistant mice but not in young CM-susceptible mice. Our findings suggest that Treg proliferation might be associated with the suppression of excessive pro-inflammatory Th1 response during early malaria infection, leading to resistance to CM in the middle-aged mice, possibly in an IL-10-dependent manner.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Contribution of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies to the Understanding of Cerebral Malaria Pathogenesis
Alicia Comino Garcia-Munoz, Isabelle Varlet, Georges Emile Grau, Teodora-Adriana Perles-Barbacaru, Angèle Viola
Pathogens.2024; 13(12): 1042. CrossRef
Mechanistic insights into immunopathogenesis of murine cerebral malaria: Cues from “young” C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice
Shweta Rai, Meetali Girdhar, Fouzia Siraj, Sheetal Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Anju Katyal
Immunology Letters.2023; 256-257: 9. CrossRef
G6pd-Deficient Mice Are Protected From Experimental Cerebral Malaria and Liver Injury by Suppressing Proinflammatory Response in the Early Stage of Plasmodium berghei Infection
Haoan Yi, Weiyang Jiang, Fang Yang, Fan Li, Yirong Li, Wenjing Zhu, Qing Li, Syed Hassam Fakhar, Yaming Cao, Lan Luo, Wen Zhang, Yongshu He
Frontiers in Immunology.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
The role of regulatory T cells during Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS infection in BALB/c mice
W. Pang, X. Sun, H. Feng, J. Wang, L. Cui, Y. Cao
Parasite Immunology.2016; 38(7): 439. CrossRef
Phenylhydrazine administration accelerates the development of experimental cerebral malaria
Xiaotong Zhu, Jun Liu, Yonghui Feng, Wei Pang, Zanmei Qi, Yongjun Jiang, Hong Shang, Yaming Cao
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Myeloid expression of the AP‐1 transcription factor JUNB modulates outcomes of type 1 and type 2 parasitic infections
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Parasite densities modulate susceptibility of mice to cerebral malaria during co-infection with Schistosoma japonicum and Plasmodium berghei
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