Showing papers in "Infection, Genetics and Evolution in 2008"

TL;DR: The latest observations about the structure of SCCmec are described, the techniques used to study the molecular epidemiology and evolution of S. aureus as well as some challenges that researchers face in the future are described.

TL;DR: A new Bayesian Markov-Chain Monte Carlo approach to the investigation of phylogeny-trait correlations, which accounts for uncertainty arising from phylogenetic error and provides a statistical significance test of the null hypothesis that traits are associated randomly with phylogeny tips.

TL;DR: The initially proposed Barcode of life framework has greatly evolved, giving rise to a flexible description of DNA barcoding and a larger range of applications.

TL;DR: The differences between estimating the flow of migrants and identifying the source of reinfestation after treatment are described: although morphometrics is not suited to deal with the former, it may be an appropriate tool to address the latter.

TL;DR: This work reviews changes that have been shown for several decades that viruses, bacteria and protozoa can alter important features of their arthropod vector and vertebrate host in a way that increases their probability of transmission.

TL;DR: Recent studies suggesting that selection mediated by larval predation and competition promoted divergence between temporary and permanent freshwater habitats are reviewed, suggesting that new vector species might complicate disease transmission.

TL;DR: This review summarizes the latest information on the seven taxonomic groups that include principal malaria vectors in Southeast Asia, i.e. the Minimus, Fluviatilis, Culicifacies, Dirus, Leucosphyrus, and Sundaicus Complexes, and the Maculatus Group.

TL;DR: This article will discuss some recent progress regarding the possible clinically relevant use of the N-protein, which has been proposed to be an efficient diagnostic tool and a candidate vaccine against the SARS-CoV.

TL;DR: Results indicate the presence of F. gigantica and intermediate forms (Fasciola sp.) in Egypt for the first time, and demonstrate the usefulness of CIAS for the phenotypic characterization of liver fluke adults from a concrete fascioliasis endemic area.

TL;DR: It is anticipated that the recently completed E. histolytica genome sequence and new molecular techniques will rapidly advance the understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenicity of amebiasis.

TL;DR: This review addresses some of the impacts of the evolutionary potential of N. meningitidis on the occurrence of meningococcal disease.

TL;DR: Molecular techniques have revealed a high prevalence of Pneumocystis colonization in wild mammals, probably resulting from active airborne horizontal and vertical (transplacental or aerial) transmission mechanisms.

TL;DR: The adaptive value of sex in microbial pathogens is considered and it is concluded that in terms of short-term benefits, the DNA repair hypothesis has the most support and is the most generally applicable hypothesis in this group.

TL;DR: The results support the influence of TIRAP (MAL) S180L polymorphism on TB and indicate that TB and SLE might share a common immunogenetic pathway in the innate immune response.

TL;DR: The results suggest that multiple introductions of P. halstedii isolates may have provided the raw material for more complex processes in the evolution of races, such as recombination between races or clonal evolution through mitotic instability.

TL;DR: A phylogenetic study was carried out on the subgenus Phlebotomus and the results confirm the validity of the morphologically characterized taxa and suggest that all populations of P. papatasi over its distribution area have similar vectorial capacities.

TL;DR: This study inferred dispersal capacities of the poplar rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina by examining the genetic diversity and structure of 13 populations from eight European and two overseas countries in the Northern hemisphere and illustrated how the proper use of population genetics methods can enable contrasted dispersal modes to be revealed.

TL;DR: The consequences of host-specialization in the plant pathogen Tobacco etch potyvirus are experimentally examined and the potential relevance for the evolution of virulence and virus fitness of the characterized mutations is discussed.

TL;DR: This study has tried to detect viable M. leprae from soil samples in endemic areas by using molecular methods, which would be of use in investigating the transmission dynamics in leprosy.

TL;DR: The findings show that PfATP6 is a more diverse gene than previously demonstrated, and natural variation may constitute a starting ground for artemisinin-driven progressive selection of resistant parasites.

TL;DR: This multivariate approach reveals a strong antagonism between ectoparasitic mites and PUUV, suggesting direct or indirect immunogenetic links between infections by these parasites.

TL;DR: The consideration of both results of the prevalence of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in vertebrate hosts and those of the tsetse fly host preferences indicates a wild animal reservoir of Gambian sleeping sickness and three transmission cycles (human, domestic and wild animals' cycles) in southern Cameroon HAT foci.

TL;DR: It is concluded that European lineages of T. spiralis originated several thousand years ago, approximately when pigs were first domesticated there, and that Europeans inadvertently introduced the parasite to the Americas via infected pigs and/or rats.

TL;DR: A novel method of species identification, fluorescent fragment length barcoding, based on length variation in regions of the 18S and 28Salpha ribosomal DNA, developed for the identification of African tsetse-transmitted trypanosomes and validated using DNA from laboratory isolates representing known species, subspecies and subgroups is described.

TL;DR: The population structure of C. parvum is complex, with sub-populations differing in structure and being influenced by host movements, including the introduction of novel multilocus genotypes from geographically distinct regions.

TL;DR: Analysis revealed that vector control actions affected the genetic structure of T. infestans populations, and dispersal was more female-biased in the core area and results suggested that houses received immigrants from more than one source.

TL;DR: Whole-genome phylogeny showed the 2004 DENV-3 isolates share high similarity with those isolated in 1998 during a major epidemic in Sumatra, which suggests re-emergence of little-changed endemic strains as causative agents of the epidemic in 2004.

TL;DR: A significantly enlarged update of the MIRU-VNTR global database of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype is presented and attempted to link the observed mycobacterial diversity with relevant events of the known human history.

TL;DR: This review focuses on recent advances made in the field of host genetics in African trypanosomiasis in animals (mouse and bovine) and humans.

TL;DR: This report represents the first molecular characterization of the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene from E. canis in dogs from Thailand and shows close relationship with earlier report of A. platys from Thailand.