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Babesia Divergens: Antiparasitic Target Pathways in Host Red Blood Cells

Microbiology Spectrum (Beri, D., et al.) 2.14.23, Babesia Divergenspublished “Global Metabolomic Profiling of Host Red Blood Cells Infected with Babesia divergens Reveals Novel Antiparasitic Target Pathways.” The researchers used a high-resolution global metabolomics method to reveal the metabolic interactions between the apicomplexan parasite, Babesia divergens, and host red blood cells (RBC).

Results showed a considerable parasite-mediated modulation of RBC metabolite levels of all classes, including lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and nucleotides. Many of these molecules are scavenged from the host RBCs resulting in varied proportions to infection levels. Cholesterol scavenging disruption resulted in premature parasite egress, while chemical targeting of the hydrolysis of acyl glycerides initiated the buildup of abnormal parasites that were unable to egress successfully.

This study aids in decoding the varied characteristics of the host-parasite relationship. Findings can be employed to further uncover biochemical network drug targets.


For more information:

Read the study in Microbiology Spectrum.

Read more about babesiosis.