This Week In Parasitism

The TWiPians solve the case of the Woman With Anemia, Eosinophila, and a Worm in Her Intestine, and discuss a study on the function and druggability of two malarial aspartate proteases. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Malaria plasmepsins involved in invasion and egress (Science) Letters read on TWiP 143 Case Study for TWiP 143 From 1990s seen by a colleague, boy late teens, initially presented to ER in US chief complaint, visual disturbances and itching preventing sleep. Immigrated from Oaxaca, searching for work. Lived in modest dwelling with dirt floors, no running water, got from local river. Reports dogs, farm animals, many insects. On exam: tender nodules on head, skin irritated from scratching, small punctate lesions on right cornea. Is referred to specialists. Ophthalmologist called in, referred for further diagnostics. Send your case diagnosis, questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

The TWiPsids solve the case of the Guatemalan Positive for Rhinovirus, and reveal how to kill all African trypanosomes with a primate apolipoprotein. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: APOLs kill all African trypanosomes (Nat Micro) Trypanocidal properties of APOL1 on TWiP 85: Channeling tryps Letters read on TWiP 142 Case Study for TWiP 142 Woman in 50s, immigrant from rural area with limited resources. Admitted to hospital with iron deficient anemia and eosinophilia. In US. Sent for colonoscopy. Note long slender serpiginous motile object, recovered, 4.5 cm long, one end slender, other large and curled but not blunt. Send worm to parasitology lab for identification. What might fit description? Is this usually associated with eosinophilia? What about anemia, is severe or mild? Would this person have come from outside the US to acquire this, or could they have acquired the infection in the US. Send your case diagnosis, questions

The TWiP Wataalamu solve the case of the One Year Old From Kenya With Moving Skin Lesions, and describe how to make mosquitoes refractory to Plasmodium with engineered symbiotic bacteria. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Engineered Serratia make mosquitoes refractory to Plasmodium (Science) Operation Sea Spray (Wikipedia) Photo credit Letters read on TWiP 141 Case Study for TWiP 141 A 59 yo Spanish speaking female on Long Island originally from Guatemala. Goes to ER after returning from 10 day trip to visit friends and relatives in Guatemala and El Salvador with fever, cough, diffuse muscle aches, fatigue, chills. Respiratory pathogen panel done, positive for rhinovirus. Told that it's just a virus, go home. 5 days later returns with fever and chills, pain in upper belly, feels constipated. Admitted. No past med/surg, no allergies, no significant family history, no meds. Works cleaning houses. Travel: spends most time in and a

The triple TWiP solve the case of the Peace Corp Veteran with Eosinophilia, and discuss the genome sequence of the hyper-prevalent parasitic eukaryote Blastocystis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Genome diversity of Blastocystis (PLoS Biol) Photo credit Letters read on TWiP 140 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. Get $30 off your first delivery and FREE SHIPPING by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 140 From Dr. Arthur Mumelo, northern Kenya. One-year-old girl. Brought by mother with skin lesions that developed a week prior. The lesions are five in total – on the forehead, neck, back, chest and right arm. The lesions look like boils/furuncles but keep changing size and appearance – like something is moving under the skin. They are painful and itchy. Child is breastfeeding well. No other complaints. Child was born at Nyah

The TWiPwalas solve the case of the Woman with a Worm in Her Eye, and discuss the role of nitric oxide in the resistance of rats to Schistosoma japonicum. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Nitric oxide blocks schistosome development (PNAS) Photo credit: Dave the Sheep Shearer Letters read on TWiP 139 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 139 Seen at Columbia Medical Center, a crossover. Woman in 30s returns to US after 2 years in Peace Corp, Cameroon and Gabon. On medical exam 2 years earlier: eosiniphilia noted, no diagnosis reached. Now comes to NYC 2 years later to attend grad school, again eosinophilia noted. Asymptomatic. Send your case diagnosis, questions and comments to twip@micro

The TWiPsters solve the case of the Child from DR with Poppy Seed Sized Things On His Head Hair Shafts, and reveal how the skin parasite landscape determines the infectiousness of Leishmania. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Tr (Cell Host Microbe) Letters read on TWiP 138 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 138 New Yorker, female teenager from an outer boroughs, visual loss in right eye noted during routine eye exam. Not sure when started. Left is 20-20, otherwise feels fine. No surgeries, no noted medical history, no medications, in school, living with family, no toxic habits. Travel: had been upstate NY in past year. No pets. Defect in right eye pupillary reflex, pallor to optic nerve. Serologies: toxoca

The TWiPtoids solve the case of the Man from India with a Neck Lump, and explore the role of a transmissible dysbiotic skin microbiome in inflammation during cutaneous leishmaniasis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Transmissible dysbiotic skin microbiome in cutaneous leishmaniasis (Cell Host Microbe) Letters read on TWiP 137 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 137 Little town in DR, fall of 2016, have already mentioned this patient; little boy 2-3 years old, not behaving well, warned if doesn’t behave, los gusanos will eat you! Mother asks Daniel to help son: lately is more irritable, troublesome, not well behaved; notices things in his hair. Has small poppy seed sized things on side

The TWiP Titans solve the case of the Man from Queens with a Blister Burster, and explain the role of inflammatory monocytes during Leishmania infection of the skin. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Inflammatory monocytes and skin Leishmania (PLoS Path) Dracunculiasis (TWiP 37) Photo: Daniel using a LifeStraw Letters read on TWiP 136 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 136 Patient seen by Daniel in India, 18 yo Islamic college student, left home, living in dorms in south, Hindu couple prepare meals, called dorm parents. He is being seen because developed lump in left side of neck, 1-2 cm mass. Previously completely healthy, no med/surg, no allergies. Prays multiple times a d

Dickson returns to the TWiP hosts to solve the case of the Woman from Colorado With Loose Stools, and explain how single-sex infection with female Schistosoma mansoni reduces hepatic fibrosis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: ASM Grant Writing Online Course Single-sex Schistosoma infection (PLoS NTD) Asterix the Gaul Letters read on TWiP 135 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 135 Patient seen in clinic by Daniel's colleague, living in Queens, needs home care. Man with wound on foot, needed daily care. Living 9 months, recently developed painful blister, he put his foot in water, got great relief, blister opened up. Open lesion did not look normal, there was something in bli

Daniel and Vincent solve the case of the Haitian Girl Who Failed To Thrive, and visit two studies that address the question of whether infection with Toxoplasma gondii alters human behavior. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Daniel Griffin   Links for this episode: ASM Grant Writing Online Course Is Toxoplasma infection related to brain and behavior impairments? (PLoS One) Toxoplasma infection and sexual attraction (Evol Psychol) TWiP 21 - The giant intestinal worm, Ascaris lumbricoides Candiru (Wikipedia) Image credit Letters read on TWiP 134 Case Study for TWiP 134 Woman in 30s, coming in Colorado to be seen, reports foul smelling loose stools multiple times each day, cramping and nausea. Started a few weeks ago. No fever, summer, no unusual travel, skiing up in mountains, hiking, backpacking. Originally from NE, moved to Colorado one year before. Often drinks from streams. Treats water with iodine. On overnight trips pack food and cook on stoves. Sticky stools, trouble wiping clean. Yes, my stools do float.

Daniel and Vincent solve the case of the Woman With Anal Area Discomfort, and discuss the multiple functions of a clathrin adapter protein in formation of rhoptry and microneme secretory organelles of Toxoplasma gondii. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education SciComm Issue (link) TWiP 19: Enterobius vermicularis, the pinworm Multiple roles of Toxoplasma gondii clathrin adaptor AP1 protein (PLoS Path) Image credit Letters read on TWiP 133 Case Study for TWiP 133 Seen while working in remote mountain makeshift mobile clinic in Dominican Republic, on Haitian border. Traveled 3 h by pickup truck, remote mountain town, womens centers. Set up makeshift mobile clinic in this center. Mother concerned about 6 yo girl, failure to thrive compared with sister, protuberant belly, frequent abdominal discomfort, going on over 1 year. No surgeries, no meds, first time ever seeing medical person. Mother and sister are family

The TWiP-tastic peeps solve the case of the Thai Man Coughing Up Blood, and reveal potential therapies for trypanosomiasis that are inhibitors of protein import into glycosomes. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Inhibitors of protein import into trypanosome glycosomes (Science) Hookworm (TWiP #22) Photo by Nita Letters read on TWiP 132 Case Study for TWiP 132 Young NYC woman with son (10), chief complaint of discomfort and itchiness in anal area. Has tried to look but nothing abnormal. Married, no complaints from husband or child. Two older kids have no complaints. But son has also been scratching in anal area. Everything fine 3 months ago, sister came to visit with 3 young pre-school children, may have caught something from them. No past med or surg history, no allergies. No meds, work out of home, no toxic habits, no recent travel. Have dog. Do lots of volunteering with children. History of sushi consumption. She does not lik

Jonathan from the podcast Arthro-Pod joins the TWiPerati to solve the case of the Peruvian Woman With Inguinal Insect Bite, and discuss warm autoimmune hemolytic anemic that develops after babesiosis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin Guest:  Jonathan Larson Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Jonathan Larson (Twitter, Google Plus) Arthro-Pod podcast Warm hemolytic anemia after babesiosis (NEJM) Tickborne diseases of the US (CDC) Image credit Letters read on TWiP 131 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 131 Thailand. 39 yo man reports 7 months of coughing up bright red blood, several times with mucus. Otherwise feels well. Big fan of salted crab som tum. Fisherman, lives with family. Healthy, no past med/surg pr

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin The TWiPniks solve the case of the Man With AIDS, and explore how secretion of extracellular vesicles influences the social motility of Trypanosoma brucei. Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: T. brucei exosomes and social motility (PLoS Path) Image credit Parasites Without Borders Letters read on TWiP 130 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 130 Back in Peru. 24 yo female seen in ER, lives in rural area outside of big city, adobe house in highlands, thatched roof, dirt floor, 3000 meters. Quite ill with skin lesion for 48 h. 2 days before was pulling on pjs, felt sharp sudden pain in right upper leg. Next day found small living creature in pajamas, inguinal region. Developed red

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin The TWiP Masters solve the case of the Australian Wildlife Carer, and review evidence that nodding syndrome may be caused by an autoimmune reaction to the parasitic worm that causes river blindness. Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Nodding syndrome an autoimmune disease? (Sci Transl Med) Nodding syndrome: Preventable and treatable (Sci Transl Med) River Blindness lyrics (Google Play) Image credit Letters read on TWiP 129 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 129 Young male in 30s, presents to ER with male partner, NY area, chief complaint over 1 month significant diarrhea, watery, non bloody. Abdominal cramping. Feels poorly, low energy, fever. Some vomiting, lost noticeable a

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin The TWiPerati solve the case of the Man Who Sat in Feces, and discuss a study on how Dickson's favorite parasite induces the formation of a collagen capsule. Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Induction of collagen synthesis by Trichinella (Vet Parasitol) Letters read on TWiP 128 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 128 Daniel doesn’t expect anyone to get this. From Australia, 80 yo retired teacher from Atherton, northheast Australia, presents to clinic with generalized weakness, concern of chronic lyme or Q fever. Seen by neurologist, concern about motor neuron disease. 18 months of illness, insidious onset of limb (arms and legs) weakness. No issues with speaking, swallowing

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin The TWiPsters solve the case of the Peace Corps Volunteer with a Liver Lesion, and discuss the dependence of Leishmania survival on the gut microbiome of the sandfly. Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Leishmania depends on sandfly gut microbiome (mBio) Kava (Wikipedia) Letters read on TWiP 127 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 127 The last of our trio for the Peace Corp, an eosinophilia case. 29 yo pc volunteer in Rwanda, male, 3 weeks of feeling poorly. Starts with rash on lower back and upper legs, maculopapular rash. Fatigue later, cough, then diarrhea, 51% eosinophils (9000). No significant exposure to fresh water. Stool sent for oandp. Said sat down and got something o

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin The TWiP Trinity solve the case of the Peace Corps volunteer with diarrhea, and reveal how immunizing against a virus ameliorates exacerbated leishmaniasis. Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Viral vaccine prevents exacerbated leishmaniasis (PLoS NTD) For whom the trich tolls (TWiP 47) A virus in a parasite in a human (virology blog) Virologists in the mist (TWiV 128) Letters read on TWiP 126 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 126 Another Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji. 24 yo male, several days of fever, headache, dry cough, rash. Feels poorly, starts diarrhea. No blood or mucus, no vomiting but abdominal discomfort. Heart rate over 100. At private nearby hospital for evaluation: no prior med probs or

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin The TWiPonderers solve the case of the Timber Worker with Severe Shaking Chills, and describe an experimental malaria vaccine comprising attenuated sporozoites produced by genetic engineering. Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: Genetically engineered P. falciparum sporozoite vaccine (Sci Transl Med) Parasitology Superhero: Francesco Redi Image credit: Betsy Weissbrod Letters read on TWiP 125 This episode of TWiP is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twip. Case Study for TWiP 125 Thanks to the Peace Corps - 24 yo female serving in Cameroon, teaching English and science at local school. Been in country 5 months, first 3 lived with host family, now in own home in community with electricity, 12 hr from Yaounde, capital. Reports intermittent diar

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin The prolific podcast-shedding Hosts solve the case of the Global Health Intern with a snakelike lesion on her foot, and reveal the role of a single-stranded DNA binding protein in differentiation of trypanosomes. Become a patron of TWiP. Links for this episode: RPA protein and differentiation of T. cruzi (PLoS NTD) Image credit Letters read on TWiP 124 Case Study for TWiP 124 28 yo male from referral hospital near thai-burma border. Fever and chills 2 days, feels poorly, small amount of dark urine. Severe shaking chills, 1x per day, no rash. No diarrhea, difficulty breathing. Seen by local health care volunteer, went to hospital then tertiary hospital in Bangkok. Exposure history to pigs, dogs, insects, etc. Involved in timber industry and farming, sleeping out at night with no cover, clothes and sandals. No meds. Not married, family lives with him. Family is fine. Sleep in dwelling but no screens. No toxic habits, HIV negative, sexually acti