Biology Commons^™

Effects Of Single And Integrated Water, Sanitation, Handwashing, And Nutrition Interventions On Child Soil-Transmitted Helminth And Giardia Infections: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial In Rural Kenya, Amy J. Pickering, Sammy M. Njenga, Lauren Steinbaum, Jenna Swarthout, Audrie Lin, Benjamin F. Arnold, Christine P. Stewart, Holly N. Dentz, Maryanne Mureithi, Benard Chieng, Marlene Wolfe, Ryan Mahoney, Jimmy Kihara, Kendra Byrd, Gouthami Rao, Theodora Meerkerk, Priscah Cheruiyot, Marina Papaiakovou, Nils Pilotte, Steven A. Williams, John M. Colford Jr., Clair Null

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Helminth and protozoan infections affect more than 1 billion children globally. Improving water quality, sanitation, handwashing, and nutrition could be more sustainable control strategies for parasite infections than mass drug administration, while providing other quality of life benefits.

Heatwaves And Novel Host Consumption Increase Overwinter Mortality Of An Imperiled Wetland Butterfly, Mariana Abarca, Elise A. Larsen, Leslie Ries

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Disruptive effects of climate change include range shifts, phenological mismatches among consumers and producers, and population declines. While these biological alterations have been widely documented, studies identifying specific mechanisms linking climate change to population declines are scarce. Extreme events, such as heatwaves can have devastating effects on living organisms and are increasing in frequency as Earth warms. Hence, understanding the effects of heatwaves on insects is necessary to inform conservation efforts and to develop predictions of population dynamics under future climate scenarios. Here, we experimentally evaluated the effects of heatwaves on the survival and phenology of the Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas …

Incubation And Grazing Effects On Spirotrich Ciliate Diversity Inferred From Molecular Analyses Of Microcosm Experiments, Jean David Grattepanche, Doris L. Juarez, Cameah C. Wood, George B. Mcmanus, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

We used an experimental approach of analyzing marine microcosms to evaluate the impact of both predation (top-down) and food resources (bottom-up) on spirotrich ciliate communities. To assess the diversity, we used two molecular methods-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). We carried out two types of experiments to measure top-down (adult copepods as predators) and bottom-up effects (phytoplankton as food resources) on the spirotrich ciliates. We observed both strong incubation effects (untreated controls departed from initial assessment of diversity) and high variability across replicates within treatments, particularly for the bottom-up experiments. This suggests a rapid community turn-over during …

Phylochromomap, A Tool For Mapping Phylogenomic History Along Chromosomes, Reveals The Dynamic Nature Of Karyotype Evolution In Plasmodium Falciparum, Mario A. Cerón-Romero, Esther Nwaka, Zuliat Owoade, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The genome of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria in Africa, has been extensively studied since it was first fully sequenced in 2002. However, many open questions remain, including understanding the chromosomal context of molecular evolutionary changes (e.g., relationship between chromosome map and phylogenetic conservation, patterns of gene duplication, and patterns of selection). Here, we present PhyloChromoMap, a method that generates a phylogenomic map of chromosomes from a custom-built bioinformatics pipeline. Using P. falciparum 3D7 as a model, we analyze 2,116 genes with homologs in up to 941 diverse eukaryotic, bacterial and archaeal lineages. We estimate the level of …

Effects Of Thermal Stress On Amount, Composition, And Antibacterial Properties Of Coral Mucus, Rachel M. Wright, Marie E. Strader, Heather M. Genuise, Mikhail Matz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America ABSTRACT The surface mucus layer of reef-building corals supports feeding, sediment clearing, and protection from pathogenic invaders. As much as half of the fixed carbon supplied by the corals' photosynthetic symbionts is incorporated into expelled mucus. It is therefore reasonable to expect that coral bleaching (disruption of the coralfialgal symbiosis) would affect mucus production. Since coral mucus serves as an important nutrient source for the entire reef community, this could have substantial ecosystemwide consequences. In this study, we examined the effects of heat …

Laboratory Evaluation Of Molecular Xenomonitoring Using Mosquito And Tsetse Fly Excreta/Feces To Amplify Plasmodium, Brugia, And Trypanosoma Dna, Nils Pilotte, Darren A.N. Cook, Joseph Pryce, Michael F. Zulch, Corrado Minetti, Lisa J. Reimer, Steven A. Williams

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Results from an increasing number of studies suggest that mosquito excreta/feces (E/F) testing has considerable potential to serve as a supplement for traditional molecular xenomonitoring techniques. However, as the catalogue of possible use-cases for this methodology expands, and the list of amenable pathogens grows, a number of fundamental methods-based questions remain. Answering these questions is critical to maximizing the utility of this approach and to facilitating its successful implementation as an effective tool for molecular xenomonitoring. Methods: Utilizing E/F produced by mosquitoes or tsetse flies experimentally exposed to Brugia malayi, Plasmodium falciparum, or Trypanosoma brucei brucei, factors such as …

Quantifying Protein Copy Number In Super-Resolution Using An Imaging Invariant Calibration, Francesca Cella Zanacchi, Carlo Manzo, Raffaella Magrassi, Nathan D. Derr, Melike Lakadamyali

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The use of super-resolution microscopy in recent years has revealed that proteins often form small assemblies inside cells and are organized in nanoclusters. However, determining the copy number of proteins within these nanoclusters constitutes a major challenge because of unknown labeling stoichiometries and complex fluorophore photophysics. We previously developed a DNA-origami-based calibration approach to extract protein copy number from super-resolution images. However, the applicability of this approach is limited by the fact that the calibration is dependent on the specific labeling and imaging conditions used in each experiment. Hence, the calibration must be repeated for each experimental condition, which is …

Backpack Pcr: A Point-Of-Collection Diagnostic Platform For The Rapid Detection Of Brugia Parasites In Mosquitoes, Weam I. Zaky, Francesca R. Tomaino, Nils Pilotte, Sandra J. Laney, Steven A. Williams

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Decline Of A Foundation Tree Species Due To Invasive Insects Will Trigger Net Release Of Soil Organic Carbon, Danielle Ignace, Aliza Fassler, Jesse Bellemare

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Eastern U.S. forests are witnessing an ecologically disruptive decline in one of the region’s distinctive foundation tree species, the eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadenis). The exotic insect pests hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae, HWA) and elongate hemlock scale (Fiorinia externa) have greatly altered many forest ecosystems previously dominated by this important evergreen conifer. The consequences for ecosystem processes are far reaching because hemlock is often replaced by deciduous tree species, such as black birch (Betula lenta), which have strongly divergent effects on forest floor microenvironments and nutrient cycling. We took advantage of an accidental experiment initiated by patch-level timber harvesting ~30 …

Ancylostoma Ceylanicum Hookworm In Myanmar Refugees, Thailand, 2012–2015, Elise M. O'Connell, Tarissa Mitchell, Marina Papaiakovou, Nils Pilotte, Deborah Lee, Michelle Weinberg, Potsawin Sakulrak, Dilok Tongsukh, Georgiette Oduro-Boateng, Sarah Harrison, Steven A. Williams, William M. Stauffer, Thomas B. Nutman

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

During 2012–2015, US-bound refugees living in Myanmar– Thailand border camps (n = 1,839) were surveyed for hookworm infection and treatment response by using quantitative PCR. Samples were collected at 3 time points: after each of 2 treatments with albendazole and after resettlement in the United States. Baseline prevalence of Necator americanus hookworm was 25.4%, Ancylostoma duodenale 0%, and Ancylostoma ceylanicum (a zoonosis) 5.4%. Compared with N. americanus prevalence, A. ceylanicum hookworm prevalence peaked in younger age groups, and blood eosinophil concentrations during A. ceylanicum infection were higher than those for N. americanus infection. Female sex was associated with a lower …

Twisted Tales: Insights Into Genome Diversity Of Ciliates Using Single-Cell ‘Omics, Maurer-Alcala X. Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcala, Ying Yan, Olivia A. Pilling, Rob Knight, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The emergence of robust single-cell ‘omics techniques enables studies of uncultivable species, allowing for the (re)discovery of diverse genomic features. In this study, we combine single-cell genomics and transcriptomics to explore genome evolution in ciliates (a > 1 Gy old clade). Analysis of the data resulting from these single-cell ‘omics approaches show: 1) the description of the ciliates in the class Karyorelictea as “primitive”is inaccurate because their somatic macronuclei contain loci of varying copy number (i.e., they have been processed by genome rearrangements from the zygotic nucleus); 2) gene-sized somatic chromosomes exist in the class Litostomatea, consistent with Balbiani’s (1890) observation …

Inclusion Of Host Quality Data Improves Predictions Of Herbivore Phenology, Mariana Abarca, Elise A. Larsen, John T. Lill, Martha Weiss, Eric Lind, Leslie Ries

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Understanding the correspondence between ambient temperature and insect development is necessary to forecast insect phenology under novel environments. In the face of climate change, both conservation and pest control efforts require accurate phenological predictions. Here, we compare a suite of degree-day models to assess their ability to predict the phenology of a common, oligophagous butterfly, the silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). To estimate model parameters, we used development time of eggs and larvae reared in the laboratory at six constant temperatures ranging from 8 to 38 °C and on two host plants of contrasting quality (kudzu and wisteria). …

Seed Bank And Seasonal Patterns Of The Eukaryotic Sar (Stramenopila, Alveolata And Rhizaria) Clade In A New England Vernal Pool, Chip Sisson, Bethaney Gulla-Devaney, Laura A. Katz, Jean-David Grattepanche

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Vernal pools are dynamic freshwater ecosystems that dry during the summer. These unique habitats are vital to a number of well-studied animal species but there is little documentation of the diversity of the SAR—Stramenopila, Alveolata and Rhizaria—clade in vernal pools. Here, we characterize the protist community over a portion of the hydroperiod as the vernal pool transitions from its winter stage through its drying out in late summer. Our study focuses on the SAR clade, which encompasses a broad range of morphological diversity and a variety of trophic modes within the microbial food web. Using high-throughput sequencing, we investigate the …

A Superhydrophobic Cone To Facilitate The Xenomonitoring Of Filarial Parasites, Malaria, And Trypanosomes Using Mosquito Excreta/Feces, Darren A.N. Cook, Nils Pilotte, Corrado Minetti, Steven A. Williams, Lisa J. Reimer

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), the testing of insect vectors for the presence of human pathogens, has the potential to provide a non-invasive and cost-effective method for monitoring the prevalence of disease within a community. Current MX methods require the capture and processing of large numbers of mosquitoes, particularly in areas of low endemicity, increasing the time, cost and labour required. Screening the excreta/feces (E/F) released from mosquitoes, rather than whole carcasses, improves the throughput by removing the need to discriminate vector species since non-vectors release ingested pathogens in E/F. It also enables larger numbers of mosquitoes to be processed per …

Asymmetric Interference Competition Between Herbivorous Gastropods, Introduced Littorina Littorea And Indigenous L. Obtusata, Alysha B. Putnam, Paulette Peckol

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Competitive interactions may affect distribution and abundance of mobile organisms, such as the intertidal herbivorous gastropods Littorina littorea and L. obtusata, in areas of resource overlap. We examined intra- and interspecific competition between US New England populations by measuring effects of snail density and food availability on growth rates and abundances. We investigated mechanisms of interference, including resistance (phlorotannin) induction of fucoid algae, and impacts of snail presence, waterborne cues, and mucus on herbivory. L. obtusata density increased significantly within fucoid canopies following repeated (every 12 h for 3 d) removal of L. littorea at both study sites. In the …

Canis Aureus (Carnivore: Canidae), Patricia D. Moehlman, Virginia Hayssen

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Canis aureus (Linnaeus, 1758), the golden jackal, is a medium-sized, wide spread, terrestrial carnivore. It is 1 of 7 species found in the genus Canis. It ranges from Africa to Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Due to its tolerance of dry habitats and its omnivorous diet, C. aureus can live in a wide variety of habitats. It normally lives in open grassland habitat but also occurs in deserts, woodlands, mangroves, and agricultural and rural habitats in India and Bangladesh. It ranges from sea level in Eritrea to 3,500 m in the Bale Mountains …

Microbial Diversity In The Eukaryotic Sar Clade: Illuminating The Darkness Between Morphology And Molecular Data, Jean David Grattepanche, Laura M. Walker, Brittany M. Ott, Daniela L. Paim Pinto, Charles F. Delwiche, Christopher E. Lane, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Despite their diversity and ecological importance, many areas of the SAR—Stramenopila, Alveolata, and Rhizaria—clade are poorly understood as the majority (90%) of SAR species lack molecular data and only 5% of species are from well-sampled families. Here, we review and summarize the state of knowledge about the three major clades of SAR, describing the diversity within each clade and identifying synapomorphies when possible. We also assess the “dark area” of SAR: the morphologically described species that are missing molecular data. The majority of molecular data for SAR lineages are characterized from marine samples and vertebrate hosts, highlighting the need for …

A Comparative Analysis Of Preservation Techniques For The Optimal Molecular Detection Of Hookworm Dna In A Human Fecal Specimen, Marina Papaiakovou, Nils Pilotte, Benjamin Baumer, Jessica Grant, Kristjana Asbjornsdottir, Fabien Schaer, Yan Hu, Raffi Aroian, Judd Walson, Steven A. Williams

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Maximizing the recovery of PCR-amplifiable DNA is an important consideration in the optimization of field-ready PCR-based diagnostic techniques. Fecal specimen preservation is particularly important due to the universal use of stool for the non-invasive diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. A comprehensive and systematic assessment of methods for maintaining and preserving soil-transmitted helminth (STH) DNA, particularly from fragile eggs subjected to nuclease exposure in stool, has not been conducted previously. Through the comparative analysis of a variety of preservation techniques, the present study demonstrates that fecal samples designated for PCR-based molecular analysis maintain sample integrity for at least 60 days …

Exploration Of The Germline Genome Of The Ciliate Chilodonella Uncinata Through Single-Cell Omics (Transcriptomics And Genomics), Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcalá, Rob Knight, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Separate germline and somatic genomes are found in numerous lineages across the eukaryotic tree of life, often separated into distinct tissues (e.g., in plants, animals, and fungi) or distinct nuclei sharing a common cytoplasm (e.g., in ciliates and some foraminifera). In ciliates, germline-limited (i.e., micronuclear-specific) DNA is eliminated during the development of a new somatic (i.e., macronuclear) genome in a process that is tightly linked to large-scale genome rearrangements, such as deletions and reordering of protein-coding sequences. Most studies of germline genome architecture in ciliates have focused on the model ciliates Oxytricha trifallax, Paramecium tetraurelia, and Tetrahymena thermophila, for which …

Nuclear Features Of The Heterotrich Ciliate Blepharisma Americanum: Genomic Amplification, Life Cycle, And Nuclear Inclusion, Megan M. Wancura, Ying Yan, Laura A. Katz, Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcalá

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Blepharisma americanum, a member of the understudied ciliate class Heterotrichea, has a moniliform somatic macronucleus that resembles beads on a string. Blepharisma americanum is distinguishable by its pink coloration derived from the autofluorescent pigment blepharismin and tends to have a single somatic macronucleus with 3–6 nodes and multiple germline micronuclei. We used fluorescence confocal microscopy to explore the DNA content and amplification between the somatic and germline nuclei of B. americanum through its life cycle. We estimate that the DNA content of the macronucleus and micronucleus are 43 ± 8 Gbp and 83 ± 16 Mbp respectively. This correlates with …

A Novel Quantitative Real-Time Pcr Diagnostic Assay For Seal Heartworm (Acanthocheilonema Spirocauda) Provides Evidence For Possible Infection In The Grey Seal (Halichoerus Grypus), Caroline D. Keroack, Kalani M. Williams, M. K. Fessler, Kaela E. Deangelis, Eirini Tsekitsidou, Jillian M. Tozloski, Steven A. Williams

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The distinct evolutionary pressures faced by Pinnipeds have likely resulted in strong coevolutionary ties to their parasites (Leidenberger et al., 2007). This study focuses on the phocid seal filarial heartworm speciesAcanthocheilonema spirocauda. A. spirocauda is known to infect a variety of phocid seals, but does not appear to be restricted to a single host species (Measures et al., 1997; Leidenberger et al., 2007; Lehnert et al., 2015). However, to date, seal heartworm has never been reported in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) (Measures et al., 1997; Leidenberger et al., 2007; Lehnert et al., 2015). The proposed vector for seal heartworm is …

The Role Of Climate In The Dynamics Of Annual Plants In A Chihuahuan Desert Ecosystem, Danielle Ignace, Nancy Huntly, Peter Chesson

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Question: What is the role of temporal climate fluctuations in the dynamics of desert winter annual plants in the Portal Bajada, and in the sustained irruption of the non-native annual plant species, Erodium cicutarium?

Field site: Portal Bajada, San Simon Valley, Arizona, USA. Methods: We counted plants at flowering over a 21-year period on twelve permanent plots and related these numbers to weather data collected at an on-site weather station, supplemented by observations from the National Climate Data Center. Specific summary climate variables considered most relevant to annual plant biology were developed as candidate predictors of plant response variables.

Statistical …

Intraspecific Differences In Molecular Stress Responses And Coral Pathobiome Contribute To Mortality Under Bacterial Challenge In Acropora Millepora, Rachel M. Wright, Carly D. Kenkel, Carly E. Dunn, Erin N. Shilling, Line K. Bay, Mikhail V. Matz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Disease causes significant coral mortality worldwide; however, factors responsible for intraspecific variation in disease resistance remain unclear. We exposed fragments of eight Acropora millepora colonies (genotypes) to putatively pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio spp.). Genotypes varied from zero to >90% mortality, with bacterial challenge increasing average mortality rates 4-6 fold and shifting the microbiome in favor of stress-associated taxa. Constitutive immunity and subsequent immune and transcriptomic responses to the challenge were more prominent in high-mortality individuals, whereas low-mortality corals remained largely unaffected and maintained expression signatures of a healthier condition (i.e., did not launch a large stress response). Our results suggest that …

Distribution Of Abundant And Active Planktonic Ciliates In Coastal And Slope Waters Off New England, Sarah J. Tucker, George B. Mcmanus, Laura A. Katz, Jean-David Grattepanche

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Despite their important role of linking microbial and classic marine food webs, data on biogeographical patterns of microbial eukaryotic grazers are limited, and even fewer studies have used molecular tools to assess active (i.e., those expressing genes) community members. Marine ciliate diversity is believed to be greatest at the chlorophyll maximum, where there is an abundance of autotrophic prey, and is often assumed to decline with depth. Here, we assess the abundant (DNA) and active (RNA) marine ciliate communities throughout the water column at two stations off the New England coast (Northwest Atlantic)—a coastal station 43 km from shore (40 …

Insights Into Transgenerational Epigenetics From Studies Of Ciliates, Olivia A. Pilling, Anna J. Rogers, Bethaney Gulla-Devaney, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Epigenetics, a term with many meanings, can be broadly defined as the study of dynamic states of the genome. Ciliates, a clade of unicellular eukaryotes, can teach us about the intersection of epigenetics and evolution due to the advantages of working with cultivable ciliate lineages, plus their tendency to express extreme phenotypes such as heritable doublet morphology. Moreover, ciliates provide a powerful model for studying epigenetics given the presence of dimorphic nuclei – a somatic macronucleus and germline micronucleus – within each cell. Here, we exemplify the power of studying ciliates to learn about epigenetic phenomena. We highlight “classical” examples …

Unusual Features Of Non-Dividing Somatic Macronuclei In The Ciliate Class Karyorelictea, Ying Yan, Anna J. Rogers, Feng Gao, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Genome structure and nuclear organization have been intensely studied in model ciliates such as Tetrahymena and Paramecium, yet few studies have focused on nuclear features of other ciliate clades including the class Karyorelictea. In most ciliates, both the somatic macronuclei and germline micronuclei divide during cell division and macronuclear development only occurs after conjugation. However, the macronuclei of Karyorelictea are non-dividing (i.e. division minus (Div−)) and develop anew from micronuclei during each asexual division. As macronuclei age within Karyorelictea, they undergo changes in morphology and DNA content until they are eventually degraded and replaced by newly developed macronuclei. No less …

Pteronura Brasiliensis (Carnivora: Mustelidae), Paula Noonan, Siobhan Prout, Virginia Hayssen

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Pteronura brasiliensis (Zimmermann, 1780), the giant otter, is the largest freshwater otter. Found in South America, it inhabits slow-moving rivers and creeks and feeds predominantly on fish. Extinct in the southern portions of its former range, P. brasiliensis is listed as "Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Threats to P. brasiliensis include habitat destruction, illegal hunting, and disease.

A Dna Origami Platform For Quantifying Protein Copy Number In Super-Resolution, Francesca Cella Zanacchi, Carlo Manzo, Angel S. Alvarez, Nathan D. Derr, Maria F. Garcia-Parajo, Melike Lakadamyali

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Single-molecule-based super-resolution microscopy offers researchers a unique opportunity to quantify protein copy number with nanoscale resolution. However, while fluorescent proteins have been characterized for quantitative imaging using calibration standards, similar calibration tools for immunofluorescence with small organic fluorophores are lacking. Here we show that DNA origami, in combination with GFP antibodies, is a versatile platform for calibrating fluorophore and antibody labeling efficiency to quantify protein copy number in cellular contexts using super-resolution microscopy.

Disentangling Sources Of Variation In Ssu Rdna Sequences From Single Cell Analyses Of Ciliates: Impact Of Copy Number Variation And Experimental Error, Chundi Wang, Tengteng Zhang, Yurui Wang, Laura A. Katz, Feng Gao, Weibo Song

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) is widely used for phylogenetic inference, barcoding and other taxonomy-based analyses. Recent studies indicate that SSU rDNA of ciliates may have a high level of sequence variation within a single cell, which impacts the interpretation of rDNA-based surveys. However, sequence variation can come from a variety of sources including experimental errors, especially the mutations generated by DNA polymerase in PCR. In the present study, we explore the impact of four DNA polymerases on sequence variation and find that low-fidelity polymerases exaggerate the estimates of single-cell sequence variation. Therefore, using a polymerase with high fidelity …

A Novel, Species-Specific, Real-Time Pcr Assay For The Detection Of The Emerging Zoonotic Parasite Ancylostoma Ceylanicum In Human Stool, Marina Papaiakovou, Nils Pilotte, Jessica R. Grant, Rebecca J. Traub, Stacey Llewellyn, James S. Mccarthy, Alejandro J. Krolewiecki, Rubén Cimino, Rojelio Mejia, Steven A. Williams

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Historically, Ancylostoma ceylanicum has been viewed as an uncommon cause of human hookworm infection, with minimal public health importance. However, recent reports have indicated that this zoonotic hookworm causes a much greater incidence of infection within certain human populations than was previously believed. Current methods for the species-level detection of A. ceylanicum rely on techniques that involve conventional PCR accompanied by restriction enzyme digestions. These PCR-based assays are not only labo- rious but they lack sensitivity as they target suboptimal regions on the DNA. As efforts aimed at the eradication of hookworm disease have grown substantially over the last decade, …