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Flesh-eating parasite spreads to second US state as officials confirm thousands of people infected worldwide

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Caitlyn Jenner biographer and Robin Riker's ex William Hasley found dead on hiking trail at 78 Karmelo Anthony's mother sobs with shock as son is found guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf, 17, in stabbing that horrified America: Live updates Disgraceful texts'hot' teacher sent boy, 17, who she had illegal sex with where she moaned about her HUSBAND Everyone always said I cleared my throat a lot. But then I developed shoulder pain and doctors discovered the sinister cause... the world's deadliest cancer. Don't leave it too late like I did Moment Real Housewives star Lenny Hochstein's sexual assault accuser'dances' as she leaves Star Island mansion - before filing $100k civil lawsuit Leaked transcript of UNAIRED 60 Minutes interview exposes REAL reason'callous' CBS star Scott Pelley'deserved to be fired' Urgent recall for 1.1m vehicles over fears they could spontaneously CATCH FIRE even when parked Disturbing new death scene photos show tech whistleblower's haunting final moments... as forensic report casts doubt on suicide claims: 'Execution angle' 'Great' mom, 32, tried to gas herself and her three young kids to death after inviting them to'popcorn sleepover' in car, prosecutors allege The porn-fuelled fantasy middle-class husbands are desperate to try with their wives... and it almost always ends in divorce: JANA HOCKING The historic steel mill that helped build America was written off for dead. John Oliver's private panic: Late-night curse spreads and host prepares for worst as insiders reveal his desperate'plan B'... and the industry whispers swirling about his fate Woke Vegas school compared boy to racist cross burner over pro-ICE stickers and expelled him... but did not punish pro-migrant students for class walkout, lawsuit alleges Medical student, 24, died by suicide in his white coat a day after he was suspended for alleged'inappropriate' behavior towards female patient, lawsuit alleges, as his heartbreaking goodbye note to parents is revealed Mother's final words before she was shot dead'by new husband' in front of her two young children All the backstage gossip from Miami Swim Week: Insider exposes'catty' VIP's diva demands... STEALING... and'morbidly embarrassing' celeb moment everyone is whispering about MORE: Outrage as scientists push to create ticks that spread red-meat allergies: 'Isn't this biological terrorism?' The flesh-eating parasites that burrow into the living tissue of their victims have spread beyond Texas and are now moving through a second US state.


Flesh-eating parasite cases rise as fears intensify over US outbreak

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Caitlyn Jenner biographer and Robin Riker's ex William Hasley found dead on hiking trail at 78 Karmelo Anthony's mother sobs with shock as son is found guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf, 17, in stabbing that horrified America: Live updates Disgraceful texts'hot' teacher sent boy, 17, who she had illegal sex with where she moaned about her HUSBAND Everyone always said I cleared my throat a lot. But then I developed shoulder pain and doctors discovered the sinister cause... the world's deadliest cancer. Don't leave it too late like I did Moment Real Housewives star Lenny Hochstein's sexual assault accuser'dances' as she leaves Star Island mansion - before filing $100k civil lawsuit Leaked transcript of UNAIRED 60 Minutes interview exposes REAL reason'callous' CBS star Scott Pelley'deserved to be fired' Urgent recall for 1.1m vehicles over fears they could spontaneously CATCH FIRE even when parked Disturbing new death scene photos show tech whistleblower's haunting final moments... as forensic report casts doubt on suicide claims: 'Execution angle' 'Great' mom, 32, tried to gas herself and her three young kids to death after inviting them to'popcorn sleepover' in car, prosecutors allege The porn-fuelled fantasy middle-class husbands are desperate to try with their wives... and it almost always ends in divorce: JANA HOCKING John Oliver's private panic: Late-night curse spreads and host prepares for worst as insiders reveal his desperate'plan B'... and the industry whispers swirling about his fate Woke Vegas school compared boy to racist cross burner over pro-ICE stickers and expelled him... but did not punish pro-migrant students for class walkout, lawsuit alleges Medical student, 24, died by suicide in his white coat a day after he was suspended for alleged'inappropriate' behavior towards female patient, lawsuit alleges, as his heartbreaking goodbye note to parents is revealed Mother's final words before she was shot dead'by new husband' in front of her two young children All the backstage gossip from Miami Swim Week: Insider exposes'catty' VIP's diva demands... STEALING... and'morbidly embarrassing' celeb moment everyone is whispering about Cases of a flesh-eating parasite that burrows into the living tissue of its victims have now risen to four in the US. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced two new infections on Monday after New World screwworms were detected in a calf and a dog in Texas, bringing the nation's total to four confirmed cases . The parasite lays hundreds of eggs in open wounds, where the larvae hatch and begin feeding on living flesh.


Outrage over potentially cancer-curing drug hidden by CIA for years spirals as new patent surfaces

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Kentucky mother and daughter turn down $26.5MILLION to sell their farms to secretive tech giant that wants to build data center there Horrifying next twist in the Alexander brothers case: MAUREEN CALLAHAN exposes an unthinkable perversion that's been hiding in plain sight Hollywood icon who starred in Psycho after Hitchcock dubbed her'my new Grace Kelly' looks incredible at 95 Kylie Jenner's total humiliation in Hollywood: Derogatory rumor leaves her boyfriend's peers'laughing at her' behind her back Tucker Carlson erupts at Trump adviser as she hurls'SLANDER' claim linking him to synagogue shooting Ben Affleck'scores $600m deal' with Netflix to sell his AI film start-up Long hair over 45 is ageing and try-hard. I've finally cut mine off. Alexander brothers' alleged HIGH SCHOOL rape video: Classmates speak out on sickening footage... as creepy unseen photos are exposed Heartbreaking video shows very elderly DoorDash driver shuffle down customer's driveway with coffee order because he is too poor to retire Amber Valletta, 52, was a '90s Vogue model who made movies with Sandra Bullock and Kate Hudson, see her now Model Cindy Crawford, 60, mocked for her'out of touch' morning routine: 'Nothing about this is normal' A US patent for a potential breakthrough cancer treatment is drawing renewed attention after declassified CIA documents revealed how scientists may have been close to a cure 60 years ago. The patent, published by Johns Hopkins University in 2021 and titled'Mebendazole Polymorph for Treatment and Prevention of Tumors,' outlines how specific formulations of the drug mebendazole may be used to target cancer cells. Mebendazole has been used safely for more than four decades to treat parasitic worm infections in humans, but researchers have increasingly investigated whether the drug could also help fight certain cancers, including aggressive brain tumors.


CIA faces furious backlash after hidden document with potential cure for cancer is declassified after 60 years

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Kentucky mother and daughter turn down $26.5MILLION to sell their farms to secretive tech giant that wants to build data center there Horrifying next twist in the Alexander brothers case: MAUREEN CALLAHAN exposes an unthinkable perversion that's been hiding in plain sight Hollywood icon who starred in Psycho after Hitchcock dubbed her'my new Grace Kelly' looks incredible at 95 Kylie Jenner's total humiliation in Hollywood: Derogatory rumor leaves her boyfriend's peers'laughing at her' behind her back Tucker Carlson erupts at Trump adviser as she hurls'SLANDER' claim linking him to synagogue shooting Ben Affleck'scores $600m deal' with Netflix to sell his AI film start-up Long hair over 45 is ageing and try-hard. I've finally cut mine off. Alexander brothers' alleged HIGH SCHOOL rape video: Classmates speak out on sickening footage... as creepy unseen photos are exposed Heartbreaking video shows very elderly DoorDash driver shuffle down customer's driveway with coffee order because he is too poor to retire Amber Valletta, 52, was a '90s Vogue model who made movies with Sandra Bullock and Kate Hudson, see her now Model Cindy Crawford, 60, mocked for her'out of touch' morning routine: 'Nothing about this is normal' A newly surfaced CIA document suggests US intelligence once reviewed research that hinted at a possible cancer treatment more than 60 years ago. The document, produced in February 1951 and declassified in 2014, summarizes a Soviet scientific paper that examined striking similarities between parasitic worms and cancerous tumors. The report describes how researchers believed both organisms thrived under nearly identical metabolic conditions and accumulated large reserves of glycogen, a form of stored energy.


This deadly dog 'spaghetti' has ancient origins

Popular Science

Environment Animals Pets Dogs This deadly dog'spaghetti' has ancient origins Heartworm is one of the most widespread dog parasites. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Every year, millions of dogs come face-to-face with a life threatening parasite coiled up inside one of their vital organs--heartworm. The spaghetti-looking parasite can be fatal when left untreated. New research into the widespread canine parasite suggests that heartworm has a deeper and more complex history than scientists previously believed and some may have originated in Australian dingoes.


Fujitsu 'not a parasite' over Horizon scandal

BBC News

Fujitsu is not a parasite for continuing to profit from government contracts in the wake of the Post Office Horizon scandal, its boss told MPs. European chief executive Paul Patterson said Fujitsu had been given £500m of contract extensions despite its faulty software being at the centre of the huge miscarriage of justice. We are not a parasite, the government has got an option as to whether they wish to extend those contracts or not, he said, adding it would not bid for new business. Patterson also repeatedly refused to say how much Fujitsu would contribute to the £1.8bn redress scheme for victims of the scandal, currently funded by taxpayers. More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted after the faulty Horizon computer system made it look like money was missing from their branch accounts.


Diarrhea slowed down Roman soldiers

Popular Science

Intestinal parasites that still plague us today were all over Roman Britain. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. The soldiers guarding the Roman Empire's northwestern frontier had a real parasite problem. Scientists analyzing the sewer drains from the Roman fort Vindolanda (near Hadrian's Wall in northern England) found three types of intestinal parasites --roundworm,whipworm, and . The findings published in the journal mark the first time that has been documented in Roman Britain.


A history of mistletoe: The parasitic 'dung on a twig'

Popular Science

From its role in kissing to mythological healing powers, mistletoe's roots run deep. This novella was the earliest and most popular of Dickens' Christmas stories. The kissing under mistletoe (left) and evergreen decoration hanging from the ceiling are vestiges of pre-Christian winter rites. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. It's hard to imagine a holiday season without Bing Crosby's Christmas standard Originally written from the perspective of a soldier stationed overseas during World War II, his longing for the simple comforts of home and reconnecting with his loved ones at Christmas is almost palpable: " Mistletoe just inexplicably feels familiar. Every December, the evergreen sprig s that spent the offseason hidden in our subconscious are suddenly all around us. Mistletoe is the long-lost acquaintance that we instantly recognize and embrace, yet whose backstory has been lost to us. "When I talk to people about parasitic plants, I know mistletoe is the one that they'll immediately recognize even if they don't really know it's a parasite," Virginia Tech plant biologist Jim Westwood tells . Author Washington Irving, best known for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and is often credited with helping popularize the parasitic evergreen shrub in the United States. He wrote about the plant in an 1820 collection of short stories, but the roots of mistletoe go much deeper elsewhere in the world. Dating back to Ancient Greece and Rome, leafy mistletoe has long excited the imagination. Mistletoe served as a centerpiece of Celtic Rituals and Norse myths, where it bestowed life and fertility and served as an aphrodisiac, a plant of parley, an antidote for poisons, and a means of safe passage to and from Hades. According to The Living Lore, since the plant can thrive in the high branches of its host without soil, "many cultures saw mistletoe as a sacred plant, existing in liminal spaces between life and death, earth and sky, and human and divine." In Old Norse mythology, Baldr, the son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, was slain with a mistletoe spear. Some interpretations suggest that, "kissing under the mistletoe symbolizes forgiveness, echoing Frigg's grief and eventual reconciliation with the plant." Many early physicians and scientists saw mistletoe as a cure-all for the woes of the world. It was used to treat various diseases and conditions including epilepsy, infertility, and ulcers. In Pliny's, the writer and physician describes the Celtic ritual of oak and mistletoe. High priests dressed in white harvested mistletoe with golden sickles from the branches of sacred oak trees to make an elixir that could counteract any poison and render any barren animal fertile. "It's easy to imagine how people become fixated on mistletoe plants," says Westwood. "It stays green all winter growing in its host tree.


Ancient poop from Mexico's 'Cave of the Dead Children' teems with parasites

Popular Science

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. It's a really big deal when fossilized feces survive the ravages of time. These hardened pieces of excrement open up a window into what animals ate thousands of years ago and even what may have made them sick . Humans are not exempt from this, with dried human feces indicating we have always loved cheese and beer and that our microbiome has evolved over thousands of years. DNA recovered from 1,000-year-old dried feces indicates that intestinal infections from pinworm or Shingella may have plagued ancient people living in present day northern Mexico's Rio Zape Valley.


Decoding the dark proteome: Deep learning-enabled discovery of druggable enzymes in Wuchereria bancrofti

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Wuchereria bancrofti, the parasitic roundworm responsible for lymphatic filariasis, permanently disables over 36 million people and places 657 million at risk across 39 countries. A major bottleneck for drug discovery is the lack of functional annotation for more than 90 percent of the W. bancrofti dark proteome, leaving many potential targets unidentified. In this work, we present a novel computational pipeline that converts W. bancrofti's unannotated amino acid sequence data into precise four-level Enzyme Commission (EC) numbers and drug candidates. We utilized a DEtection TRansformer to estimate the probability of enzymatic function, fine-tuned a hierarchical nearest neighbor EC predictor on 4,476 labeled parasite proteins, and applied rejection sampling to retain only four-level EC classifications at 100 percent confidence. This pipeline assigned precise EC numbers to 14,772 previously uncharacterized proteins and discovered 543 EC classes not previously known in W. bancrofti. A qualitative triage emphasizing parasite-specific targets, chemical tractability, biochemical importance, and biological plausibility prioritized six enzymes across five separate strategies: anti-Wolbachia cell-wall inhibition, proteolysis blockade, transmission disruption, purinergic immune interference, and cGMP-signaling destabilization. We curated a 43-compound library from ChEMBL and BindingDB and co-folded across multiple protein conformers with Boltz-2. All six targets exhibited at least moderately strong predicted binding affinities below 1 micromolar, with moenomycin analogs against peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase and NTPase inhibitors showing promising nanomolar hits and well-defined binding pockets. While experimental validation remains essential, our results provide the first large-scale functional map of the W. bancrofti dark proteome and accelerate early-stage drug development for the species.