A new study conducted by researchers from the University of the Free State (UFS), the National Health Laboratory Service, and the University of Venda has revealed for the first time that common brown locusts can carry pathogenic yeasts, including Candida auris, a fungus capable of causing severe infections in humans, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems or those seriously ill.

The study, titled South African brown locusts, Locustana pardalina, hosts fluconazole-resistant, Candidozyma (Candida) auris (Clade III), uncovers the presence of the disease-causing yeast C. auris in the digestive tracts of locusts. This discovery highlights the potential for locusts to spread this emerging pathogen. The research began in April 2022, with 20 adult locusts collected during a significant locust outbreak in the semi-arid Eastern Karoo region of the Eastern Cape, which lasted from September 2021 to May 2022. The study is currently under peer review.

According to Prof. Carlien Pohl-Albertyn, National Research Foundation (NRF) SARChI Research Chair in Pathogenic Yeasts, the researchers isolated three strains of C. auris from different locusts, two of which also contained strains of Candida orthopsilosis, another potentially pathogenic yeast. “The fact that we were able to isolate C. auris from 15% of the sampled locusts, using non-selective media and a non-restrictive temperature of 30°C, may indicate that C. auris is abundant in the locusts and that specific selective isolation is not mandatory,” said Prof. Pohl-Albertyn.

The study also found C. auris in both the fore- and hindguts of the locusts. The foregut, responsible for food intake and partial digestion, likely serves as the entry point for the yeast via the locust’s feeding activities. The hindgut confirmed that C. auris can survive digestion and may be excreted back into the environment through faeces.

While C. auris poses a significant risk to individuals with compromised immune systems, Prof. Pohl-Albertyn emphasized that healthy humans are not at great risk. “There is currently no proof that ingestion may be harmful to them,” she explained. However, she warned that the yeast could pose dangers to immunocompromised individuals, even though few people in South Africa are in direct contact with locusts.

One of the C. auris strains studied in-depth showed decreased susceptibility to fluconazole, a common antifungal drug, underscoring the need for new antifungal treatments. “This highlights the urgent need to discover and develop new antifungal drugs,” Prof. Pohl-Albertyn added.

The study also raises concerns about how locusts could potentially spread C. auris to other animals, such as birds, and, in some regions, even humans. “The fact that locusts are a food source for other animals could lead to eventual distribution of the yeast to people,” Prof. Pohl-Albertyn noted. In countries where locusts are consumed by humans, direct transmission could be more likely.

This research contributes to understanding the natural hosts of emerging pathogens and their role in spreading these diseases. Prof. Pohl-Albertyn emphasized the importance of understanding how C. auris emerged as a pathogen in multiple countries and how environmental factors may have shaped its evolution. “This has implications for the prevention of the spread of this specific yeast species, as well as our preparedness for new pathogenic yeasts that may be emerging from the environment,” she concluded.

Researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have made a path breaking discovery that could pave the way for new treatments for cancer and respiratory diseases. The team successfully visualized the atomic structure of CXCR2, a crucial human receptor involved in the progression of these diseases. Their findings, published in the prestigious journal Molecular Cell, offer a new perspective on targeting this receptor for therapeutic intervention.

CXCR2 is a key receptor in the immune system, involved in directing immune cells to infection and injury sites through interaction with chemokines—small signaling proteins. CXCR2’s role in inflammatory disorders and cancers such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, atherosclerosis, and pancreatic cancer makes it a promising target for new drugs.

Using advanced cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), the IIT Kanpur researchers captured unprecedented details of the receptor’s “lock-and-key” mechanism, shedding light on how CXCR2 interacts with multiple chemokines. This discovery addresses a fundamental question in biomedical science about how a single receptor can bind to various chemokines and trigger biological responses. The visualization also opens up opportunities for designing novel therapeutics.

“Our findings provide a molecular blueprint for designing next-generation therapeutics that can precisely target CXCR2 and potentially reduce its role in cancer and respiratory diseases. By visualizing this receptor in its active state, we now have the opportunity to develop highly specific inhibitors that can disrupt its function, potentially leading to significant advancements in treatment strategies,” said Professor Arun Kumar Shukla, the lead investigator of the study at IIT Kanpur.

The research team at IIT Kanpur includes Shirsha Saha, Saloni Sharma, Manisankar Ganguly, Nashrah Zaidi, Divyanshu Tiwari, Nabarun Roy, Nilanjana Banerjee, and Ramanuj Banerjee. Their work also involved collaboration with experts from the University of Tokyo, Japan—Fumiya Sano, Hiroaki Akasaka, Takaaki Kobayashi, Yuzuru Itoh, Wataru Shihoya, and Osamu Nureki—along with Andy Chevigne from the Luxembourg Institute of Health.

This study was funded by the DBT Wellcome Trust India Alliance, Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and LADY TATA Memorial Trust.

Building on this discovery, the IIT Kanpur team is now developing small molecules and antibodies aimed at targeting CXCR2. These therapeutics will undergo laboratory testing, followed by animal studies, bringing the team closer to offering innovative treatments for cancer and respiratory diseases. This achievement further underscores IIT Kanpur’s commitment to pioneering research that has the potential to revolutionize global healthcare and biomedical innovation.

Dogs are renowned for their ability to adapt and respond to various situations. One of the key features of their intelligence is their memory and how they utilize past experiences to navigate new circumstances. Dogs not only remember specific events but also use those memories to make decisions in future situations. Research on canine cognition shows that dogs have impressive memory retention, which helps them recognize faces, remember commands, and understand their environment. When faced with a new scenario, they often recall previous similar experiences and apply those learnings effectively.

Understanding Human Cues: A Result of Evolution

Dogs’ remarkable ability to understand human cues—whether through body language, vocal tones, or facial expressions—is another significant aspect of their cognitive prowess. Over thousands of years of domestication, dogs have learned to interpret human signals, making them highly attuned to the needs and intentions of their human companions. This phenomenon is often attributed to the domestication hypothesis, which suggests that dogs have evolved alongside humans and, in doing so, developed the ability to read and respond to human cues.

However, some researchers argue that dogs’ ability to understand human cues might not solely stem from domestication. There is a possibility that dogs’ social intelligence could be a result of convergent evolution, where dogs’ cognitive abilities have evolved similarly to those of social animals like primates, despite not sharing a direct evolutionary path. This perspective is still debated in the field, but it underscores the complexity of understanding the roots of canine cognition.

Cognitive Categories in Dogs: Classifying Intelligence

Dogs’ cognitive abilities can be broken down into various categories that reflect the diversity of their intelligence. These categories help researchers study the different aspects of how dogs think, learn, and behave. Some of the key categories include:

• Spatial Intelligence: Dogs possess a strong sense of spatial awareness, allowing them to navigate their environment effectively. They can remember the locations of objects such as toys, food bowls, and leashes. This spatial awareness also extends to their ability to assess distances and understand their surroundings. While most dogs develop this intelligence naturally, some may need training to enhance their spatial skills.

• Intrapersonal Intelligence: This refers to a dog’s ability to understand its own physical abilities, limitations, and needs. For example, a dog might avoid attempting an action, such as jumping over a large gap, if it perceives it to be beyond its capabilities. This form of intelligence reflects the dog’s self-awareness, although the level of this awareness may differ from that seen in humans. Dogs might not have conscious self-reflection, but their behavior indicates an understanding of their limits.

• Interpersonal Intelligence: Dogs are highly social animals, and their interpersonal intelligence is reflected in their ability to communicate with both humans and other dogs. They can interpret social cues and respond accordingly, forming strong bonds with their human families and understanding the dynamics of their social group. This intelligence is particularly evident in their interactions with humans, where they not only respond to verbal commands but also tune into human emotions, following social hierarchies and giving appropriate responses. For example, dogs can respond to human emotions by offering comfort or adjusting their behavior based on the emotional state of their human companions.

The Role of Human-Dog Interaction in Cognitive Development

Dogs’ cognitive abilities, including their ability to understand human emotions, are likely a product of their long history of living alongside humans. Studies show that dogs can often read the intentions of humans, making them exceptionally skilled at interpreting social cues. This human-dog bond has shaped dogs’ social intelligence, allowing them to be highly responsive to the emotional and social cues provided by humans. For instance, when a human expresses frustration or joy, a dog can often sense the change in mood and react accordingly, whether by offering comfort or simply adjusting their behavior.

Interestingly, some studies suggest that domestic dogs might lose some of their problem-solving abilities when raised solely in human environments. This loss might occur because dogs begin to rely on human intervention for problem-solving, rather than using their independent cognitive skills. However, with appropriate training and stimulation, many dogs can retain or even develop complex problem-solving abilities.

Variations and Training

Just as with humans, not all dogs display the same level of cognitive abilities. Some dogs might struggle with spatial awareness or might not respond to certain social cues as effectively as others. This is particularly evident in some breeds or individual dogs that may require additional training to enhance these skills. Spatial awareness, for example, might be challenging for dogs that were not raised in environments where they had to navigate complex spaces. Training exercises can help improve these cognitive areas, allowing the dog to become more aware of its surroundings and capable of responding appropriately.

Moreover, self-awareness or intrapersonal intelligence can also vary among dogs. While some dogs might instinctively understand their physical limitations (e.g., recognizing when they can’t jump a certain height), others may require repeated experiences to learn these boundaries.

Complex and Multifaceted

Overall, dogs exhibit a wide range of cognitive abilities that demonstrate both adaptive intelligence and social prowess. Their ability to learn, remember, and apply past experiences to new situations showcases their problem-solving skills, while their social intelligence allows them to communicate effectively with humans and other dogs. While there is still much to learn about the origins and evolution of canine intelligence, it is clear that dogs have evolved to become highly adept at interpreting the world around them, both physically and socially.

The domestication of dogs, along with their interaction with humans, has contributed significantly to the development of their cognitive abilities. These abilities are not only a result of their domesticated lives but also a product of their evolutionary adaptation to social living, both with humans and other animals. Understanding these cognitive abilities in dogs helps deepen the bond between dogs and humans and enriches our appreciation for these remarkable companions.