Tomas Machacek
@trichotom.bsky.social
Parasitic worms & immunity. 🪱🔬 Avian & human schistosomes. 🐭🦆 Swimmer's itch, skin & lungs. 🏊🏻♂️🫁 Assistant professor at @sciencecharles.bsky.social.🎓 Secretary of @parazitologiecz.bsky.social. 🗒️
Pinned
Tomas Machacek
@trichotom.bsky.social
· Sep 16
New study out! 🚨 For the first time, we tracked Trichobilharzia franki, a major cause of swimmer’s itch in Europe, in the lab. 🪱🔬 From genetics to pathology & immunity, our findings shed new light on this tricky parasite and its role in outbreaks.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fa...
doi.org/10.1016/j.fa...
Happy to contribute to the Parasite of the Month series in @cp-trendsparasitol.bsky.social with our article on the neurotropic schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti! 🧠🔬
authors.elsevier.com/a/1m5yH5Eb1x...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1m5yH5Eb1x...
November 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Happy to contribute to the Parasite of the Month series in @cp-trendsparasitol.bsky.social with our article on the neurotropic schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti! 🧠🔬
authors.elsevier.com/a/1m5yH5Eb1x...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1m5yH5Eb1x...
Where would the Arabs have reached if not for the plague that decimated the Byzantine Empire? And how did malaria influence the fight for American independence? 🤔 A light yet fascinating read about the germs that shaped our past — a perfect blend of infection and history. 📖🦠
October 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Where would the Arabs have reached if not for the plague that decimated the Byzantine Empire? And how did malaria influence the fight for American independence? 🤔 A light yet fascinating read about the germs that shaped our past — a perfect blend of infection and history. 📖🦠
Skin-penetrating nematodes rely on dopamine signaling to invade their hosts. Blocking dopamine signalization could stop infections before they start. 🔬 @natcomms.nature.com
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dopamine signaling drives skin invasion by human-infective nematodes - Nature Communications
Skin-penetrating nematodes infect hosts by burrowing through host skin. This study finds that in the human-parasitic, skin-penetrating nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, skin penetration behavior is ...
www.nature.com
September 18, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Skin-penetrating nematodes rely on dopamine signaling to invade their hosts. Blocking dopamine signalization could stop infections before they start. 🔬 @natcomms.nature.com
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New study out! 🚨 For the first time, we tracked Trichobilharzia franki, a major cause of swimmer’s itch in Europe, in the lab. 🪱🔬 From genetics to pathology & immunity, our findings shed new light on this tricky parasite and its role in outbreaks.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fa...
doi.org/10.1016/j.fa...
September 16, 2025 at 5:48 AM
New study out! 🚨 For the first time, we tracked Trichobilharzia franki, a major cause of swimmer’s itch in Europe, in the lab. 🪱🔬 From genetics to pathology & immunity, our findings shed new light on this tricky parasite and its role in outbreaks.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fa...
doi.org/10.1016/j.fa...
Reposted by Tomas Machacek
Save the dates!! @bspparasitology.bsky.social Spring Meeting 2026 will be in Bonnie Glasgow! 7-9 April 2026, with a drinks reception in Glasgow City Chambers on the 6th of April 2026!
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
September 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Save the dates!! @bspparasitology.bsky.social Spring Meeting 2026 will be in Bonnie Glasgow! 7-9 April 2026, with a drinks reception in Glasgow City Chambers on the 6th of April 2026!
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
Cool meeting at @sciencecharles.bsky.social right now! 🪱🔬
September 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Cool meeting at @sciencecharles.bsky.social right now! 🪱🔬
Second stop of our @4euplusalliance.bsky.social project: Denmark! 🇩🇰🐌🦆 We sampled in various sites – even right in the heart of Copenhagen! 🌊🏙️ Great teamwork, hands-on training, and more data for our #eDNA detection of swimmer’s itch. 🧬 @zikmund.bsky.social
🔗 natur.cuni.cz/en/biology/d...
🔗 natur.cuni.cz/en/biology/d...
September 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Second stop of our @4euplusalliance.bsky.social project: Denmark! 🇩🇰🐌🦆 We sampled in various sites – even right in the heart of Copenhagen! 🌊🏙️ Great teamwork, hands-on training, and more data for our #eDNA detection of swimmer’s itch. 🧬 @zikmund.bsky.social
🔗 natur.cuni.cz/en/biology/d...
🔗 natur.cuni.cz/en/biology/d...
Reposted by Tomas Machacek
Truly a most neglected tropical disease. More common than other filarial nematode diseases and yet largely ignored. www.cell.com/trends/paras...
Mansonella perstans – the forgotten filaria
Mansonella perstans is the most prevalent human filarial parasite, infecting over
100 million people worldwide. Despite its wide distribution, it remains one of the
most neglected parasitic infections...
www.cell.com
September 7, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Truly a most neglected tropical disease. More common than other filarial nematode diseases and yet largely ignored. www.cell.com/trends/paras...
Thelazia callipaeda is an emerging zoonotic nematode responsible for eye infections. A new human case is reported from Rome, Italy. 👁️🪱🍕 @crpvbd.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.cr...
September 7, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Thelazia callipaeda is an emerging zoonotic nematode responsible for eye infections. A new human case is reported from Rome, Italy. 👁️🪱🍕 @crpvbd.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.cr...
Possibly a new species of Leucochloridium from Japan... I really love these creatures! 😍 doi.org/10.1016/j.pa...
September 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Possibly a new species of Leucochloridium from Japan... I really love these creatures! 😍 doi.org/10.1016/j.pa...
Reposted by Tomas Machacek
I am pleased to present a project we've been working on for the least year to try to answer a fundamental question - does a parasite's developmental niche as an egg have effects on larval stages? We show that the answer is very much yes - which has a few implications. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Tissue-specific distribution of eggs in the definitive host drives transcriptomic and behavioral differences in Schistosoma mansoni miracidia
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by human-infective schistosomes (Trematoda: Schistosoma). Intestinal schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa and the Neotropics is caused primarily...
www.biorxiv.org
August 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I am pleased to present a project we've been working on for the least year to try to answer a fundamental question - does a parasite's developmental niche as an egg have effects on larval stages? We show that the answer is very much yes - which has a few implications. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Tomas Machacek
Absolute pleasure to be involved in this review article on sustainable parasite control in ruminants. Full of lovely stuff on vaccines, nutrition, genetics, grazing and biological control! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
August 12, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Absolute pleasure to be involved in this review article on sustainable parasite control in ruminants. Full of lovely stuff on vaccines, nutrition, genetics, grazing and biological control! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Don't miss this opportunity!
"Immunology Meets Philosophy vol. 2" focuses on host-microbe interactions while highlighting a variety of conceptual approaches and phenomena, from infectious diseases to evolutionary and metabolic perspectives. #ImmunoSky #philbio #philsci
On-site / online stream registration - link in comments 👇
On-site / online stream registration - link in comments 👇
August 12, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Don't miss this opportunity!
First stop of our @4euplusalliance.bsky.social project: Poland! 🐌🦆
We met with @ankarn.bsky.social (thank you! 🙏🏻) to exchange knowledge on bird schistosomes and swimmer's itch and, mainly, share our experience with water filtration and #eDNA detection. 🧬
We met with @ankarn.bsky.social (thank you! 🙏🏻) to exchange knowledge on bird schistosomes and swimmer's itch and, mainly, share our experience with water filtration and #eDNA detection. 🧬
August 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
First stop of our @4euplusalliance.bsky.social project: Poland! 🐌🦆
We met with @ankarn.bsky.social (thank you! 🙏🏻) to exchange knowledge on bird schistosomes and swimmer's itch and, mainly, share our experience with water filtration and #eDNA detection. 🧬
We met with @ankarn.bsky.social (thank you! 🙏🏻) to exchange knowledge on bird schistosomes and swimmer's itch and, mainly, share our experience with water filtration and #eDNA detection. 🧬
Reposted by Tomas Machacek
New paper today:
Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from the placenta of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and potential transplacental transmission of the parasite 🧪
doi.org/10.1051/para...
Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from the placenta of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and potential transplacental transmission of the parasite 🧪
doi.org/10.1051/para...
August 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
New paper today:
Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from the placenta of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and potential transplacental transmission of the parasite 🧪
doi.org/10.1051/para...
Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from the placenta of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and potential transplacental transmission of the parasite 🧪
doi.org/10.1051/para...
Reposted by Tomas Machacek
In schistosome 🪱-endemic areas, people are repeatedly reinfected — but we still don’t fully understand how T cell responses develop in these cycles.
In my first ever last-author paper (😱) we investigate this, comparing endemic and repeat controlled human schistosome infection: rdcu.be/exH58
In my first ever last-author paper (😱) we investigate this, comparing endemic and repeat controlled human schistosome infection: rdcu.be/exH58
T cell responses in repeated controlled human schistosome infection compared to natural exposure
Nature Communications - In schistosomiasis-endemic regions, the cyclical nature of infection and treatment complicates understanding of host immune responses. Repeated controlled human Schistosoma...
rdcu.be
July 31, 2025 at 3:15 PM
In schistosome 🪱-endemic areas, people are repeatedly reinfected — but we still don’t fully understand how T cell responses develop in these cycles.
In my first ever last-author paper (😱) we investigate this, comparing endemic and repeat controlled human schistosome infection: rdcu.be/exH58
In my first ever last-author paper (😱) we investigate this, comparing endemic and repeat controlled human schistosome infection: rdcu.be/exH58
Reposted by Tomas Machacek
New research w/ @jacobphd.bsky.social et al. published today in Nature Communications: Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors doi.org/10.1038/s414... 🐌🪱🧬
Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors - Nature Communications
A genome wide association study of an African vector of schistosomiasis revealed two genomic regions associated with resistance to Schistosoma mansoni. These findings will inform novel control strateg...
doi.org
July 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New research w/ @jacobphd.bsky.social et al. published today in Nature Communications: Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors doi.org/10.1038/s414... 🐌🪱🧬
🔬 Věda má smysl, když pomáhá v praxi! Vyvíjíme proto metodu pro rychlou detekci původců cerkáriové dermatitidy pomocí #eDNA. 🦆🐌🏊🏻 Honza a Jana to skvěle vysvětlují v reportáži @radiozurnal.bsky.social – díky! 📻
📍 @sciencecharles.bsky.social @ukforum.cuni.cz
🔗 radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/ptaci-motoli...
📍 @sciencecharles.bsky.social @ukforum.cuni.cz
🔗 radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/ptaci-motoli...
Ptačí motolice umí vědci ve vodě odhalit pomocí filtru DNA. Nová metoda je efektivnější i bezpečnější
Když vylezete v přírodě z vody a na těle se vám do večera objeví drobné červené skvrnky, zpozorněte. Mohlo by se jednat o cerkáriovou dermatitidu. Stojí za ní larvy ptačích motolic. Do vody se dostáva...
radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz
July 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
🔬 Věda má smysl, když pomáhá v praxi! Vyvíjíme proto metodu pro rychlou detekci původců cerkáriové dermatitidy pomocí #eDNA. 🦆🐌🏊🏻 Honza a Jana to skvěle vysvětlují v reportáži @radiozurnal.bsky.social – díky! 📻
📍 @sciencecharles.bsky.social @ukforum.cuni.cz
🔗 radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/ptaci-motoli...
📍 @sciencecharles.bsky.social @ukforum.cuni.cz
🔗 radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/ptaci-motoli...
📢 A major study on alveolar echinococcosis 🦊🫐🪱 in Europe reveals over 4,200 human cases, with hotspots in the Alps and Baltics. @thelancetinfdis.bsky.social
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
June 26, 2025 at 7:54 AM
📢 A major study on alveolar echinococcosis 🦊🫐🪱 in Europe reveals over 4,200 human cases, with hotspots in the Alps and Baltics. @thelancetinfdis.bsky.social
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
A very cool study on the man-o’-war, also known as bluebottle (Physalia). 🌊 The iconic creature is not just one species; it is at least four! 🪼🌍 Despite drifting across vast oceans, they don't mix freely. @currentbiology.bsky.social
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Population genomics of a sailing siphonophore reveals genetic structure in the open ocean
Church et al. use population genomics and citizen-science photos to show that Physalia
comprises at least four genetically distinct, morphologically recognizable species,
each with substantial substru...
www.cell.com
June 26, 2025 at 6:38 AM
A very cool study on the man-o’-war, also known as bluebottle (Physalia). 🌊 The iconic creature is not just one species; it is at least four! 🪼🌍 Despite drifting across vast oceans, they don't mix freely. @currentbiology.bsky.social
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
S nástupem letních teplot se nám začínají objevovat první případy cerkáriové dermatitidy (vyrážky z koupání). Víme už o dvou lokalitách ve Středních Čechách. ☀️🏊🏻♂️ Tak je možná fajn tu připomenout web pro veřejnost, který jsme k tématu připravili: www.cerkarie.cz 😉
Cerkárie.cz
Cerkáriová dermatitida
Cerkáriová dermatitida (jinak také svědivá vyrážka z koupání nebo v angličtině „swimmer’s itch“) je alergická kožní reakce způsobená larvami (cerkáriemi) ptačích motolic, které ...
www.cerkarie.cz
June 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
S nástupem letních teplot se nám začínají objevovat první případy cerkáriové dermatitidy (vyrážky z koupání). Víme už o dvou lokalitách ve Středních Čechách. ☀️🏊🏻♂️ Tak je možná fajn tu připomenout web pro veřejnost, který jsme k tématu připravili: www.cerkarie.cz 😉
New publication out today! 🥳 Honza and @zikmund.bsky.social developed a sensitive molecular toolkit for detecting bird schistosomes, the main culprits behind swimmer’s itch. 🏊🏻🐌
A step forward in molecular surveillance of bird schistosomes!
@sciencecharles.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s130...
A step forward in molecular surveillance of bird schistosomes!
@sciencecharles.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s130...
Molecular detection and identification of Trichobilharzia: development of a LAMP, qPCR, and multiplex PCR toolkit - Parasites & Vectors
Background Cercarial dermatitis (CD), or swimmer’s itch, is a water-borne allergic skin reaction caused by the penetration of the larval stages of bird schistosomes (cercariae) into the skin. Members ...
doi.org
May 30, 2025 at 7:51 AM
New publication out today! 🥳 Honza and @zikmund.bsky.social developed a sensitive molecular toolkit for detecting bird schistosomes, the main culprits behind swimmer’s itch. 🏊🏻🐌
A step forward in molecular surveillance of bird schistosomes!
@sciencecharles.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s130...
A step forward in molecular surveillance of bird schistosomes!
@sciencecharles.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s130...
@nature.com surveyed over 5k researchers worldwide on the ethics of using AI in scientific writing. Great community-based study. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Is it OK for AI to write science papers? Nature survey shows researchers are split
Poll of 5,000 researchers finds contrasting views on when it’s acceptable to involve AI and what needs to be disclosed.
www.nature.com
May 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
@nature.com surveyed over 5k researchers worldwide on the ethics of using AI in scientific writing. Great community-based study. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
▶️ More and more Alzheimer’s researchers, including former skeptics, are opening up to the possibility that infection contributes to neurodegeneration. 🧠 Happy to see this comment on the Alzheimer's disease infectious hypothesis published in @nature.com.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Do infections have a role in Alzheimer’s disease?
The suggestion that pathogens play a part in driving dementia is not as niche as it once was, but the evidence remains inconclusive.
www.nature.com
April 25, 2025 at 9:20 AM
▶️ More and more Alzheimer’s researchers, including former skeptics, are opening up to the possibility that infection contributes to neurodegeneration. 🧠 Happy to see this comment on the Alzheimer's disease infectious hypothesis published in @nature.com.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
▶️ Bacterial skin infection does not just affect your skin. It can mess with your systemic immunity! 😮
The study shows how it changes eosinophils in the bone marrow, leading to long-lasting effects on allergic reactions and lung inflammation.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The study shows how it changes eosinophils in the bone marrow, leading to long-lasting effects on allergic reactions and lung inflammation.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Eosinophil innate immune memory after bacterial skin infection promotes allergic lung inflammation
Staphylococcus aureus skin infection induces eosinophil innate immune memory to exacerbate allergen-induced airway inflammation.
www.science.org
April 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
▶️ Bacterial skin infection does not just affect your skin. It can mess with your systemic immunity! 😮
The study shows how it changes eosinophils in the bone marrow, leading to long-lasting effects on allergic reactions and lung inflammation.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The study shows how it changes eosinophils in the bone marrow, leading to long-lasting effects on allergic reactions and lung inflammation.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...