{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T05:50:13Z","timestamp":1768542613074,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,15]],"date-time":"2026-01-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768435200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100006182","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o de Amparo \u00e0 Pesquisa e Inova\u00e7\u00e3o do Esp\u00edrito Santo","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1484\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1484\/2025"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100006182","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most epidemiologically significant soil-transmitted helminths, and the environmental persistence of its eggs is largely attributed to their robust structural architecture. The search for ovicidal alternatives capable of overcoming this barrier has increasingly focused on metallic nanoparticles obtained through biological synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to evaluate the ultrastructural effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesised by the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans on A. lumbricoides eggs. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs, revealing predominantly spherical, well-dispersed particles with an average diameter of 9.22 \u00b1 4.9 nm. Cytotoxicity assays indicated an IC50 of 7.7 \u00b5g\/mL. SEM analyses showed that eggs in the control group maintained intact morphology, with no apparent deformities. In contrast, exposure to AgNPs induced pronounced structural alterations, including marked wrinkling, surface erosion and shell collapse, suggesting disruption of multiple layers. Albendazole alone produced deep linear fissures consistent with internal metabolic failure, though with minimal external erosion. The combined treatment with AgNPs and albendazole resulted in severe degradation. These findings demonstrate that AgNPs exhibit significant ovicidal activity and may serve as effective adjuvants to enhance the action of conventional anthelmintics against highly resistant helminth eggs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens15010095","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,15]],"date-time":"2026-01-15T12:31:41Z","timestamp":1768480301000},"page":"95","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ultrastructural Evaluation (SEM) of Ascaris lumbricoides Eggs Treated with Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesised by Duddingtonia flagrans Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0390-3240","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carolina Magri","family":"Ferraz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Parasitologia Experimental e Controle Biol\u00f3gico, Universidade Vila Velha, Rua S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 48, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil"}]},{"given":"Jo\u00e3o Pedro Barbosa de","family":"Assis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Parasitologia Experimental e Controle Biol\u00f3gico, Universidade Vila Velha, Rua S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 48, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil"}]},{"given":"Eduarda Cavalini","family":"Guerini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Parasitologia Experimental e Controle Biol\u00f3gico, Universidade Vila Velha, Rua S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 48, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil"}]},{"given":"Juliany Veloso","family":"Leal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Parasitologia Experimental e Controle Biol\u00f3gico, Universidade Vila Velha, Rua S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 48, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7280-9536","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Filippe Elias de Freitas","family":"Soares","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Bioqu\u00edmica, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Rua Professor Edmir S\u00e1 Santos, Lavras 37203-202, Brazil"}]},{"given":"Marcio","family":"Fronza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Vila Velha, Rua S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 48, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7367-4071","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jackson Victor","family":"de Araujo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Programa de P\u00f3s-Gradua\u00e7\u00e3o em Medicina Veterin\u00e1ria, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Almirante Ary Parreiras, 507, Niter\u00f3i 24230-321, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7548-667X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds Madeira de","family":"Carvalho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Universidade T\u00e9cnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2942-5785","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabio Ribeiro","family":"Braga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Parasitologia Experimental e Controle Biol\u00f3gico, Universidade Vila Velha, Rua S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 48, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2012). 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