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Lansink LIM, Skinner OP, Engel JA, Lee HJ, Soon MSF, Williams CG, SheelaNair A, Pernold CPS, Laohamonthonkul P, Akter J, Stoll T, Hill MM, Talman AM, Russell A, Lawniczak M, Jia X, Chua B, Anderson D, Creek DJ, Davenport MP, Khoury DS, Haque A. Systemic host inflammation induces stage-specific transcriptomic modification and slower maturation in malaria parasites. mBio 2023; 14:e0112923. [PMID: 37449844 PMCID: PMC10470790 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01129-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Maturation rates of malaria parasites within red blood cells (RBCs) can be influenced by host nutrient status and circadian rhythm; whether host inflammatory responses can also influence maturation remains less clear. Here, we observed that systemic host inflammation induced in mice by an innate immune stimulus, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or by ongoing acute Plasmodium infection, slowed the progression of a single cohort of parasites from one generation of RBC to the next. Importantly, plasma from LPS-conditioned or acutely infected mice directly inhibited parasite maturation during in vitro culture, which was not rescued by supplementation, suggesting the emergence of inhibitory factors in plasma. Metabolomic assessments confirmed substantial alterations to the plasma of LPS-conditioned and acutely infected mice, and identified a small number of candidate inhibitory metabolites. Finally, we confirmed rapid parasite responses to systemic host inflammation in vivo using parasite scRNA-seq, noting broad impairment in transcriptional activity and translational capacity specifically in trophozoites but not rings or schizonts. Thus, we provide evidence that systemic host inflammation rapidly triggered transcriptional alterations in circulating blood-stage Plasmodium trophozoites and predict candidate inhibitory metabolites in the plasma that may impair parasite maturation in vivo. IMPORTANCE Malaria parasites cyclically invade, multiply, and burst out of red blood cells. We found that a strong inflammatory response can cause changes to the composition of host plasma, which directly slows down parasite maturation. Thus, our work highlights a new mechanism that limits malaria parasite growth in the bloodstream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne I. M. Lansink
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver P. Skinner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jessica A. Engel
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hyun Jae Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan S. F. Soon
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cameron G. Williams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arya SheelaNair
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Clara P. S. Pernold
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Jasmin Akter
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas Stoll
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michelle M. Hill
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arthur M. Talman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrew Russell
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mara Lawniczak
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaoxiao Jia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendon Chua
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dovile Anderson
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Miles P. Davenport
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David S. Khoury
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashraful Haque
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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SheelaNair A, Romanczuk AS, Aogo RA, Haldar RN, Lansink LIM, Cromer D, Salinas YG, Guy RK, McCarthy JS, Davenport MP, Haque A, Khoury DS. Similarly efficacious anti-malarial drugs SJ733 and pyronaridine differ in their ability to remove circulating parasites in mice. Malar J 2022; 21:49. [PMID: 35172826 PMCID: PMC8848794 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04075-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has been a mainstay for malaria prevention and treatment. However, emergence of drug resistance has incentivised development of new drugs. Defining the kinetics with which circulating parasitized red blood cells (pRBC) are lost after drug treatment, referred to as the “parasite clearance curve”, has been critical for assessing drug efficacy; yet underlying mechanisms remain partly unresolved. The clearance curve may be shaped both by the rate at which drugs kill parasites, and the rate at which drug-affected parasites are removed from circulation. Methods In this context, two anti-malarials, SJ733, and an ACT partner drug, pyronaridine were compared against sodium artesunate in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (strain ANKA). To measure each compound’s capacity for pRBC removal in vivo, flow cytometric monitoring of a single cohort of fluorescently-labelled pRBC was employed, and combined with ex vivo parasite culture to assess parasite maturation and replication. Results These three compounds were found to be similarly efficacious in controlling established infection by reducing overall parasitaemia. While sodium artesunate acted relatively consistently across the life-stages, single-dose SJ733 elicited a biphasic effect, triggering rapid, partly phagocyte-dependent removal of trophozoites and schizonts, followed by arrest of residual ring-stages. In contrast, pyronaridine abrogated maturation of younger parasites, with less pronounced effects on mature parasites, while modestly increasing pRBC removal. Conclusions Anti-malarials SJ733 and pyronaridine, though similarly efficacious in reducing overall parasitaemia in mice, differed markedly in their capacity to arrest replication and remove pRBC from circulation. Thus, similar parasite clearance curves can result for anti-malarials with distinct capacities to inhibit, kill and clear parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya SheelaNair
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Aleksandra S Romanczuk
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Rosemary A Aogo
- Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Rohit Nemai Haldar
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Lianne I M Lansink
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Deborah Cromer
- Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | | | - R Kiplin Guy
- College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - James S McCarthy
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Miles P Davenport
- Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Ashraful Haque
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia.
| | - David S Khoury
- Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, 2052, Australia.
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Wang H, Li S, Cui Z, Qin T, Shi H, Ma J, Li L, Yu G, Jiang T, Li C. Analysis of spleen histopathology, splenocyte composition and haematological parameters in four strains of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei K173. Malar J 2021; 20:249. [PMID: 34090420 PMCID: PMC8180108 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03786-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a fatal disease that presents clinically as a continuum of symptoms and severity, which are determined by complex host-parasite interactions. Clearance of infection is believed to be accomplished by the spleen and mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS), independent of artemisinin treatment. The spleen filters infected red blood cells (RBCs) from circulation through immune-mediated recognition of the infected RBCs followed by phagocytosis. This study evaluated the tolerance of four different strains of mice to Plasmodium berghei strain K173 (P. berghei K173), and the differences in the role of the spleen in controlling P. berghei K173 infection. METHODS Using different strains of mice (C57BL/6, BALB/C, ICR, and KM mice) infected with P. berghei K173, the mechanisms leading to splenomegaly, histopathology, splenocyte activation and proliferation, and their relationship to the control of parasitaemia and host mortality were examined and evaluated. RESULTS Survival time of mice infected with P. berghei K173 varied, although the infection was uniformly lethal. Mice of the C57BL/6 strain were the most resistant, while mice of the strain ICR were the most susceptible. BALB/c and KM mice were intermediate. In the course of P. berghei K173 infection, all infected mice experienced significant splenomegaly. Parasites were observed in the red pulp at 3 days post infection (dpi) in all animals. All spleens retained late trophozoite stages as well as a fraction of earlier ring-stage parasites. The percentages of macrophages in infected C57BL/6 and KM mice were higher than uninfected mice on 8 dpi. Spleens of infected ICR and KM mice exhibited structural disorganization and remodelling. Furthermore, parasitaemia was significantly higher in KM versus C57BL/6 mice at 8 dpi. The percentages of macrophages in ICR infected mice were lower than uninfected mice, and the parasitaemia was higher than other strains. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here demonstrate the rate of splenic mechanical filtration and that splenic macrophages are the predominant roles in controlling an individual's total parasite burden. This can influence the pathogenesis of malaria. Finally, different genetic backgrounds of mice have different splenic mechanisms for controlling malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajing Wang
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Li
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Cui
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tingting Qin
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Shi
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Ji Ma
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lanfang Li
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Guihua Yu
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tingliang Jiang
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Canghai Li
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China.
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Leveraging Computational Modeling to Understand Infectious Diseases. CURRENT PATHOBIOLOGY REPORTS 2020; 8:149-161. [PMID: 32989410 PMCID: PMC7511257 DOI: 10.1007/s40139-020-00213-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Computational and mathematical modeling have become a critical part of understanding in-host infectious disease dynamics and predicting effective treatments. In this review, we discuss recent findings pertaining to the biological mechanisms underlying infectious diseases, including etiology, pathogenesis, and the cellular interactions with infectious agents. We present advances in modeling techniques that have led to fundamental disease discoveries and impacted clinical translation. Recent Findings Combining mechanistic models and machine learning algorithms has led to improvements in the treatment of Shigella and tuberculosis through the development of novel compounds. Modeling of the epidemic dynamics of malaria at the within-host and between-host level has afforded the development of more effective vaccination and antimalarial therapies. Similarly, in-host and host-host models have supported the development of new HIV treatment modalities and an improved understanding of the immune involvement in influenza. In addition, large-scale transmission models of SARS-CoV-2 have furthered the understanding of coronavirus disease and allowed for rapid policy implementations on travel restrictions and contract tracing apps. Summary Computational modeling is now more than ever at the forefront of infectious disease research due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This review highlights how infectious diseases can be better understood by connecting scientists from medicine and molecular biology with those in computer science and applied mathematics.
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Khoury DS, Zaloumis SG, Grigg MJ, Haque A, Davenport MP. Malaria Parasite Clearance: What Are We Really Measuring? Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:413-426. [PMID: 32298629 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Antimalarial drugs are vital for treating malaria and controlling transmission. Measuring drug efficacy in the field requires large clinical trials and thus we have identified proxy measures of drug efficacy such as the parasite clearance curve. This is often assumed to measure the rate of drug activity against parasites and is used to predict optimal treatment regimens required to completely clear a blood-stage infection. We discuss evidence that the clearance curve is not measuring the rate of drug killing. This has major implications for how we assess optimal treatment regimens, as well as how we prioritise new drugs in the drug development pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Khoury
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Sophie G Zaloumis
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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