1
|
Florini F, Visone JE, Hadjimichael E, Malpotra S, Nötzel C, Kafsack BF, Deitsch KW. Transcriptional plasticity of virulence genes provides malaria parasites with greater adaptive capacity for avoiding host immunity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.584127. [PMID: 38496509 PMCID: PMC10942408 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.584127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Chronic, asymptomatic malaria infections contribute substantially to disease transmission and likely represent the most significant impediment preventing malaria elimination and eradication. Plasmodium falciparum parasites evade antibody recognition through transcriptional switching between members of the var gene family, which encodes the major virulence factor and surface antigen on infected red blood cells. This process can extend infections for up to a year; however, infections have been documented to last for over a decade, constituting an unseen reservoir of parasites that undermine eradication and control efforts. How parasites remain immunologically "invisible" for such lengthy periods is entirely unknown. Here we show that in addition to the accepted paradigm of mono-allelic var gene expression, individual parasites can simultaneously express multiple var genes or enter a state in which little or no var gene expression is detectable. This unappreciated flexibility provides parasites with greater adaptive capacity than previously understood and challenges the dogma of mutually exclusive var gene expression. It also provides an explanation for the antigenically "invisible" parasites observed in chronic asymptomatic infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Evi Hadjimichael
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shivali Malpotra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Björn F.C. Kafsack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kirk W. Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Francesconi V, Rizzo M, Schenone S, Carbone A, Tonelli M. State-of-the-art Review on the Antiparasitic Activity of Benzimidazolebased Derivatives: Facing Malaria, Leishmaniasis, and Trypanosomiasis. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:1955-1982. [PMID: 37718524 PMCID: PMC11071657 DOI: 10.2174/0929867331666230915093928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites represent a significant risk for public health worldwide, afflicting particularly people in more vulnerable categories and cause large morbidity and heavy economic impact. Traditional drugs are limited by their toxicity, low efficacy, route of administration, and cost, reflecting their low priority in global health management. Moreover, the drug resistance phenomenon threatens the positive therapy outcome. This scenario claims the need of addressing more adequate therapies. Among the diverse strategies implemented, the medicinal chemistry efforts have also focused their attention on the benzimidazole nucleus as a promising pharmacophore for the generation of new drug candidates. Hence, the present review provides a global insight into recent progress in benzimidazole-based derivatives drug discovery against important protozoan diseases, such as malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. The more relevant chemical features and structure-activity relationship studies of these molecules are discussed for the purpose of paving the way towards the development of more viable drugs for the treatment of these parasitic infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Francesconi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Marco Rizzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Silvia Schenone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Anna Carbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Michele Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alves ACDJ, Feio dos Santos AC, Peres JMV, Nascimento JMDS, Barbosa DRL, Figueiredo JV, Viana GMR, Póvoa MM. Morphological atypia and molecular profile of Plasmodium vivax: Findings from an outbreak in the Brazilian Amazon. Parasite 2023; 30:38. [PMID: 37772844 PMCID: PMC10540677 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to perform morphological and molecular analyses of parasites isolated from the blood of malaria-infected individuals during an outbreak in the Microregion of Cametá, State of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. A total of 260 positive samples were identified by microscopy as Plasmodium vivax; however, in three samples, forms considered unusual for the species were found and defined as morphological atypia of P. vivax. Single P. vivax infection was confirmed by qPCR in all samples. Among 256 genotyped samples, the VK247 genotype alone was identified in 255 samples, and the VK210 genotype was found in only one. The study showed that this malaria outbreak was caused by the etiological agent P. vivax, and for the first time, morphological atypia was described in isolates circulating in Brazil. Likewise, for the first time, the VK247 genotype was detected predominantly in single infections in an area of the State of Pará, which may suggest a greater circulation of the genotype in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Caroline de Jesus Alves
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01 Belém Pará Brazil
- Laboratory of Malaria Entomology, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute Rodovia BR 316, Km 7 Ananindeua Pará Brazil
| | - Ana Cecília Feio dos Santos
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01 Belém Pará Brazil
- Laboratory of Malaria Entomology, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute Rodovia BR 316, Km 7 Ananindeua Pará Brazil
| | - José Mário Veloso Peres
- Laboratory of Basic Research in Malaria, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute Rodovia BR 316, Km 7 Ananindeua Pará Brazil
| | - José Maria de Souza Nascimento
- Laboratory of Basic Research in Malaria, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute Rodovia BR 316, Km 7 Ananindeua Pará Brazil
| | - Danielle Regina Lima Barbosa
- Laboratory of Malaria Entomology, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute Rodovia BR 316, Km 7 Ananindeua Pará Brazil
| | - Juliana Vasconcelos Figueiredo
- Multiprofessional Residency Program in Animal Reproduction, Federal Rural University of the Amazon Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, 2501 Belém Pará Brazil
| | - Giselle Maria Rachid Viana
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01 Belém Pará Brazil
- Laboratory of Basic Research in Malaria, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute Rodovia BR 316, Km 7 Ananindeua Pará Brazil
| | - Marinete Marins Póvoa
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01 Belém Pará Brazil
- Laboratory of Malaria Entomology, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute Rodovia BR 316, Km 7 Ananindeua Pará Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Siłka W, Wieczorek M, Siłka J, Woźniak M. Malaria Detection Using Advanced Deep Learning Architecture. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:1501. [PMID: 36772541 PMCID: PMC9921611 DOI: 10.3390/s23031501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The early diagnosis and treatment of malaria are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in developing countries where the disease is prevalent. In this article, we present a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture for detecting malaria from blood samples with a 99.68% accuracy. Our method outperforms the existing approaches in terms of both accuracy and speed, making it a promising tool for malaria diagnosis in resource-limited settings. The CNN was trained on a large dataset of blood smears and was able to accurately classify infected and uninfected samples with high sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, we present an analysis of model performance on different subtypes of malaria and discuss the implications of our findings for the use of deep learning in infectious disease diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Siłka
- Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-008 Kraków, Poland
| | - Michał Wieczorek
- Faculty of Applied Mathematics, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Geosolution Sp. z o.o., 02-672 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Siłka
- Faculty of Applied Mathematics, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Geosolution Sp. z o.o., 02-672 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Woźniak
- Faculty of Applied Mathematics, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Geosolution Sp. z o.o., 02-672 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
"The Primate Malarias" book has been a uniquely important resource for multiple generations of scientists, since its debut in 1971, and remains pertinent to the present day. Indeed, nonhuman primates (NHPs) have been instrumental for major breakthroughs in basic and pre-clinical research on malaria for over 50 years. Research involving NHPs have provided critical insights and data that have been essential for malaria research on many parasite species, drugs, vaccines, pathogenesis, and transmission, leading to improved clinical care and advancing research goals for malaria control, elimination, and eradication. Whilst most malaria scientists over the decades have been studying Plasmodium falciparum, with NHP infections, in clinical studies with humans, or using in vitro culture or rodent model systems, others have been dedicated to advancing research on Plasmodium vivax, as well as on phylogenetically related simian species, including Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium coatneyi, and Plasmodium knowlesi. In-depth study of these four phylogenetically related species over the years has spawned the design of NHP longitudinal infection strategies for gathering information about ongoing infections, which can be related to human infections. These Plasmodium-NHP infection model systems are reviewed here, with emphasis on modern systems biological approaches to studying longitudinal infections, pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccines. Recent discoveries capitalizing on NHP longitudinal infections include an advanced understanding of chronic infections, relapses, anaemia, and immune memory. With quickly emerging new technological advances, more in-depth research and mechanistic discoveries can be anticipated on these and additional critical topics, including hypnozoite biology, antigenic variation, gametocyte transmission, bone marrow dysfunction, and loss of uninfected RBCs. New strategies and insights published by the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC) are recapped here along with a vision that stresses the importance of educating future experts well trained in utilizing NHP infection model systems for the pursuit of innovative, effective interventions against malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center (Yerkes National Primate Research Center), Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tsuboi T, del Portillo HA, Mueller I. Editorial on the special issue on Plasmodium vivax: Current situation and challenges towards elimination. Parasitol Int 2022; 89:102594. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
7
|
Dong Y, Sonawane Y, Maher SP, Zeeman AM, Chaumeau V, Vantaux A, Cooper CA, Chiu FCK, Ryan E, McLaren J, Chen G, Wittlin S, Witkowski B, Nosten F, Sriraghavan K, Kyle DE, Kocken CHM, Charman SA, Vennerstrom JL. Metabolic, Pharmacokinetic, and Activity Profile of the Liver Stage Antimalarial (RC-12). ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:12401-12411. [PMID: 35449901 PMCID: PMC9016807 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The catechol derivative RC-12 (WR 27653) (1) is one of the few non-8-aminoquinolines with good activity against hypnozoites in the gold-standard Plasmodium cynomolgi-rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) model, but in a small clinical trial, it had no efficacy against Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites. In an attempt to better understand the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of 1 and to identify potential active metabolites, we now describe the phase I metabolism, rat pharmacokinetics, and in vitro liver-stage activity of 1 and its metabolites. Compound 1 had a distinct metabolic profile in human vs monkey liver microsomes, and the data suggested that the O-desmethyl, combined O-desmethyl/N-desethyl, and N,N-didesethyl metabolites (or a combination thereof) could potentially account for the superior liver stage antimalarial efficacy of 1 in rhesus monkeys vs that seen in humans. Indeed, the rate of metabolism was considerably lower in human liver microsomes in comparison to rhesus monkey microsomes, as was the formation of the combined O-desmethyl/N-desethyl metabolite, which was the only metabolite tested that had any activity against liver-stage P. vivax; however, it was not consistently active against liver-stage P. cynomolgi. As 1 and all but one of its identified Phase I metabolites had no in vitro activity against P. vivax or P. cynomolgi liver-stage malaria parasites, we suggest that there may be additional unidentified active metabolites of 1 or that the exposure of 1 achieved in the reported unsuccessful clinical trial of this drug candidate was insufficient to kill the P. vivax hypnozoites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Dong
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Yogesh Sonawane
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Steven P. Maher
- Center
for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 370 Coverdell
Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Anne-Marie Zeeman
- Department
of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research
Centre, P.O. Box 3306, 2280 GH Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Victor Chaumeau
- Shoklo
Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit,
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Road, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, Thailand
- Centre for
Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Research building, University of Oxford
Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7DQ, U.K.
| | - Amélie Vantaux
- Malaria
Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur
du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, P.O. Box 983, Phnom
Penh 120 210, Cambodia
| | - Caitlin A. Cooper
- Center
for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 370 Coverdell
Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Francis C. K. Chiu
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Eileen Ryan
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jenna McLaren
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Benoît Witkowski
- Malaria
Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur
du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, P.O. Box 983, Phnom
Penh 120 210, Cambodia
| | - François Nosten
- Shoklo
Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit,
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Road, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, Thailand
- Centre for
Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Research building, University of Oxford
Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7DQ, U.K.
| | - Kamaraj Sriraghavan
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Dennis E. Kyle
- Center
for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 370 Coverdell
Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Clemens H. M. Kocken
- Department
of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research
Centre, P.O. Box 3306, 2280 GH Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Susan A. Charman
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jonathan L. Vennerstrom
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cardoso JLM, Salazar YEAR, Almeida ACG, Barbosa LRA, Silva EL, Rodrigues MGA, Rodrigues-Soares F, Sampaio VS, Siqueira AM, Lacerda MVG, Monteiro WM, Melo GC. Influence of CYP2D6, CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 Genotypes on Recurrence of Plasmodium vivax. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.845451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe influence of the CYPs (cytochrome P-450) in the success of antimalarial therapy remains uncertain. In this study, the association of CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms and predicted phenotypes with malaria recurrence was investigated.MethodsAfter diagnosis of vivax malaria, individuals treated at a reference center in Manaus were followed up for 180 days. Patients were separated into two groups: a recurrence group and a non-recurrence group. Genotyping of CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 was performed using a TaqMan™ assay and real-time PCR.FindingsThe frequencies of decreased-function and normal-function alleles and phenotypes for all CYPs were similar between the groups, except for the CYP2D6*2xN allele (p=0.047) and the CYP2D6 gUM phenotype (p=0.057), which were more frequent in individuals without recurrence. Despite this, the CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 genotypes had no association with an increased risk of recurrence. CYPs polymorphisms also had no influence in parasite clearance, neither in the time nor the number of recurrence episodes. MAINConclusionThis prospective cohort study demonstrated that CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms have no influence on malaria recurrence. Nonetheless, our findings suggest that the CYP2D6 predicted ultrarapid phenotype was less susceptible to recurrence, and that patients with the CYP2D6 gUM phenotype are less susceptible to primaquine failure. Additional investigation of pharmacogenetics and pharmacokinetics are needed before implementing CYP analysis to better orientate individualized radical treatment of vivax malaria in reference centers that treat patients with multiple recurrences.
Collapse
|