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Santos NAC, Martins MM, Andrade AO, Bastos AS, Pontual JDC, Araújo JE, Rocha ML, Medeiros JF, Araujo MS. Effects of Carbohydrate Intake on Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles deaneorum Fitness under Lab-Reared Conditions. INSECTS 2024; 15:240. [PMID: 38667370 PMCID: PMC11050594 DOI: 10.3390/insects15040240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The maintenance of a highly productive colony of anopheline mosquitoes requires standardized methods in order to obtain a sufficient number of homogeneous individuals for malaria research. In this context, nutritional status may affect survival, fecundity, and the capacity to support pathogen development. Here we assess the effects of carbohydrate sources on fecundity, survival, and susceptibility to Plasmodium vivax infection in colonies of Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles deaneorum mosquitoes. Newly emerged females from each species were fed either 10% sugar or 15% honey solutions until the end of each experiment. The type of carbohydrate meal did not impact any entomological parameters for An. deaneorum, except for survival. For both species, honey meal significantly increased median survival post-emergence by three to four days, probably due to its nutritional value. For An. darlingi fed with honey, a higher mean frequency in stage 5 was observed at 48 h post-blood-meal, which could indicate a delay in the digestion process. However, no effects on fecundity parameters were observed. Regarding susceptibility, An. darlingi fed with sugar exhibited a low intensity of sporozoites, although any negative effects of sucrose on sporozoites invasions in the salivary glands are unknown. Based on the increase in mosquito survival, a carbohydrate source composed of 15% honey solution could be better for maintaining An. darlingi and An. deaneorum in the lab-rearing context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najara A. C. Santos
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Instituto Nacional de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental (INCT-EpiAMO), Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
| | - Mirilene M. Martins
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil;
| | - Alice O. Andrade
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra S. Bastos
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Instituto Nacional de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental (INCT-EpiAMO), Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
| | - José D. C. Pontual
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Instituto Nacional de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental (INCT-EpiAMO), Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
| | - Jéssica E. Araújo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil;
| | - Marina L. Rocha
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação e uso de Recursos Naturais—PPGReN, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
| | - Jansen F. Medeiros
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Instituto Nacional de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental (INCT-EpiAMO), Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil;
| | - Maisa S. Araujo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil; (N.A.C.S.); (A.O.A.); (A.S.B.); (J.D.C.P.); (J.E.A.); (M.L.R.); (J.F.M.)
- Instituto Nacional de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental (INCT-EpiAMO), Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, SP, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação e uso de Recursos Naturais—PPGReN, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Translacional e Clínica, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical (CEPEM), Porto Velho 76812-329, RO, Brazil
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2
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Plata-Pineda SE, Cárdenas-Munévar LX, Castro-Cavadía CJ, Buitrago SP, Garzón-Ospina D. Evaluating the genetic diversity of the Plasmodium vivax siap2 locus: A promising candidate for an effective malaria vaccine? Acta Trop 2024; 251:107111. [PMID: 38151069 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107111] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is the deadliest parasitic disease in the world. Traditional control measures have become less effective; hence, there is a need to explore alternative strategies, such as antimalarial vaccines. However, designing an anti-Plasmodium vivax vaccine is considered a challenge due to the complex parasite biology and the antigens' high genetic diversity. Recently, the sporozoite invasion-associated protein 2 (SIAP2) has been suggested as a potential antigen to be considered in vaccine design due to its significance during hepatocyte invasion. However, its use may be limited by the incomplete understanding of gene/protein diversity. Here, the genetic diversity of pvsiap2 using P. vivax DNA samples from Colombia was assessed. Through PCR amplification and sequencing, we compared the Colombian sequences with available worldwide sequences, revealing that pvsiap2 displays low genetic diversity. Molecular evolutionary analyses showed that pvsiap2 appears to be influenced by directional selection. Moreover, the haplotypes found differ by a few mutational steps and several of them were shared between different geographical areas. On the other hand, several conserved regions within PvSIAP2 were predicted as potential B-cell or T-cell epitopes. Considering these characteristics and its role in hepatocyte invasion, the PvSIAP2 protein emerges as a promising antigen to be considered in a multi-antigen-multi-stage (multivalent) fully effective vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Plata-Pineda
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Laura X Cárdenas-Munévar
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Carlos J Castro-Cavadía
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba (GIMBIC), School of Health Sciences, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Sindy P Buitrago
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia.
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Singh A, Bhatia R. Future Opportunities in Malaria Management Offered by Probiotics. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2024; 24:e150124225633-74. [PMID: 38231057 DOI: 10.2174/0118715265271259231118154255] [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: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Amandeep Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India
| | - Rohit Bhatia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India
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4
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Kunkeaw N, Nguitragool W, Takashima E, Kangwanrangsan N, Muramatsu H, Tachibana M, Ishino T, Lin PJC, Tam YK, Pichyangkul S, Tsuboi T, Pardi N, Sattabongkot J. A Pvs25 mRNA vaccine induces complete and durable transmission-blocking immunity to Plasmodium vivax. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:187. [PMID: 38092803 PMCID: PMC10719277 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00786-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is the major malaria parasite outside of Africa and no vaccine is available against it. A vaccine that interrupts parasite transmission (transmission-blocking vaccine, TBV) is considered highly desirable to reduce the spread of P. vivax and to accelerate its elimination. However, the development of a TBV against this pathogen has been hampered by the inability to culture the parasite as well as the low immunogenicity of the vaccines developed to date. Pvs25 is the most advanced TBV antigen candidate for P. vivax. However, in previous phase I clinical trials, TBV vaccines based on Pvs25 yielded low antibody responses or had unacceptable safety profiles. As the nucleoside-modified mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccine platform proved to be safe and effective in humans, we generated and tested mRNA-LNP vaccines encoding several versions of Pvs25 in mice. We found that in a prime-boost vaccination schedule, all Pvs25 mRNA-LNP vaccines elicited robust antigen-specific antibody responses. Furthermore, when compared with a Pvs25 recombinant protein vaccine formulated with Montanide ISA-51 adjuvant, the full-length Pvs25 mRNA-LNP vaccine induced a stronger and longer-lasting functional immunity. Seven months after the second vaccination, vaccine-induced antibodies retained the ability to fully block P. vivax transmission in direct membrane feeding assays, whereas the blocking activity induced by the protein/ISA-51 vaccine dropped significantly. Taken together, we report on mRNA vaccines targeting P. vivax and demonstrate that Pvs25 mRNA-LNP outperformed an adjuvanted Pvs25 protein vaccine suggesting that it is a promising candidate for further testing in non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawapol Kunkeaw
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Eizo Takashima
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Niwat Kangwanrangsan
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Hiromi Muramatsu
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mayumi Tachibana
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ishino
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Paulo J C Lin
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ying K Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sathit Pichyangkul
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Norbert Pardi
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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5
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Little E, Shenkutie TT, Negash MT, Abagero BR, Abebe A, Popovici J, Mekasha S, Lo E. Prevalence and characteristics of Plasmodium vivax Gametocytes in Duffy-positive and Duffy-negative populations across Ethiopia. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.12.10.23299780. [PMID: 38168152 PMCID: PMC10760292 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.10.23299780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites replicate asexually in the human host. The proportion of infections that carries gametocytes is a proxy for human-to-mosquito transmissibility. It is unclear what proportion of P. vivax infections in Duffy-negatives carries gametocytes. This study aims to determine the prevalence of P. vivax in Duffy-negatives across broad regions of Ethiopia and characterize parasite stages. Finger-prick blood samples were collected for microscopic and molecular screening of Plasmodium parasites and Duffy status of individuals. Molecular screening of plasmodium species and Duffy blood group genotyping was done using SYBR green and Taqman qPCR method. Among the total 447 samples, 414 (92.6%) were P. vivax confirmed and, 16 (3.9%) of them were from Duffy-negatives. Of these, 5/16 (31.3%) Duffy-negative P. vivax-infected samples were detected with gametocytes. Of the 398 Duffy-positive P. vivax-infected samples, 150 (37.7%) were detected with gametocytes, slightly higher than that in Duffy-negatives. This study highlights the presence of P. vivax gametocytes in Duffy-negative infections, suggestive of human-to-mosquito transmissibility. Although P. vivax infections in Duffy-negatives are commonly associated with low parasitemia, some of these infections were shown with relatively high parasitemia and may represent better erythrocyte invasion capability of P. vivax and hidden reservoirs that can contribute to transmission. A better understanding of P. vivax transmission biology and gametocyte function particularly in Duffy-negative populations would aid future treatment and management of vivax malaria in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebony Little
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tassew T. Shenkutie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Debre Brehan University, Debre Brehan, Ethiopia
| | | | - Beka R. Abagero
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Abnet Abebe
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Sindew Mekasha
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eugenia Lo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Su X, Stadler RV, Xu F, Wu J. Malaria Genomics, Vaccine Development, and Microbiome. Pathogens 2023; 12:1061. [PMID: 37624021 PMCID: PMC10459703 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in malaria genetics and genomics have transformed many aspects of malaria research in areas of molecular evolution, epidemiology, transmission, host-parasite interaction, drug resistance, pathogenicity, and vaccine development. Here, in addition to introducing some background information on malaria parasite biology, parasite genetics/genomics, and genotyping methods, we discuss some applications of genetic and genomic approaches in vaccine development and in studying interactions with microbiota. Genetic and genomic data can be used to search for novel vaccine targets, design an effective vaccine strategy, identify protective antigens in a whole-organism vaccine, and evaluate the efficacy of a vaccine. Microbiota has been shown to influence disease outcomes and vaccine efficacy; studying the effects of microbiota in pathogenicity and immunity may provide information for disease control. Malaria genetics and genomics will continue to contribute greatly to many fields of malaria research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; (R.V.S.); (F.X.); (J.W.)
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7
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Andrade AO, Santos NAC, Bastos AS, Pontual JDC, Araújo JE, Silva AMV, Martinez LN, Lima AA, Aguiar ACC, G. Teles CB, Medeiros JF, Pereira DB, Vinetz JM, Gazzinelli RT, Araújo MS. Transmission-blocking activity of antimalarials for Plasmodium vivax malaria in Anopheles darlingi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011425. [PMID: 37327209 PMCID: PMC10310017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by parasite of the genus Plasmodium and is still one of the most important infectious diseases in the world. Several biological characteristics of Plasmodium vivax contribute to the resilience of this species, including early gametocyte production, both of which lead to efficient malaria transmission to mosquitoes. This study evaluated the impact of currently used drugs on the transmission of P. vivax. Participants received one of the following treatments for malaria: i) chloroquine [10 mg/kg on day 1 and 7.5 mg/kg on day 2 and 3] co-administered with Primaquine [0.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days]; ii) Chloroquine [10 mg/kg on day 1 and 7.5 mg/kg on day 2 and 3] co-administered with one-dose of Tafenoquine [300 mg on day 1]; and iii) Artesunate and Mefloquine [100 mg and 200 mg on day 1, 2 and 3] co-administered with Primaquine [0.5 mg/kg/day for 14 days]. Patient blood was collected before treatment and 4 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after treatment. The blood was used to perform a direct membrane feeding assay (DMFA) using Anopheles darlingi mosquitoes. The results showed 100% inhibition of the mosquito infection after 4 h using ASMQ+PQ, after 24 h for the combination of CQ+PQ and 48 h using CQ+TQ. The density of gametocytes declined over time in all treatment groups, although the decline was more rapid in the ASMQ+PQ group. In conclusion, it was possible to demonstrate the transmission-blocking efficacy of the malaria vivax treatment and that ASMQ+PQ acts faster than the two other treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice O. Andrade
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Najara A. C. Santos
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, FIOCRUZ Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Alessandra S. Bastos
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - José D. C. Pontual
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Jéssica E. Araújo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, FIOCRUZ Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Alexia M. V. Silva
- Ambulatório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Leandro N. Martinez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, FIOCRUZ Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Plataforma de Bioensaios de Malária e Leishmaniose da Fiocruz (PBML), Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Alzemar A. Lima
- Ambulatório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | | | - Carolina B. G. Teles
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, FIOCRUZ Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Plataforma de Bioensaios de Malária e Leishmaniose da Fiocruz (PBML), Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Jansen F. Medeiros
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, FIOCRUZ Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Dhelio B. Pereira
- Ambulatório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Joseph M. Vinetz
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ricardo T. Gazzinelli
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Maisa S. Araújo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária (PIVEM), Laboratório de Entomologia, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
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Antimalarial activity assay of artesunate-3-chloro-4(4-chlorophenoxy) aniline in vitro and in mice models. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:979-988. [PMID: 36859621 PMCID: PMC9977633 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07801-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
The global spread of multi-drug resistant P. falciparum, P. vivax, and P. malariae strains and absence of long-term effective vaccine makes chemotherapy the mainstay of malaria control strategies in endemic settings. The Mossman's assay and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2001 guideline 423, were used to determine the cytotoxicity and acute oral toxicity of a novel hybrid drug, artesunate-3-Chloro-4(4-chlorophenoxy) aniline (ATSA), in vitro and in vivo, respectively. A modified Desjardins method was used to screen for antiplasmodial activity using P. falciparum (3D7 and W2) strains in vitro. The Peter's 4-day suppressive tests (4DTs) was used to evaluate the in vivo antimalaria activity using P. berghei ANKA strain, lumefantrine resistant (LuR), and piperaquine resistant (PQR) P. berghei lines. In silico prediction of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiles was assayed using PreADMET online prediction tool. The reference drug in all experiments was artesunate (ATS). Statistical significance between ATSA's activities in treated and control mice was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results show that inhibitory concentrations-50 (IC50) of ATSA is 11.47 ± 1.3 (3D7) and 1.45 ± 0.26 (W2) against 4.66 ± 0.93 (3D7) and 0.60 ± 0.15 (W2) ng/ml of ATS with a selective index of 2180.91(3D7) and a therapeutic index (TI) of > 71). No mortalities were observed in acute oral toxicity assays and mean weight differences for test and controls were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). The in vivo activity of ATSA was above 40% with effective dosage-50 (ED50) of 4.211, 2.601, and 3.875 mg/kg body weight against P. berghei ANKA, LuR, and PQR lines, respectively. The difference between treated and control mice was statistically significant (P < 0.05). ATSA has high intestinal absorption (HIA) > 95% and has medium human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) K+ channel inhibition risks. Preclinical and clinical studies on ATSA are recommended to evaluate its value in developing novel drugs for future management of multi-drug resistant malaria parasites.
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Amazonian Anopheles with low numbers of oocysts transmit Plasmodium vivax sporozoites during a blood meal. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19442. [PMID: 36376491 PMCID: PMC9663451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24058-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anopheles darlingi is the main malarial vector in the Brazilian Amazon region. An. nuneztovari s.l., An. triannulatus s.l., An. evansae, and An. benarrochi s.l. do not have a defined role as malarial vectors, although they have been found to be naturally infected with Plasmodium vivax, and some develop oocysts. In this study, we evaluated the importance of low numbers of oocysts in sporozoite salivary gland invasion and transmission. Field-collected mosquitoes were experimentally infected with P. vivax. The infection rates and oocyst and sporozoite infection intensities were evaluated and compared with those of An. aquasalis. We found the highest number of oocysts in An. darlingi (mean = 39.47) and the lowest in An. nuneztovari s.l. (mean = 2). The highest number of sporozoites was observed in An. darlingi (mean = 610) and lowest in An. benarrochi s.l. (mean = 30). Plasmodium vivax DNA was detected in the saliva of all mosquito species after a blood meal. Regardless of the number of oocysts, all species transmitted sporozoites during blood meals. Considering the abundance of these mosquitoes and transmission of sporozoites, it is logical to assume that An. nuneztovari s.l. and An. triannulatus s.l. are involved in the transmission of P. vivax.
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Cao Y, Hayashi CTH, Zavala F, Tripathi AK, Simonyan H, Young CN, Clark LC, Usuda Y, Van Parys JM, Kumar N. Effective Functional Immunogenicity of a DNA Vaccine Combination Delivered via In Vivo Electroporation Targeting Malaria Infection and Transmission. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1134. [PMID: 35891298 PMCID: PMC9323668 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10071134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) and Pfs25 are leading candidates for the development of pre-erythrocytic and transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV), respectively. Although considerable progress has been made in developing PfCSP- and Pfs25-based vaccines, neither have elicited complete protection or transmission blocking in clinical trials. The combination of antigens targeting various life stages is an alternative strategy to develop a more efficacious malaria vaccine. In this study, female and male mice were immunized with DNA plasmids encoding PfCSP and Pfs25, administered alone or in combination via intramuscular in vivo electroporation (EP). Antigen-specific antibodies were analyzed for antibody titers, avidity and isotype by ELISA. Immune protection against sporozoite challenge, using transgenic P. berghei expressing PfCSP and a GFP-luciferase fusion protein (PbPfCSP-GFP/Luc), was assessed by in vivo bioluminescence imaging and blood-stage parasite growth. Transmission reducing activity (TRA) was evaluated in standard membrane feeding assays (SMFA). High levels of PfCSP- and Pfs25-specific antibodies were induced in mice immunized with either DNA vaccine alone or in combination. No difference in antibody titer and avidity was observed for both PfCSP and Pfs25 between the single DNA and combined DNA immunization groups. When challenged by PbPfCSP-GFP/Luc sporozoites, mice immunized with PfCSP alone or combined with Pfs25 revealed significantly reduced liver-stage parasite loads as compared to mice immunized with Pfs25, used as a control. Furthermore, parasite liver loads were negatively correlated with PfCSP-specific antibody levels. When evaluating TRA, we found that immunization with Pfs25 alone or in combination with PfCSP elicited comparable significant transmission reduction. Our studies reveal that the combination of PfCSP and Pfs25 DNAs into a vaccine delivered by in vivo EP in mice does not compromise immunogenicity, infection protection and transmission reduction when compared to each DNA vaccine individually, and provide support for further evaluation of this DNA combination vaccine approach in larger animals and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Cao
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (Y.C.); (C.T.H.H.); (L.C.C.); (Y.U.); (J.M.V.P.)
| | - Clifford T. H. Hayashi
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (Y.C.); (C.T.H.H.); (L.C.C.); (Y.U.); (J.M.V.P.)
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (F.Z.); (A.K.T.)
| | - Abhai K. Tripathi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (F.Z.); (A.K.T.)
| | - Hayk Simonyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (H.S.); (C.N.Y.)
| | - Colin N. Young
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (H.S.); (C.N.Y.)
| | - Leor C. Clark
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (Y.C.); (C.T.H.H.); (L.C.C.); (Y.U.); (J.M.V.P.)
| | - Yukari Usuda
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (Y.C.); (C.T.H.H.); (L.C.C.); (Y.U.); (J.M.V.P.)
| | - Jacob M. Van Parys
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (Y.C.); (C.T.H.H.); (L.C.C.); (Y.U.); (J.M.V.P.)
| | - Nirbhay Kumar
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (Y.C.); (C.T.H.H.); (L.C.C.); (Y.U.); (J.M.V.P.)
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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]
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Obaldía N, Barahona I, Lasso J, Avila M, Quijada M, Nuñez M, Marti M. Comparison of PvLAP5 and Pvs25 qRT-PCR assays for the detection of Plasmodium vivax gametocytes in field samples preserved at ambient temperature from remote malaria endemic regions of Panama. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010327. [PMID: 35394999 PMCID: PMC9020738 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the elimination of malaria in Mesoamerica progresses, detection of Plasmodium vivax using light microscopy (LM) becomes more difficult. Highly sensitive molecular tools have been developed to help determine the hidden reservoir of malaria transmission in low transmission settings. In this study we compare the performance of PvLAP5 and Pvs25 qRT-PCR assays to LM for the detection of Plasmodium vivax gametocytes in field samples preserved at ambient temperature from malaria endemic regions of Panama. METHODS For this purpose, we collected a total of 83 malaria field samples during 2017-2020 preserved in RNAprotect (RNAp) of which 63 (76%) were confirmed P. vivax by LM and selected for further analysis. Additionally, 16 blood samples from local healthy malaria smear negative volunteers, as well as, from 15 malaria naïve lab-bred Aotus monkeys were used as controls. To optimize the assays, we first determined the minimum blood volume sufficient for detection of PvLAP5 and Pv18SrRNA using P. vivax infected Aotus blood that was preserved in RNAp and kept either at ambient temperature for up to 8 days before freezing or was snap-frozen at -80° Celsius at the time of bleeding. We then compared the mean differences in gametocyte detection rates of both qRT-PCR assays to LM and performed a multivariate correlation analysis of study variables. Finally, we determined the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the assays at detecting gametocytes compared to LM. RESULTS Blood volume optimization indicated that a blood volume of at least 60 μL was sufficient for detection of PvLAP5 and Pv18SrRNA and no significant differences were found between RNA storage conditions. Both PvLAP5 and Pvs25 qRT-PCR assays showed a 37-39% increase in gametocyte detection rate compared to LM respectively. Strong positive correlations were found between gametocytemia and parasitemia and both PvLAP5 and Pvs25 gametocyte markers. However, no significant differences were detected in the Se and Sp of the Pvs25 and PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assays, even though data from control samples suggested Pvs25 to be more abundant than PvLAP5. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assay is as Se and Sp as the gold standard Pvs25 assay and is at least 37% more sensitive than LM at detecting P. vivax gametocytes in field samples preserved in RNAp at ambient temperature from malaria endemic regions of Panama. AUTHOR SUMMARY Plasmodium vivax is one of the five species of malaria (P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi) that are transmitted to man by the bite of female anopheles mosquitoes. It causes ~14.3 million cases mainly in Southeast Asia, India, the Western Pacific and the Americas annually. In the Americas, malaria remains a major problem in underdeveloped areas and indigenous communities in the Amazon region and eastern Panama, where it is endemic and difficult to eliminate. As malaria elimination progresses, detection of P. vivax by light microscopy (LM) becomes more difficult. Therefore, highly sensitive molecular tools have been developed that use genetic markers for the parasite to help determine the hidden reservoir of malaria transmission. This study compares the performance of two molecular assays based on the genetic markers of mature gametocytes PvLAP5 and Pvs25 with LM. The study shows that the PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assay is as sensitive and specific as the gold standard Pvs25 assay and is at least 37% more sensitive than LM at detecting P. vivax gametocytes. These data suggest that the PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assay can be a useful tool to help determine the hidden reservoir of transmission in endemic foci approaching elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicanor Obaldía
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. CHAN School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Itza Barahona
- Departamento de Control de Vectores, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Ministerio de Salud de Panamá, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - José Lasso
- Departamento de Control de Vectores, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Ministerio de Salud de Panamá, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Mario Avila
- Departamento de Control de Vectores, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Ministerio de Salud de Panamá, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Mario Quijada
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Marlon Nuñez
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Matthias Marti
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. CHAN School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
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