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Salazar Alvarez LC, Carneiro Barbosa V, Vera Lizcano O, Baia da Silva DC, Gonçalves Santana RA, Fabbri C, Paoluci Pimenta PF, Monteiro WM, Albrecht L, Guimarães de Lacerda MV, Trindade Maranhão Costa F, Costa Pinto Lopes S. Rosette formation by Plasmodium vivax gametocytes favors the infection in Anopheles aquasalis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1108348. [PMID: 36875524 PMCID: PMC9975573 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1108348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is a public health problem and the most common type of malaria outside sub-Saharan Africa. The capacity of cytoadhesion, rosetting, and liver latent phase development could impact treatment and disease control. Although the ability to P. vivax gametocyte develop rosetting is known, it is not yet clear which role it plays during the infection and transmission process to the mosquito. Here, we used ex vivo approaches for evaluate the rosetting P. vivax gametocytes capacity and we have investigated the effect of this adhesive phenotype on the infection process in the vector Anopheles aquasalis mosquito. Rosette assays were performed in 107 isolates, and we have observed an elevated frequency of cytoadhesive phenomena (77,6%). The isolates with more than 10% of rosettes have presented a higher infection rate in Anopheles aquasalis (p=0.0252). Moreover, we found a positive correlation between the frequency of parasites in rosetting with the infection rate (p=0.0017) and intensity (p=0.0387) in the mosquito. The disruption of P. vivax rosette formation through mechanical rupture assay confirmed the previously findings, since the paired comparison showed that isolates with disrupted rosettes have a lower infection rate (p<0.0001) and intensity (p=0.0003) compared to the control group (no disruption). Herein we have demonstrated for the first time a potential effect of the rosette phenomenon on the infection process in the mosquito vector An. aquasalis, favoring its capacity and intensity of infection, thus allowing the perpetuation of the parasite cycle life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Carlos Salazar Alvarez
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases-Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carneiro Barbosa
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Omaira Vera Lizcano
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases-Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
- Grupo de investigación en Química y Biotecnología (QUIBIO), Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia
| | - Djane Clarys Baia da Silva
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Manaus, Brazil
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Rosa Amélia Gonçalves Santana
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Camila Fabbri
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Paulo Filemon Paoluci Pimenta
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou (IRR/ Fiocruz Minas), FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Letusa Albrecht
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases-Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
- Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC/ Fiocruz Paraná), FIOCRUZ, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinicius Guimarães de Lacerda
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases-Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Manaus, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Stefanie Costa Pinto Lopes, ; Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa,
| | - Stefanie Costa Pinto Lopes
- Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Clínica em Malária – CIPCliM, Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Manaus, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Stefanie Costa Pinto Lopes, ; Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa,
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Antimalarial activity and biochemical effects of saponin-rich extract of Dianthus basuticus Burtt Davy in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. ADVANCES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13596-021-00571-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Oleinikov AV. Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum Proteins on the Surface of Infected Erythrocytes as Targets for Novel Drug Discovery. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2022; 87:S192-S177. [PMID: 35501996 PMCID: PMC8802247 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922140152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Specific adhesion (sequestration) of Plasmodium falciparum parasite-infected erythrocytes (IEs) in deep vascular beds can cause severe complications resulting in death. This review describes our work on the discovery, characterization, and optimization of novel inhibitors that specifically prevent adhesion of IEs to the host vasculature during severe malaria, especially its placental and cerebral forms. The main idea of using anti-adhesion drugs in severe malaria is to release sequestered parasites (or prevent additional sequestration) as quickly as possible. This may significantly improve the outcomes for patients with severe malaria by decreasing local and systemic inflammation associated with the disease and reestablishing the microvascular blood flow. To identify anti-malarial adhesion-inhibiting molecules, we have developed a high-throughput (HT) screening approach and found a number of promising leads that can be further developed into anti-adhesion drugs providing an efficient adjunct therapy against severe forms of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew V Oleinikov
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33428, USA.
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Raacke M, Kerr A, Dörpinghaus M, Brehmer J, Wu Y, Lorenzen S, Fink C, Jacobs T, Roeder T, Sellau J, Bachmann A, Metwally NG, Bruchhaus I. Altered Cytokine Response of Human Brain Endothelial Cells after Stimulation with Malaria Patient Plasma. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071656. [PMID: 34359826 PMCID: PMC8303479 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections with the deadliest malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, are accompanied by a strong immunological response of the human host. To date, more than 30 cytokines have been detected in elevated levels in plasma of malaria patients compared to healthy controls. Endothelial cells (ECs) are a potential source of these cytokines, but so far it is not known if their cytokine secretion depends on the direct contact of the P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) with ECs in terms of cytoadhesion. Culturing ECs with plasma from malaria patients (27 returning travellers) resulted in significantly increased secretion of IL-11, CXCL5, CXCL8, CXCL10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) if compared to matching controls (22 healthy individuals). The accompanying transcriptome study of the ECs identified 43 genes that were significantly increased in expression (≥1.7 fold) after co-incubation with malaria patient plasma, including cxcl5 and angptl4. Further bioinformatic analyses revealed that biological processes such as cell migration, cell proliferation and tube development were particularly affected in these ECs. It can thus be postulated that not only the cytoadhesion of IEs, but also molecules in the plasma of malaria patients exerts an influence on ECs, and that not only the immunological response but also other processes, such as angiogenesis, are altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Raacke
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Amy Kerr
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Michael Dörpinghaus
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Jana Brehmer
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Yifan Wu
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Stephan Lorenzen
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Christine Fink
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany; (C.F.); (T.R.)
| | - Thomas Jacobs
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany; (C.F.); (T.R.)
- Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Julie Sellau
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Anna Bachmann
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Nahla Galal Metwally
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Iris Bruchhaus
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (M.R.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (J.B.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (T.J.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (N.G.M.)
- Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20148 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-404-281-8472
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Parasite histones are toxic to brain endothelium and link blood barrier breakdown and thrombosis in cerebral malaria. Blood Adv 2021; 4:2851-2864. [PMID: 32579667 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Microvascular thrombosis and blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown are key components of cerebral malaria (CM) pathogenesis in African children and are implicated in fatal brain swelling. How Plasmodium falciparum infection causes this endothelial disruption and why this occurs, particularly in the brain, is not fully understood. In this study, we have demonstrated that circulating extracellular histones, equally of host and parasite origin, are significantly elevated in CM patients. Higher histone levels are associated with brain swelling on magnetic resonance imaging. On postmortem brain sections of CM patients, we found that histones are colocalized with P falciparum-infected erythrocytes sequestered inside small blood vessels, suggesting that histones might be expelled locally during parasite schizont rupture. Histone staining on the luminal vascular surface colocalized with thrombosis and leakage, indicating a possible link between endothelial surface accumulation of histones and coagulation activation and BBB breakdown. Supporting this, patient sera or purified P falciparum histones caused disruption of barrier function and were toxic to cultured human brain endothelial cells, which were abrogated with antihistone antibody and nonanticoagulant heparin. Overall, our data support a role for histones of parasite and host origin in thrombosis, BBB breakdown, and brain swelling in CM, processes implicated in the causal pathway to death. Neutralizing histones with agents such as nonanticoagulant heparin warrant exploration to prevent brain swelling in the development or progression of CM and thereby to improve outcomes.
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Avril M, Benjamin M, Dols MM, Smith JD. Interplay of Plasmodium falciparum and thrombin in brain endothelial barrier disruption. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13142. [PMID: 31511575 PMCID: PMC6739390 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49530-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent concepts suggest that both Plasmodium falciparum factors and coagulation contribute to endothelial activation and dysfunction in pediatric cerebral malaria (CM) pathology. However, there is still limited understanding of how these complex inflammatory stimuli are integrated by brain endothelial cells. In this study, we examined how mature-stage P. falciparum infected erythrocytes (IE) interact with tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and thrombin in the activation and permeability of primary human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) monolayers. Whereas trophozoite-stage P. falciparum-IE have limited effect on the viability of HBMEC or the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines or chemokines, except at super physiological parasite-host cell ratios, schizont-stage P. falciparum-IE induced low levels of cell death. Additionally, schizont-stage parasites were more barrier disruptive than trophozoite-stage P. falciparum-IE and prolonged thrombin-induced barrier disruption in both resting and TNFα-activated HBMEC monolayers. These results provide evidence that parasite products and thrombin may interact to increase brain endothelial permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Avril
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Max Benjamin
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | | | - Joseph D Smith
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA. .,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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Introini V, Carciati A, Tomaiuolo G, Cicuta P, Guido S. Endothelial glycocalyx regulates cytoadherence in Plasmodium falciparum malaria. J R Soc Interface 2018; 15:20180773. [PMID: 30958233 PMCID: PMC6303788 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is associated with significant microcirculation disorders, especially when the infection reaches its severe stage. This can lead to a range of fatal conditions, from cerebral malaria to multiple organ failure, of not fully understood pathogenesis. It has recently been proposed that a breakdown of the glycocalyx, the carbohydrate-rich layer lining the vascular endothelium, plays a key role in severe malaria, but direct evidence supporting this hypothesis is still lacking. Here, the interactions between Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells ( PfRBCs) and endothelial glycocalyx are investigated by developing an in vitro, physiologically relevant model of human microcirculation based on microfluidics. Impairment of the glycocalyx is obtained by enzymatic removal of sialic acid residues, which, due to their terminal location and net negative charge, are implicated in the initial interactions with contacting cells. We show a more than twofold increase of PfRBC adhesion to endothelial cells upon enzymatic treatment, relative to untreated endothelial cells. As a control, no effect of enzymatic treatment on healthy red blood cell adhesion is found. The increased adhesion of PfRBCs is also associated with cell flipping and reduced velocity as compared to the untreated endothelium. Altogether, these results provide a compelling evidence of the increased cytoadherence of PfRBCs to glycocalyx-impaired vascular endothelium, thus supporting the advocated role of glycocalyx disruption in the pathogenesis of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Introini
- Biological and Soft Systems, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Antonio Carciati
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giovanna Tomaiuolo
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie avanzate, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Pietro Cicuta
- Biological and Soft Systems, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Stefano Guido
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie avanzate, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy
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Reuterswärd P, Bergström S, Orikiiriza J, Lindquist E, Bergström S, Andersson Svahn H, Ayoglu B, Uhlén M, Wahlgren M, Normark J, Ribacke U, Nilsson P. Levels of human proteins in plasma associated with acute paediatric malaria. Malar J 2018; 17:426. [PMID: 30442134 PMCID: PMC6238294 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2576-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The intimate interaction between the pathophysiology of the human host and the biology of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite results in a wide spectrum of disease outcomes in malaria. Development of severe disease is associated with a progressively augmented imbalance in pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to high parasite loads and sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes. Although these phenomena collectively constitute common denominators for the wide variety of discrete severe malaria manifestations, the mechanistic rationales behind discrepancies in outcome are poorly understood. Exploration of the human pathophysiological response by variations in protein profiles in plasma presents an excellent opportunity to increase the understanding. This is ultimately required for better prediction, prevention and treatment of malaria, which is essential for ongoing elimination and eradication efforts. Results An affinity proteomics approach was used to analyse 541 paediatric plasma samples collected from community controls and patients with mild or severe malaria in Rwanda. Protein profiles were generated with an antibody-based suspension bead array containing 255 antibodies targetting 115 human proteins. Here, 57 proteins were identified with significantly altered levels (adjusted p-values < 0.001) in patients with malaria compared to controls. From these, the 27 most significant proteins (adjusted p-values < 10−14) were selected for a stringent analysis approach. Here, 24 proteins showed elevated levels in malaria patients and included proteins involved in acute inflammatory response as well as cell adhesion. The remaining three proteins, also implicated in immune regulation and cellular adhesivity, displayed lower abundance in malaria patients. In addition, 37 proteins (adjusted p-values < 0.05) were identified with increased levels in patients with severe compared to mild malaria. This set includes, proteins involved in tissue remodelling and erythrocyte membrane proteins. Collectively, this approach has been successfully used to identify proteins both with known and unknown association with different stages of malaria. Conclusion In this study, a high-throughput affinity proteomics approach was used to find protein profiles in plasma linked to P. falciparum infection and malaria disease progression. The proteins presented herein are mainly involved in inflammatory response, cellular adhesion and as constituents of erythrocyte membrane. These findings have a great potential to provide increased conceptual understanding of host-parasite interaction and malaria pathogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2576-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa Reuterswärd
- Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sofia Bergström
- Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Judy Orikiiriza
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Sven Bergström
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Helene Andersson Svahn
- Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Burcu Ayoglu
- Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Mathias Uhlén
- Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Wahlgren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Normark
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ulf Ribacke
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Nilsson
- Department of Protein Science, SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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Ecklu-Mensah G, Olsen RW, Bengtsson A, Ofori MF, Hviid L, Jensen ATR, Adams Y. Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) as a novel tool for studying adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204177. [PMID: 30300360 PMCID: PMC6177148 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of suitable animal models for the study of cytoadhesion of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) has necessitated in vitro studies employing a range of cell lines of either human tumour origin (e.g., BeWo and C32 cells) or non-human origin (e.g., CHO cells). Of the human cells available, many were isolated from adults, or derived from a pool of donors (e.g., HBEC-5i). Here we demonstrate, for the first time, the successful isolation of blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) from frozen stabilates of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from small-volume peripheral blood samples from paediatric malaria patients. BOECs are a sub-population of human endothelial cells, found within the peripheral blood. We demonstrate that these cells express receptors such as Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1/CD54), Endothelial Protein C Receptor (EPCR/CD201), platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1/CD31), Thrombomodulin (CD141), and support adhesion of P. falciparum IEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rebecca W. Olsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anja Bengtsson
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael F. Ofori
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Lars Hviid
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anja T. R. Jensen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yvonne Adams
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
In the mosquito-human life cycle, the six species of malaria parasites infecting humans (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale wallickeri, Plasmodium ovale curtisi, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium knowlesi) undergo 10 or more morphological states, replicate from single to 10,000+ cells, and vary in total population from one to many more than 106 organisms. In the human host, only a small number of these morphological stages lead to clinical disease and the vast majority of all malaria-infected patients in the world produce few (if any) symptoms in the human. Human clinical disease (e.g., fever, anemia, coma) is the result of the parasite preprogrammed biology in concert with the human pathophysiological response. Caveats and corollaries that add variation to this host-parasite interaction include parasite genetic diversity of key proteins, coinfections, comorbidities, delays in treatment, human polymorphisms, and environmental determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny A Milner
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, American Society for Clinical Pathology, Center for Global Health, Chicago, Illinois 60603
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11
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Skidmore MA, Mustaffa KMF, Cooper LC, Guimond SE, Yates EA, Craig AG. A semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycan analogue inhibits and reverses Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186276. [PMID: 29045442 PMCID: PMC5646806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A feature of mature Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cells is their ability to bind surface molecules of the microvascular endothelium via the parasite-derived surface protein Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). This ligand is associated with the cytoadherence pathology observed in severe malaria. As pRBC treated with effective anti-malarial drugs are still able to cytoadhere, there is therefore a need to find an adjunct treatment that can inhibit and reverse the adhesion process. One semi-synthetic, sulfated polysaccharide has been identified that is capable of inhibiting and reversing sequestration of pRBC on endothelial cells in vitro under physiological flow conditions. Furthermore, it exhibits low toxicity in the intrinsic (APTT assay) and extrinsic (PT assay) clotting pathways, as well as exhibiting minimal effects on cell (HUVEC) viability (MTT proliferation assay). These findings suggest that carbohydrate-based anti-adhesive candidates may provide potential leads for therapeutics for severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Skidmore
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lynsay C. Cooper
- School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Huxley Building, Keele, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Scott E. Guimond
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Edwin A. Yates
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Alister G. Craig
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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12
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Mustaffa KMF, Storm J, Whittaker M, Szestak T, Craig AG. In vitro inhibition and reversal of Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence to endothelium by monoclonal antibodies to ICAM-1 and CD36. Malar J 2017; 16:279. [PMID: 28679447 PMCID: PMC5499065 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1930-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sequestration of parasitized red blood cells from the peripheral circulation during an infection with Plasmodium falciparum is caused by an interaction between the parasite protein PfEMP1 and receptors on the surface of host endothelial cells, known as cytoadherence. Several lines of evidence point to a link between the pathology of severe malaria and cytoadherence, therefore blocking adhesion receptors involved in this process could be a good target to inhibit pRBC sequestration and prevent disease. In a malaria endemic setting this is likely to be used as an adjunct therapy by reversing existing cytoadherence. Two well-characterized parasite lines plus three recently derived patient isolates were tested for their cytoadherence to purified receptors (CD36 and ICAM-1) as well as endothelial cells. Monoclonal antibodies against human CD36 and ICAM-1 were used to inhibit and reverse infected erythrocyte binding in static and flow-based adhesion assays. Results Anti-ICAM-1 and CD36 monoclonal antibodies were able to inhibit and reverse P. falciparum binding of lab and recently adapted patient isolates in vitro. However, reversal of binding was incomplete and varied in its efficiency between parasite isolates. Conclusions The results show that, as a proof of concept, disturbing existing ligand–receptor interactions is possible and could have potential therapeutic value for severe malaria. The variation seen in the degree of reversing existing binding with different parasite isolates and the incomplete nature of reversal, despite the use of high affinity inhibitors, suggest that anti-adhesion approaches as adjunct therapies for severe malaria may not be effective, and the focus may need to be on inhibitory approaches such as vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khairul M F Mustaffa
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Janet Storm
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Megan Whittaker
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.,School of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Cedar House, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Tadge Szestak
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Alister G Craig
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
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13
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Acharya P, Garg M, Kumar P, Munjal A, Raja KD. Host-Parasite Interactions in Human Malaria: Clinical Implications of Basic Research. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:889. [PMID: 28572796 PMCID: PMC5435807 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite, Plasmodium, is one of the oldest parasites documented to infect humans and has proven particularly hard to eradicate. One of the major hurdles in designing an effective subunit vaccine against the malaria parasite is the insufficient understanding of host–parasite interactions within the human host during infections. The success of the parasite lies in its ability to evade the human immune system and recruit host responses as physiological cues to regulate its life cycle, leading to rapid acclimatization of the parasite to its immediate host environment. Hence understanding the environmental niche of the parasite is crucial in developing strategies to combat this deadly infectious disease. It has been increasingly recognized that interactions between parasite proteins and host factors are essential to establishing infection and virulence at every stage of the parasite life cycle. This review reassesses all of these interactions and discusses their clinical importance in designing therapeutic approaches such as design of novel vaccines. The interactions have been followed from the initial stages of introduction of the parasite under the human dermis until asexual and sexual blood stages which are essential for transmission of malaria. We further classify the interactions as “direct” or “indirect” depending upon their demonstrated ability to mediate direct physical interactions of the parasite with host factors or their indirect manipulation of the host immune system since both forms of interactions are known to have a crucial role during infections. We also discuss the many ways in which this understanding has been taken to the field and the success of these strategies in controlling human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragyan Acharya
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical SciencesNew Delhi, India
| | - Manika Garg
- Department of Biochemistry, Jamia Hamdard UniversityNew Delhi, India
| | - Praveen Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical SciencesNew Delhi, India
| | - Akshay Munjal
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical SciencesNew Delhi, India
| | - K D Raja
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical SciencesNew Delhi, India
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14
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Cruz LN, Wu Y, Ulrich H, Craig AG, Garcia CRS. Tumor necrosis factor reduces Plasmodium falciparum growth and activates calcium signaling in human malaria parasites. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1860:1489-97. [PMID: 27080559 PMCID: PMC4876768 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Plasmodium has a complex biology including the ability to interact with host signals modulating their function through cellular machinery. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) elicits diverse cellular responses including effects in malarial pathology and increased infected erythrocyte cytoadherence. As TNF levels are raised during Plasmodium falciparum infection we have investigated whether it has an effect on the parasite asexual stage. Methods Flow cytometry, spectrofluorimetric determinations, confocal microscopy and PCR real time quantifications were employed for characterizing TNF induced effects and membrane integrity verified by wheat germ agglutinin staining. Results TNF is able to decrease intracellular parasitemia, involving calcium as a second messenger of the pathway. Parasites incubated for 48 h with TNF showed reduced erythrocyte invasion. Thus, TNF induced rises in intracellular calcium concentration, which were blocked by prior addition of the purinergic receptor agonists KN62 and A438079, or interfering with intra- or extracellular calcium release by thapsigargin or EGTA (ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid). Importantly, expression of PfPCNA1 which encodes the Plasmodium falciparum Proliferating-Cell Nuclear Antigen 1, decreased after P. falciparum treatment of TNF (tumor necrosis factor) or 6-Bnz cAMP (N6-benzoyladenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate sodium salt). Conclusions This is potentially interesting data showing the relevance of calcium in downregulating a gene involved in cellular proliferation, triggered by TNF. General significance The data show that Plasmodium may subvert the immunological system and use TNF for the control of its proliferation within the vertebrate host. TNF is able to decrease parasitemia in P. falciparum‐infected RBCs. TNF induced rises in intracellular calcium concentration, which were blocked by the purinergic receptor agonists KN62 and A438079. Interfering with intra‐ or extracellular calcium release by thapsigargin or EGTA also block TNF‐induce calcium release in P. falciparum. Expression of the P. falciparum Proliferating‐Cell Nuclear Antigen 1 (PfPCNA1) decreased after P. falciparum treatment with TNF or 6‐Bnz cAMP. The data show that Plasmodium may subvert the immunological system and use TNF for the control of its proliferation within the vertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Cruz
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, n321, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Yang Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alister G Craig
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, n321, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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15
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Wu Y, Cruz LN, Szestak T, Laing G, Molyneux GR, Garcia CRS, Craig AG. An external sensing system in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Malar J 2016; 15:103. [PMID: 26893139 PMCID: PMC4759932 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1144-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A number of experiments have previously indicated that Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (pRBC) were able to sense host environment. The basis of this ability to detect external cues is not known but in screening signalling molecules from pRBC using commercial antibodies, a 34 kDa phosphorylated molecule that possesses such ability was identified. Methods The pRBC were exposed to different culture conditions and proteins were extracted for 1D or 2D gel electrophoresis followed by Western blot. The localization of 34 kDa protein was examined by biochemical fractionation followed by Western blot. High-resolution mass spectrometric analysis of immune precipitants was used to identify this protein and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting mRNA expression level. Results The 34 kDa protein was called PfAB4 has immediate responses (dephosphorylation and rapid turnover) to host environmental stimuli such as serum depletion, osmolality change and cytokine addition. PfAB4 is expressed constitutively throughout the erythrocytic lifecycle with dominant expression in trophozoites 30 h post-infection. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) treatment induced a transient detectable dephosphorylation of PfAB4 in the ItG strain (2 min after addition) and the level of expression and phosphorylation returned to normal within 1–2 h. PfAB4 localized dominantly in pRBC cytoplasm, with a transient shift to the nucleus under TNF stimulation as shown by biochemical fractionation. High-resolution mass spectrometric analysis of immune precipitants of AB4 antibodies revealed a 34 kDa PfAB4 component as a mixture of proliferating cellular nuclear antigen-1 (PCNA1) and exported protein-2 (EXP2), along with a small number of other inconsistently identified peptides. Different parasite strains have different PfAB4 expression levels, but no significant association between mRNA and PfAB4 levels was seen, indicating that the differences may be at the post-transcriptional, presumably phosphorylation, level. A triple serine phosphorylated PCNA1 peptide was identified from the PfAB4 high expression strain only, providing further evidence that the identity of PfAB4 is PCNA1 in P.falciparum. Conclusion A protein element in the human malaria parasite that responds to external cues, including the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF have been discovered. Treatment results in a transient change in phosphorylation status of the response element, which also migrates from the parasite cytoplasm to the nucleus. The response element has been identified as PfPCNA1. This sensing response could be regulated by a parasite checkpoint system and be analogous to bacterial two-component signal transduction systems. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1144-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Laura N Cruz
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Tadge Szestak
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Gavin Laing
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Gemma R Molyneux
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Celia R S Garcia
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Alister G Craig
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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16
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Chen Y, Xu R. Network-based gene prediction for Plasmodium falciparum malaria towards genetics-based drug discovery. BMC Genomics 2015; 16 Suppl 7:S9. [PMID: 26099491 PMCID: PMC4474419 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-16-s7-s9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is the most deadly parasitic infectious disease. Existing drug treatments have limited efficacy in malaria elimination, and the complex pathogenesis of the disease is not fully understood. Detecting novel malaria-associated genes not only contributes in revealing the disease pathogenesis, but also facilitates discovering new targets for anti-malaria drugs. METHODS In this study, we developed a network-based approach to predict malaria-associated genes. We constructed a cross-species network to integrate human-human, parasite-parasite and human-parasite protein interactions. Then we extended the random walk algorithm on this network, and used known malaria genes as the seeds to find novel candidate genes for malaria. RESULTS We validated our algorithms using 77 known malaria genes: 14 human genes and 63 parasite genes were ranked averagely within top 2% and top 4%, respectively among human and parasite genomes. We also evaluated our method for predicting novel malaria genes using a set of 27 genes with literature supporting evidence. Our approach ranked 12 genes within top 1% and 24 genes within top 5%. In addition, we demonstrated that top-ranked candied genes were enriched for drug targets, and identified commonalities underlying top-ranked malaria genes through pathway analysis. In summary, the candidate malaria-associated genes predicted by our data-driven approach have the potential to guide genetics-based anti-malaria drug discovery.
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17
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Subudhi AK, Boopathi PA, Pandey I, Kohli R, Karwa R, Middha S, Acharya J, Kochar SK, Kochar DK, Das A. Plasmodium falciparum complicated malaria: Modulation and connectivity between exportome and variant surface antigen gene families. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2015; 201:31-46. [PMID: 26022315 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2015.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In temperate and sub-tropical regions of Asia and Latin America, complicated malaria manifested as hepatic dysfunction or renal dysfunction is seen in all age groups. There has been a concerted focus on understanding the patho-physiological and molecular basis of complicated malaria in children, much less is known about it in adults. We report here, the analysis of data from a custom, cross strain microarray (Agilent Platform) using material from adult patient samples, showing hepatic dysfunction or renal failure. These are the most common manifestations seen in adults along with cerebral malaria. The data has been analyzed with reference to variant surface antigens, encoded by the var, rifin and stevor gene families. The differential regulation profiles of key genes (comparison between Plasmodium falciparum complicated and uncomplicated isolates) have been observed. The exportome has been analyzed using similar parameters. Gene ontology term based functional enrichment of differentially regulated genes identified, up-regulated genes statistically enriched (P<0.05) to critical biological processes like generation of precursor metabolite and energy, chromosome organization and electron transport chain. Systems network based functional enrichment of overall differentially regulated genes yielded a similar result. We are reporting here, up-regulation of var group B and C genes whose proteins are predicted to interact with CD36 receptor in the host, the up-regulation of domain cassette 13 (DC13) containing var group A, as also the up-regulation of group A rifins and many of the stevors. This is contrary to most other reports from pediatric patients, with cerebral malaria where the up-regulation of mostly var A group genes have been seen. A protein-protein interaction based network has been created and analysis performed. This co-expression and text mining based network has shown overall connectivity between the variant surface antigens (VSA) and the exportome. The up-regulation of var group B and C genes encoding PfEMP1 with different domain architecture would be important for deciding strategies for disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Subudhi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
| | - P A Boopathi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Isha Pandey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Ramandeep Kohli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Rohan Karwa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Sheetal Middha
- Department of Medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Jyoti Acharya
- Department of Medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Sanjay K Kochar
- Department of Medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Dhanpat K Kochar
- Rajasthan University of Health Sciences, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Ashis Das
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
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18
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Khaw LT, Ball HJ, Mitchell AJ, Grau GE, Stocker R, Golenser J, Hunt NH. Brain endothelial cells increase the proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum through production of soluble factors. Exp Parasitol 2014; 145:34-41. [PMID: 25045850 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
We here describe the novel finding that brain endothelial cells in vitro can stimulate the growth of Plasmodium falciparum through the production of low molecular weight growth factors. By using a conditioned medium approach, we show that the brain endothelial cells continued to release these factors over time. If this mirrors the in vivo situation, these growth factors potentially would provide an advantage, in terms of enhanced growth, for sequestered parasitised red blood cells in the brain microvasculature. We observed this phenomenon with brain endothelial cells from several sources as well as a second P. falciparum strain. The characteristics of the growth factors included: <3 kDa molecular weight, heat stable, and in part chloroform soluble. Future efforts should be directed at identifying these growth factors, since blocking their production or actions might be of benefit for reducing parasite load and, hence, malaria pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- L T Khaw
- Molecular Immunopathology Unit, School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - H J Ball
- Molecular Immunopathology Unit, School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - A J Mitchell
- Molecular Immunopathology Unit, School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Immune Imaging Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - G E Grau
- Vascular Immunology Unit, School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - R Stocker
- Vascular Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Lowy Packer Building, 405 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - J Golenser
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Centre for the Study of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - N H Hunt
- Molecular Immunopathology Unit, School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Gemma S, Brogi S, Patil PR, Giovani S, Lamponi S, Cappelli A, Novellino E, Brown A, Higgins MK, Mustafa K, Szestak T, Craig AG, Campiani G, Butini S, Brindisi M. From (+)-epigallocatechin gallate to a simplified synthetic analogue as a cytoadherence inhibitor for P. falciparum. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra45933k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Clonal variants of Plasmodium falciparum exhibit a narrow range of rolling velocities to host receptor CD36 under dynamic flow conditions. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2013; 12:1490-8. [PMID: 24014767 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00148-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) has been implicated in the virulence of malaria infection. Cytoadhesive interactions are mediated by the protein family of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). The PfEMP1 family is under strong antibody and binding selection, resulting in extensive sequence and size variation of the extracellular domains. Here, we investigated cytoadhesion of pRBCs to CD36, a common receptor of P. falciparum field isolates, under dynamic flow conditions. Isogeneic parasites, predominantly expressing single PfEMP1 variants, were evaluated for binding to recombinant CD36 under dynamic flow conditions using microfluidic devices. We tested if PfEMP1 size (number of extracellular domains) or sequence variation affected the pRBC-CD36 interaction. Our analysis showed that clonal parasite variants varied ∼5-fold in CD36 rolling velocity despite extensive PfEMP1 sequence polymorphism. In addition, adherent pRBCs exhibited a characteristic hysteresis in rolling velocity at microvascular flow rates, which was accompanied by changes in pRBC shape and may represent important adaptations that favor stable binding.
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21
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CD36 recruits α₅β₁ integrin to promote cytoadherence of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003590. [PMID: 24009511 PMCID: PMC3757042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IRBC) to receptors on different host cells plays a divergent yet critical role in determining the progression and outcome of the infection. Based on our ex vivo studies with clinical parasite isolates from adult Thai patients, we have previously proposed a paradigm for IRBC cytoadherence under physiological shear stress that consists of a recruitment cascade mediated largely by P-selectin, ICAM-1 and CD36 on primary human dermal microvascular endothelium (HDMEC). In addition, we detected post-adhesion signaling events involving Src family kinases and the adaptor protein p130CAS in endothelial cells that lead to CD36 clustering and cytoskeletal rearrangement which enhance the magnitude of the adhesive strength, allowing adherent IRBC to withstand shear stress of up to 20 dynes/cm2. In this study, we addressed whether CD36 supports IRBC adhesion as part of an assembly of membrane receptors. Using a combination of flow chamber assay, atomic force and confocal microscopy, we showed for the first time by loss- and gain-of function assays that in the resting state, the integrin α5β1 does not support adhesive interactions between IRBC and HDMEC. Upon IRBC adhesion to CD36, the integrin is recruited either passively as part of a molecular complex with CD36, or actively to the site of IRBC attachment through phosphorylation of Src family kinases, a process that is Ca2+-dependent. Clustering of β1 integrin is associated with an increase in IRBC recruitment as well as in adhesive strength after attachment (∼40% in both cases). The adhesion of IRBC to a multimolecular complex on the surface of endothelial cells could be of critical importance in enabling adherent IRBC to withstand the high shear stress in the microcirculations. Targeting integrins may provide a novel approach to decrease IRBC cytoadherence to microvascular endothelium. Of the several species of malaria parasites that infect humans, disease caused by Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for most of the deaths. The unique pathological finding of this infection is the intense adhesion of infected red blood cells (IRBC) in the microcirculation, resulting in obstruction to blood flow and organ dysfunction. The focus of our research is to identify the molecules on host endothelial cells that support the adhesion as potential therapeutic targets. In this report, we showed for the first time a functional association between CD36, a well studied adhesion molecule for parasite adhesion, and α5β1, a member of the integrin family of adhesion molecules that are important for adhesion of leukocytes to blood vessels and cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. We found that by itself, α5β1 integrin does not support IRBC adhesion. When IRBC adhere to CD36, the integrin is recruited to the site of adhesion through activation of the Src family kinase signaling pathway. As a result, both the number of adherent IRBC and the strength with which they adhere is greatly increased. These results demonstrate that IRBC adhesion is a dynamic and complex process. We need to identify each of the functional components to design anti-adhesive therapy.
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Cytoadherence of Plasmodium berghei-infected red blood cells to murine brain and lung microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. Infect Immun 2013; 81:3984-91. [PMID: 23940206 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00428-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequestration of infected red blood cells (iRBC) within the cerebral and pulmonary microvasculature is a hallmark of human cerebral malaria (hCM). The interaction between iRBC and the endothelium in hCM has been studied extensively and is linked to the severity of malaria. Experimental CM (eCM) caused by Plasmodium berghei ANKA reproduces most features of hCM, although the sequestration of RBC infected by P. berghei ANKA (PbA-iRBC) has not been completely delineated. The role of PbA-iRBC sequestration in the severity of eCM is not well characterized. Using static and flow cytoadherence assays, we provide the first direct in vitro evidence for the binding of PbA-iRBC to murine brain and lung microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC). We found that basal PbA-iRBC cytoadherence to MVECs was significantly higher than that of normal red blood cells (NRBC) and of RBC infected with P. berghei K173 (PbK173-iRBC), a strain that causes noncerebral malaria (NCM). MVEC prestimulation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) failed to promote any further significant increase in mixed-stage iRBC adherence. Interestingly, enrichment of the blood for mature parasites significantly increased PbA-iRBC binding to the MVECs prestimulated with TNF, while blockade of VCAM-1 reduced this adhesion. Our study provides evidence for the firm, flow-resistant binding to endothelial cells of iRBC from strain ANKA-infected mice, which develop CM, and for less binding of iRBC from strain K173-infected mice, which develop NCM. An understanding of P. berghei cytoadherence may help elucidate the importance of sequestration in the development of CM and aid the development of antibinding therapies to help reduce the burden of this syndrome.
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Gullingsrud J, Saveria T, Amos E, Duffy PE, Oleinikov AV. Structure-function-immunogenicity studies of PfEMP1 domain DBL2βPF11_0521, a malaria parasite ligand for ICAM-1. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61323. [PMID: 23593462 PMCID: PMC3625211 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum virulence has been ascribed to its ability to sequester in deep vascular beds, mediated by the variant surface antigen family PfEMP1 binding endothelial receptors like ICAM-1. We previously observed that naturally-acquired antibodies that block a PfEMP1 domain, DBL2β of PF11_0521 allele, from binding to the human ICAM1 receptor, reduce the risk of malaria hospitalization in children. Here, we find that DBL2βPF11_0521 binds ICAM-1 in the low nM range and relate the structure of this domain with its function and immunogenicity. We demonstrate that the interaction with ICAM-1 is not impaired by point mutations in the N-terminal subdomain or in the flexible Loop 4 of DBL2βPF11_0521, although both substructures were previously implicated in binding ICAM-1. These data will help to refine the existing model of DBLβ::ICAM-1 interactions. Antibodies raised against full-length DBL2βPF11_0521, but not truncated forms lacking the N terminal fragment, block its interaction with ICAM-1. Our data suggest that full length domain is optimal for displaying functional epitopes and has a broad surface of interaction with ICAM-1 that is not disrupted by individual amino acid substitutions at putative key residues. This information might be important for the future design of anti-malarial vaccines based on PfEMP1 antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Gullingsrud
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Tracy Saveria
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Emily Amos
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Patrick E. Duffy
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, Program of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew V. Oleinikov
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Cruz LN, Wu Y, Craig AG, Garcia CRS. Signal transduction in Plasmodium-Red Blood Cells interactions and in cytoadherence. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2012; 84:555-72. [PMID: 22634746 DOI: 10.1590/s0001-37652012005000036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for more than 1.5 million deaths each year, especially among children (Snow et al. 2005). Despite of the severity of malaria situation and great effort to the development of new drug targets (Yuan et al. 2011) there is still a relative low investment toward antimalarial drugs. Briefly there are targets classes of antimalarial drugs currently being tested including: kinases, proteases, ion channel of GPCR, nuclear receptor, among others (Gamo et al. 2010). Here we review malaria signal transduction pathways in Red Blood Cells (RBC) as well as infected RBCs and endothelial cells interactions, namely cytoadherence. The last process is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. The molecules displayed on the surface of both infected erythrocytes (IE) and vascular endothelial cells (EC) exert themselves as important mediators in cytoadherence, in that they not only induce structural and metabolic changes on both sides, but also trigger multiple signal transduction processes, leading to alteration of gene expression, with the balance between positive and negative regulation determining endothelial pathology during a malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
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Krause MA, Diakite SAS, Lopera-Mesa TM, Amaratunga C, Arie T, Traore K, Doumbia S, Konate D, Keefer JR, Diakite M, Fairhurst RM. α-Thalassemia impairs the cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37214. [PMID: 22623996 PMCID: PMC3356384 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND α-Thalassemia results from decreased production of α-globin chains that make up part of hemoglobin tetramers (Hb; α(2)β(2)) and affects up to 50% of individuals in some regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Heterozygous (-α/αα) and homozygous (-α/-α) genotypes are associated with reduced risk of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but the mechanism of this protection remains obscure. We hypothesized that α-thalassemia impairs the adherence of parasitized red blood cells (RBCs) to microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) and monocytes--two interactions that are centrally involved in the pathogenesis of severe disease. METHODS AND FINDINGS We obtained P. falciparum isolates directly from Malian children with malaria and used them to infect αα/αα (normal), -α/αα and -α/-α RBCs. We also used laboratory-adapted P. falciparum clones to infect -/-α RBCs obtained from patients with HbH disease. Following a single cycle of parasite invasion and maturation to the trophozoite stage, we tested the ability of parasitized RBCs to bind MVECs and monocytes. Compared to parasitized αα/αα RBCs, we found that parasitized -α/αα, -α/-α and -/-α RBCs showed, respectively, 22%, 43% and 63% reductions in binding to MVECs and 13%, 33% and 63% reductions in binding to monocytes. α-Thalassemia was associated with abnormal display of P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), the parasite's main cytoadherence ligand and virulence factor, on the surface of parasitized RBCs. CONCLUSIONS Parasitized α-thalassemic RBCs show PfEMP1 display abnormalities that are reminiscent of those on the surface of parasitized sickle HbS and HbC RBCs. Our data suggest a model of malaria protection in which α-thalassemia ameliorates the pro-inflammatory effects of cytoadherence. Our findings also raise the possibility that other unstable hemoglobins such as HbE and unpaired α-globin chains (in the case of β-thalassemia) protect against life-threatening malaria by a similar mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Krause
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Seidina A. S. Diakite
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Odontostomatology, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Tatiana M. Lopera-Mesa
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chanaki Amaratunga
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Takayuki Arie
- Department of Physics and Electronics, School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Karim Traore
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Odontostomatology, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Saibou Doumbia
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Odontostomatology, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Drissa Konate
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Odontostomatology, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Jeffrey R. Keefer
- Division of Pediatric Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mahamadou Diakite
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Odontostomatology, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Rick M. Fairhurst
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Grau GER, Craig AG. Cerebral malaria pathogenesis: revisiting parasite and host contributions. Future Microbiol 2012; 7:291-302. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb.11.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral malaria is one of a number of clinical syndromes associated with infection by human malaria parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The etiology of cerebral malaria derives from sequestration of parasitized red cells in brain microvasculature and is thought to be enhanced by the proinflammatory status of the host and virulence characteristics of the infecting parasite variant. In this article we examine the range of factors thought to influence the development of Plasmodium falciparum cerebral malaria in humans and review the evidence to support their role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Emile Raymond Grau
- Vascular Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2042, Australia
- La Jolla Infectious Disease Institute, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
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Gillrie MR, Lee K, Gowda DC, Davis SP, Monestier M, Cui L, Hien TT, Day NPJ, Ho M. Plasmodium falciparum histones induce endothelial proinflammatory response and barrier dysfunction. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2012; 180:1028-1039. [PMID: 22260922 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2011] [Revised: 10/21/2011] [Accepted: 11/04/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite of human erythrocytes that causes the most severe form of malaria. Severe P. falciparum infection is associated with endothelial activation and permeability, which are important determinants of the outcome of the infection. How endothelial cells become activated is not fully understood, particularly with regard to the effects of parasite subcomponents. We demonstrated that P. falciparum histones extracted from merozoites (HeH) directly stimulated the production of IL-8 and other inflammatory mediators by primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells through a signaling pathway that involves Src family kinases and p38 MAPK. The stimulatory effect of HeH and recombinant P. falciparum H3 (PfH3) was abrogated by histone-specific antibodies. The release of nuclear contents on rupture of infected erythrocytes was captured by live cell imaging and confirmed by detecting nucleosomes in the supernatants of parasite cultures. HeH and recombinant parasite histones also induced endothelial permeability through a charge-dependent mechanism that resulted in disruption of junctional protein expression and cell death. Recombinant human activated protein C cleaved HeH and PfH3 and abrogated their proinflammatory effects. Circulating nucleosomes of both human and parasite origin were detected in the plasma of patients with falciparum malaria and correlated positively with disease severity. These results support a pathogenic role for both host- and pathogen-derived histones in P. falciparum-caused malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Gillrie
- Department of Microbiology Immunology & Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kristine Lee
- Department of Microbiology Immunology & Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - D Channe Gowda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Shevaun P Davis
- Department of Microbiology Immunology & Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marc Monestier
- Temple Autoimmunity Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Tran Tinh Hien
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nicholas P J Day
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - May Ho
- Department of Microbiology Immunology & Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Herricks T, Seydel KB, Turner G, Molyneux M, Heyderman R, Taylor T, Rathod PK. A microfluidic system to study cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes to primary brain microvascularendothelial cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2011; 11:2994-3000. [PMID: 21743938 PMCID: PMC3809019 DOI: 10.1039/c1lc20131j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The cellular events leading to severe and complicated malaria in some Plasmodium falciparum infections are poorly understood. Additional tools are required to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease. In this technical report, we describe a microfluidic culture system and image processing algorithms that were developed to observe cytoadhesion interactions of P. falciparum parasitized erythrocytes rolling on primary brain microvascularendothelial cells. We isolated and cultured human primary microvascular brain endothelial cells in a closed loop microfluidic culture system where a peristaltic pump and media reservoirs were integrated onto a microscope stage insert. We developed image processing methods to enhance contrast of rolling parasitized erythrocytes on endothelial cells and to estimate the local wall shear stress. The velocity of parasitized erythrocytes rolling on primary brain microvascularendothelial cells was then measured under physiologically relevant wall shear stresses. Finally, we deployed this method successfully at a field site in Blantyre, Malawi. The method is a promising new tool for the investigation of the pathogenesis of severe malaria.
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Parasitic infections and myositis. Parasitol Res 2011; 110:1-18. [PMID: 21881948 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2609-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Infectious myositis may be caused by a wide variety of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic agents. Parasitic myositis is most commonly a result of trichinosis, cystericercosis, or toxoplasmosis, but other parasites may be involved. A parasitic cause of myositis is suggested by history of residence or travel to endemic area and presence of eosinophilia. The diagnosis of parasitic myositis is suggested by the clinical picture and radiologic imaging, and the etiologic agent is confirmed by parasitologic, serologic, and molecular methods, together with histopathologic examination of tissue biopsies. Therapy is based on the clinical presentation and the underlying pathogen. Drug resistance should be put into consideration in different geographic areas, and it can be avoided through the proper use of anti-parasitic drugs.
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Prato M, D'Alessandro S, Van den Steen PE, Opdenakker G, Arese P, Taramelli D, Basilico N. Natural haemozoin modulates matrix metalloproteinases and induces morphological changes in human microvascular endothelium. Cell Microbiol 2011; 13:1275-85. [PMID: 21707906 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01620.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Severe malaria, including cerebral malaria (CM), is characterized by the sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes in the microvessels after cytoadherence to endothelial cells. Products of parasite origin, such as haemozoin (HZ), contribute to the pathogenesis of severe malaria by interfering with host inflammatory response. In human monocytes, HZ enhanced the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a protease involved in neuroinflammation. Here the effects of HZ on the regulation of MMPs by the human microvascular endothelial cell line HMEC-1 were investigated. Cells treated with natural (n)HZ appeared elongated instead of polygonal, and formed microtubule-like vessels on synthetic basement membrane. nHZ enhanced total gelatinolytic activity by inducing proMMP-9 and MMP-9 without affecting basal MMP-2. The level of the endogenous tissue inhibitor of MMP-9 (TIMP-1) was not altered by nHZ, while TIMP-2, the MMP-2 inhibitor, was enhanced. Additionally, nHZ induced MMP-1 and MMP-3, two enzymes sequentially involved in collagenolysis and proMMP-9 proteolytic activation. Lipid-free HZ did not reproduce nHZ effects. Present data suggest that the lipid moiety of HZ alters the MMP/TIMP balances and promotes the proteolytic activation of proMMP-9 in HMEC-1, thereby enhancing total gelatinolytic activity, cell activation and inflammation. These findings might help understanding the mechanisms of blood brain barrier damage during CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Prato
- Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Biochimica, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Intense interventions are ongoing to combat malaria. Malaria mortality investigation remains as an intense area of study with controversies, competing models of pathogenesis, and a few carefully proceeding clinical trials. This review suggests a reframing of the question of cerebral malaria pathology in light of recent findings to focus on dissection of pathogenesis that will lead to effective treatments. RECENT FINDINGS Pediatric and adult manifestations of cerebral malaria within the retina allows for intense study of the clinical defined patients including the advent of multiple imaging modalities in endemic regions. Basic pathogenesis in mouse models and human studies, focused on cytokines, inflammation, cytoadherence, and endothelial activation, continues to be elucidated molecule by molecule. Coagulation is variably important and may serve as one of several unifying principles of current pathogenesis models. Parasite-derived molecules - surface or soluble - remain necessary but not sufficient to explain pathologic manifestations. SUMMARY As we close the gaps in the fight against global malaria, the question of cerebral malaria mortality remains a source of great concern. We currently have no effective means of reversal of coma or impacting mortality in the comatose patient. As transmission is broken, cerebral malaria will spread to older age groups in Africa where we expect mortality will be higher. Continued directed study of pathogenesis with the primary goal of efficacious interventions in the comatose is a necessity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny A Milner
- The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Haydoura S, Mazboudi O, Charafeddine K, Bouakl I, Baban TA, Taher AT, Kanj SS. Transfusion-related Plasmodium ovale malaria complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a non-endemic country. Parasitol Int 2010; 60:114-6. [PMID: 20971212 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2010] [Revised: 09/23/2010] [Accepted: 10/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
46year old female presented with a one week history of high grade fever, chills, cough, and severe nausea. The patient had been admitted a month earlier with severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding from hemorrhoids necessitating transfusion of 7 units of packed red blood cells. Initial work-up was unremarkable. Because of persistent symptoms, the patient was admitted 2 days later. Malaria smear was positive. Due to the severity of her symptoms, she was managed as falciparum malaria and was started on intravenous quinine and oral doxycycline. On the second day of treatment the patient developed respiratory failure, requiring intubation and ventilatory support with new bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Antimalarial treatment was continued for a total of 7 days followed by primaquine for 14 days once the blood smear results revealed Plasmodium ovale infection. The patient remained intubated in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 16 days, and was later extubated successfully with a clear chest x-ray after a total of one month hospitalization. To our knowledge, this is the first case of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to blood transfusion related P. ovale malaria infection in a non-endemic country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souha Haydoura
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Centre, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Franke-Fayard B, Fonager J, Braks A, Khan SM, Janse CJ. Sequestration and tissue accumulation of human malaria parasites: can we learn anything from rodent models of malaria? PLoS Pathog 2010; 6:e1001032. [PMID: 20941396 PMCID: PMC2947991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum–infected red blood cells (irbcs) in the microvasculature of organs is associated with severe disease; correspondingly, the molecular basis of irbc adherence is an active area of study. In contrast to P. falciparum, much less is known about sequestration in other Plasmodium parasites, including those species that are used as models to study severe malaria. Here, we review the cytoadherence properties of irbcs of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei ANKA, where schizonts demonstrate a clear sequestration phenotype. Real-time in vivo imaging of transgenic P. berghei parasites in rodents has revealed a CD36-dependent sequestration in lungs and adipose tissue. In the absence of direct orthologs of the P. falciparum proteins that mediate binding to human CD36, the P. berghei proteins and/or mechanisms of rodent CD36 binding are as yet unknown. In addition to CD36-dependent schizont sequestration, irbcs accumulate during severe disease in different tissues, including the brain. The role of sequestration is discussed in the context of disease as are the general (dis)similarities of P. berghei and P. falciparum sequestration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jannik Fonager
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anneke Braks
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shahid M. Khan
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Rao A, Kumar MK, Joseph T, Bulusu G. Cerebral malaria: insights from host-parasite protein-protein interactions. Malar J 2010; 9:155. [PMID: 20529383 PMCID: PMC2891816 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2010] [Accepted: 06/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cerebral malaria is a form of human malaria wherein Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells adhere to the blood capillaries in the brain, potentially leading to coma and death. Interactions between parasite and host proteins are important in understanding the pathogenesis of this deadly form of malaria. It is, therefore, necessary to study available protein-protein interactions to identify lesser known interactions that could throw light on key events of cerebral malaria. Methods Sequestration, haemostasis dysfunction, systemic inflammation and neuronal damage are key processes of cerebral malaria. Key events were identified from literature as being crucial to these processes. An integrated interactome was created using available experimental and predicted datasets as well as from literature. Interactions from this interactome were filtered based on Gene Ontology and tissue-specific annotations, and further analysed for relevance to the key events. Results PfEMP1 presentation, platelet activation and astrocyte dysfunction were identified as the key events influencing the disease. 48896 host-parasite along with other host-parasite, host-host and parasite-parasite protein-protein interactions obtained from a disease-specific corpus were combined to form an integrated interactome. Filtering of the interactome resulted in five host-parasite PPI, six parasite-parasite and two host-host PPI. The analysis of these interactions revealed the potential significance of apolipoproteins and temperature/Hsp expression on efficient PfEMP1 presentation; role of MSP-1 in platelet activation; effect of parasite proteins in TGF-β regulation and the role of albumin in astrocyte dysfunction. Conclusions This work links key host-parasite, parasite-parasite and host-host protein-protein interactions to key processes of cerebral malaria and generates hypotheses for disease pathogenesis based on a filtered interaction dataset. These hypotheses provide novel and significant insights to cerebral malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Rao
- Life Sciences Division, TCS Innovation Labs Hyderabad, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, 1, Software Units Layout, Madhapur, Hyderabad-500081, India.
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Cerebral malaria: why experimental murine models are required to understand the pathogenesis of disease. Parasitology 2009; 137:755-72. [PMID: 20028608 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182009991715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral malaria is a life-threatening complication of malaria infection. The pathogenesis of cerebral malaria is poorly defined and progress in understanding the condition is severely hampered by the inability to study in detail, ante-mortem, the parasitological and immunological events within the brain that lead to the onset of clinical symptoms. Experimental murine models have been used to investigate the sequence of events that lead to cerebral malaria, but there is significant debate on the merits of these models and whether their study is relevant to human disease. Here we review the current understanding of the parasitological and immunological events leading to human and experimental cerebral malaria, and explain why we believe that studies with experimental models of CM are crucial to define the pathogenesis of the condition.
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Gallo V, Schwarzer E, Rahlfs S, Schirmer RH, van Zwieten R, Roos D, Arese P, Becker K. Inherited glutathione reductase deficiency and Plasmodium falciparum malaria--a case study. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7303. [PMID: 19806191 PMCID: PMC2751828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2009] [Accepted: 09/10/2009] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (RBCs), the flavoenzyme glutathione reductase (GR) regenerates reduced glutathione, which is essential for antioxidant defense. GR utilizes NADPH produced in the pentose phosphate shunt by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Thus, conditions affecting host G6PD or GR induce increased sensitivity to oxidants. Hereditary G6PD deficiency is frequent in malaria endemic areas and provides protection against severe malaria. Furthermore, GR deficiency resulting from insufficient saturation of the enzyme with its prosthetic group FAD is common. Based on these naturally occurring phenomena, GR of malaria parasites and their host cells represent attractive antimalarial drug targets. Recently we were given the opportunity to examine invasion, growth, and drug sensitivity of three P. falciparum strains (3D7, K1, and Palo Alto) in the RBCs from three homozygous individuals with total GR deficiency resulting from mutations in the apoprotein. Invasion or growth in the GR-deficient RBCs was not impaired for any of the parasite strains tested. Drug sensitivity to chloroquine, artemisinin, and methylene blue was comparable to parasites grown in GR-sufficient RBCs and sensitivity towards paraquat and sodium nitroprusside was only slightly enhanced. In contrast, membrane deposition of hemichromes as well as the opsonizing complement C3b fragments and phagocytosis were strongly increased in ring-infected RBCs of the GR-deficient individuals compared to ring-infected normal RBCs. Also, in one of the individuals, membrane-bound autologous IgGs were significantly enhanced. Thus, based on our in vitro data, GR deficiency and drug-induced GR inhibition may protect from malaria by inducing enhanced ring stage phagocytosis rather than by impairing parasite growth directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gallo
- Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Biochimica, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Evelin Schwarzer
- Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Biochimica, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefan Rahlfs
- Interdisziplinäres Forschungszentrum, Gießen University, Gießen, Germany
| | - R. Heiner Schirmer
- Biochemie-Zentrum Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rob van Zwieten
- Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Roos
- Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paolo Arese
- Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Biochimica, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Katja Becker
- Interdisziplinäres Forschungszentrum, Gießen University, Gießen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Hughes KR, Biagini GA, Craig AG. Continued cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells after antimalarial treatment. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 169:71-8. [PMID: 19800372 PMCID: PMC2814047 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2008] [Revised: 09/21/2009] [Accepted: 09/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Development of severe disease in Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection is thought to be, at least in part, due to the sequestration of trophozoite-stage infected red blood cells in the microvasculature. The process of cytoadherence is mediated by binding of the parasite protein PfEMP-1 on the surface of infected red blood cells to endothelial cell receptors. Although antimalarial treatments rapidly kill parasites, significant mortality is still seen in severe malaria, particularly within 24h of hospital admission. We find that cytoadherence of infected red blood cells continues for several hours after killing of the parasite by antimalarials; after 24h treatment using a range of antimalarials binding is approximately one-third the level of untreated parasite cultures. This is consistent with the maintained presence of PfEMP-1 on the surface of drug-treated infected red blood cells. A specific advantage of artesunate over other treatments tested is seen on addition of this drug to younger ring stage parasites, which do not mature to the cytoadherent trophozoite-stage. These findings show that cytoadherence, a potential pathogenic property of P. falciparum infected red blood cells, continues long after the parasite has been killed. These data support the development of adjunctive therapies to reverse the pathophysiological consequences of cytoadherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie R Hughes
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
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Horata N, Kalambaheti T, Craig A, Khusmith S. Sequence variation of PfEMP1-DBLalpha in association with rosette formation in Plasmodium falciparum isolates causing severe and uncomplicated malaria. Malar J 2009; 8:184. [PMID: 19650937 PMCID: PMC3224928 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2009] [Accepted: 08/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rosetting and cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells have been associated with severity of malaria. ICAM-1 and CD36 are the main host cell receptors, while PfEMP1-DBLalpha is a major parasite ligand, which can contribute to rosette formation. This study is aimed at demonstrating whether the highly polymorphic PfEMP1-DBLalpha sequences occurring among Thai isolates causing severe and uncomplicated malaria are associated with their ability to form rosettes and reflected the clinical outcome of the patients. METHODS Two hundred and ninety five PfEMP1-DBLalpha sequences from Thai clinical isolates causing severe and uncomplicated malaria were evaluated by sequencing and direct comparison using the specific text string analysis functions in Microsoft Excel and Perl. The relationships between the PfEMP1-DBLalpha sequences were also analysed by network analysis. The binding abilities of parasitized red blood cells (PRBCs) to CD36, wild type ICAM-1, ICAM-1Kilifi and ICAM-1S22/A under static condition were included. RESULTS Two hundred and eighty one non-identical amino acid sequences were identified (< 95% sequence identity). When the distributions of semi-conserved features (PoLV1-4 and sequence group) within the rosetting domain PfEMP1-DBLalpha were observed, close similarity was found between isolates from the two disease groups. The sequence group 1 representing uncomplicated malaria was significantly different from the sequence group 3 representing the majority of severe malaria (p = 0.027). By using a simple non-phylogenetic approach to visualize the sharing of polymorphic blocks (position specific polymorphic block, PSPB) and cys/PoLV among DBLalpha sequences, the sequence group 1 was split from the other five sequence groups. The isolates belonging to sequence group 5 gave the highest mean rosetting rate (21.31%). However, within sequence group 2 and group 6, the isolates causing severe malaria had significantly higher rosetting rate than those causing uncomplicated malaria (p = 0.014, p = 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION This is the first report of PfEMP1-DBLalpha analysis in clinical Thai isolates using semi-conserved features (cys/PoLV and PSPBs). The cys/PoLV group 5 gave the highest rosetting rate. PfEMP1-DBLalpha domains in Thai isolates are highly diverse, however, clinical isolates from severe and uncomplicated malaria shared common sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natharinee Horata
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Horrocks P, Wong E, Russell K, Emes RD. Control of gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum - ten years on. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2008; 164:9-25. [PMID: 19110008 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2008.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2008] [Revised: 11/25/2008] [Accepted: 11/26/2008] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Ten years ago this journal published a review with an almost identical title detailing how the then recent introduction of transfection technology had advanced our understanding of the molecular control of transcriptional processes in Plasmodium falciparum, particularly in terms of promoter structure and function. In the succeeding years, sequencing of several Plasmodium spp. genomes and application of high throughput global postgenomic technologies have proven as significant, if not more, as has the ability to genetically manipulate these parasites in dissecting the molecular control of gene expression. Here we aim to review our current understanding of the control of gene expression in P. falciparum, including evidence available from other Plasmodium spp. and apicomplexan parasites. Specifically, however, we will address the current polarised debate regarding the level at which control is mediated, and attempt to identify some of the challenges this field faces in the next 10 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Horrocks
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, United Kingdom.
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