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Ugwu AO, Chukwuanukwu RC, Ehiaghe FA, Ugwu EO. The role of immune-inflammatory markers in children with complicated and uncomplicated malaria in Enugu, Nigeria. BMC Immunol 2024; 25:47. [PMID: 39039450 PMCID: PMC11265479 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-024-00642-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is currently insufficient data regarding immune parameters and relationship with severity of malaria infection in Enugu, Nigeria where the economic and social costs of the disease and its management are extremely high. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between malaria severity and some immune-inflammatory markers among malaria-infected children in Enugu, Nigeria. METHODS The study adopted a case control design. Eligible children were categorized into three groups - complicated, uncomplicated and healthy children. Pro-inflammatory cytokines -interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); and anti-inflammatory cytokine - interleukin-10 (IL-10) were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, while immune cell ratios - neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were calculated from full blood count results. RESULTS The overall mean age of the participants was 7.3 ± 3.4 (range: 6 months - 12 years) and the male-female ratio was 1:1. There was no significant difference between the ages of the three groups (P = 0.44). The Mean levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and NLR were higher in complicated than uncomplicated malaria (266.9 ± 66.3pg/ml vs. 62.5 ± 6.4pg/ml, p < 0.001; 140.3 ± 30.0pg/ml vs. 42.0 ± 9.0pg/ml, p < 0.001; and 32.9 ± 16.2pg/ml vs. 17.8 ± 6.0pg/ml, p < 0.001, respectively); and higher in uncomplicated malaria than healthy children (62.5 ± 6.4pg/ml vs. 40.6 ± 9.1pg/ml, p < 0.001; 42.0 ± 9.0pg/ml vs. 105.7 ± 32.1, p < 0.001; 17.8 ± 6.0pg/ml vs. 18.7 ± 6.2pg/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). On the other hand, the mean level of IL-10 is higher in uncomplicated than complicated malaria (105.73 ± 32.06pg/ml vs. 40.60 ± 9.11pg/ml, p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between NLR and IFN-γ (r = 0.815; p = 0.003), as well as NLR and TNF-α (r = 0.745; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION Complicated malaria is associated with higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines while uncomplicated malaria is associated with higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. NLR correlates positively with pro-inflammatory cytokines, and could be useful in evaluation for the severity of malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Ogechukwu Ugwu
- Department of Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Enugu State, 400001, Nigeria.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, 420001, Nigeria.
| | - Rebecca Chinyelu Chukwuanukwu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, 420001, Nigeria
| | - Friday Alfred Ehiaghe
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, 420001, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Onyebuchi Ugwu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Enugu state, 40001, Nigeria
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Trujillo E, Monreal-Escalante E, Angulo C. Microalgae-made human vaccines and therapeutics: A decade of advances. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2400091. [PMID: 38719615 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202400091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Microalgal emergence is a promising platform with two-decade historical background for producing vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. During that period, microalgal-based vaccines have reported successful production for various diseases. Thus, species selection is important for genetic transformation and delivery methods that have been developed. Although many vaccine prototypes have been produced for infectious and non-infectious diseases, fewer studies have reached immunological and immunoprotective evaluations. Microalgae-made vaccines for Staphylococcus aureus, malaria, influenza, human papilloma, and Zika viruses have been explored in their capacity to induce humoral or cellular immune responses and protective efficacies against experimental challenges. Therefore, specific pathogen antigens and immune system role are important and addressed in controlling these infections. Regarding non-communicable diseases, these vaccines have been investigated for breast cancer; microalgal-produced therapeutic molecules and microalgal-made interferon-α have been explored for hypertension and potential applications in treating viral infections and cancer, respectively. Thus, conducting immunological trials is emphasized, discussing the promising results observed in terms of immunogenicity, desired immune response for controlling affections, and challenges for achieving the desired protection levels. The potential advantages and hurdles associated with this innovative approach are highlighted, underlining the relevance of assessing immune responses in preclinical and clinical trials to validate the efficacy of these biopharmaceuticals. The promising future of this healthcare technology is also envisaged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Trujillo
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B.C.S., México
| | - Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B.C.S., México
- CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B.C.S., México
| | - Carlos Angulo
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B.C.S., México
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Sharma I, Kataria P, Das J. Cerebral malaria pathogenesis: Dissecting the role of CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells as major effectors in disease pathology. Int Rev Immunol 2024:1-18. [PMID: 38618863 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2024.2336539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection, with complex pathogenesis involving multiple factors, including the host's immunological response. T lymphocytes, specifically CD4+ T helper cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, are crucial in controlling parasite growth and activating cells for parasite clearance via cytokine secretion. Contrary to this, reports also suggest the pathogenic nature of T lymphocytes as they are often involved in disease progression and severity. CD8+ cytotoxic T cells migrate to the host's brain vasculature, disrupting the blood-brain barrier and causing neurological manifestations. CD4+ T helper cells on the other hand play a variety of functions as they differentiate into different subtypes which may function as pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. The excessive pro-inflammatory response in CM can lead to multi-organ failure, necessitating a check mechanism to maintain immune homeostasis. This is achieved by regulatory T cells and their characteristic cytokines, which counterbalance the pro-inflammatory immune response. Maintaining a critical balance between pro and anti-inflammatory responses is crucial for determining disease outcomes in CM. A slight change in this balance may contribute to a disease severity owing to an extreme inflammatory response or unrestricted parasite growth, a potential target for designing immunotherapeutic treatment approaches. The review briefly discusses the pathogenesis of CM and various mechanisms responsible for the disruption of the blood-brain barrier. It also highlights the role of different T cell subsets during infection and emphasizes the importance of balance between pro and anti-inflammatory T cells that ultimately decides the outcome of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Sharma
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Noida, India
- Division of Immunology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Poonam Kataria
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Noida, India
- Division of Immunology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Jyoti Das
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Noida, India
- Division of Immunology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
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Lappalainen R, Kumar M, Duraisingh MT. Hungry for control: metabolite signaling to chromatin in Plasmodium falciparum. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102430. [PMID: 38306915 PMCID: PMC11157454 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum undergoes a complex life cycle in two hosts, mammalian and mosquito, where it is constantly subjected to environmental changes in nutrients. Epigenetic mechanisms govern transcriptional switches and are essential for parasite persistence and proliferation. Parasites infecting red blood cells are auxotrophic for several nutrients, and mounting evidence suggests that various metabolites act as direct substrates for epigenetic modifications, with their abundance directly relating to changes in parasite gene expression. Here, we review the latest understanding of metabolic changes that alter the histone code resulting in changes to transcriptional programmes in malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Lappalainen
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA.
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Akoniyon OP, Akiibinu M, Adeleke MA, Maharaj R, Okpeku M. A Comparative Study of Genetic Diversity and Multiplicity of Infection in Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Selected Regions of Pre-Elimination and High Transmission Settings Using MSP1 and MSP2 Genes. Pathogens 2024; 13:172. [PMID: 38392910 PMCID: PMC10891941 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the genetic structure of P. falciparum population in different regions is pivotal to malaria elimination. Genetic diversity and the multiplicity of infection are indicators used for measuring malaria endemicity across different transmission settings. Therefore, this study characterized P. falciparum infections from selected areas constituting pre-elimination and high transmission settings in South Africa and Nigeria, respectively. METHODS Parasite genomic DNA was extracted from 129 participants with uncomplicated P. falciparum infections. Isolates were collected from 78 participants in South Africa (southern Africa) and 51 in Nigeria (western Africa). Allelic typing of the msp1 and msp2 genes was carried out using nested PCR. RESULTS In msp1, the K1 allele (39.7%) was the most common allele among the South African isolates, while the RO33 allele (90.2%) was the most common allele among the Nigerian isolates. In the msp2 gene, FC27 and IC3D7 showed almost the same percentage distribution (44.9% and 43.6%) in the South African isolates, whereas FC27 had the highest percentage distribution (60.8%) in the Nigerian isolates. The msp2 gene showed highly distinctive genotypes, indicating high genetic diversity in the South African isolates, whereas msp1 showed high genetic diversity in the Nigerian isolates. The RO33 allelic family displayed an inverse relationship with participants' age in the Nigerian isolates. The overall multiplicity of infection (MOI) was significantly higher in Nigeria (2.87) than in South Africa (2.44) (p < 0.000 *). In addition, heterozygosity was moderately higher in South Africa (1.46) than in Nigeria (1.13). CONCLUSIONS The high genetic diversity and MOI in P. falciparum that were observed in this study could provide surveillance data, on the basis of which appropriate control strategies should be adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olusegun Philip Akoniyon
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 4041, South Africa; (O.P.A.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Moses Akiibinu
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Caleb University, Lagos 11379, Nigeria;
| | - Matthew A. Adeleke
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 4041, South Africa; (O.P.A.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Rajendra Maharaj
- Office of Malaria Research, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa;
| | - Moses Okpeku
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 4041, South Africa; (O.P.A.); (M.A.A.)
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Akafity G, Kumi N, Ashong J. Diagnosis and management of malaria in the intensive care unit. JOURNAL OF INTENSIVE MEDICINE 2024; 4:3-15. [PMID: 38263976 PMCID: PMC10800773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jointm.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for approximately three-quarters of a million deaths in humans globally each year. Most of the morbidity and mortality reported are from Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where the disease is endemic. In non-endemic areas, malaria is the most common cause of imported infection and is associated with significant mortality despite recent advancements and investments in elimination programs. Severe malaria often requires intensive care unit admission and can be complicated by cerebral malaria, respiratory distress, acute kidney injury, bleeding complications, and co-infection. Intensive care management includes prompt diagnosis and early initiation of effective antimalarial therapy, recognition of complications, and appropriate supportive care. However, the lack of diagnostic capacities due to limited advances in equipment, personnel, and infrastructure presents a challenge to the effective diagnosis and management of malaria. This article reviews the clinical classification, diagnosis, and management of malaria as relevant to critical care clinicians, highlighting the role of diagnostic capacity, treatment options, and supportive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Akafity
- Department of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Nicholas Kumi
- Intensive Care Unit, Department of Critical Care and Anesthesia, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Joyce Ashong
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Kotepui KU, Mahittikorn A, Wilairatana P, Masangkay FR, Kotepui M. Association between Plasmodium Infection and Nitric Oxide Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1868. [PMID: 37891947 PMCID: PMC10604424 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathology of malaria. This systematic review and meta-analysis describe the association between NO levels and malaria. Embase, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to identify studies evaluating NO levels in malaria patients and uninfected controls. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to discern differences in NO levels between the groups. Of the 4517 records identified, 21 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The findings illustrated significant disparities in NO levels based on geographic location and study time frames. Despite the fluctuations, such as higher NO levels in adults compared to children, no significant differences in mean NO levels between patients and uninfected controls (p = 0.25, Hedge's g: 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.25-0.96, I2: 97.39%) or between severe and non-severe malaria cases (p = 0.09, Hedge's g: 0.71, 95% CI: -0.11-1.54, I2: 96.07%) were detected. The systematic review and meta-analysis highlighted inconsistencies in NO levels in malaria patients. Given the high heterogeneity of the results, further studies using standardized metrics for NO measurements and focusing on biochemical pathways dictating NO responses in malaria are imperative to understand the association between NO and malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand;
| | - Aongart Mahittikorn
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | | | - Manas Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand;
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Kotepui M, Mahittikorn A, Anabire NG, Kotepui KU. Impact of malaria on glutathione peroxidase levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13928. [PMID: 37626133 PMCID: PMC10457399 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41056-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary antioxidant, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), is hypothesized to contribute to the pathophysiology of malaria. This current study conducted a meta-analysis to examine variations in GPx blood levels in malaria patients. Seven electronic databases-ProQuest, Scopus, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar-were searched for relevant studies with no limitations to publication language or publication date. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used to appraise the risk of bias among the included studies critically. The meta-analysis was conducted by pooling the effect estimates and Hedges's g using a random-effects model. Search results returned 1253 articles, of which 16 studies were used for syntheses. Results of the meta-analysis indicated that malaria patients had decreased blood levels of GPx compared to uninfected individuals (P < 0.01, Hedges' g: - 4.06, 95% CI - 5.49-(- 2.63), I2: 99.07%, 1278 malaria patients/627 uninfected individuals, 15 studies). Subgroup analyses indicated that peripheral levels of GPx were significantly diminished in patients with P. falciparum malaria compared to uninfected controls (P < 0.01, Hedges' g: - 3.06, 95% CI - 4.46-(- 1.65), I2: 98.39%, 9 studies) but not in patients with P. vivax malaria (P = 0.15, Hedges' g: - 2.05, 95% CI - 4.83-0.74), I2: 98.64%, 2 studies) Overall, malaria is associated with declined levels of GPx, particularly in patients with P. falciparum malaria. The finding provides valuable insights that prompt the need to investigate the role of GPx depletion in malaria pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Aongart Mahittikorn
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Nsoh Godwin Anabire
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
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Bhattacharjee S, Ghosh D, Saha R, Sarkar R, Kumar S, Khokhar M, Pandey RK. Mechanism of Immune Evasion in Mosquito-Borne Diseases. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050635. [PMID: 37242305 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, mosquito-borne illnesses have emerged as a major health burden in many tropical regions. These diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika virus infection, Rift Valley fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile virus infection, are transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. These pathogens have been shown to interfere with the host's immune system through adaptive and innate immune mechanisms, as well as the human circulatory system. Crucial immune checkpoints such as antigen presentation, T cell activation, differentiation, and proinflammatory response play a vital role in the host cell's response to pathogenic infection. Furthermore, these immune evasions have the potential to stimulate the human immune system, resulting in other associated non-communicable diseases. This review aims to advance our understanding of mosquito-borne diseases and the immune evasion mechanisms by associated pathogens. Moreover, it highlights the adverse outcomes of mosquito-borne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Debanjan Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
| | - Rounak Saha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
| | - Rima Sarkar
- DBT Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India
| | - Saurav Kumar
- DBT Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India
| | - Manoj Khokhar
- Department of Biochemistry, AIIMS, Jodhpur 342005, India
| | - Rajan Kumar Pandey
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Solna, Sweden
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Siddiqui AJ, Bhardwaj J, Saxena J, Jahan S, Snoussi M, Bardakci F, Badraoui R, Adnan M. A Critical Review on Human Malaria and Schistosomiasis Vaccines: Current State, Recent Advancements, and Developments. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040792. [PMID: 37112704 PMCID: PMC10146311 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria and schistosomiasis are two major parasitic diseases that remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Co-infections of these two parasites are common in the tropics, where both diseases are endemic. The clinical consequences of schistosomiasis and malaria are determined by a variety of host, parasitic, and environmental variables. Chronic schistosomiasis causes malnutrition and cognitive impairments in children, while malaria can cause fatal acute infections. There are effective drugs available to treat malaria and schistosomiasis. However, the occurrence of allelic polymorphisms and the rapid selection of parasites with genetic mutations can confer reduced susceptibility and lead to the emergence of drug resistance. Moreover, the successful elimination and complete management of these parasites are difficult due to the lack of effective vaccines against Plasmodium and Schistosoma infections. Therefore, it is important to highlight all current vaccine candidates undergoing clinical trials, such as pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stage malaria, as well as a next-generation RTS,S-like vaccine, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, that conferred 77% protection against clinical malaria in a Phase 2b trial. Moreover, this review also discusses the progress and development of schistosomiasis vaccines. Furthermore, significant information is provided through this review on the effectiveness and progress of schistosomiasis vaccines currently under clinical trials, such as Sh28GST, Sm-14, and Sm-p80. Overall, this review provides insights into recent progress in malarial and schistosomiasis vaccines and their developmental approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arif Jamal Siddiqui
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il P.O. Box 2440, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jyoti Bhardwaj
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Juhi Saxena
- Department of Biotechnology, University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, NH-95, Ludhiana—Chandigarh State Hwy, Mohali 140413, India
| | - Sadaf Jahan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mejdi Snoussi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il P.O. Box 2440, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Genetics, Biodiversity and Valorization of Bio-Resources (LR11ES41), Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue TaharHaddas BP74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
| | - Fevzi Bardakci
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il P.O. Box 2440, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riadh Badraoui
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il P.O. Box 2440, Saudi Arabia
- Section of Histology-Cytology, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1017, Tunisia
| | - Mohd Adnan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il P.O. Box 2440, Saudi Arabia
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Sornsenee P, Wilairatana P, Kotepui KU, Masangkay FR, Romyasamit C, Kotepui M. Relation between Increased IL-10 Levels and Malaria Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8010035. [PMID: 36668942 PMCID: PMC9865813 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8010035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The roles of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of severe malaria have been widely studied, and the role of IL-10 in the pathogenesis of severe malaria remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the difference in IL-10 levels between patients with severe malaria and those with non-severe malaria. The search for relevant studies was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Embase from 1 February 2022 to 12 February 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed according to the guidelines of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect. In all, 1215 studies were identified, and 19 were included in the quantitative syntheses. The results showed that patients with severe malaria had a higher IL-10 level than those with non-severe malaria (p = 0.03, pooled standardized mean difference: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.08-1.40, I2: 97.22%, 19 studies/21 sub studies). The meta-analysis results demonstrated increased IL-10 levels in patients with severe malaria compared with those with non-severe malaria. However, with the heterogeneity of the meta-analysis results, further studies are required to confirm the changes in the IL-10 levels according to the severity of malaria and to investigate whether a combination of other severity parameters with IL-10 levels could be an alternative marker for severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoomjai Sornsenee
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | | | - Chonticha Romyasamit
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Manas Kotepui
- Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Correspondence: or manaskote@gmailcom
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Tumwine-Downey I, Deroost K, Levy P, McLaughlin S, Hosking C, Langhorne J. Antibody-dependent immune responses elicited by blood stage-malaria infection contribute to protective immunity to the pre-erythrocytic stages. CURRENT RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 4:100054. [PMID: 36593995 PMCID: PMC9803926 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2022.100054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in transcriptomics and proteomics have revealed that different life-cycle stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, share antigens, thus allowing for the possibility of eliciting immunity to a parasite life-cycle stage that has not been experienced before. Using the Plasmodium chabaudi (AS strain) model of malaria in mice, we investigated how isolated exposure to blood-stage infection, bypassing a liver-stage infection, yields significant protection to sporozoite challenge resulting in lower liver parasite burdens. Antibodies are the main immune driver of this protection. Antibodies induced by blood-stage infection recognise proteins on the surface of sporozoites and can impair sporozoite gliding motility in vitro, suggesting a possible function in vivo. Furthermore, mice lacking B cells and/or secreted antibodies are not protected against a sporozoite challenge in mice that had a previous blood-stage infection. Conversely, effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells do not seem to play a role in protection from sporozoite challenge of mice previously exposed only to the blood stages of P. chabaudi. The protective response against pre-erythrocytic stages can be induced by infections initiated by serially passaged blood-stage parasites as well as recently mosquito transmitted parasites and is effective against a different strain of P. chabaudi (CB strain), but not against another rodent malaria species, P. yoelii. The possibility to induce protective cross-stage antibodies advocates the need to consider both stage-specific and cross-stage immune responses to malaria, as natural infection elicits exposure to all life-cycle stages. Future investigation into these cross-stage antibodies allows the opportunity for candidate antigens to contribute to malaria vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jean Langhorne
- Corresponding author. Malaria Immunology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
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13
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Antibody Responses Against Plasmodium falciparum MSP3 Protein During Natural Malaria Infection in Individuals Living in Malaria-Endemic Regions of India. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, INDIA SECTION B: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2022; 92:613-619. [PMID: 35411125 PMCID: PMC8985746 DOI: 10.1007/s40011-021-01330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The humoral immune responses to blood-stage malaria proteins are requisite for the inhibition of parasite invasion. Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 3 (MSP3) is a secretory, expressed abundantly, merozoite surface protein that is important for the parasite invasion process. It has been shown to induce antibody responses during natural infections and is, therefore, considered to be the potential vaccine candidates against Plasmodium. Elucidating the immunogenicity and prevalence of anti-parasite antibodies is important in identifying potential targets as candidates for malarial diagnosis and anti‐malarial vaccine. The present study concerns the presence of antibodies against the MSP3 proteins of human malaria parasite- P. falciparum in infected individuals from endemic regions of India. Seventy-one anonymized P. falciparum infected serum samples were procured from the malaria fever clinic of ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), New Delhi to detect the presence of antibodies against MSP3 protein by ELISA. The IgM antibody response against recombinant MSP3 was detected at significantly higher levels during acute malaria. The protein was found to be immunogenic and did not demonstrate any cross-reactivity with the serum of uninfected individuals or individuals infected with other Plasmodium species. The protein has hydrophilic regions in its N- and C-terminus which may contain immunogenic linear and conformational B-cell epitopes. The results from this study suggest that the MSP3 is immunogenic and likely a potential candidate for antibody-based diagnosis or vaccine development against the blood-stage of P. falciparum.
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14
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Walker-Sperling V, Digitale JC, Viard M, Martin MP, Bashirova A, Yuki Y, Ramsuran V, Kulkarni S, Naranbhai V, Li H, Anderson SK, Yum L, Clifford R, Kibuuka H, Ake J, Thomas R, Rowland-Jones S, Rek J, Arinaitwe E, Kamya M, Rodriguez-Barraquer I, Feeney ME, Carrington M. Genetic variation that determines TAPBP expression levels associates with the course of malaria in an HLA allotype-dependent manner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2205498119. [PMID: 35858344 PMCID: PMC9303992 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205498119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
HLA class I (HLA-I) allotypes vary widely in their dependence on tapasin (TAPBP), an integral component of the peptide-loading complex, to present peptides on the cell surface. We identified two single-nucleotide polymorphisms that regulate TAPBP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in Africans, rs111686073 (G/C) and rs59097151 (A/G), located in an AP-2α transcription factor binding site and a microRNA (miR)-4486 binding site, respectively. rs111686073G and rs59097151A induced significantly higher TAPBP mRNA expression relative to the alternative alleles due to higher affinity for AP-2α and abrogation of miR-4486 binding, respectively. These variants associated with lower Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence and lower incidence of clinical malaria specifically among individuals carrying tapasin-dependent HLA-I allotypes, presumably by augmenting peptide loading, whereas tapasin-independent allotypes associated with relative protection, regardless of imputed TAPBP mRNA expression levels. Thus, an attenuated course of malaria may occur through enhanced breadth and/or magnitude of antigen presentation, an important consideration when evaluating vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Walker-Sperling
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
| | - Jean C. Digitale
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94143
| | - Mathias Viard
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
| | - Maureen P. Martin
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
| | - Arman Bashirova
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
| | - Yuko Yuki
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
| | - Veron Ramsuran
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Smita Kulkarni
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Host Pathogen Interaction Program, San Antonio, Texas, 78227
| | - Vivek Naranbhai
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215
- MGH Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Hongchuan Li
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
| | - Stephen K. Anderson
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
| | - Lauren Yum
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program,, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, 20817
| | - Robert Clifford
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program,, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, 20817
| | - Hannah Kibuuka
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Julie Ake
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program,, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
| | - Rasmi Thomas
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program,, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
| | - Sarah Rowland-Jones
- Viral Immunology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - John Rek
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Moses Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Margaret E. Feeney
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158
| | - Mary Carrington
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
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15
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A multi-epitope vaccine designed against blood-stage of malaria: an immunoinformatic and structural approach. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11683. [PMID: 35804032 PMCID: PMC9266094 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15956-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a complex disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The most severe form of malaria disease is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Thus, a combination of different approaches is needed to control malaria. Resistance to first-line drugs and insecticides, on the other hand, makes the need for an effective vaccination more urgent than ever. Because erythrocyte parasites cause the most clinical symptoms, developing a vaccination for this stage of infection might be highly beneficial. In this research, we employed various bioinformatics methods to create an efficient multi-epitope vaccine that induces antibodies against the blood stage of malaria infection. For this purpose, we selected the malaria PfGARP protein as the target here. The B, HTL epitopes, and epitope conservation were predicted. The predicted epitopes (including 5 B and 5 HTL epitopes) were connected using suitable linkers, and the flagellin molecule was used as an adjuvant to improve its immunogenicity. The final construct vaccine with 414 amino acids long was designed. The vaccine's allergenicity, antigenicity, solubility, physicochemical characteristics, 2D and 3D structure modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, in silico cloning, and immunological simulation were tested. In silico immune simulation results showed significantly elevated IgG1 and IgM and T helper cells, INF γ, IL 2, and B-cell populations after the injection of the designed vaccine. These significant computational analyses indicated that our proposed vaccine candidate might activate suitable immune responses against malaria. However, in vitro and in vivo studies are essential for further validation.
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16
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Kalkal M, Kalkal A, Dhanda SK, Das E, Pande V, Das J. A comprehensive study of epitopes and immune reactivity among Plasmodium species. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:74. [PMID: 35277125 PMCID: PMC8913861 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02480-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by protozoan parasite of genus Plasmodium. Various antigenic proteins of Plasmodium are considered as the major targets for the development of an effective vaccine. The aim of the current study was a comprehensive analysis of the experimentally validated epitopes of Plasmodium obtained from various immunoassays. Methods Plasmodium species epitopes were prefetched from Immune Epitope Database (IEDB). Species specific classification of available epitopes was done for both human and murine malaria parasites. Further, these T cell and B cell epitopes along with MHC I/II binders of different Plasmodium species were examined to find out their capability to induce IFN-γ and IL-10 using IFNepitope and IL-10 Pred, respectively. Results The species-specific classification of 6874 unique epitopes resulted in the selection of predominant human and murine Plasmodium species. Further, the attempt was made to analyse the immune reactivity of these epitopes for their ability to induce cytokines namely IFN-γ and IL-10. Total, 2775 epitopes were predicted to possess IFN-γ inducing ability, whereas 1275 epitopes were found to be involved in the induction of IL-10. Conclusions This study facilitates the assessment of Plasmodium epitopes and associated proteins as a potential approach to design and develop an epitope-based vaccine. Moreover, the results highlight the epitope-based immunization in malaria to induce a protective immune response. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-022-02480-7.
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17
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Guan W, Yang S, Zhao Y, Cheng W, Song X, Yao Y, Xie Y, Du W, Li J. Observation of the Gut Microbiota Profile in C57BL/6 Mice Induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:680383. [PMID: 34778098 PMCID: PMC8581563 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.680383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus of Plasmodium parasites can cause malaria, which is a prevalent infectious disease worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. C57BL/6 mice infected with P. berghei ANKA (PbA) will suffer from experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). However, the gut microbiota in C57BL/6 mice has rarely been investigated, especially regarding changes in the intestinal environment caused by infectious parasites. P. berghei ANKA-infected (PbA group) and uninfected C57BL/6 (Ctrl group) mice were used in this study. C57BL/6 mice were infected with PbA via intraperitoneal injection of 1 × 106 infected red blood cells. Fecal samples of two groups were collected. The microbiota of feces obtained from both uninfected and infected mice was characterized by targeting the V4 region of the 16S rRNA through the Illumina MiSeq platform. The variations in the total gut microbiota composition were determined based on alpha and beta diversity analyses of 16S rRNA sequencing. The raw sequences from all samples were generated and clustered using ≥ 97% sequence identity into many microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The typical microbiota composition in the gut was dominated by Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level. Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia were considerably decreased after PbA infection compared with the control group (Ctrl), while Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were increased substantially after PbA infection compared with Ctrl. The alpha diversity index showed that the observed OTU number was increased in the PbA group compared with the Ctrl group. Moreover, the discreteness of the beta diversity revealed that the PbA group samples had a higher number of OTUs than the Ctrl group. LEfSe analysis revealed that several potential bacterial biomarkers were clearly related to the PbA-infected mice at the phylogenetic level. Several bacterial genera, such as Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, were overrepresented in the PbA-infected fecal microbiota. Meanwhile, a method similar to gene coexpression network construction was used to generate the OTU co-abundance units. These results indicated that P. berghei ANKA infection could alter the gut microbiota composition of C57BL/6 mice. In addition, potential biomarkers should offer insight into malaria pathogenesis and antimalarial drug and malaria vaccine studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guan
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Shuguo Yang
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Yanqing Zhao
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Weijia Cheng
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Xiaonan Song
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Yi Yao
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Yiting Xie
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Weixing Du
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
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18
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Efunshile AM, Ojide CK, Igwe D, Onyia B, Jokelainen P, Robertson LJ. Mosquito control at a tertiary teaching hospital in Nigeria. Infect Prev Pract 2021; 3:100172. [PMID: 34604733 PMCID: PMC8473772 DOI: 10.1016/j.infpip.2021.100172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquitoes are vectors of numerous diseases, including malaria and yellow fever. Mosquito control is therefore a priority in many countries, especially in healthcare settings. Here we investigated the opinions of patients and staff regarding mosquito control at a hospital in Nigeria, and also gathered data on mosquito-control measures in this setting. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study of staff and patients and an observational approach to obtain data on mosquito-control measures used at a tertiary teaching hospital in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Discussion Both staff (N=517) and patients (N=302) reported experiencing more mosquito bites at the hospital than elsewhere. As well as contributing to discomfort, this exposure may put hospital staff and patients at risk of mosquito-borne infections. Complaints from patients about mosquitoes were reported by over 90% of staff, and over 50% of staff respondents were aware of patient discharge against medical advice due to mosquitoes. The most common control method was killing mosquitoes by hand. We observed a lack of door screens in all wards, window screens were absent or torn, and most beds did not have nets. In the children's wards none of the beds had nets. Conclusions Current measures against mosquitoes in this hospital appeared inadequate, and healthcare staff and hospital patients may be at increased risk of mosquito-borne infections. Mosquito control in the hospital requires attention, and the needs for improvement in mosquito control in the healthcare setting more widely should be evaluated and addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akinwale M Efunshile
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Alex Ekweme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Chiedozie Kingsley Ojide
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Alex Ekweme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Daniel Igwe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Alex Ekweme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Blessing Onyia
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Alex Ekweme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, Copenhagen S, 2300, Denmark
| | - Lucy J Robertson
- Parasitology, Department of Paraclinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO box 5003, Ås, 1432, Norway
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19
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Gupta A, Styczynski MP, Galinski MR, Voit EO, Fonseca LL. Dramatic transcriptomic differences in Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis with Plasmodium knowlesi infections. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19519. [PMID: 34593836 PMCID: PMC8484567 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98024-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi, a model malaria parasite, is responsible for a significant portion of zoonotic malaria cases in Southeast Asia and must be controlled to avoid disease severity and fatalities. However, little is known about the host-parasite interactions and molecular mechanisms in play during the course of P. knowlesi malaria infections, which also may be relevant across Plasmodium species. Here we contrast P. knowlesi sporozoite-initiated infections in Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis using whole blood RNA-sequencing and transcriptomic analysis. These macaque hosts are evolutionarily close, yet malaria-naïve M. mulatta will succumb to blood-stage infection without treatment, whereas malaria-naïve M. fascicularis controls parasitemia without treatment. This comparative analysis reveals transcriptomic differences as early as the liver phase of infection, in the form of signaling pathways that are activated in M. fascicularis, but not M. mulatta. Additionally, while most immune responses are initially similar during the acute stage of the blood infection, significant differences arise subsequently. The observed differences point to prolonged inflammation and anti-inflammatory effects of IL10 in M. mulatta, while M. fascicularis undergoes a transcriptional makeover towards cell proliferation, consistent with its recovery. Together, these findings suggest that timely detection of P. knowlesi in M. fascicularis, coupled with control of inflammation while initiating the replenishment of key cell populations, helps contain the infection. Overall, this study points to specific genes and pathways that could be investigated as a basis for new drug targets that support recovery from acute malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuj Gupta
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mark P Styczynski
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mary R Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eberhard O Voit
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Luis L Fonseca
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Laboratory for Systems Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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20
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Karikari AA, Wruck W, Adjaye J. Transcriptome-based analysis of blood samples reveals elevation of DNA damage response, neutrophil degranulation, cancer and neurodegenerative pathways in Plasmodium falciparum patients. Malar J 2021; 20:383. [PMID: 34565410 PMCID: PMC8474955 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03918-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum results in severe complications including cerebral malaria (CM) especially in children. While the majority of falciparum malaria survivors make a full recovery, there are reports of some patients ending up with neurological sequelae or cognitive deficit. METHODS An analysis of pooled transcriptome data of whole blood samples derived from two studies involving various P. falciparum infections, comprising mild malaria (MM), non-cerebral severe malaria (NCM) and CM was performed. Pathways and gene ontologies (GOs) elevated in the distinct P. falciparum infections were determined. RESULTS In all, 2876 genes were expressed in common between the 3 forms of falciparum malaria, with CM having the least number of expressed genes. In contrast to other research findings, the analysis from this study showed MM share similar biological processes with cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, NCM is associated with drug resistance and glutathione metabolism and CM is correlated with endocannabinoid signalling and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). GO revealed the terms biogenesis, DNA damage response and IL-10 production in MM, down-regulation of cytoskeletal organization and amyloid-beta clearance in NCM and aberrant signalling, neutrophil degranulation and gene repression in CM. Differential gene expression analysis between CM and NCM showed the up-regulation of neutrophil activation and response to herbicides, while regulation of axon diameter was down-regulated in CM. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study reveal that P. falciparum-mediated inflammatory and cellular stress mechanisms may impair brain function in MM, NCM and CM. However, the neurological deficits predominantly reported in CM cases could be attributed to the down-regulation of various genes involved in cellular function through transcriptional repression, axonal dysfunction, dysregulation of signalling pathways and neurodegeneration. It is anticipated that the data from this study, might form the basis for future hypothesis-driven malaria research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akua A. Karikari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Wasco Wruck
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - James Adjaye
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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21
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Wamai RG, Hirsch JL, Van Damme W, Alnwick D, Bailey RC, Hodgins S, Alam U, Anyona M. What Could Explain the Lower COVID-19 Burden in Africa despite Considerable Circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:8638. [PMID: 34444386 PMCID: PMC8391172 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The differential spread and impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), across regions is a major focus for researchers and policy makers. Africa has attracted tremendous attention, due to predictions of catastrophic impacts that have not yet materialized. Early in the pandemic, the seemingly low African case count was largely attributed to low testing and case reporting. However, there is reason to consider that many African countries attenuated the spread and impacts early on. Factors explaining low spread include early government community-wide actions, population distribution, social contacts, and ecology of human habitation. While recent data from seroprevalence studies posit more extensive circulation of the virus, continuing low COVID-19 burden may be explained by the demographic pyramid, prevalence of pre-existing conditions, trained immunity, genetics, and broader sociocultural dynamics. Though all these prongs contribute to the observed profile of COVID-19 in Africa, some provide stronger evidence than others. This review is important to expand what is known about the differential impacts of pandemics, enhancing scientific understanding and gearing appropriate public health responses. Furthermore, it highlights potential lessons to draw from Africa for global health on assumptions regarding deadly viral pandemics, given its long experience with infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G. Wamai
- Department of Cultures, Societies, and Global Studies, Northeastern University, 201 Renaissance Park, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Jason L. Hirsch
- Department of Cultures, Societies, and Global Studies, Northeastern University, 201 Renaissance Park, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Wim Van Damme
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - David Alnwick
- DUNDEX (Deployable U.N.-Experienced Development Experts), FX68 Belturbet, Ireland;
| | - Robert C. Bailey
- School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
| | - Stephen Hodgins
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada;
| | - Uzma Alam
- Researcher Africa Institute for Health Policy Foundation, Nairobi 020, Kenya;
| | - Mamka Anyona
- T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
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Skorokhod O, Barrera V, Mandili G, Costanza F, Valente E, Ulliers D, Schwarzer E. Malaria Pigment Hemozoin Impairs GM-CSF Receptor Expression and Function by 4-Hydroxynonenal. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10081259. [PMID: 34439507 PMCID: PMC8389202 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malarial pigment hemozoin (HZ) generates the lipoperoxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which is known to cause dysregulation of the immune response in malaria. The inhibition of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-dependent differentiation of dendritic cells (DC) by HZ and 4-HNE was previously described in vitro, and the GM-CSF receptor (GM-CSF R) was hypothesised to be a primary target of 4-HNE in monocytes. In this study, we show the functional impact of HZ on GM-CSF R in monocytes and monocyte-derived DC by (i) impairing GM-CSF binding by 50 ± 9% and 65 ± 14%, respectively (n = 3 for both cell types); (ii) decreasing the expression of GM-CSF R functional subunit (CD116) on monocyte’s surface by 36 ± 11% (n = 6) and in cell lysate by 58 ± 16% (n = 3); and (iii) binding of 4-HNE to distinct amino acid residues on CD116. The data suggest that defective DC differentiation in malaria is caused by GM-CSF R dysregulation and GM-CSF R modification by lipoperoxidation product 4-HNE via direct interaction with its CD116 subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksii Skorokhod
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Valentina Barrera
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy; (V.B.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (E.V.); (D.U.); (E.S.)
- National Health System Blood and Transplant, 14 Estuary Banks, Liverpool GB-L24 8RB, UK
| | - Giorgia Mandili
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy; (V.B.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (E.V.); (D.U.); (E.S.)
| | - Federica Costanza
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy; (V.B.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (E.V.); (D.U.); (E.S.)
| | - Elena Valente
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy; (V.B.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (E.V.); (D.U.); (E.S.)
| | - Daniela Ulliers
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy; (V.B.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (E.V.); (D.U.); (E.S.)
| | - Evelin Schwarzer
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy; (V.B.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (E.V.); (D.U.); (E.S.)
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23
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Tounta V, Liu Y, Cheyne A, Larrouy-Maumus G. Metabolomics in infectious diseases and drug discovery. Mol Omics 2021; 17:376-393. [PMID: 34125125 PMCID: PMC8202295 DOI: 10.1039/d1mo00017a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Metabolomics has emerged as an invaluable tool that can be used along with genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics to understand host-pathogen interactions at small-molecule levels. Metabolomics has been used to study a variety of infectious diseases and applications. The most common application of metabolomics is for prognostic and diagnostic purposes, specifically the screening of disease-specific biomarkers by either NMR-based or mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. In addition, metabolomics is of great significance for the discovery of druggable metabolic enzymes and/or metabolic regulators through the use of state-of-the-art flux analysis, for example, via the elucidation of metabolic mechanisms. This review discusses the application of metabolomics technologies to biomarker screening, the discovery of drug targets in infectious diseases such as viral, bacterial and parasite infections and immunometabolomics, highlights the challenges associated with accessing metabolite compartmentalization and discusses the available tools for determining local metabolite concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Tounta
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Yi Liu
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Ashleigh Cheyne
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Gerald Larrouy-Maumus
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College LondonLondonUK
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24
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell N Lefebvre
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - John T Harty
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. .,Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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25
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Abstract
Serology data are an increasingly important tool in malaria surveillance, especially in low transmission settings where the estimation of parasite-based indicators is often problematic. Existing methods rely on the use of thresholds to identify seropositive individuals and estimate transmission intensity, while making assumptions about the temporal dynamics of malaria transmission that are rarely questioned. Here, we present a novel threshold-free approach for the analysis of malaria serology data which avoids dichotomization of continuous antibody measurements and allows us to model changes in the antibody distribution across age in a more flexible way. The proposed unified mechanistic model combines the properties of reversible catalytic and antibody acquisition models, and allows for temporally varying boosting and seroconversion rates. Additionally, as an alternative to the unified mechanistic model, we also propose an empirical approach to analysis where modelling of the age-dependency is informed by the data rather than biological assumptions. Using serology data from Western Kenya, we demonstrate both the usefulness and limitations of the novel modelling framework.
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26
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Lamsfus Calle C, Fendel R, Singh A, Richie TL, Hoffman SL, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B. Expansion of Functional Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Controlled Human Malaria Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:625712. [PMID: 33815377 PMCID: PMC8017236 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.625712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria can cause life-threatening complications which are often associated with inflammatory reactions. More subtle, but also contributing to the burden of disease are chronic, often subclinical infections, which result in conditions like anemia and immunologic hyporesponsiveness. Although very frequent, such infections are difficult to study in endemic regions because of interaction with concurrent infections and immune responses. In particular, knowledge about mechanisms of malaria-induced immunosuppression is scarce. We measured circulating immune cells by cytometry in healthy, malaria-naïve, adult volunteers undergoing controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) with a focus on potentially immunosuppressive cells. Infectious Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites (SPZ) (PfSPZ Challenge) were inoculated during two independent studies to assess malaria vaccine efficacy. Volunteers were followed daily until parasites were detected in the circulation by RT-qPCR. This allowed us to analyze immune responses during pre-patency and at very low parasite densities in malaria-naïve healthy adults. We observed a consistent increase in circulating polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC) in volunteers who developed P. falciparum blood stage parasitemia. The increase was independent of preceding vaccination with a pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine. PMN-MDSC were functional, they suppressed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation as shown by ex-vivo co-cultivation with stimulated T cells. PMN-MDSC reduced T cell proliferation upon stimulation by about 50%. Interestingly, high circulating PMN-MDSC numbers were associated with lymphocytopenia. The number of circulating regulatory T cells (Treg) and monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) showed no significant parasitemia-dependent variation. These results highlight PMN-MDSC in the peripheral circulation as an early indicator of infection during malaria. They suppress CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation in vitro. Their contribution to immunosuppression in vivo in subclinical and uncomplicated malaria will be the subject of further research. Pre-emptive antimalarial pre-treatment of vaccinees to reverse malaria-associated PMN-MDSC immunosuppression could improve vaccine response in exposed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rolf Fendel
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Anurag Singh
- Department of Pediatrics 1, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Clinical and Experimental Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
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27
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Waide ML, Schmidt NW. The gut microbiome, immunity, and Plasmodium severity. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:56-61. [PMID: 33007644 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Malaria continues to pose a severe threat to over half of the world's population each year. With no long-term, effective vaccine available and a growing resistance to antimalarials, there is a need for innovative methods of Plasmodium treatment. Recent evidence has pointed to a role of the composition of the gut microbiota in the severity of Plasmodium infection in both animal models and human studies. Further evidence has shown that the gut microbiota influences the adaptive immune response of the host, the arm of the immune system necessary for Plasmodium clearance, sustained Plasmodium immunity, and vaccine efficacy. Together, this illustrates the future potential of gut microbiota modulation as a novel method of preventing severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan L Waide
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, and Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nathan W Schmidt
- Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, and Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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A Multistage Formulation Based on Full-Length CSP and AMA-1 Ectodomain of Plasmodium vivax Induces High Antibody Titers and T-cells and Partially Protects Mice Challenged with a Transgenic Plasmodium berghei Parasite. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8060916. [PMID: 32560380 PMCID: PMC7356588 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with Plasmodium vivax are predominant in the Americas, representing 75% of malaria cases. Previously perceived as benign, malaria vivax is, in fact, a highly debilitating and economically important disease. Considering the high complexity of the malaria parasite life cycle, it has been hypothesized that an effective vaccine formulation against Plasmodium should contain multiple antigens expressed in different parasite stages. Based on that, we analyzed a recombinant P. vivax vaccine formulation mixing the apical membrane antigen 1 ectodomain (PvAMA-1) and a full-length circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP-AllFL) previously studied by our group, which elicits a potent antibody response in mice. Genetically distinct strains of mice (C57BL/6 and BALB/c) were immunized with the proteins, alone or in combination, in the presence of poly(I:C) adjuvant, a TLR3 agonist. In C57BL/6, high-antibody titers were induced against PvAMA-1 and the three PvCSP variants (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like). Meanwhile, mixing PvAMA-1 with PvCSP-AllFL had no impact on total IgG antibody titers, which were long-lasting. Moreover, antibodies from immunized mice recognized VK210 sporozoites and blood-stage parasites by immunofluorescence assay. However, in the BALB/c model, the antibody response against PvCSP-AllFL was relatively low. PvAMA-1-specific CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T-cell responses were observed in C57BL/6 mice, and the cellular response was impaired by PvCSP-AllFL combination. More relevant, the multistage vaccine formulation provided partial protection in mice challenged with a transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoite expressing the homologous PvCSP protein.
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29
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Uwase J, Chu R, Kassegne K, Lei Y, Shen F, Fu H, Sun Y, Xuan Y, Cao J, Cheng Y. Immunogenicity analysis of conserved fragments in Plasmodium ovale species merozoite surface protein 4. Malar J 2020; 19:126. [PMID: 32228600 PMCID: PMC7106901 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03207-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is an urgent need for an effective vaccine to control and eradicate malaria, one of the most serious global infectious diseases. Plasmodium merozoite surface protein 4 (MSP4) has been listed as a blood-stage subunit vaccine candidate for malaria. Infection with Plasmodium ovale species including P. ovale wallikeri and P. ovale curtisi, is also a source of malaria burden in tropical regions where it is sometimes mixed with other Plasmodium species. However, little is known about P. ovale MSP4. Methods The msp4 gene was amplified through polymerase chain reaction using genomic DNA extracted from blood samples of 46 patients infected with P. ovale spp. and amplified products were sequenced. Open reading frames predicted as immunogenic peptides consisting of 119 and 97 amino acids of P. ovale curtisi MSP4 (PocMSP4) and P. ovale wallikeri MSP4 (PowMSP4), respectively, were selected for protein expression. Recombinant proteins (rPoMSP4) were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, analysed, and immunized in BALB/c mice. The specificity of anti-MSP4-immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies was evaluated by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and cellular immune responses were analysed via lymphocyte proliferation assays. Results Full peptide sequences of PocMSP4 and PowMSP4 were completely conserved in all clinical isolates, except in the epidermal growth factor-like domain at the carboxyl terminus where only one mutation was observed in one P. o. wallikeri isolate. Further, truncated PoMSP4 segments were successfully expressed and purified as ~ 32 kDa proteins. Importantly, high antibody responses with end-point titres ranging from 1:10,000 to 1:2,560,000 in all immunized mouse groups were observed, with high IgG avidity to PocMSP4 (80.5%) and PowMSP4 (92.3%). Furthermore, rPocMSP4 and rPowMSP4 cross-reacted with anti-PowMSP4-specific or anti-PocMSP4-specific antibodies. Additionally, anti-PoMSP4 IgG antibodies showed broad immuno-specificity in reacting against rPoMSP1 and rPoAMA1. Lastly, PocMSP4- and PowMSP4-immunized mice induced cellular immune responses with PocMSP4 (36%) and PowMSP4 cells (15.8%) during splenocyte proliferation assays. Conclusion Findings from this study suggest conservation in PoMSP4 protein sequences and high immunogenicity was observed in rPoMSP4. Furthermore, induction of immune responses in PocMSP4- and PowMSP4-immunized mice informed that both humoral and cellular immune responses play crucial roles for PoMSP4 in protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Uwase
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruilin Chu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Kokouvi Kassegne
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Lei
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Feihu Shen
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Haitian Fu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifan Sun
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinghua Xuan
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Cao
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commision on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Diseases, Wuxi, 214064, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yang Cheng
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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30
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Fan ZG, Li X, Fu HY, Zhou LM, Gong FL, Fang M. Gut Microbiota Reconstruction Following Host Infection with Blood-stage Plasmodium berghei ANKA Strain in a Murine Model. Curr Med Sci 2019; 39:883-889. [PMID: 31845218 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-019-2119-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Malaria remains a global health problem. The relationship between Plasmodium spp. and the gut microbiota as well as the impact of Plasmodium spp. on the gut microbiota in vertebrate hosts is unclear. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of blood-stage Plasmodium parasites on the gut microbiota of mice. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses at three stages. The gut microbiota changed during the three phases: the healthy stage, the infection stage, and the cure stage (on the 9th day after malarial elimination). Moreover, the gut microbiota of these infected animals did not recover after malaria infection. There were 254 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) across all three stages, and there were unique strains or OTUs at each stage of the experiment. The percentages of community abundance of 8 OTUs changed significantly (P<0.05). The dominant OTU in both the healthy mice and the mice with malaria was OTU265, while that in the cured mice was OTU234. In addition, the changes in OTU147 were the most noteworthy. Its percentage of community abundance varied greatly, with higher values during malaria than before malaria infection and after malaria elimination. These results indicated that the external environment influenced the gut microbiota after host C57BL/6 mice were infected with blood-stage P. berghei ANKA and that the same was true during and after elimination of blood-stage P. berghei ANKA. In addition, we could not isolate OTU147 for further study. This study identified gut microbiota components that were reconstructed after infection by and elimination of blood-stage P. berghei ANKA in host C57BL/6 mice, and this process was affected by P. berghei ANKA and the external environment of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Gang Fan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Hai-Yi Fu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Li-Min Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Fei-Li Gong
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Min Fang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Zhang Y, Jiang N, Zhang T, Chen R, Feng Y, Sang X, Yang N, Chen Q. Tim-3 signaling blockade with α-lactose induces compensatory TIGIT expression in Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected mice. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:534. [PMID: 31711531 PMCID: PMC6849286 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3788-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria, one of the largest health burdens worldwide, is caused by Plasmodium spp. infection. Upon infection, the host's immune system begins to clear the parasites. However, Plasmodium species have evolved to escape the host's immune clearance. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3), a surface molecule on most immune cells, is often referred to as an exhaustion marker. Galectin (Gal)-9 is a Tim-3 ligand and the T helper (Th) 1 cell response is inhibited when Gal-9 binds to Tim-3. In the present study, dynamic expression of Tim-3 on key populations of lymphocytes during infection periods of Plasmodium berghei and its significance in disease resistance and pathogenesis were explored. METHODS Tim-3 expression on critical lymphocyte populations and the proportion of these cells, as well as the levels of cytokines in the sera of infected mice, were detected by flow cytometry. Further, in vitro anti-Tim-3 assay using an anti-Tim-3 antibody and in vivo Tim-3-Gal-9 signaling blockade assays using α-lactose (an antagonist of Gal-9) were conducted. An Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit with propidium iodide was used to detect apoptosis. In addition, proteins associated with apoptosis in lung and spleen tissues were confirmed by Western blotting assays. RESULTS Increased Tim-3 expression on splenic CD8+ and splenic CD4+, and circulatory CD4+ T cells was associated with a reduction in the proportion of these cells. Furthermore, the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-22, and interferon (IFN)-γ, but not that of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-10, and IL-9, increased to their highest levels at day 4 post-infection and decreased thereafter. Blocking Tim-3 signaling in vitro inhibited lymphocyte apoptosis. Tim-3-Gal-9 signaling blockade in vivo did not protect the mice, but induced the expression of the immunosuppressive molecule, T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), in Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected mice. CONCLUSIONS Tim-3 on lymphocytes negatively regulates cell-mediated immunity against Plasmodium infection, and blocking Tim-3-galectin 9 signaling using α-lactose did not significantly protect the mice; however, it induced the compensatory expression of TIGIT. Further investigations are required to identify whether combined blockade of Tim-3 and TIGIT signaling could achieve a better protective effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China. .,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China.
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32
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Gómez-López N, Knudson-Ospina RA, López-Páez MC. Aproximación a la relación entre la malaria y la economía de la coca en Guaviare, Colombia, 1979-1989. Rev Salud Publica (Bogota) 2019; 21:243-250. [DOI: 10.15446/rsap.v21n2.80044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objetivo Analizar el comportamiento de la malaria en relación con la economía de lacoca en la región del Guaviare, Colombia entre 1978 y 1989.Métodos Revisión documental retrospectiva, a través del análisis de archivos históricos, entrevistas y fuentes secundarias.Resultados Se identificaron dos periodos de crisis de la bonanza coquera o cocalera durante el tiempo de estudio, con fluctuaciones en el número de habitantes. Al analizar la relación entre las variaciones del precio de la cocaína y los casos de malaria, se encontró que hay un incremento de casos en épocas de crisis.Conclusiones El aumento de casos de malaria en la región posiblemente se deba a que las personas que estaban en las zonas rurales se desplazaron a las cabeceras urbanas, motivadas por la baja producción de la pasta de coca. Esto incrementó la concentración de población susceptible y, por tanto, el aumento de casos, o probablemente existió un aumento en el registro de la enfermedad.
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33
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Ntumngia FB, Pires CV, Barnes SJ, George MT, Thomson-Luque R, Kano FS, Alves JRS, Urusova D, Pereira DB, Tolia NH, King CL, Carvalho LH, Adams JH. An engineered vaccine of the Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein enhances induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13779. [PMID: 29062081 PMCID: PMC5653783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13891-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax invasion into human reticulocytes is a complex process. The Duffy binding protein (DBP) dimerization with its cognate receptor is vital for junction formation in the invasion process. Due to its functional importance, DBP is considered a prime vaccine candidate, but variation in B-cell epitopes at the dimer interface of DBP leads to induction of strain-limited immunity. We believe that the polymorphic residues tend to divert immune responses away from functionally conserved epitopes important for receptor binding or DBP dimerization. As a proof of concept, we engineered the vaccine DEKnull to ablate the dominant Bc epitope to partially overcome strain-specific immune antibody responses. Additional surface engineering on the next generation immunogen, DEKnull-2, provides an immunogenicity breakthrough to conserved protective epitopes. DEKnull-2 elicits a stronger broadly neutralizing response and reactivity with long-term persistent antibody responses of acquired natural immunity. By using novel engineered DBP immunogens, we validate that the prime targets of protective immunity are conformational epitopes at the dimer interface. These successful results indicate a potential approach that can be used generally to improve efficacy of other malaria vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis B Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33612, USA
| | - Camilla V Pires
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, 30190, Brazil
| | - Samantha J Barnes
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33612, USA
| | - Miriam T George
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33612, USA
| | - Richard Thomson-Luque
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33612, USA
| | - Flora S Kano
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, 30190, Brazil
| | - Jessica R S Alves
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, 30190, Brazil
| | - Darya Urusova
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis, and Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, 63130, USA
| | - Dhelio B Pereira
- Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical de Rondonia-CEPEM, Porto Velho, 76812-245, Brazil
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis, and Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, 63130, USA
| | - Christopher L King
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, 44106, USA
| | - Luzia H Carvalho
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, 30190, Brazil
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33612, USA.
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