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Abebe A, Dieng CC, Dugassa S, Abera D, Shenkutie TT, Assefa A, Menard D, Lo E, Golassa L. Genetic differentiation of Plasmodium vivax duffy binding protein in Ethiopia and comparison with other geographical isolates. Malar J 2024; 23:55. [PMID: 38395885 PMCID: PMC10885561 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04887-1] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) is a merozoite surface protein located in the micronemes of P. vivax. The invasion of human reticulocytes by P. vivax merozoites depends on the parasite DBP binding domain engaging Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokine (DARC) on these red blood cells (RBCs). PvDBPII shows high genetic diversity which is a major challenge to its use in the development of a vaccine against vivax malaria. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2021 to September 2022 in five study sites across Ethiopia. A total of 58 blood samples confirmed positive for P. vivax by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were included in the study to determine PvDBPII genetic diversity. PvDBPII were amplified using primers designed from reference sequence of P. vivax Sal I strain. Assembling of sequences was done using Geneious Prime version 2023.2.1. Alignment and phylogenetic tree constructions using MEGA version 10.1.1. Nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity were analysed using DnaSP version 6.12.03, and haplotype network was generated with PopART version 1.7. RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 25 years, 5 (8.6%) participants were Duffy negatives. From the 58 PvDBPII sequences, seven haplotypes based on nucleotide differences at 8 positions were identified. Nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity were 0.00267 ± 0.00023 and 0.731 ± 0.036, respectively. Among the five study sites, the highest numbers of haplotypes were identified in Arbaminch with six different haplotypes while only two haplotypes were identified in Gambella. The phylogenetic tree based on PvDBPII revealed that parasites of different study sites shared similar genetic clusters with few exceptions. Globally, a total of 39 haplotypes were identified from 223 PvDBPII sequences representing different geographical isolates obtained from NCBI archive. The nucleotide and haplotype diversity were 0.00373 and 0.845 ± 0.015, respectively. The haplotype prevalence ranged from 0.45% to 27.3%. Two haplotypes were shared among isolates from all geographical areas of the globe. CONCLUSIONS PvDBPII of the Ethiopian P. vivax isolates showed low nucleotide but high haplotype diversity, this pattern of genetic variability suggests that the population may have undergone a recent expansion. Among the Ethiopian P. vivax isolates, almost half of the sequences were identical to the Sal-I reference sequence. However, there were unique haplotypes observed in the Ethiopian isolates, which does not share with isolates from other geographical areas. There were two haplotypes that were common among populations across the globe. Categorizing population haplotype frequency can help to determine common haplotypes for designing an effective blood-stage vaccine which will have a significant role for the control and elimination of P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abnet Abebe
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 24756, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Cheikh Cambel Dieng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Sisay Dugassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 24756, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Deriba Abera
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 24756, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tassew T Shenkutie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ashenafi Assefa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Global Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Didier Menard
- Malaria Genetics and Resistance Unit, INSERM U1201, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
- Dynamics of Host-Pathogen Interactions, Université de Strasbourg, Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Eugenia Lo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Lemu Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 24756, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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de Assis GMP, de Alvarenga DAM, Souza LBE, Sánchez-Arcila JC, Silva EFE, de Pina-Costa A, Gonçalves GHP, Souza JCDJ, Nunes AJD, Pissinatti A, Moreira SB, Torres LDM, Costa HL, Tinoco HDP, Pereira VDS, Soares IDS, de Sousa TN, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Kano FS, Hirano ZMB, Pratt-Riccio LR, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Ferreira JO, Carvalho LH, Alves de Brito CF. IgM antibody responses against Plasmodium antigens in neotropical primates in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1169552. [PMID: 37829607 PMCID: PMC10565664 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1169552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Zoonotic transmission is a challenge for the control and elimination of malaria. It has been recorded in the Atlantic Forest, outside the Amazon which is the endemic region in Brazil. However, only very few studies have assessed the antibody response, especially of IgM antibodies, in Neotropical primates (NP). Therefore, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the immune response in different hosts and facilitate the identification of potential reservoirs, in this study, naturally acquired IgM antibody responses against Plasmodium antigens were evaluated, for the first time, in NP from the Atlantic Forest. Methods The study was carried out using 154 NP samples from three different areas of the Atlantic Forest. IgM antibodies against peptides of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) from different Plasmodium species and different erythrocytic stage antigens were detected by ELISA. Results Fifty-nine percent of NP had IgM antibodies against at least one CSP peptide and 87% against at least one Plasmodium vivax erythrocytic stage antigen. Levels of antibodies against PvAMA-1 were the highest compared to the other antigens. All families of NP showed IgM antibodies against CSP peptides, and, most strikingly, against erythrocytic stage antigens. Generalized linear models demonstrated that IgM positivity against PvCSP and PvAMA-1 was associated with PCR-detectable blood-stage malaria infection and the host being free-living. Interestingly, animals with IgM against both PvCSP and PvAMA-1 were 4.7 times more likely to be PCR positive than animals that did not have IgM for these two antigens simultaneously. Discussion IgM antibodies against different Plasmodium spp. antigens are present in NP from the Atlantic Forest. High seroprevalence and antibody levels against blood-stage antigens were observed, which had a significant association with molecular evidence of infection. IgM antibodies against CSP and AMA-1 may be used as a potential marker for the identification of NP infected with Plasmodium, which are reservoirs of malaria in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Maíra Pereira de Assis
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Luisa Braga e Souza
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Juan Camilo Sánchez-Arcila
- School of Natural Sciences, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
| | | | - Anielle de Pina-Costa
- Laboratório de Doenças Febris Agudas, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa, Departamento de Doenças infecciosas e Parasitárias, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ana Julia Dutra Nunes
- Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Blumenau, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Biológicas de Indaial, Indaial, Brazil
- Programa de conservação do Bugio Ruivo, Perini Business Park, Joinville, Brazil
| | - Alcides Pissinatti
- Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro (CPRJ), Instituto Estadual do Ambiente (INEA), Guapimirim, Brazil
- Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos (Unifeso), Teresópolis, Brazil
| | - Silvia Bahadian Moreira
- Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro (CPRJ), Instituto Estadual do Ambiente (INEA), Guapimirim, Brazil
| | - Leticia de Menezes Torres
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Helena Lott Costa
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Irene da Silva Soares
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taís Nóbrega de Sousa
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Francis Babila Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Flora Satiko Kano
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Zelinda Maria Braga Hirano
- Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Blumenau, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Biológicas de Indaial, Indaial, Brazil
- Programa de conservação do Bugio Ruivo, Perini Business Park, Joinville, Brazil
| | - Lilian Rose Pratt-Riccio
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseli Oliveira Ferreira
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luzia Helena Carvalho
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Dias MHF, Guimarães LFF, Barcelos MG, Moreira EUM, do Nascimento MFA, de Souza TN, Pires CV, Monteiro TAF, Middeldorp JM, Soares IS, Fontes CJF, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Kano FS, Carvalho LH. Impact of Epstein-Barr virus co-infection on natural acquired Plasmodium vivax antibody response. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010305. [PMID: 35921373 PMCID: PMC9377613 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
The simultaneous infection of Plasmodium falciparum and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could promote the development of the aggressive endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma (eBL) in children living in P. falciparum holoendemic areas. While it is well-established that eBL is not related to other human malaria parasites, the impact of EBV infection on the generation of human malaria immunity remains largely unexplored. Considering that this highly prevalent herpesvirus establishes a lifelong persistent infection on B-cells with possible influence on malaria immunity, we hypothesized that EBV co-infection could have impact on the naturally acquired antibody responses to P. vivax, the most widespread human malaria parasite.
Methodology/Principal findings
The study design involved three cross-sectional surveys at six-month intervals (baseline, 6 and 12 months) among long-term P. vivax exposed individuals living in the Amazon rainforest. The approach focused on a group of malaria-exposed individuals whose EBV-DNA (amplification of balf-5 gene) was persistently detected in the peripheral blood (PersVDNA, n = 27), and an age-matched malaria-exposed group whose EBV-DNA could never be detected during the follow-up (NegVDNA, n = 29). During the follow-up period, the serological detection of EBV antibodies to lytic/ latent viral antigens showed that IgG antibodies to viral capsid antigen (VCA-p18) were significantly different between groups (PersVDNA > NegVDNA). A panel of blood-stage P. vivax antigens covering a wide range of immunogenicity confirmed that in general PersVDNA group showed low levels of antibodies as compared with NegVDNA. Interestingly, more significant differences were observed to a novel DBPII immunogen, named DEKnull-2, which has been associated with long-term neutralizing antibody response. Differences between groups were less pronounced with blood-stage antigens (such as MSP1-19) whose levels can fluctuate according to malaria transmission.
Conclusions/Significance
In a proof-of-concept study we provide evidence that a persistent detection of EBV-DNA in peripheral blood of adults in a P. vivax semi-immune population may impact the long-term immune response to major malaria vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Taís N. de Souza
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camilla V. Pires
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Talita A. F. Monteiro
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde (IEC/SVS/MS), Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Jaap M. Middeldorp
- Department of Pathology, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Irene S. Soares
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cor J. F. Fontes
- Julio Müller School Hospital, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Francis B. Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Flora S. Kano
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luzia H. Carvalho
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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4
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Lima BAS, Fernandes GM, Torres LM, Pires CV, Alves JRS, Moreira-Nascimento SL, Nascimento MFA, Afonso SL, Costa HL, Cerávolo IP, Sousa TN, Soares IS, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Carvalho LH, Kano FS. Antibody response to a new member of the DBL family (EBP2) after a brief Plasmodium vivax exposure. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010493. [PMID: 35714097 PMCID: PMC9205486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax blood-stage invasion into reticulocyte is critical for parasite development. Thus, validation of novel parasite invasion ligands is essential for malaria vaccine development. Recently, we demonstrated that EBP2, a Duffy binding protein (DBP) paralog, is antigenically distinct from DBP and could not be functionally inhibited by anti-DBP antibodies. Here, we took advantage of a small outbreak of P.vivax malaria, located in a non-malarious area of Brazil, to investigate for the first time IgM/IgG antibodies against EBP2 and DEKnull-2 (an engineering DBPII vaccine) among individuals who had their first and brief exposure to P.vivax (16 cases and 22 non-cases). Our experimental approach included 4 cross sectional surveys at 3-month interval (12-month follow-up). The results demonstrated that while a brief initial P.vivax infection was not efficient to induce IgM/ IgG antibodies to either EBP2 or DEKnull-2, IgG antibodies against DEKnull-2 (but not EBP2) were boosted by recurrent blood-stage infections following treatment. Of interest, in most recurrent P. vivax infections (4 out of 6 patients) DEKnull-2 IgG antibodies were sustained for 6 to 12 months. Polymorphisms in the ebp2 gene does not seem to explain EBP2 low immunogenicity as the ebp2 allele associated with the P.vivax outbreak presented high identity to the original EBP2 isolate used as recombinant protein. Although EBP2 antibodies were barely detectable after a primary episode of P.vivax infection, EBP2 was highly recognized by serum IgG from long-term malaria-exposed Amazonians (range from 35 to 92% according to previous malaria episodes). Taken together, the results showed that individuals with a single and brief exposure to P.vivax infection develop very low anti-EBP2 antibodies, which tend to increase after long-term malaria exposure. Finally, the findings highlighted the potential of DEKnull-2 as a vaccine candidate, as in non-immune individuals anti-DEKnull-2 IgG antibodies were boosted even after a brief exposure to P.vivax blood stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara A. S. Lima
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gabriela M. Fernandes
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Letícia M. Torres
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camilla V. Pires
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jéssica R. S. Alves
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sâmick L. Moreira-Nascimento
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Fernanda A. Nascimento
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sofia L. Afonso
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Helena L. Costa
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Isabela P. Cerávolo
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tais N. Sousa
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Irene S. Soares
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francis B. Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Luzia H. Carvalho
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Flora S. Kano
- Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Alves JRS, de Araújo FF, Pires CV, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Lima BAS, Torres LM, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Kano FS, Carvalho LH. Multiplexed Microsphere-Based Flow Cytometric Assay to Assess Strain Transcending Antibodies to Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein II Reveals an Efficient Tool to Identify Binding-Inhibitory Antibody Responders. Front Immunol 2021; 12:704653. [PMID: 34675915 PMCID: PMC8523986 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.704653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide, and Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed malaria parasite. Naturally acquired binding inhibitory antibodies (BIAbs) to region II of the Duffy binding protein (DBPII), a P. vivax ligand that is critical for reticulocyte invasion, are associated with a reduced risk of clinical malaria. Owing to methodological issues in evaluating antibodies that inhibit the DBPII-DARC interaction, a limited number of studies have investigated DBPII BIAbs in P. vivax-exposed populations. Based on the assumption that individuals with a consistent BIAb response are characterized by strain-transcending immune responses, we hypothesized that detecting broadly reactive DBPII antibodies would indicate the presence of BIAb response. By taking advantage of an engineered DBPII immunogen targeting conserved DBPII neutralizing epitopes (DEKnull-2), we standardized a multiplex flow cytometry-based serological assay to detect broadly neutralizing IgG antibodies. For this study, a standard in vitro cytoadherence assay with COS-7 cells expressing DBPII was used to test for DBPII BIAb response in long-term P. vivax-exposed Amazonian individuals. Taken together, the results demonstrate that this DBPII-based multiplex assay facilitates identifying DBPII BIAb carriers. Of relevance, the ability of the multiplex assay to identify BIAb responders was highly accurate when the positivity for all antigens was considered. In conclusion, the standardized DBPII-based flow cytometric assay confirmed that DBPII-BIAb activity was associated with the breadth rather than the magnitude of anti-DBPII antibodies. Altogether, our results suggest that multiplex detection of broadly DBPII-reactive antibodies facilitates preliminary screening of BIAb responders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica R. S. Alves
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fernanda F. de Araújo
- Integrated Research Group in Biomarkers, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Camilla V. Pires
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- Integrated Research Group in Biomarkers, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Barbara A. S. Lima
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Letícia M. Torres
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Francis B. Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Flora S. Kano
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Luzia H. Carvalho
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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de Assis GMP, de Alvarenga DAM, Costa Pereira MDO, Sánchez-Arcila JC, de Pina Costa A, de Souza Junior JC, Nunes AJD, Pissinatti A, Moreira SB, de Menezes Torres L, Costa HL, da Penha Tinoco H, Pereira VDS, Soares IDS, de Sousa TN, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Kano FS, Hirano ZMB, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Oliveira Ferreira J, Carvalho LH, Alves de Brito CF. Profiling Humoral Immune Response Against Pre-Erythrocytic and Erythrocytic Antigens of Malaria Parasites Among Neotropical Primates in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:678996. [PMID: 34055672 PMCID: PMC8155606 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.678996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human malaria due to zoonotic transmission has been recorded in the Atlantic Forest, an extra-Amazonian area in Brazil, which are a challenge for malaria control. Naturally acquired humoral immune response against pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic antigens of Neotropical primates (NP) was evaluated here to improve the knowledge about the exposure of those animals to the malaria transmission and support the identification of the potential reservoirs of the disease in the Atlantic Forest. Blood samples of 154 monkeys from three areas of the Atlantic Forest were used to identify IgG antibodies against peptides of the repeat region of the major pre-erythrocytic antigen, the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), of Plasmodium vivax (PvCSP), Plasmodium brasilianum/Plasmodium malariae (Pb/PmCSP), and Plasmodium falciparum (PfCSP) by ELISA. Antibodies against erythrocytic recombinant antigens of P. vivax, Apical membrane antigen 1 (PvAMA-1), Erythrocyte binding protein 2 (PvEBP-2) and domain II of Duffy binding protein (PvDBPII) were also evaluated. Parameters, such as age, sex, PCR positivity, and captivity, potentially associated with humoral immune response were analyzed. Eighty-five percent of NP had antibodies against at least one CSP peptide, and 76% against at least one P. vivax erythrocytic antigen. A high percentage of adults compared to non-adults were seropositive and showed increased antibody levels. Neotropical primates with PCR positive for P. simium had a significantly higher frequency of positivity rate for immune response against PvEBP-2, PvDBPII and also higher antibody levels against PvDBPII, compared to PCR negative NPs for this species. Monkeys with PCR positive for P. brasilianum/P. malariae showed higher frequency of seropositivity and antibody levels against Pb/PmCSP. Levels of antibodies against Pb/PmCSP, PvEBP-2 and PvDBPII were higher in free-living than in captive monkeys from the same area. All Platyrrhine families showed antibodies against CSP peptides, however not all showed IgG against erythrocytic antigens. These findings showed a high prevalence of naturally acquired antibodies against CSP repeats in all studied areas, suggesting an intense exposure to infected-mosquitoes bites of NP from all families. However, mainly monkeys of Atelidae family showed antibodies against P. vivax erythrocytic antigens, suggesting blood infection, which might serve as potential reservoirs of malaria in the Atlantic Forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Maíra Pereira de Assis
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Anielle de Pina Costa
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Ambulatório de Doenças febris, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia (INI), Ambulatório de Doenças Febris Agudas Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos (UNIFESO), Teresópolis, Brazil
| | - Júlio César de Souza Junior
- Centro de Pesquisas Biológicas de Indaial, Indaial, Brazil
- Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Blumenau, Brazil
| | - Ana Julia Dutra Nunes
- Centro de Pesquisas Biológicas de Indaial, Indaial, Brazil
- Programa de conservação do Bugio Ruivo, Joinville, Brazil
| | - Alcides Pissinatti
- Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos (UNIFESO), Teresópolis, Brazil
- Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro (CPRJ), Instituto Estadual do Ambiente (INEA), Guapimirim, Brazil
| | - Silvia Bahadian Moreira
- Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro (CPRJ), Instituto Estadual do Ambiente (INEA), Guapimirim, Brazil
| | - Leticia de Menezes Torres
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Helena Lott Costa
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Irene da Silva Soares
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taís Nóbrega de Sousa
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Francis Babila Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Flora Satiko Kano
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Zelinda Maria Braga Hirano
- Centro de Pesquisas Biológicas de Indaial, Indaial, Brazil
- Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Blumenau, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, IOC/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseli Oliveira Ferreira
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luzia Helena Carvalho
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da malária, Instituto René Rachou/Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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7
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Medeiros CMP, Moreira EUM, Pires CV, Torres LM, Guimarães LFF, Alves JRS, Lima BAS, Fontes CJF, Costa HL, Brito CFA, Sousa TN, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Kano FS, Carvalho LH. Dynamics of IgM and IgG responses to the next generation of engineered Duffy binding protein II immunogen: Strain-specific and strain-transcending immune responses over a nine-year period. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232786. [PMID: 32379804 PMCID: PMC7205269 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A low proportion of P. vivax-exposed individuals acquire protective strain-transcending neutralizing IgG antibodies that are able to block the interaction between the Duffy binding protein II (DBPII) and its erythrocyte-specific invasion receptor. In a recent study, a novel surface-engineered DBPII-based vaccine termed DEKnull-2, whose antibody response target conserved DBPII epitopes, was able to induce broadly binding-inhibitory IgG antibodies (BIAbs) that inhibit P. vivax reticulocyte invasion. Toward the development of DEKnull-2 as an effective P. vivax blood-stage vaccine, we investigate the relationship between naturally acquired DBPII-specific IgM response and the profile of IgG antibodies/BIAbs activity over time. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A nine-year follow-up study was carried-out among long-term P. vivax-exposed Amazonian individuals and included six cross-sectional surveys at periods of high and low malaria transmission. DBPII immune responses associated with either strain-specific (Sal1, natural DBPII variant circulating in the study area) or conserved epitopes (DEKnull-2) were monitored by conventional serology (ELISA-detected IgM and IgG antibodies), with IgG BIAbs activity evaluated by functional assays (in vitro inhibition of DBPII-erythrocyte binding). The results showed a tendency of IgM antibodies toward Sal1-specific response; the profile of Sal1 over DEKnull-2 was not associated with acute malaria and sustained throughout the observation period. The low malaria incidence in two consecutive years allowed us to demonstrate that variant-specific IgG (but not IgM) antibodies waned over time, which resulted in IgG skewed to the DEKnull-2 response. A persistent DBPII-specific IgM response was not associated with the presence (or absence) of broadly neutralizing IgG antibody response. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The current study demonstrates that long-term exposure to low and unstable levels of P. vivax transmission led to a sustained DBPII-specific IgM response against variant-specific epitopes, while sustained IgG responses are skewed to conserved epitopes. Further studies should investigate on the role of a stable and persistent IgM antibody response in the immune response mediated by DBPII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila M. P. Medeiros
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Camilla V. Pires
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Letícia M. Torres
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Bárbara A. S. Lima
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Cor J. F. Fontes
- Hospital Júlio Muller, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Helena L. Costa
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Tais N. Sousa
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Francis B. Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Flora S. Kano
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LHC); (FSK)
| | - Luzia H. Carvalho
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LHC); (FSK)
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8
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Novel Insights into Plasmodium vivax Therapeutic Failure: CYP2D6 Activity and Time of Exposure to Malaria Modulate the Risk of Recurrence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02056-19. [PMID: 32122891 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02056-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax relapse is one of the major causes of sustained global malaria transmission. Primaquine (PQ) is the only commercial drug available to prevent relapses, and its efficacy is dependent on metabolic activation by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Impaired CYP2D6 function, caused by allelic polymorphisms, leads to the therapeutic failure of PQ as a radical cure for P. vivax malaria. Here, we hypothesized that the host immune response to malaria parasites modulates susceptibility to P. vivax recurrences in association with CYP2D6 activity. We performed a 10-year retrospective study by genotyping CYP2D6 polymorphisms in 261 malaria-exposed individuals from the Brazilian Amazon. The immune responses against a panel of P. vivax blood-stage antigens were evaluated by serological assays. We confirmed our previous findings, which indicated an association between impaired CYP2D6 activity and a higher risk of multiple episodes of P. vivax recurrence (risk ratio, 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 2.6; P = 0.0035). An important finding was a reduction of 3% in the risk of recurrence (risk ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96 to 0.98; P < 0.0001) per year of malaria exposure, which was observed for individuals with both reduced and normal CYP2D6 activity. Accordingly, subjects with long-term malaria exposure and persistent antibody responses to various antigens showed fewer episodes of malaria recurrence. Our findings have direct implications for malaria control, since it was shown that nonimmune individuals who do not respond adequately to treatment due to reduced CYP2D6 activity may present a significant challenge for sustainable progress toward P. vivax malaria elimination.
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9
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Gnidehou S, Mitran CJ, Arango E, Banman S, Mena A, Medawar E, Lima BAS, Doritchamou J, Rajwani J, Jin A, Gavina K, Ntumngia F, Duffy P, Narum D, Ndam NT, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Kano FS, Carvalho LH, Adams JH, Maestre A, Good MF, Yanow SK. Cross-Species Immune Recognition Between Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein Antibodies and the Plasmodium falciparum Surface Antigen VAR2CSA. J Infect Dis 2019; 219:110-120. [PMID: 30534974 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum parasites express the surface antigen VAR2CSA, which mediates adherence of red blood cells to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) in the placenta. VAR2CSA antibodies are generally acquired during infection in pregnancy and are associated with protection from placental malaria. We observed previously that men and children in Colombia also had antibodies to VAR2CSA, but the origin of these antibodies was unknown. Here, we tested whether infection with Plasmodium vivax is an alternative mechanism of acquisition of VAR2CSA antibodies. Methods We analyzed sera from nonpregnant Colombians and Brazilians exposed to P. vivax and monoclonal antibodies raised against P. vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP). Cross-reactivity to VAR2CSA was characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence assay, and flow cytometry, and antibodies were tested for inhibition of parasite binding to CSA. Results Over 50% of individuals had antibodies that recognized VAR2CSA. Affinity-purified PvDBP human antibodies and a PvDBP monoclonal antibody recognized VAR2CSA, showing that PvDBP can give rise to cross-reactive antibodies. Importantly, the monoclonal antibody inhibited parasite binding to CSA, which is the primary in vitro correlate of protection from placental malaria. Conclusions These data suggest that PvDBP induces antibodies that functionally recognize VAR2CSA, revealing a novel mechanism of cross-species immune recognition to falciparum malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sédami Gnidehou
- Department of Biology, Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - Eliana Arango
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad, Facultad de Medicina, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Shanna Banman
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Angie Mena
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Evelyn Medawar
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - Justin Doritchamou
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Jahanara Rajwani
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Albert Jin
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Kenneth Gavina
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - Patrick Duffy
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, Maryland
| | - David Narum
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, Maryland
| | | | - Morten A Nielsen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Center for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Center for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Amanda Maestre
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad, Facultad de Medicina, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Michael F Good
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Stephanie K Yanow
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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10
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Matos ADS, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Soares IF, Baptista BDO, de Souza RM, Bitencourt-Chaves L, Totino PRR, Sánchez-Arcila JC, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, López-Camacho C, Reyes-Sandoval A, Pratt-Riccio LR, Lima-Junior JDC. Antibody Responses Against Plasmodium vivax TRAP Recombinant and Synthetic Antigens in Naturally Exposed Individuals From the Brazilian Amazon. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2230. [PMID: 31620136 PMCID: PMC6763564 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) is essential for sporozoite motility and the invasion of mosquitoes' salivary gland and vertebrate's hepatocyte and is, thus, considered a promising pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate. Despite the existence of a few reports on naturally acquired immune response against Plasmodium vivax TRAP (PvTRAP), it has never been explored so far in the Amazon region, so results are conflicting. Here, we characterized the (IgG and IgG subclass) antibody reactivity against recombinant PvTRAP in a cross-sectional study of 299 individuals exposed to malaria infection in three municipalities (Cruzeiro do Sul, Mâncio Lima and Guajará) from the Acre state of the Brazilian Amazon. In addition, the full PvTRAP sequence was screened for B-cell epitopes using in silico and in vitro approaches. Firstly, we confirmed that PvTRAP is naturally immunogenic in the cohort population since 49% of the individuals were IgG-responders to it. The observed immune responses were mainly driven by cytophilic IgG1 over all other sublcasses and the IgG levels that was corelated with age and time of residence in the studied area (p < 0.05). Interestingly, only the levels of specific anti-TRAP IgG3 seemed to be associated with protection, as IgG3 responders presented a significantly higher time elapse since the last malaria episode than those recorded for IgG3 non-responders. Regarding the B-cell epitope mapping, among the 148 responders to PvTRAP, four predicted epitopes were confirmed by recognition of antibodies (PvTRAPR197-H227; PvTRAPE237-T258; PvTRAPP344-G374; and PvTRAPE439-K454). Nevertheless, the frequency of responders against these peptides were low and did not show a clear correlation with the antibody response against the corresponding antigen. Moreover, none of the linear confirmed epitopes were located in the binding regions of PvTRAP in respect to the host cell ligand. Collectively, our data confirm the PvTRAP immunogenicity among Amazon inhabitants, while suggesting that the main important B-cell epitopes are not linear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada da Silva Matos
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Lana Bitencourt-Chaves
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Juan Camilo Sánchez-Arcila
- Viral Immunology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - César López-Camacho
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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11
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Antibodies to Cryptic Epitopes in Distant Homologues Underpin a Mechanism of Heterologous Immunity between Plasmodium vivax PvDBP and Plasmodium falciparum VAR2CSA. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.02343-19. [PMID: 31594821 PMCID: PMC6786876 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02343-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, we describe a molecular mechanism of heterologous immunity between two distant species of Plasmodium. Our results suggest a mechanism that subverts the classic parasite strategy of presenting highly polymorphic epitopes in surface antigens to evade immunity to that parasite. This alternative immune pathway can be exploited to protect pregnant women from falciparum placental malaria by designing vaccines to cryptic epitopes that elicit broadly inhibitory antibodies against variant parasite strains. Many pathogens evolve extensive genetic variation in virulence proteins as a strategy to evade host immunity. This poses a significant challenge for the host to develop broadly neutralizing antibodies. In Plasmodium falciparum, we show that a mechanism to circumvent this challenge is to elicit antibodies to cryptic epitopes that are not under immune pressure. We previously discovered that antibodies to the Plasmodium vivax invasion protein, PvDBP, cross-react with P. falciparum VAR2CSA, a distantly related virulence factor that mediates placental malaria. Here, we describe the molecular mechanism underlying this cross-species immunity. We identified an epitope in subdomain 1 (SD1) within the Duffy binding-like (DBL) domain of PvDBP that gives rise to cross-reactive antibodies to VAR2CSA and show that human antibodies affinity purified against a synthetic SD1 peptide block parasite adhesion to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) in vitro. The epitope in SD1 is subdominant and highly conserved in PvDBP, and in turn, SD1 antibodies target cryptic epitopes in P. falciparum VAR2CSA. The epitopes in VAR2CSA recognized by vivax-derived SD1 antibodies (of human and mouse origin) are distinct from those recognized by VAR2CSA immune serum. We mapped two peptides in the DBL5ε domain of VAR2CSA that are recognized by SD1 antibodies. Both peptides map to regions outside the immunodominant sites, and antibodies to these peptides are not elicited following immunization with VAR2CSA or natural infection with P. falciparum in pregnancy, consistent with the cryptic nature of these target epitopes.
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12
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Amaral LC, Robortella DR, Guimarães LFF, Limongi JE, Fontes CJF, Pereira DB, de Brito CFA, Kano FS, de Sousa TN, Carvalho LH. Ribosomal and non-ribosomal PCR targets for the detection of low-density and mixed malaria infections. Malar J 2019; 18:154. [PMID: 31039781 PMCID: PMC6492410 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2781-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The unexpected high proportion of submicroscopic malaria infections in areas with low transmission intensity challenges the control and elimination of malaria in the Americas. The current PCR-based assays present limitations as most protocols still rely on amplification of few-copies target gene. Here, the hypothesis was that amplification of different plasmodial targets—ribosomal (18S rRNA) and non-ribosomal multi-copy sequences (Pvr47 for Plasmodium vivax and Pfr364 for Plasmodium falciparum)—could increase the chances of detecting submicroscopic malaria infection. Methods A non-ribosomal real-time PCR assay targeting Pvr47/Pfr364 (NR-qPCR) was established and compared with three additional PCR protocols, two of them based on 18S rRNA gene amplification (Nested-PCR and R-qPCR) and one based on Pvr47/Pfr364 targets (NR-cPCR). The limit of detection of each PCR protocol, at single and artificial mixed P. vivax/P. falciparum infections, was determined by end-point titration curves. Field samples from clinical (n = 110) and subclinical (n = 324) malaria infections were used to evaluate the impact of using multiple molecular targets to detect malaria infections. Results The results demonstrated that an association of ribosomal and non-ribosomal targets did not increase sensitivity to detect submicroscopic malaria infections. Despite of that, artificial mixed-malaria infections demonstrated that the NR-qPCR was the most sensitive protocol to detect low-levels of P. vivax/P. falciparum co-infections. Field studies confirmed that submicroscopic malaria represented a large proportion (up to 77%) of infections among asymptomatic Amazonian residents, with a high proportion of infections (~ 20%) identified only by the NR-qPCR. Conclusions This study presents a new species-specific non-ribosomal PCR assay with potential to identify low-density P. vivax and P. falciparum infections. As the majority of subclinical infections was caused by P. vivax, the commonest form of malaria in the Amazon area, future studies should investigate the potential of Pvr47/Pfr364 to detect mixed-malaria infections in the field. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-019-2781-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Cotta Amaral
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ-MINAS, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniela Rocha Robortella
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ-MINAS, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Dhelio Batista Pereira
- Centro de Pesquisas em Medicina Tropical de Rondônia (CEPEM), Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | | | - Flora Satiko Kano
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ-MINAS, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Taís Nóbrega de Sousa
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ-MINAS, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Luzia Helena Carvalho
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ-MINAS, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. .,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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13
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Pires CV, Alves JRS, Lima BAS, Paula RB, Costa HL, Torres LM, Sousa TN, Soares IS, Sanchez BAM, Fontes CJF, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Kano FS, Carvalho LH. Blood-stage Plasmodium vivax antibody dynamics in a low transmission setting: A nine year follow-up study in the Amazon region. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207244. [PMID: 30419071 PMCID: PMC6231651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax remains a global health problem and its ability to cause relapses and subpatent infections challenge control and elimination strategies. Even in low malaria transmission settings, such as the Amazon basin, where progress in malaria control has caused a remarkable reduction in case incidence, a recent increase in P. vivax transmission demonstrates the continued vulnerability of P.vivax-exposed populations. As part of a search for complementary approaches to P.vivax surveillance in areas in which adults are the majority of the exposed-population, here we evaluated the potential of serological markers covering a wide range of immunogenicity to estimate malaria transmission trends. For this, antibodies against leading P. vivax blood-stage vaccine candidates were assessed during a 9 year follow-up study among adults exposed to unstable malaria transmission in the Amazon rainforest. Circulating antibody levels against immunogenic P. vivax proteins, such as the Apical Membrane Antigen-1, were a sensitive measure of recent P. vivax exposure, while antibodies against less immunogenic proteins were indicative of naturally-acquired immunity, including the novel engineered Duffy binding protein II immunogen (DEKnull-2). Our results suggest that the robustness of serology to estimate trends in P.vivax malaria transmission will depend on the immunological background of the study population, and that for adult populations exposed to unstable P.vivax malaria transmission, the local heterogeneity of antibody responses should be considered when considering use of serological surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla V. Pires
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ruth B. Paula
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Helena L. Costa
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Taís N. Sousa
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Irene S. Soares
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno A. M. Sanchez
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Campus Sinop, Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Cor J. F. Fontes
- Hospital Júlio Muller, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Francis B. Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Flora S. Kano
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LHC); (FSK)
| | - Luzia H. Carvalho
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LHC); (FSK)
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14
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Kano FS, de Souza AM, de Menezes Torres L, Costa MA, Souza-Silva FA, Sanchez BAM, Fontes CJF, Soares IS, de Brito CFA, Carvalho LH, Sousa TN. Susceptibility to Plasmodium vivax malaria associated with DARC (Duffy antigen) polymorphisms is influenced by the time of exposure to malaria. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13851. [PMID: 30218021 PMCID: PMC6138695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32254-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria has provided a major selective pressure and has modulated the genetic diversity of the human genome. The variants of the Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) gene have probably been selected by malaria parasites, particularly the FY*O allele, which is fixed in sub-Saharan Africa and confers resistance to Plasmodium vivax infection. Here, we showed the influence of genomic ancestry on the distribution of DARC genotypes in a highly admixed Brazilian population and confirmed the decreased susceptibility of the FY*A/FY*O genotype to clinical P. vivax malaria. FY*B/FY*O individuals were associated with a greater risk of developing clinical malaria. A remarkable difference among DARC variants concerning the susceptibility to clinical malaria was more evident for individuals who were less exposed to malaria, as measured by the time of residence in the endemic area. Additionally, we found that DARC-negative and FY*A/FY*O individuals had a greater chance of acquiring high levels of antibodies against the 19-kDa C-terminal region of the P. vivax merozoite surface protein-1. Altogether, our results provide evidence that DARC polymorphisms modulate the susceptibility to clinical P. vivax malaria and influence the naturally-acquired humoral immune response to malaria blood antigens, which may interfere with the efficacy of a future vaccine against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Satiko Kano
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Aracele Maria de Souza
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leticia de Menezes Torres
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Azevedo Costa
- Departamento de Engenharia de Produção, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Flávia Alessandra Souza-Silva
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Irene Silva Soares
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristiana Ferreira Alves de Brito
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luzia Helena Carvalho
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tais Nobrega Sousa
- Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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15
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Nyunt MH, Soe TN, Shein T, Zaw NN, Han SS, Muh F, Lee SK, Han JH, Park JH, Ha KS, Park WS, Hong SH, Kyaw MP, Han ET. Estimation on local transmission of malaria by serological approach under low transmission setting in Myanmar. Malar J 2018; 17:6. [PMID: 29304809 PMCID: PMC5755288 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2170-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the prevalence of the malaria has been decreasing in many endemic countries including Myanmar, malaria elimination in Greater Mekong Region was targeted not later than 2030. The relevance of molecular and serological tools to identify residual transmission remains to be established in this setting. Methods One-year cohort study was conducted and sera samples were collected in every 3 months with active and passive case detection for clinical malaria episodes by RDT, microscopy and molecular method. The sera were used to detect the malaria antibody against PfMSP1-19, PvAMA1, PvDBPII and PvMSP1-19 by protein microarray. Results Among the recruited 1182 participants, there was no RDT positive case for malaria infection although two vivax infections were detected by microscopy in initial collection. Molecular methods detected the asymptomatic cases of 28/1182 (2.37%) in first, 5/894 (0.42%) in second, 12/944 (1.02%) in third, 6/889 (0.51%) in fourth collection, respectively. Seropositivity rates against the PfMSP1-19, PvMSP1-19, PvAMA1 and PvDBPII were 73/270 (27.0%), 85/270 (31.5%), 65/270 (24.1%) and 160/270 (59.3%), respectively. PfMSP1-19 and PvMSP1-19 showed high and stable antigenicity in acute and subacute samples but declining in 1-year history samples. No cross reactivity of PfMSP1-19 and PvMSP1-19 between the two species and higher seropositivity among the asymptomatic carriers were observed. Mapping data indicated serological surveillance can detect the geographical pattern of malaria infection under low transmission setting. Conclusions These findings support that PfMSP1-19 and PvMSP1-19 are suggested for serosurveillance of the malaria especially in low transmission setting for further necessary actions have to be carried out to eliminate the malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myat Htut Nyunt
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Myanmar
| | | | | | - Ni Ni Zaw
- Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Soe Soe Han
- Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Fauzi Muh
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Kyun Lee
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Park
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon-Soo Ha
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Sun Park
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Ho Hong
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon national University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
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Folegatti PM, Siqueira AM, Monteiro WM, Lacerda MVG, Drakeley CJ, Braga ÉM. A systematic review on malaria sero-epidemiology studies in the Brazilian Amazon: insights into immunological markers for exposure and protection. Malar J 2017; 16:107. [PMID: 28270152 PMCID: PMC5341168 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1762-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Considerable success in reducing malaria incidence and mortality has been achieved in Brazil, leading to discussions over the possibility of moving towards elimination. However, more than reporting and counting clinical cases, elimination will require the use of efficient tools and strategies for measuring transmission dynamics and detecting the infectious reservoir as the primary indicators of interest for surveillance and evaluation. Because acquisition and maintenance of anti-malarial antibodies depend on parasite exposure, seroprevalence rates could be used as a reliable tool for assessing malaria endemicity and an adjunct measure for monitoring transmission in a rapid and cost-effective manner. Methods This systematic review synthesizes the existing literature on seroprevalence of malaria in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Different study designs (cross-sectional surveys and longitudinal studies) with reported serological results in well-defined Brazilian populations were considered. Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE and LILACS databases were screened and the articles were included per established selection criteria. Data extraction was performed by two authors and a modified critical appraisal tool was applied to assess the quality and completeness of cross-sectional studies regarding defined variables of interest. Results From 220 single records identified, 23 studies were included in this systematic review for the qualitative synthesis. Five studies reported serology results on Plasmodium falciparum, 14 papers assessed Plasmodium vivax and four articles reported results on both Plasmodium species. Considerable heterogeneity among the evaluated malarial antigens, including sporozoite and blood stage antigens, was observed. The majority of recent studies analysed IgG responses against P. vivax antigens reflecting the species distribution pattern in Brazil over the last decades. Most of the published papers were cross-sectional surveys (73.9%) and only six cohort studies were included in this review. Three studies pointed to an association between antibodies against circumsporozoite protein of both P. falciparum and P. vivax and malaria exposure. Furthermore, five out 13 cross-sectional studies evidenced a positive association between IgG antibodies to the conserved 19-kDa C-terminal region of the merozoite surface protein 1 of P. vivax (PvMSP119) and malaria exposure. Conclusions This systematic review identifies potential biomarkers of P. falciparum and P. vivax exposure in areas with variable and unstable malaria transmission in Brazil. However, this study highlights the need for standardization of further studies to provide an ideal monitoring tool to evaluate trends in malaria transmission and the effectiveness of malaria intervention programmes in Brazil. Moreover, the score-based weighted tool developed and used in this study still requires further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Folegatti
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - André M Siqueira
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Wuelton M Monteiro
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.,Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinícius G Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.,Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Chris J Drakeley
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Érika M Braga
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. .,Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
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17
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The Presence, Persistence and Functional Properties of Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein II Antibodies Are Influenced by HLA Class II Allelic Variants. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005177. [PMID: 27959918 PMCID: PMC5154503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax infects red blood cells through a key pathway that requires interaction between Duffy binding protein II (DBPII) and its receptor on reticulocytes, the Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC). A high proportion of P. vivax-exposed individuals fail to develop antibodies that inhibit DBPII-DARC interaction, and genetic factors that modulate this humoral immune response are poorly characterized. Here, we investigate if DBPII responsiveness could be HLA class II-linked. Methodology/Principal Findings A community-based open cohort study was carried out in an agricultural settlement of the Brazilian Amazon, in which 336 unrelated volunteers were genotyped for HLA class II (DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 loci), and their DBPII immune responses were monitored over time (baseline, 6 and 12 months) by conventional serology (DBPII IgG ELISA-detected) and functional assays (inhibition of DBPII–erythrocyte binding). The results demonstrated an increased susceptibility of the DRB1*13:01 carriers to develop and sustain an anti-DBPII IgG response, while individuals with the haplotype DRB1*14:02-DQA1*05:03-DQB1*03:01 were persistent non-responders. HLA class II gene polymorphisms also influenced the functional properties of DBPII antibodies (BIAbs, binding inhibitory antibodies), with three alleles (DRB1*07:01, DQA1*02:01 and DQB1*02:02) comprising a single haplotype linked with the presence and persistence of the BIAbs response. Modelling the structural effects of the HLA-DRB1 variants revealed a number of differences in the peptide-binding groove, which is likely to lead to altered antigen binding and presentation profiles, and hence may explain the differences in subject responses. Conclusions/Significance The current study confirms the heritability of the DBPII antibody response, with genetic variation in HLA class II genes influencing both the development and persistence of IgG antibody responses. Cellular studies to increase knowledge of the binding affinities of DBPII peptides for class II molecules linked with good or poor antibody responses might lead to the development of strategies for controlling the type of helper T cells activated in response to DBPII. Vaccines are a crucial component of the current efforts to eliminate malaria, and much of the vaccine-related research on P. vivax has been focused on the Duffy binding protein II (DBPII), a ligand for human blood stage infection. A high proportion of individuals who are naturally exposed to P. vivax fail to develop neutralizing antibodies, but the host genetic factors modulating this immune response are poorly characterized. We investigated whether DBPII responsiveness was dependent on the variability of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II cell surface proteins involved in the regulation of immune responses. To obtain a reliable estimate of DBPII antibodies, we carried out a longitudinal study, collecting serum from the same individuals over a period of 12-months. The results confirmed the heritability of the DBPII immune response, with genetic variation in HLA class II genes influencing both the development and persistence of the antibody response. HLA class II genotype also influenced the ability of DBPII antibodies to block the ligand-receptor interaction in vitro. Computational approaches identified structural specificity between HLA variants, which we propose as an explanation for differences between a good or poor antibody responder. These results may have implications for vaccine development, and might lead to strategies for controlling the type of immune response activated in response to DBPII.
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18
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Sepúlveda N, Morais CG, Mourão LC, Freire MF, Fontes CJF, Lacerda MVG, Drakeley CJ, Braga ÉM. Allele-specific antibodies to Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1: prevalence and inverse relationship to haemoglobin levels during infection. Malar J 2016; 15:559. [PMID: 27852258 PMCID: PMC5112628 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1612-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antigenic polymorphisms are considered as one of the main strategies employed by malaria parasites to escape from the host immune responses after infections. Merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) of Plasmodium vivax, a promising vaccine candidate, is a highly polymorphic protein whose immune recognition is not well understood. Methods and results The IgG responses to conserved (MSP-119) and polymorphic (block 2 and block 10) epitopes of PvMSP-1 were evaluated in 141 P. vivax infected patients. Ten recombinant proteins corresponding to block 2 (variants BR07, BP29, BP39, BP30, BEL) and block 10 (BR07, BP29, BP39, BP01, BP13) often observed in Brazilian P. vivax isolates were assessed by ELISA in order to determine levels of specific antibodies and their respective seroprevalence. The magnitude and the frequency of variant-specific responses were very low, except for BR07 variant (>40%), which was the predominant haplotype as revealed by block 10 PvMSP-1 gene sequencing. By contrast, 89% of patients had IgG against the C-terminal conserved domain (PvMSP-119), confirming the high antigenicity of this protein. Using multiple linear and logistic regression models, there was evidence for a negative association between levels of haemoglobin and several IgG antibodies against block 2 variant antigens, with the strongest association being observed for BP39 allelic version. This variant was also found to increase the odds of anaemia in these patients. Conclusions These findings may have implications for vaccine development and represent an important step towards a better understanding of the polymorphic PvMSP-1 domain as potential targets of vaccine development. These data highlight the importance of extending the study of these polymorphic epitopes of PvMSP-1 to different epidemiological settings. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1612-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Beeson JG, Drew DR, Boyle MJ, Feng G, Fowkes FJI, Richards JS. Merozoite surface proteins in red blood cell invasion, immunity and vaccines against malaria. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 40:343-72. [PMID: 26833236 PMCID: PMC4852283 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria accounts for an enormous burden of disease globally, with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for the majority of malaria, and P. vivax being a second important cause, especially in Asia, the Americas and the Pacific. During infection with Plasmodium spp., the merozoite form of the parasite invades red blood cells and replicates inside them. It is during the blood-stage of infection that malaria disease occurs and, therefore, understanding merozoite invasion, host immune responses to merozoite surface antigens, and targeting merozoite surface proteins and invasion ligands by novel vaccines and therapeutics have been important areas of research. Merozoite invasion involves multiple interactions and events, and substantial processing of merozoite surface proteins occurs before, during and after invasion. The merozoite surface is highly complex, presenting a multitude of antigens to the immune system. This complexity has proved challenging to our efforts to understand merozoite invasion and malaria immunity, and to developing merozoite antigens as malaria vaccines. In recent years, there has been major progress in this field, and several merozoite surface proteins show strong potential as malaria vaccines. Our current knowledge on this topic is reviewed, highlighting recent advances and research priorities. The authors summarize current knowledge of merozoite surface proteins of malaria parasites; their function in invasion, processing of surface proteins before, during and after invasion, their importance as targets of immunity, and the current status of malaria vaccines that target merozoite surface proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Damien R Drew
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle J Boyle
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gaoqian Feng
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Freya J I Fowkes
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jack S Richards
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract
SUMMARYPlasmodium vivaxis the most geographically widespread of the malaria parasites causing human disease, yet it is comparatively understudied compared withPlasmodium falciparum.In this article we review what is known about naturally acquired immunity toP. vivax, and importantly, how this differs to that acquired againstP. falciparum.Immunity to clinicalP. vivaxinfection is acquired more quickly than toP. falciparum, and evidence suggests humans in endemic areas also have a greater capacity to mount a successful immunological memory response to this pathogen. Both of these factors give promise to the idea of a successfulP. vivaxvaccine. We review what is known about both the cellular and humoral immune response, including the role of cytokines, antibodies, immunoregulation, immune memory and immune dysfunction. Furthermore, we discuss where the future lies in terms of advancing our understanding of naturally acquired immunity toP. vivax, through the use of well-designed longitudinal epidemiological studies and modern tools available to immunologists.
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A systematic review of sub-microscopic Plasmodium vivax infection. Malar J 2015; 14:360. [PMID: 26390924 PMCID: PMC4578340 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0884-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background An accurate estimate of Plasmodiumvivax prevalence is essential for the successful implementation of malaria control and elimination programmes. Prevalence estimates both inform control strategies and are used in their evaluation. Light microscopy is the main method for detecting Plasmodium parasitaemia in the peripheral blood, but compared to molecular diagnostics, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), has limited sensitivity. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effect of detection method on the prevalence of P.vivax and to quantify the extent to which P. vivax infections are undetected by microscopy. Embase, Medline and the Cochrane Database were searched for studies reporting prevalence by PCR and by microscopy and that contained all of the following key words: vivax, PCR, and malaria. Prevalence estimates and study meta-data were extracted systematically from each publication. Combined microscopy:PCR prevalence ratios were estimated by random effects meta-analysis. Sensitivity and specificity of microscopy were calculated using PCR as the gold standard. Results Of 874 studies reviewed, 40 met the criteria for inclusion contributing 54 prevalence pairs. The prevalence of P.vivax infection measured by PCR was consistently higher than the prevalence measured by microscopy with sub-patent parasitaemia. The mean prevalence of infection detected by microscopy was 67 % (95 % CI 59–73 %) lower than the prevalence detected by PCR. The detection of sub-patent parasitaemia did not vary according to the microscopy method (thick or, thick and thin smears), the PCR prevalence (as a measure of the true P.vivax prevalence), the type of blood used or DNA extraction method. Conclusions Quantifying P. vivax parasitaemia by PCR rather than microscopy consistently increased prevalence estimates by a factor of 2.3. Whilst the sensitivity of microscopy can be improved by better methods, molecular methods have potential to be scaled up to improve the detection of P. vivax transmission reservoirs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0884-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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22
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Cutts JC, Powell R, Agius PA, Beeson JG, Simpson JA, Fowkes FJI. Immunological markers of Plasmodium vivax exposure and immunity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med 2014; 12:150. [PMID: 25199532 PMCID: PMC4172944 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-014-0150-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying Plasmodium vivax antigen-specific antibodies associated with P. vivax infection and protective immunity is key to the development of serosurveillance tools and vaccines for malaria. Antibody targets of P. vivax can be identified by seroepidemiological studies of individuals living in P. vivax-endemic areas, and is an important strategy given the limited ability to culture P. vivax in vitro. There have been numerous studies investigating the association between P. vivax antibody responses and P. vivax infection, but there has been no standardization of results to enable comparisons across populations. METHODS We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of population-based, cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies of individuals living in P. vivax-endemic areas. We searched 6 databases and identified 18 studies that met predefined inclusion and quality criteria, and examined the association between antibody responses to P. vivax antigens and P. vivax malaria. RESULTS The majority of studies were published in South America (all from Brazil) and the rest from geographically diverse areas in the Asia-Pacific region. Considerable heterogeneity in estimates was observed, but IgG responses to PvCSP, PvMSP-119, PvMSP-9RIRII, and PvAMA1 were associated with increased odds of P. vivax infection in geographically diverse populations. Potential sources of heterogeneity included study design, different transmission intensities and transmigrant populations. Protective associations were observed for antibodies to PvMSP-119, PvMSP-1NT, PvMSP-3α and PvMSP-9NT antigens, but only in single geographical locations. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review revealed several antigen-specific antibodies that were associated with active infection and protective immunity, which may be useful biomarkers. However, more studies are needed on additional antigens, particularly cohort studies to increase the body of evidence for protective immunity. More studies representing diverse geographical regions encompassing varying P. vivax endemicities are needed to validate the generalizability of the findings and to provide a solid evidence base for the use of P. vivax antigens in vaccines and serosurveillance tools.
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Costa DC, da Cunha VP, de Assis GMP, de Souza Junior JC, Hirano ZMB, de Arruda ME, Kano FS, Carvalho LH, de Brito CFA. Plasmodium simium/Plasmodium vivax infections in southern brown howler monkeys from the Atlantic Forest. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 109:641-53. [PMID: 25099335 PMCID: PMC4156457 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood infection by the simian parasite, Plasmodium simium, was
identified in captive (n = 45, 4.4%) and in wild Alouatta clamitans
monkeys (n = 20, 35%) from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. A single malaria
infection was symptomatic and the monkey presented clinical and haematological
alterations. A high frequency of Plasmodium vivax-specific
antibodies was detected among these monkeys, with 87% of the monkeys testing positive
against P. vivax antigens. These findings highlight the possibility
of malaria as a zoonosis in the remaining Atlantic Forest and its impact on the
epidemiology of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Camargos Costa
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Flora Satiko Kano
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Luzia Helena Carvalho
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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de Sousa TN, Kano FS, de Brito CFA, Carvalho LH. The Duffy binding protein as a key target for a Plasmodium vivax vaccine: lessons from the Brazilian Amazon. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 109:608-17. [PMID: 25185002 PMCID: PMC4156454 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax infects human erythrocytes through a major pathway that requires interaction between an apical parasite protein, the Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) and its receptor on reticulocytes, the Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC). The importance of the interaction between PvDBP (region II, DBPII) and DARC to P. vivax infection has motivated our malaria research group at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil) to conduct a number of immunoepidemiological studies to characterise the naturally acquired immunity to PvDBP in populations living in the Amazon rainforest. In this review, we provide an update on the immunology and molecular epidemiology of PvDBP in the Brazilian Amazon - an area of markedly unstable malaria transmission - and compare it with data from other parts of Latin America, as well as Asia and Oceania.
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Barry AE, Arnott A. Strategies for designing and monitoring malaria vaccines targeting diverse antigens. Front Immunol 2014; 5:359. [PMID: 25120545 PMCID: PMC4112938 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
After more than 50 years of intensive research and development, only one malaria vaccine candidate, “RTS,S,” has progressed to Phase 3 clinical trials. Despite only partial efficacy, this candidate is now forecast to become the first licensed malaria vaccine. Hence, more efficacious second-generation malaria vaccines that can significantly reduce transmission are urgently needed. This review will focus on a major obstacle hindering development of effective malaria vaccines: parasite antigenic diversity. Despite extensive genetic diversity in leading candidate antigens, vaccines have been and continue to be formulated using recombinant antigens representing only one or two strains. These vaccine strains represent only a small fraction of the diversity circulating in natural parasite populations, leading to escape of non-vaccine strains and challenging investigators’ abilities to measure strain-specific efficacy in vaccine trials. Novel strategies are needed to overcome antigenic diversity in order for vaccine development to succeed. Many studies have now cataloged the global diversity of leading Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax vaccine antigens. In this review, we describe how population genetic approaches can be applied to this rich data source to predict the alleles that best represent antigenic diversity, polymorphisms that contribute to it, and to identify key polymorphisms associated with antigenic escape. We also suggest an approach to summarize the known global diversity of a given antigen to predict antigenic diversity, how to select variants that best represent the strains circulating in natural parasite populations and how to investigate the strain-specific efficacy of vaccine trials. Use of these strategies in the design and monitoring of vaccine trials will not only shed light on the contribution of genetic diversity to the antigenic diversity of malaria, but will also maximize the potential of future malaria vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa E Barry
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville, VIC , Australia ; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, VIC , Australia
| | - Alicia Arnott
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville, VIC , Australia ; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, VIC , Australia
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Souza-Silva FA, Torres LM, Santos-Alves JR, Tang ML, Sanchez BAM, Sousa TN, Fontes CJF, Nogueira PA, Rocha RS, Brito CFA, Adams JH, Kano FS, Carvalho LH. Duffy antigen receptor for chemokine (DARC) polymorphisms and its involvement in acquisition of inhibitory anti-duffy binding protein II (DBPII) immunity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93782. [PMID: 24710306 PMCID: PMC3977910 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) and its erythrocytic receptor, the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC), are involved in the major P. vivax erythrocyte invasion pathway. An open cohort study to analyze DARC genotypes and their relationship to PvDBP immune responses was carried out in 620 volunteers in an agricultural settlement of the Brazilian Amazon. Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted at 6-month intervals, comprising 395, 410, and 407 subjects, respectively. The incidence rates of P. vivax infection was 2.32 malaria episodes per 100 person-months under survey (95% confidence interval [CI] of 1.92-2.80/100 person-month) and, of P. falciparum, 0.04 per 100 person-months (95% CI of 0.007-0.14/100 person-month). The distribution of DARC genotypes was consistent with the heterogeneous ethnic origins of the Amazon population, with a predominance of non-silent DARC alleles: FY*A > FY*B. The 12-month follow-up study demonstrated no association between DARC genotypes and total IgG antibodies as measured by ELISA targeting PvDBP (region II, DBPII or regions II-IV, DBPII-IV). The naturally acquired DBPII specific binding inhibitory antibodies (BIAbs) tended to be more frequent in heterozygous individuals carrying a DARC-silent allele (FY*BES). These results provide evidence that DARC polymorphisms may influence the naturally acquired inhibitory anti-Duffy binding protein II immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia A. Souza-Silva
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Letícia M. Torres
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Jessica R. Santos-Alves
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Michaelis Loren Tang
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Tais N. Sousa
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Cor J. F. Fontes
- Julio Müller University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Paulo A. Nogueira
- Centro de Pesquisas Leônidas & Maria Deane, FIOCRUZ Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Roberto S. Rocha
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Cristiana F. A. Brito
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - John H. Adams
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Flora S. Kano
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Luzia H. Carvalho
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
- * E-mail:
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