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Askonas C, Storm J, Camarda G, Craig A, Pain A. Transcriptional responses of brain endothelium to Plasmodium falciparum patient-derived isolates in vitro. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0072724. [PMID: 38864616 PMCID: PMC11218514 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00727-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of cerebral malaria (CM) is sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IE) within the brain microvasculature. Binding of IE to endothelium reduces microvascular flow and, combined with an inflammatory response, perturbs endothelial barrier function, resulting in breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Cytoadherence leads to activation of the endothelium and alters a range of cell processes affecting signaling pathways, receptor expression, coagulation, and disruption of BBB integrity. Here, we investigated whether CM-derived parasites elicit differential effects on human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), as compared to uncomplicated malaria (UM)-derived parasites. Patient-derived IE from UM and CM clinical cases, as well as non-binding skeleton-binding protein 1 knockout parasites, were overlaid onto tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-activated HBMECs. Gene expression analysis of endothelial responses was performed using probe-based assays of a panel of genes involved in inflammation, apoptosis, endothelial barrier function, and prostacyclin synthesis pathway. We observed a significant effect on endothelial transcriptional responses in the presence of IE, yet there was no significant correlation between HBMEC responses and type of clinical syndrome (UM or CM). Furthermore, there was no correlation between HBMEC gene expression and both binding itself and level of IE binding to HBMECs, as we detected the same change in endothelial responses when employing both binding and non-binding parasites. Our results suggest that interaction of IE with endothelial cells in this co-culture model induces some endothelial responses that are independent of clinical origin and independent of the expression of the major variant antigen Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 on the IE surface. IMPORTANCE Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most prevalent and deadly complication of severe Plasmodium falciparum infection. A hallmark of this disease is sequestration of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IE) in brain microvasculature that ultimately results in breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Here, we compared the effect of P. falciparum parasites derived from uncomplicated malaria (UM) and CM cases on the relative gene expression of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) for a panel of genes. We observed a significant effect on the endothelial transcriptional response in the presence of IE, yet there is no significant correlation between HBMEC responses and the type of clinical syndrome (UM or CM). Furthermore, there was no correlation between HBMEC gene expression and both binding itself and the level of IE binding to HBMECs. Our results suggest that interaction of IE with endothelial cells induces endothelial responses that are independent of clinical origin and not entirely driven by surface Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Askonas
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Janet Storm
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Grazia Camarda
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Alister Craig
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Dai Y, Liang Y, Liu C, Liu T, Chen L, Li Y. Can artemisinin and its derivatives treat malaria in a host-directed manner? Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 225:116260. [PMID: 38705539 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116260] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is caused by an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, Plasmodium, and is transmitted through vectors. It remains a substantial health burden, especially in developing countries, leading to significant socioeconomic losses. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved various antimalarial medications in the past two decades, the increasing resistance to these medications has worsened the situation. The development of drug resistance stems from genetic diversity among Plasmodium strains, impeding eradication efforts. Consequently, exploring innovative technologies and strategies for developing effective medications based on the host is crucial. Artemisinin and its derivatives (artemisinins) have been recommended by the WHO for treating malaria owing to their known effectiveness in killing the parasite. However, their potential to target the host for malaria treatment has not been investigated. This article concisely reviews the application of host-directed therapeutics, potential drug candidates targeting the host for treating malaria, and usage of artemisinins in numerous diseases. It underscores the importance of host-directed interventions for individuals susceptible to malaria, suggests the potential utility of artemisinins in host-directed malaria treatments, and posits that the modulation of host proteins with artemisinins may offer a means of intervening in host-parasite interactions. Further studies focusing on the host-targeting perspective of artemisinins can provide new insights into the mechanisms of artemisinin resistance and offer a unique opportunity for new antimalarial drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Dai
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Chengcheng Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Tuo Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Lina Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Yujie Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
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Balerdi-Sarasola L, Muñoz J, Fleitas P, Rodriguez-Valero N, Almuedo-Riera A, Antequera A, Subirà C, Grafia-Perez I, Ortiz-Fernández M, de Alba T, Álvarez-Martínez MJ, Valls ME, Parolo C, Castro P, Camprubí-Ferrer D. Not all severe malaria cases are severe: Is it time to redefine severity criteria for malaria in non-endemic regions? Travel Med Infect Dis 2024; 60:102740. [PMID: 39002737 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2024.102740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current definition of severe malaria in non-endemic areas follows WHO criteria, which mainly target children in malaria-endemic areas, potentially misclassifying cases in non-endemic regions. We assessed the performance of a modified severe malaria classification criteria within our patient cohort. METHODS A cohort study of patients managed for malaria in a non-endemic setting (2005-2023) was analyzed. We classified patients into severe malaria (SM) using WHO 2013 criteria except for hyperparasitemia, where 2 % threshold was applied. Patients with SM were distinguished as very severe malaria (VSM) when presenting at least one of the following conditions: parasitemia >10 %, pulmonary edema, impaired consciousness, seizures, renal failure, metabolic acidosis or hyperlactatemia, shock or hypoglycemia. In patients with SM and no criteria for VSM, less severe malaria (LSM) was defined by: 2-10 % parasitemia, hyperbilirubinemia, prostration, anemia or minor bleeding. The primary composite outcome was death or the need for a life-saving intervention, as analyzed in the three comparative groups. Secondary outcome was the prevalence of co-infections. RESULTS Among 506 patients with malaria, 176 (34.8 %) presented with SM. A total of 37 (7.3 %) patients developed a life-threatening condition, namely death (n = 4) and/or the need for life-saving interventions (n = 34). All fatalities and 33 out of the 34 life-saving interventions occurred in the VSM group. Patients in LSM group did not develop any life-threatening conditions. As to co-infections, 28 (5.5 %) patients had a community-acquired co-infection, with no differences between groups (p = 0.763). CONCLUSIONS Severity criteria definitions would benefit from a review when assessing patients with malaria in non-endemic areas. Within the spectrum of SM, patients reclassified as LSM have a low risk of developing a life-threatening condition and present low co-infection incidence and could benefit from management out of intensive care units and a restrictive use of empirical antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leire Balerdi-Sarasola
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jose Muñoz
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Natalia Rodriguez-Valero
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Almuedo-Riera
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Antequera
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Subirà
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Grafia-Perez
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapies in Solid Tumors, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Tessa de Alba
- International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam J Álvarez-Martínez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Microbiology Department, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Eugenia Valls
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudio Parolo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Castro
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Camprubí-Ferrer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; International Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
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Taylor TE. Murine model captures evolution of edema in experimental cerebral malaria. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:544-545. [PMID: 38797655 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
A complex series of studies by Oelschlegel et al. in a murine model of cerebral malaria establishes a temporal sequence of events linking decreased venous efflux to impaired perfusion, edema, and neuroinflammation. The relevance to human cerebral malaria is discussed, including the heterogeneity recognized in recent investigations of cerebrovascular hemodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terrie E Taylor
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
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Pêgo AC, Lima IS, Martins AC, Sá-Pereira I, Martins G, Gozzelino R. Infection vs. Reinfection: The Immunomodulation of Erythropoiesis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6153. [PMID: 38892340 PMCID: PMC11172545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe malarial anemia (SMA) increases the morbidity and mortality of Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria. SMA is mainly developed by children and pregnant women in response to the infection. It is characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis caused by impaired erythropoietin (EPO) signaling. To gain new insights into the pathogenesis of SMA, we investigated the relationship between the immune system and erythropoiesis, conducting comparative analyses in a mouse model of malaria. Red blood cell (RBC) production was evaluated in infected and reinfected animals to mimic endemic occurrences. Higher levels of circulating EPO were observed in response to (re)infection. Despite no major differences in bone marrow erythropoiesis, compensatory mechanisms of splenic RBC production were significantly reduced in reinfected mice. Concomitantly, a pronounced immune response activation was observed in erythropoietic organs of reinfected animals in relation to single-infected mice. Aged mice were also used to mimic the occurrence of malaria in the elderly. The increase in symptom severity was correlated with the enhanced activation of the immune system, which significantly impaired erythropoiesis. Immunocompromised mice further support the existence of an immune-shaping regulation of RBC production. Overall, our data reveal the strict correlation between erythropoiesis and immune cells, which ultimately dictates the severity of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Raffaella Gozzelino
- NOVA Medical School Research, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1150-082 Lisbon, Portugal
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6
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Xing SY, Zhang HT, Wang LM, Lu HZ, Peng ZY, Liu M, Li CX, Deng SQ. Examining the paradox: increased malaria risk in children under 5 in female-headed households in Nigeria. Malar J 2024; 23:171. [PMID: 38816783 PMCID: PMC11140880 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04997-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nigeria is facing a severe malaria crisis, accounting for a significant proportion of global cases and deaths of malaria. This study aimed to investigate the differences between female-headed households (FHHs) and male-headed households (MHHs) and their impact on malaria risk among children under five (U5) in Nigeria. METHODS Data from the 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) were used for this cross-sectional study. A representative sample of 10,988 households was analysed, with key variables subjected to frequency calculations, descriptive statistics, and bivariate analyses using t-tests and chi-square analyses to compare the differences between FHHs and MHHs. RESULTS Among all participants, 92.1% (N = 10,126) reported residing in male-headed households, while 7.8% (N = 862) reported living in female-headed households. MHHs were significantly more likely to own insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) than FHHs (64.7% vs. 53.6%, P < 0.001). U5 children in MHHs had a greater likelihood of sleeping under a bed net the night before the survey than U5 children in FHHs (35.3% vs. 30.0%, P < 0.05). The prevalence of fever in the previous two weeks among U5 children was similar in MHHs and FHHs (35.4% vs. 31.4%), and the testing rates for malaria among U5 children who experienced febrile episodes were higher in MHHs than FHHs (22.4% vs. 15.4%, P < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, FHHs exhibited a higher percentage of U5 children testing positive for malaria compared to MHHs (87.8% vs. 78.9%). On the other hand, FHHs had higher education levels, overall wealth index scores, and a larger presence in urban areas compared to MHHs (P < 0.001). Moreover, FHHs reported higher adherence to malaria prevention awareness (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION In Nigeria, FHHs enjoy relatively better socioeconomic conditions and stronger awareness of malaria prevention compared to their male-headed counterparts. Contrary to expectations, FHHs are at an increased risk of malaria in children under 5 years old. This phenomenon is associated with entrenched gender inequality and the challenges women face in accessing critical assets. As women in FHHs bear the responsibility of income generation while caring for their children, it is crucial to prioritize interventions that address malaria management in FHHs to reduce both malaria incidence and mortality rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yu Xing
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Hai-Ting Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Lin-Min Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Hong-Zheng Lu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Zhe-Yu Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Chun-Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Sheng-Qun Deng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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Charneau S, de Oliveira LS, Zenonos Z, Hopp CS, Bastos IMD, Loew D, Lombard B, Pandolfo Silveira A, de Carvalho Nardeli Basílio Lobo G, Bao SN, Grellier P, Rayner JC. APEX2-based proximity proteomic analysis identifies candidate interactors for Plasmodium falciparum knob-associated histidine-rich protein in infected erythrocytes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11242. [PMID: 38755230 PMCID: PMC11099048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61295-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The interaction of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) with the vascular endothelium plays a crucial role in malaria pathology and disease. KAHRP is an exported P. falciparum protein involved in iRBC remodelling, which is essential for the formation of protrusions or "knobs" on the iRBC surface. These knobs and the proteins that are concentrated within them allow the parasites to escape the immune response and host spleen clearance by mediating cytoadherence of the iRBC to the endothelial wall, but this also slows down blood circulation, leading in some cases to severe cerebral and placental complications. In this work, we have applied genetic and biochemical tools to identify proteins that interact with P. falciparum KAHRP using enhanced ascorbate peroxidase 2 (APEX2) proximity-dependent biotinylation and label-free shotgun proteomics. A total of 30 potential KAHRP-interacting candidates were identified, based on the assigned fragmented biotinylated ions. Several identified proteins have been previously reported to be part of the Maurer's clefts and knobs, where KAHRP resides. This study may contribute to a broader understanding of P. falciparum protein trafficking and knob architecture and shows for the first time the feasibility of using APEX2-proximity labelling in iRBCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Silva de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
- UMR 7245 MCAM Molecules of Communication and Adaptation of Microorganisms, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Zenon Zenonos
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZenecaGranta Park, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christine S Hopp
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Izabela M D Bastos
- Laboratory of Host Pathogen Interaction, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Damarys Loew
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, PSL Research University, CurieCoreTech Mass Spectrometry Proteomics, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Bérangère Lombard
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, PSL Research University, CurieCoreTech Mass Spectrometry Proteomics, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Ariane Pandolfo Silveira
- Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | | | - Sônia Nair Bao
- Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Philippe Grellier
- UMR 7245 MCAM Molecules of Communication and Adaptation of Microorganisms, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK
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Feineis D, Bringmann G. Structural variety and pharmacological potential of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids. THE ALKALOIDS. CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY 2024; 91:1-410. [PMID: 38811064 DOI: 10.1016/bs.alkal.2024.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids are a fascinating class of natural biaryl compounds. They show characteristic mono- and dimeric scaffolds, with chiral axes and stereogenic centers. Since the appearance of the last comprehensive overview on these secondary plant metabolites in this series in 1995, the number of discovered representatives has tremendously increased to more than 280 examples known today. Many novel-type compounds have meanwhile been discovered, among them naphthylisoquinoline-related follow-up products like e.g., the first seco-type (i.e., ring-opened) and ring-contracted analogues. As highlighted in this review, the knowledge on the broad structural chemodiversity of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids has been decisively driven forward by extensive phytochemical studies on the metabolite pattern of Ancistrocladus abbreviatus from Coastal West Africa, which is a particularly "creative" plant. These investigations furnished a considerable number of more than 80-mostly new-natural products from this single species, with promising antiplasmodial activities and with pronounced cytotoxic effects against human leukemia, pancreatic, cervical, and breast cancer cells. Another unique feature of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids is their unprecedented biosynthetic origin from polyketidic precursors and not, as usual for isoquinoline alkaloids, from aromatic amino acids-a striking example of biosynthetic convergence in nature. Furthermore, remarkable botanical results are presented on the natural producers of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, the paleotropical Dioncophyllaceae and Ancistrocladaceae lianas, including first investigations on the chemoecological role of these plant metabolites and their storage and accumulation in particular plant organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Feineis
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Bringmann
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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9
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Wang Y, Shen Y, Liang J, Wang S, Huang Y, Zhu Q, Zhang X, Yu K, Tong G, Yang C, Li Y, Wang J, Zhao Y. Neurons upregulate PD-L1 via IFN/STAT1/IRF1 to alleviate damage by CD8 + T cells in cerebral malaria. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:119. [PMID: 38715061 PMCID: PMC11077882 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03114-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most lethal complication of malaria, and survivors usually endure neurological sequelae. Notably, the cytotoxic effect of infiltrating Plasmodium-activated CD8+ T cells on cerebral microvasculature endothelial cells is a prominent feature of the experimental CM (ECM) model with blood-brain barrier disruption. However, the damage effect of CD8+ T cells infiltrating the brain parenchyma on neurons remains unclear. Based on the immunosuppressive effect of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway on T cells, our previous study demonstrated that the systemic upregulation of PD-L1 to inhibit CD8+ T cell function could effectively alleviate the symptoms of ECM mice. However, it has not been reported whether neurons can suppress the pathogenic effect of CD8+ T cells through the PD-1/PD-L1 negative immunomodulatory pathway. As the important inflammatory factor of CM, interferons can induce the expression of PD-L1 via different molecular mechanisms according to the neuro-immune microenvironment. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the direct interaction between CD8+ T cells and neurons, as well as the mechanism of neurons to alleviate the pathogenic effect of CD8+ T cells through up-regulating PD-L1 induced by IFNs. METHODS Using the ECM model of C57BL/6J mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA), morphological observations were conducted in vivo by electron microscope and IF staining. The interaction between the ECM CD8+ T cells (immune magnetic bead sorting from spleen of ECM mice) and primary cultured cortical neurons in vitro was observed by IF staining and time-lapse photography. RNA-seq was performed to analyze the signaling pathway of PD-L1 upregulation in neurons induced by IFNβ or IFNγ, and verified through q-PCR, WB, IF staining, and flow cytometry both in vitro and in vivo using IFNAR or IFNGR gene knockout mice. The protective effect of adenovirus-mediated PD-L1 IgGFc fusion protein expression was verified in ECM mice with brain stereotaxic injection in vivo and in primary cultured neurons via viral infection in vitro. RESULTS In vivo, ECM mice showed infiltration of activated CD8+ T cells and neuronal injury in the brain parenchyma. In vitro, ECM CD8+ T cells were in direct contact with neurons and induced axonal damage, as an active behavior. The PD-L1 protein level was elevated in neurons of ECM mice and in primary cultured neurons induced by IFNβ, IFNγ, or ECM CD8+ T cells in vitro. Furthermore, the IFNβ or IFNγ induced neuronal expression of PD-L1 was mediated by increasing STAT1/IRF1 pathway via IFN receptors. The increase of PD-L1 expression in neurons during PbA infection was weakened after deleting the IFNAR or IFNGR. Increased PD-L1 expression by adenovirus partially protected neurons from CD8+ T cell-mediated damage both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that both type I and type II IFNs can induce neurons to upregulate PD-L1 via the STAT1/IRF1 pathway mediated by IFN receptors to protect against activated CD8+ T cell-mediated damage, providing a targeted pathway to alleviate neuroinflammation during ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jiao Liang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Shubiao Wang
- Grade 2020 Clinical Medicine (Five-Year Program), Basic Medical College, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxiao Huang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Qinghao Zhu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xizhi Zhang
- Grade 2019 Clinical Medicine (Five-Year Program), Basic Medical College, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kangjie Yu
- Department of Pathology, Air Force Hospital of Eastern Theater, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guodong Tong
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chao Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yinghui Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Ya Zhao
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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10
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Feng X, Yu JL, Sun YF, Du CY, Shen Y, Zhang L, Kong WZ, Han S, Cheng Y. Plasmodium yoelii surface-related antigen (PySRA) modulates the host pro-inflammatory responses via binding to CD68 on macrophage membrane. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0011324. [PMID: 38624215 PMCID: PMC11075460 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00113-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria, one of the major infectious diseases in the world, is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. Plasmodium antigens could modulate the inflammatory response by binding to macrophage membrane receptors. As an export protein on the infected erythrocyte membrane, Plasmodium surface-related antigen (SRA) participates in the erythrocyte invasion and regulates the immune response of the host. This study found that the F2 segment of P. yoelii SRA activated downstream MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways by binding to CD68 on the surface of the macrophage membrane and regulating the inflammatory response. The anti-PySRA-F2 antibody can protect mice against P. yoelii, and the pro-inflammatory responses such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 after infection with P. yoelii are attenuated. These findings will be helpful for understanding the involvement of the pathogenic mechanism of malaria with the exported protein SRA.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Mice
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Antigens, CD/immunology
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/metabolism
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/metabolism
- Antigens, Surface/immunology
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
- Cell Membrane/immunology
- Inflammation/immunology
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Macrophages/parasitology
- Malaria/immunology
- Malaria/parasitology
- NF-kappa B/metabolism
- NF-kappa B/immunology
- Plasmodium yoelii/immunology
- Protein Binding
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Feng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jia-Li Yu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yi-Fan Sun
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chen-Yan Du
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yao Shen
- Department of Food Quality and Safety, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of General Practice, Rongxiang Street Community Health Service Center, Binhu District, Wuxi, China
| | - Wei-Zhong Kong
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Su Han
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yang Cheng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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11
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Muralidhar R, Demory ML, Kesselman MM. Exploring the Impact of Batch Size on Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence Models for Malaria Detection. Cureus 2024; 16:e60224. [PMID: 38868293 PMCID: PMC11167577 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria is a major public health concern, especially in developing countries. Malaria often presents with recurrent fever, malaise, and other nonspecific symptoms mistaken for influenza. Light microscopy of peripheral blood smears is considered the gold standard diagnostic test for malaria. Delays in malaria diagnosis can increase morbidity and mortality. Microscopy can be time-consuming and limited by skilled labor, infrastructure, and interobserver variability. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools for diagnostic screening can automate blood smear analysis without relying on a trained technician. Convolutional neural networks (CNN), deep learning neural networks that can identify visual patterns, are being explored for use in abnormality detection in medical images. A parameter that can be optimized in CNN models is the batch size or the number of images used during model training at once in one forward and backward pass. The choice of batch size in developing CNN-based malaria screening tools can affect model accuracy, training speed, and, ultimately, clinical usability. This study explores the impact of batch size on CNN model accuracy for malaria detection from thin blood smear images. Methods We used the publicly available "NIH-NLM-ThinBloodSmearsPf" dataset from the United States National Library of Medicine, consisting of blood smear images for Plasmodium falciparum. The collection consists of 13,779 "parasitized" and 13,779 "uninfected" single-cell images. We created four datasets containing all images, each with unique randomized subsets of images for model testing. Using Python, four identical 10-layer CNN models were developed and trained with varying batch sizes for 10 epochs against all datasets, resulting in 16 sets of outputs. Model prediction accuracy, training time, and F1-score, an accuracy metric used to quantify model performance, were collected. Results All models produced F1-scores of 94%-96%, with 10 of 16 instances producing F1-scores of 95%. After averaging all four dataset outputs by batch size, we observed that, as batch size increased from 16 to 128, the average combined false positives plus false negatives increased by 15.4% (130-150), and the average model F1-score accuracy decreased by 1% (95.3%-94.3%). The average training time also decreased by 28.11% (1,556-1,119 seconds). Conclusion In each dataset, we observe an approximately 1% decrease in F1-score as the batch size was increased. Clinically, a 1% deviation at the population level can create a relatively significant impact on outcomes. Results from this study suggest that smaller batch sizes could improve accuracy in models with similar layer complexity and datasets, potentially resulting in better clinical outcomes. Reduced memory requirement for training also means that model training can be achieved with more economical hardware. Our findings suggest that smaller batch sizes could be evaluated for improvements in accuracy to help develop an AI model that could screen thin blood smears for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Muralidhar
- Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, USA
| | - Michelle L Demory
- Medical Education, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, USA
| | - Marc M Kesselman
- Rheumatology, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, USA
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12
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Cardona-Arias JA, Carmona-Fonseca J. Prospective study of malaria in pregnancy, placental and congenital malaria in Northwest Colombia. Malar J 2024; 23:116. [PMID: 38664687 PMCID: PMC11044305 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04948-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy Associated Malaria (PAM) include malaria in pregnancy (MiP), placental malaria (PM), and congenital malaria (CM). The evidence available in Colombia on PAM focuses on one of the presentations (MiP, PM or CM), and no study longitudinally analyses the infection from the pregnant woman, passing through the placenta, until culminating in the newborn. This study determined the frequency of MiP, PM, and CM caused by Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, or mixed infections, according to Thick Blood Smear (TBS) and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Identifying associated factors of PAM and clinical-epidemiological outcomes in northwestern Colombia. METHODS Prospective study of 431 pregnant women, their placenta, and newborns registered in the data bank of the research Group "Salud y Comunidad César Uribe Piedrahíta" which collected information between 2014 and 2020 in endemic municipalities of the departments of Córdoba and Antioquia. The frequency of infection was determined with 95% confidence intervals. Comparisons were made with the Chi-square test, Student t-test, prevalence ratios, and control for confounding variables by log-binomial regression. RESULTS The frequency of MiP was 22.3% (4.6% using TBS), PM 24.8% (1.4% using TBS), and CM 11.8% (0% using TBS). Using TBS predominated P. vivax. Using qPCR the proportions of P. vivax and P. falciparum were similar for MiP and PM, but P. falciparum predominated in CM. The frequency was higher in nulliparous, and women with previous malaria. The main clinical effects of PAM were anaemia, low birth weight, and abnormal APGAR score. CONCLUSIONS The magnitude of infections was not detected with TBS because most cases were submicroscopic (TBS-negative, qPCR-positive). This confirmed the importance of improving the molecular detection of cases. PAM continue being underestimated in the country due to that in Colombia the control programme is based on TBS, despite its outcomes on maternal, and congenital health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaime Carmona-Fonseca
- School of Medicine, University of Antioquia UdeA., Research Group Coordinator "Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe Piedrahíta", Medellín, Colombia
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13
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Raza M, Bharti H, Chauhan C, Singal A, Jha D, Ghosh PC, Nag A. Enhanced anti-malarial efficacy of mefloquine delivered via cationic liposome in a murine model of experimental cerebral malaria. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 197:114210. [PMID: 38340876 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114210] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a longstanding global health challenge that continues to afflict over 90 countries located in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. The rise of drug-resistant malarial parasites has curtailed the therapeutic efficacy of a number of once-effective anti-malarials, including mefloquine. In the present study, we have taken advantage of drug encapsulation approach to elevate the anti-malarial potential of mefloquine. Encouragingly, our findings unveil that liposomal formulations of mefloquine outperform equivalent doses of free mefloquine, both in laboratory cultures and in a murine model of malaria. Intriguingly, a cationic liposomal mefloquine formulation, administered at four successive doses of 3 mg/kg body weight, achieves complete resolution of cerebral malaria in the murine model while avoiding noticeable toxic repercussions. Altogether, our study furnishes pre-clinical validation for a therapeutic strategy that can remarkably enhance the drug efficacy, offering a revitalizing solution for failing anti-malarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin Raza
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Hina Bharti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Charu Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Aakriti Singal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepa Jha
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Prahlad C Ghosh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Alo Nag
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India.
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14
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Constantinescu AE, Hughes DA, Bull CJ, Fleming K, Mitchell RE, Zheng J, Kar S, Timpson NJ, Amulic B, Vincent EE. A genome-wide association study of neutrophil count in individuals associated to an African continental ancestry group facilitates studies of malaria pathogenesis. Hum Genomics 2024; 18:26. [PMID: 38491524 PMCID: PMC10941368 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00585-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 'Benign ethnic neutropenia' (BEN) is a heritable condition characterized by lower neutrophil counts, predominantly observed in individuals of African ancestry, and the genetic basis of BEN remains a subject of extensive research. In this study, we aimed to dissect the genetic architecture underlying neutrophil count variation through a linear-mixed model genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a population of African ancestry (N = 5976). Malaria caused by P. falciparum imposes a tremendous public health burden on people living in sub-Saharan Africa. Individuals living in malaria endemic regions often have a reduced circulating neutrophil count due to BEN, raising the possibility that reduced neutrophil counts modulate severity of malaria in susceptible populations. As a follow-up, we tested this hypothesis by conducting a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of neutrophil counts on severe malaria (MalariaGEN, N = 17,056). RESULTS We carried out a GWAS of neutrophil count in individuals associated to an African continental ancestry group within UK Biobank, identifying 73 loci (r2 = 0.1) and 10 index SNPs (GCTA-COJO loci) associated with neutrophil count, including previously unknown rare loci regulating neutrophil count in a non-European population. BOLT-LMM was reliable when conducted in a non-European population, and additional covariates added to the model did not largely alter the results of the top loci or index SNPs. The two-sample bi-directional MR analysis between neutrophil count and severe malaria showed the greatest evidence for an effect between neutrophil count and severe anaemia, although the confidence intervals crossed the null. CONCLUSION Our GWAS of neutrophil count revealed unique loci present in individuals of African ancestry. We note that a small sample-size reduced our power to identify variants with low allele frequencies and/or low effect sizes in our GWAS. Our work highlights the need for conducting large-scale biobank studies in Africa and for further exploring the link between neutrophils and severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei-Emil Constantinescu
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David A Hughes
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Louisiana State University, Louisiana, USA
| | - Caroline J Bull
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Health Data Research UK, London, UK
| | - Kathryn Fleming
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ruth E Mitchell
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Siddhartha Kar
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Early Cancer Insitute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicholas J Timpson
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Borko Amulic
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Emma E Vincent
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- School of Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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15
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Bensalel J, Gallego-Delgado J. Exploring adjunctive therapies for cerebral malaria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1347486. [PMID: 38410724 PMCID: PMC10895034 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1347486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebral malaria (CM) is one of the most severe complications of malaria infection characterized by coma and neurological effects. Despite standardized treatment of malaria infection with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), the mortality rate is still high, and it primarily affects pediatric patients. ACT reduces parasitemia but fails to adequately target the pathogenic mechanisms underlying CM, including blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption, endothelial activation/dysfunction, and hyperinflammation. The need for adjunctive therapies to specifically treat this form of severe malaria is critical as hundreds of thousands of people continue to die each year from this disease. Here we present a summary of some potential promising therapeutic targets and treatments for CM, as well as some that have been tested and deemed ineffective or, in some cases, even deleterious. Further exploration into these therapeutic agents is warranted to assess the effectiveness of these potential treatments for CM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Bensalel
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Julio Gallego-Delgado
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Govindaraju G, Rajavelu A. Reading the epitranscriptome of the human malaria parasite. Biomed J 2024:100703. [PMID: 38316392 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic machinery has emerged as a central player in gene regulation and chromatin organization in Plasmodium spp. Epigenetic modifications on histones and their role in antigenic variation in P. falciparum are widely studied. Recent discoveries on nucleic acid methylome are exciting and provide a new dimension to the apicomplexan protozoan parasite's gene regulatory process. Reports have confirmed that N6-methyl adenosine (m6A) methylation plays a crucial role in the translational plasticity of the human malaria parasite during its development in RBC. The YTH domain (YT521-B Homology) protein in P. falciparum binds to m6A epitranscriptome modifications on the mRNA and regulates protein translation. The binding of the PfYTH domain protein to the m6A-modified mRNA is mediated through a binding pocket formed by aromatic amino acids. The P. falciparum genome encodes two members of YTH domain proteins, i.e., YTH1 and YTH2, and both have distinct roles in dictating the epitranscriptome in human malaria parasites. This review highlights recent advancements in the functions and mechanisms of YTH domain protein's role in translational plasticity in the various developmental stages of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Govindaraju
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Arumugam Rajavelu
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, India.
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17
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Malik MS, Alshareef HF, Alfaidi KA, Ather H, Abduljaleel Z, Hussein EM, Moussa Z, Ahmed SA. Exploring the untapped pharmacological potential of imidazopyridazines. RSC Adv 2024; 14:3972-3984. [PMID: 38288152 PMCID: PMC10823362 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra07280k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Imidazopyridazines are fused heterocycles, like purines, with a pyridazine ring replacing the pyrimidine ring in purines. Imidazopyridazines have been primarily studied for their kinase inhibition activity in the development of new anticancer and antimalarial agents. In addition to this, they have also been investigated for their anticonvulsant, antiallergic, antihistamine, antiviral, and antitubercular properties. Herein, we review the background and development of different imidazopyridazines as potential pharmacological agents. Moreover, the scope of this relatively less charted heterocyclic scaffold is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Shaheer Malik
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University Makkah 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Hossa F Alshareef
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University Makkah 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid A Alfaidi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University Makkah 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Hissana Ather
- Science and Technology Unit, Umm Al-Qura University Makkah 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Zainularifeen Abduljaleel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University (KKU) Abha 62529 Saudi Arabia
| | - Essam M Hussein
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University Makkah 21955 Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University 71516 Assiut Egypt
| | - Ziad Moussa
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University P.O. Box 15551 Al Ain United Arab Emirates
| | - Saleh A Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University Makkah 21955 Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University 71516 Assiut Egypt
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18
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Suresh RV, Deng B, Gebremicale Y, Roche K, Miura K, Long C. Mesenchymal stem cells of the bone marrow raise infectivity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. mBio 2023; 14:e0223223. [PMID: 37909740 PMCID: PMC10746266 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02232-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE While prior research has established that Plasmodium gametocytes sequester in the bone marrow and can influence resident stem cells, the question of why they would choose this compartment and these cells remained a mystery. This study, for the first time, shows that being in the presence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alters the biology of the P. falciparum parasite and makes it more infectious to mosquitoes, hinting at novel mechanisms in its life cycle. This method also facilitates mosquito infections with field isolated parasites, affording research teams new infection models with parasites, which are challenging to infect into mosquitos using conventional culture methods. Finally, our findings that MSC-conditioned medium can also raise infectivity open avenues of investigation into mechanisms involved but can also serve as a practical tool for researchers hoping to increase oocyst yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragavan Varadharajan Suresh
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Bingbing Deng
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yonas Gebremicale
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Kyle Roche
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Carole Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
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19
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Poespoprodjo JR, Douglas NM, Ansong D, Kho S, Anstey NM. Malaria. Lancet 2023; 402:2328-2345. [PMID: 37924827 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01249-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is resurging in many African and South American countries, exacerbated by COVID-19-related health service disruption. In 2021, there were an estimated 247 million malaria cases and 619 000 deaths in 84 endemic countries. Plasmodium falciparum strains partly resistant to artemisinins are entrenched in the Greater Mekong region and have emerged in Africa, while Anopheles mosquito vectors continue to evolve physiological and behavioural resistance to insecticides. Elimination of Plasmodium vivax malaria is hindered by impractical and potentially toxic antirelapse regimens. Parasitological diagnosis and treatment with oral or parenteral artemisinin-based therapy is the mainstay of patient management. Timely blood transfusion, renal replacement therapy, and restrictive fluid therapy can improve survival in severe malaria. Rigorous use of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy and infancy and seasonal chemoprevention, potentially combined with pre-erythrocytic vaccines endorsed by WHO in 2021 and 2023, can substantially reduce malaria morbidity. Improved surveillance, better access to effective treatment, more labour-efficient vector control, continued drug development, targeted mass drug administration, and sustained political commitment are required to achieve targets for malaria reduction by the end of this decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Rini Poespoprodjo
- Centre for Child Health and Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Timika Malaria Research Facility, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Indonesia; Mimika District Hospital and District Health Authority, Timika, Indonesia; Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
| | - Nicholas M Douglas
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha, Christchurch, New Zealand; Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Daniel Ansong
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Steven Kho
- Timika Malaria Research Facility, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Indonesia; Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Nicholas M Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia
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20
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Meira C, Silva J, Quadros H, Silva L, Barreto B, Rocha V, Bomfim L, Santos E, Soares M. Galectins in Protozoan Parasitic Diseases: Potential Applications in Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Cells 2023; 12:2671. [PMID: 38067100 PMCID: PMC10705098 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) constitute a group of diseases that generally develop in tropical or subtropical climatic conditions and are related to poverty. Within the spectrum of NTDs, diseases caused by protozoa such as malaria, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis exhibit elevated mortality rates, thereby constituting a substantial public health concern. Beyond their protozoan etiology, these NTDs share other similarities, such as the challenge of control and the lack of affordable, safe, and effective drugs. In view of the above, the need to explore novel diagnostic predictors and therapeutic targets for the treatment of these parasitic diseases is evident. In this context, galectins are attractive because they are a set of lectins bound to β-galactosides that play key roles in a variety of cellular processes, including host-parasite interaction such as adhesion and entry of parasites into the host cells, and participate in antiparasitic immunity in either a stimulatory or inhibitory manner, especially the galectins-1, -2, -3, and -9. These functions bestow upon galectins significant therapeutic prospects in the context of managing and diagnosing NTDs. Thus, the present review aims to elucidate the potential role of galectins in the diagnosis and treatment of malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cássio Meira
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
- SENAI Institute of Innovation in Health Advanced Systems (ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil;
| | - Jaqueline Silva
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Helenita Quadros
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Laís Silva
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Breno Barreto
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
- SENAI Institute of Innovation in Health Advanced Systems (ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil;
- Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40170-110, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
- SENAI Institute of Innovation in Health Advanced Systems (ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil;
| | - Larissa Bomfim
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Emanuelle Santos
- SENAI Institute of Innovation in Health Advanced Systems (ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil;
| | - Milena Soares
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 21040-900, Bahia, Brazil; (J.S.); (H.Q.); (L.S.); (B.B.); (V.R.); (L.B.)
- SENAI Institute of Innovation in Health Advanced Systems (ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil;
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21
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Lakkavaram AL, Maymand S, Naser W, Ward AC, de Koning-Ward TF. Cish knockout mice exhibit similar outcomes to malaria infection despite altered hematopoietic responses. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1288876. [PMID: 38029163 PMCID: PMC10653303 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1288876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cytokine-inducible Src homology 2 domain-containing (CISH) protein is a negative feedback regulator induced by cytokines that play key roles in immunity and erythropoiesis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human CISH gene have been associated with increased susceptibility to severe malaria disease. To directly assess how CISH might influence outcomes in the BALB/c model of malaria anemia, CISH knockout (Cish-/-) mice on this background were infected with Plasmodium berghei and their hematopoietic responses, cytokine production and ability to succumb to severe malaria disease evaluated. Despite basal erythrocytic disruption, upon P. berghei infection, the Cish -/- mice were better able to maintain peripheral blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels and a steady-state pattern of erythroid differentiation compared to wild-type (Cish+/+) mice. Ablation of CISH, however, did not influence the outcome of acute malaria infections in either the BALB/c model or the alternative C57BL/6 model of experimental cerebral malaria, with the kinetics of infection, parasite load, weight loss and cytokine responses being similar between Cish+/+ and Cish-/- mice, and both genotypes succumbed to experimental cerebral malaria within a comparable timeframe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saeed Maymand
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Wasan Naser
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
- College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Alister C. Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Tania F. de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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22
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Shi F, Tang S, Chen D, Mo F, Li J, Fang C, Wei H, Xing J, Liu L, Gong Y, Tan Z, Zhang Z, Pan X, Zhao S, Huang J. Immunological characteristics of CD103 +CD8 + Tc cells in the liver of C57BL/6 mouse infected with plasmodium NSM. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2513-2524. [PMID: 37707607 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07950-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
CD103 is an important marker of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) which play important roles in fighting against infection. However, the immunological characteristics of CD103+ T cells are not thoroughly elucidated in the liver of mouse infected with Plasmodium. Six- to eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were infected with Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis NSM. Mice were sacrificed on 12-16 days after infection and the livers were picked out. Sections of the livers were stained, and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were measured. Moreover, lymphocytes in the liver were isolated, and the expression of CD103 was determined by using qPCR. The percentage of CD103 on different immune cell populations was dynamically observed by using flow cytometry (FCM). In addition, the phenotype and cytokine production characteristics of CD103+CD8+ Tc cell were analyzed by using flow cytometry, respectively. Erythrocyte stage plasmodium infection could result in severe hepatic damage, a widespread inflammatory response and the decrease of CD103 expression on hepatic immune cells. Only CD8+ Tc and γδT cells expressed higher levels of CD103 in the uninfected state.CD103 expression in CD8+ Tc cells significantly decreased after infection. Compared to that of CD103- CD8+ Tc cells, CD103+ CD8+ Tc cells from the infected mice expressed lower level of CD69, higher level of CD62L, and secreted more IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, and secreted less IFN-γ. CD103+CD8+ Tc cells might mediate the hepatic immune response by secreting IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17 except IFN-γ in the mice infected with the erythrocytic phase plasmodium, which could be involved in the pathogenesis of severe liver damage resulted from the erythrocytic phase plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis NSM infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feihu Shi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shanni Tang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dianhui Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Mo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajie Li
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Fang
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haixia Wei
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junmin Xing
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Liu
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yumei Gong
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengrong Tan
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziqi Zhang
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xingfei Pan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shan Zhao
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jun Huang
- China Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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23
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Anaguano D, Dedkhad W, Brooks CF, Cobb DW, Muralidharan V. Time-resolved proximity biotinylation implicates a porin protein in export of transmembrane malaria parasite effectors. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs260506. [PMID: 37772444 PMCID: PMC10651097 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium falciparum completely remodels its host red blood cell (RBC) through the export of several hundred parasite proteins, including transmembrane proteins, across multiple membranes to the RBC. However, the process by which these exported membrane proteins are extracted from the parasite plasma membrane for export remains unknown. To address this question, we fused the exported membrane protein, skeleton binding protein 1 (SBP1), with TurboID, a rapid, efficient and promiscuous biotin ligase (SBP1TbID). Using time-resolved proximity biotinylation and label-free quantitative proteomics, we identified two groups of SBP1TbID interactors - early interactors (pre-export) and late interactors (post-export). Notably, two promising membrane-associated proteins were identified as pre-export interactors, one of which possesses a predicted translocon domain, that could facilitate the export of membrane proteins. Further investigation using conditional mutants of these candidate proteins showed that these proteins were essential for asexual growth and localize to the host-parasite interface during early stages of the intraerythrocytic cycle. These data suggest that they might play a role in ushering membrane proteins from the parasite plasma membrane for export to the host RBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Anaguano
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Watcharatip Dedkhad
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Carrie F Brooks
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - David W Cobb
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Vasant Muralidharan
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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24
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Brozat JF, Haverkamp M, Hohlstein P, Adams JK, Wirtz TH, Klingel HR, Hürtgen S, Hamesch K, Bruns T, Trautwein C, Jhaisha SA, Koch A. An old foe on peculiar paths: severe falciparum malaria in a Syrian refugee, possibly infected during migrant smuggling from Türkiye to Germany. Infection 2023; 51:1583-1586. [PMID: 37223876 PMCID: PMC10206553 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02042-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases and their imperative awareness gain major relevance through global warming and multi-continent refugee crises. Here, we demonstrate the challenges of malaria diagnosis, disease course, and treatment, including post-artesunate hemolysis in a Syrian refugee with severe falciparum malaria, most probably infected during migrant smuggling from Türkiye to Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan F Brozat
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Miriam Haverkamp
- Department of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Hohlstein
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jule K Adams
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Theresa H Wirtz
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hanna R Klingel
- Laboratory Diagnostic Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Susanne Hürtgen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Rhein-Maas Hospital, Würselen, Germany
| | - Karim Hamesch
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tony Bruns
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Samira Abu Jhaisha
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Koch
- Department for Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disorders and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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25
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Chen Y, Zhang H, Chen H, Fan L, Xu C, Xu J, Chen S, Chen K, Wei Y. Malaria epidemiological characteristics and control in Guangzhou, China, 1950-2022. Malar J 2023; 22:265. [PMID: 37691114 PMCID: PMC10494454 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04696-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria was once widespread in Guangzhou, China. However, a series of control measures have succeeded in eliminating local malaria infections. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of malaria epidemics in Guangzhou, China, from 1950 to 2022, the changes and effectiveness of malaria control strategies and surveillance management in Guangzhou from 1950 to 2022 are described. METHODS Data on malaria prevention and treatment in Guangzhou from 1950 to 2022 were collected, and descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyse the prevalence of malaria, preventive and control measures taken, and the effectiveness of prevention and treatment in different periods. Data on malaria cases were obtained from the Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the China Communicable Disease Reporting System. RESULTS The development of the malaria control system in Guangzhou has gone through four periods: 1. High malaria prevalence (1950-1979), 2. Intensive prevention and control stage (1980-2000), 3. Consolidating gains in malaria control (2001-2008), and 4. Preventing reestablishment of transmission (2009-2022). During Period 1, only medical institutions at all levels and the local CDCs, the Guangzhou CDC participated in the malaria prevention and control system, establishing a three-tier health system on malaria prevention and control. During Period 2, other types of organizations, including the agricultural sector, schools and village committees, the construction department and street committee, are involved in the malaria control system. During Period 3, more and more organizations are joining forces to prevent and control malaria. A well-established multisectoral malaria control mechanism and an improved post-elimination surveillance management system are in place. Between 1950 and 2022, a total of 420,670 cases of malaria were reported. During Period 1, there was an epidemic of malaria in the early 1950s, with an annual incidence rate of more than 10,000/100,000, including a high rate of 2887.98/100,000 in 1954. In Period 2 malaria was gradually brought under control, with the average annual malaria incidence rate dropping to 3.14/100,000. During Period 3, the incidence rate was kept below 1/100,000, and by 2009 local malaria infections were eliminated. CONCLUSION For decades, Guangzhou has adopted different malaria control strategies and measures at different epidemic stages. Increased collaboration among civil organizations in Guangzhou in malaria control has led to a significant decline in the number of malaria cases and the elimination of indigenous malaria infections by 2009.The experience of Guangzhou can guide the development of malaria control strategies in other cities experiencing similar malaria epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehua Chen
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lirui Fan
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Conghui Xu
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianmin Xu
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shouyi Chen
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kuncai Chen
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuehong Wei
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Parasite and Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China.
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26
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Veeragoni D, Deshpande SS, Singh V, Misra S, Mutheneni SR. In vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Sargassum tenerrimum - a marine seaweed. Acta Trop 2023; 245:106982. [PMID: 37406792 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Green nanotechnology has recently attracted a lot of attention as a potential technique for drug development. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesised by using Sargassum tenerrimum, a marine seaweed crude extract (Ag-ST), and evaluated for antimalarial activity in both in vitro and in vivo models. The results showed that Ag-ST nanoparticles exhibited good antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values 7.71±0.39 µg/ml and 23.93±2.27 µg/ml against P. falciparum and P. berghei respectively. These nanoparticles also showed less haemolysis activity suggesting their possible use in therapeutics. Further, P. berghei infected C57BL/6 mice were used for the four-day suppressive, curative and prophylactic assays where it was noticed that the Ag-ST nanoparticles significantly reduced the parasitaemia and there were no toxic effects observed in the biochemical and haematological parameters. Further to understand its possible toxic effects, both in vitro and in vivo genotoxicological studies were performed which revealed that these nanoparticles are non-genotoxic in nature. The possible antimalarial activity of Ag-ST may be due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals and silver ions. Moreover, the phytochemicals prevent the nonspecific release of ions responsible for low genotoxicity. Together, the bio-efficacy and toxicology outcomes demonstrated that the green synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-ST) could be a cutting-edge alternative for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileepkumar Veeragoni
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Shruti S Deshpande
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Vineeta Singh
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Sunil Misra
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Srinivasa Rao Mutheneni
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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27
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Dillenberger M, Werner AD, Velten AS, Rahlfs S, Becker K, Fritz-Wolf K. Structural Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Hexokinase Provides Novel Information about Catalysis Due to a Plasmodium-Specific Insertion. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12739. [PMID: 37628920 PMCID: PMC10454665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum is the causative pathogen of the most severe form of malaria, for which novel strategies for treatment are urgently required. The primary energy supply for intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium is the production of ATP via glycolysis. Due to the parasite's strong dependence on this pathway and the significant structural differences of its glycolytic enzymes compared to its human counterpart, glycolysis is considered a potential drug target. In this study, we provide the first three-dimensional protein structure of P. falciparum hexokinase (PfHK) containing novel information about the mechanisms of PfHK. We identified for the first time a Plasmodium-specific insertion that lines the active site. Moreover, we propose that this insertion plays a role in ATP binding. Residues of the insertion further seem to affect the tetrameric interface and therefore suggest a special way of communication among the different monomers. In addition, we confirmed that PfHK is targeted and affected by oxidative posttranslational modifications (oxPTMs). Both S-glutathionylation and S-nitrosation revealed an inhibitory effect on the enzymatic activity of PfHK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Dillenberger
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.D.)
| | - Anke-Dorothee Werner
- Institute of Virology, University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Ann-Sophie Velten
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.D.)
| | - Stefan Rahlfs
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.D.)
| | - Katja Becker
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.D.)
| | - Karin Fritz-Wolf
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.D.)
- Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstr. 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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28
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Singh R, Singh R, Srihari V, Makde RD. In Vitro Investigation Unveiling New Insights into the Antimalarial Mechanism of Chloroquine: Role in Perturbing Nucleation Events during Heme to β-Hematin Transformation. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1647-1657. [PMID: 37471056 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00278] [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] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Malaria parasites generate toxic heme during hemoglobin digestion, which is neutralized by crystallizing into inert hemozoin (β-hematin). Chloroquine blocks this detoxification process, resulting in heme-mediated toxicity in malaria parasites. However, the exact mechanism of chloroquine's action remains unknown. This study investigates the impact of chloroquine on the transformation of heme into β-hematin. The results show that chloroquine does not completely halt the transformation process but rather slows it down. Additionally, chloroquine complexation with free heme does not affect substrate availability or inhibit β-hematin formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) studies indicate that the size of β-hematin crystal particles and crystallites increases in the presence of chloroquine, suggesting that chloroquine does not impede crystal growth. These findings suggest that chloroquine delays hemozoin production by perturbing the nucleation events of crystals and/or the stability of crystal nuclei. Thus, contrary to prevailing beliefs, this study provides a new perspective on the working mechanism of chloroquine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh
- Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Rashmi Singh
- Laser & Functional Materials Division, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore 452013, India
| | - Velaga Srihari
- High Pressure and Synchrotron Radiation Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 40008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ravindra D Makde
- Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400085, India
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Pinheiro ADS, Kazura JW, Pinheiro AA, Schmaier AH. Is there a role for bradykinin in cerebral malaria pathogenesis? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1184896. [PMID: 37637466 PMCID: PMC10448822 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1184896] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a parasitic disease of global health significance and a leading cause of death in children living in endemic regions. Although various Plasmodium species are responsible for the disease, Plasmodium falciparum infection accounts for most severe cases of the disease in humans. The mechanisms of cerebral malaria pathogenesis have been studied extensively in humans and animal malaria models; however, it is far from being fully understood. Recent discoveries indicate a potential role of bradykinin and the kallikrein kinin system in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. The aim of this review is to highlight how bradykinin is formed in cerebral malaria and how it may impact cerebral blood-brain barrier function. Areas of interest in this context include Plasmodium parasite enzymes that directly generate bradykinin from plasma protein precursors, cytoadhesion of P. falciparum infected red blood cells to brain endothelial cells, and endothelial cell blood-brain barrier disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro de Sa Pinheiro
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - James W. Kazura
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Ana Acacia Pinheiro
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alvin H. Schmaier
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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Kim YJ, Shin JS, Lee KW, Eom HJ, Jo BG, Lee JW, Kim JH, Kim SY, Kang JH, Choi JW. Expression, Purification, and Characterization of Plasmodium vivax Lactate Dehydrogenase from Bacteria without Codon Optimization. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11083. [PMID: 37446261 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread cause of malaria, especially in subtropical and temperate regions such as Asia-Pacific and America. P. vivax lactate dehydrogenase (PvLDH), an essential enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, is required for the development and reproduction of the parasite. Thus, LDH from these parasites has garnered attention as a diagnostic biomarker for malaria and as a potential molecular target for developing antimalarial drugs. In this study, we prepared a transformed Escherichia coli strain for the overexpression of PvLDH without codon optimization. We introduced this recombinant plasmid DNA prepared by insertion of the PvLDH gene in the pET-21a(+) expression vector, into the Rosetta(DE3), an E. coli strain suitable for eukaryotic protein expression. The time, temperature, and inducer concentration for PvLDH expression from this E. coli Rosetta(DE3), containing the original PvLDH gene, were optimized. We obtained PvLDH with a 31.0 mg/L yield and high purity (>95%) from this Rosetta(DE3) strain. The purified protein was characterized structurally and functionally. The PvLDH expressed and purified from transformed bacteria without codon optimization was successfully demonstrated to exhibit its potential tetramer structure and enzyme activity. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights for research on infectious diseases, metabolism, diagnostics, and therapeutics for malaria caused by P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon-Jun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Seop Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang Woo Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Ji Eom
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Gwan Jo
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women's University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Hyoung Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - So Yeon Kim
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28503, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hoon Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Won Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
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31
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Azzuolo A, Yang Y, Berghuis A, Fodil N, Gros P. Biphosphoglycerate Mutase: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Malaria? Transfus Med Rev 2023; 37:150748. [PMID: 37827586 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2023.150748] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Biphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM) is a tri-functional enzyme expressed exclusively in erythroid cells and tissues that is responsible for the production of 2,3-biphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) through the Rapoport-Luebering shunt. The 2,3-BPG is required for efficient glycolysis and ATP production under anaerobic conditions, but is also a critical allosteric regulator of hemoglobin (Hb), acting to regulate oxygen release in peripheral tissues. In humans, BPGM deficiency is very rare, and is associated with reduced levels of erythrocytic 2,3-BPG and ATP, left shifted Hb-O2 dissociation curve, low P50, elevated Hb and constitutive erythrocytosis. BPGM deficiency in mice recapitulates the erythroid defects seen in human patients. A recent report has shown that BPGM deficiency in mice affords striking protection against both severe malaria anemia and cerebral malaria. These findings are reminiscent of studies of another erythrocyte specific glycolytic enzyme, Pyruvate Kinase (PKLR), which mutational inactivation protects humans and mice against malaria through impairment of glycolysis and ATP production in erythrocytes. BPGM, and PKLR join glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and other erythrocyte variants as modulating response to malaria. Recent studies reviewed suggest glycolysis in general, and BPGM in particular, as a novel pharmacological target for therapeutic intervention in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Azzuolo
- Department of Biochemistry, Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yunxiang Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Albert Berghuis
- Department of Biochemistry, Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nassima Fodil
- Department of Biochemistry, Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Philippe Gros
- Department of Biochemistry, Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Rupar MJ, Sasserath T, Smith E, Comiter B, Sriram N, Long CJ, McAleer CW, Hickman JJ. Development of a human malaria-on-a-chip disease model for drug efficacy and off-target toxicity evaluation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10509. [PMID: 37380653 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35694-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A functional, multi-organ, serum-free system was developed for the culture of P. falciparum in an attempt to establish innovative platforms for therapeutic drug development. It contains 4 human organ constructs including hepatocytes, splenocytes, endothelial cells, as well as recirculating red blood cells which allow for infection with the parasite. Two strains of P. falciparum were used: the 3D7 strain, which is sensitive to chloroquine; and the W2 strain, which is resistant to chloroquine. The maintenance of functional cells was successfully demonstrated both in healthy and diseased conditions for 7 days in the recirculating microfluidic model. To demonstrate an effective platform for therapeutic development, systems infected with the 3D7 strain were treated with chloroquine which significantly decreased parasitemia, with recrudescence observed after 5 days. Conversely, when the W2 systems were dosed with chloroquine, parasitemia levels were moderately decreased when compared to the 3D7 model. The system also allows for the concurrent evaluation of off-target toxicity for the anti-malarial treatment in a dose dependent manner which indicates this model could be utilized for therapeutic index determination. The work described here establishes a new approach to the evaluation of anti-malarial therapeutics in a realistic human model with recirculating blood cells for 7 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Rupar
- Hesperos, Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | - Trevor Sasserath
- Hesperos, Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | - Ethan Smith
- Hesperos, Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | - Brandon Comiter
- Hesperos, Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | - Narasimhan Sriram
- Hesperos, Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | - Christopher J Long
- Hesperos, Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | | | - James J Hickman
- Hesperos, Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA.
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Paxton KL, Cassin-Sackett L, Atkinson CT, Videvall E, Campana MG, Fleischer RC. Gene expression reveals immune response strategies of naïve Hawaiian honeycreepers experimentally infected with introduced avian malaria. J Hered 2023; 114:326-340. [PMID: 36869776 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented rise in the number of new and emerging infectious diseases in the last quarter century poses direct threats to human and wildlife health. The introduction to the Hawaiian archipelago of Plasmodium relictum and the mosquito vector that transmits the parasite has led to dramatic losses in endemic Hawaiian forest bird species. Understanding how mechanisms of disease immunity to avian malaria may evolve is critical as climate change facilitates increased disease transmission to high elevation habitats where malaria transmission has historically been low and the majority of the remaining extant Hawaiian forest bird species now reside. Here, we compare the transcriptomic profiles of highly susceptible Hawai'i 'amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens) experimentally infected with P. relictum to those of uninfected control birds from a naïve high elevation population. We examined changes in gene expression profiles at different stages of infection to provide an in-depth characterization of the molecular pathways contributing to survival or mortality in these birds. We show that the timing and magnitude of the innate and adaptive immune response differed substantially between individuals that survived and those that succumbed to infection, and likely contributed to the observed variation in survival. These results lay the foundation for developing gene-based conservation strategies for Hawaiian honeycreepers by identifying candidate genes and cellular pathways involved in the pathogen response that correlate with a bird's ability to recover from malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina L Paxton
- Center for Conservation Genomics, National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
- Hawai'i Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawai'i Hilo, PO Box 44, Hawai'i National Park, HI 96718, USA
| | - Loren Cassin-Sackett
- Center for Conservation Genomics, National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA 70503, USA
| | - Carter T Atkinson
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, PO Box 44, Hawai'i National Park, HI 96718, USA
| | - Elin Videvall
- Center for Conservation Genomics, National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Michael G Campana
- Center for Conservation Genomics, National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Robert C Fleischer
- Center for Conservation Genomics, National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
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34
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Ribeiro GDJG, Rei Yan SL, Palmisano G, Wrenger C. Plant Extracts as a Source of Natural Products with Potential Antimalarial Effects: An Update from 2018 to 2022. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1638. [PMID: 37376086 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria kills more than 500,000 people yearly, mainly affecting Africa and Southeast Asia. The disease is caused by the protozoan parasite from the genus Plasmodium, with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum being the main species that cause the disease in humans. Although substantial progress has been observed in malaria research in the last years, the threat of the spread of Plasmodium parasites persists. Artemisinin-resistant strains of this parasite have been reported mainly in Southeast Asia, highlighting the urgent need to develop more effective and safe antimalarial drugs. In this context, natural sources, mainly from flora, remain underexplored antimalarial spaces. The present mini-review explores this space focusing on plant extracts and some of their isolated natural products with at least in vitro antiplasmodial effects reported in the literature comprising the last five years (2018-2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovane de Jesus Gomes Ribeiro
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Sun Liu Rei Yan
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
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35
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Cardona-Arias JA, Higuita-Gutiérrez LF, Carmona-Fonseca J. Clinical and Parasitological Profiles of Gestational, Placental and Congenital Malaria in Northwestern Colombia. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:292. [PMID: 37368710 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8060292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study compared the clinical-parasitological profiles of gestational (GM), placental (PM), and congenital (CM) malaria in northwestern Colombia. A cross-sectional study with 829 pregnant women, 549 placentas, and 547 newborns was conducted. The frequency of GM was 35.8%, PM 20.9%, and CM 8.5%. P. vivax predominated in GM; in PM, the proportion of P. vivax and P. falciparum was similar; in CM, P. falciparum predominated. The main clinical findings were headache (49%), anemia (32%), fever (24%), and musculoskeletal pain (13%). The clinical manifestations were statistically higher in P. vivax infections. In submicroscopic GM (positive with qPCR and negative with thick blood smear), the frequency of anemia, sore throat, and a headache was statistically higher compared with pregnant women without malaria. GM, PM, and CM reduce birth weight and head circumference. In Colombia, this is the first research on the clinical characteristics of GM, PM, and CM; contrary to evidence from other countries, P. vivax and submicroscopic infections are associated with clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez
- School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Medellín 050010, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín 050012, Colombia
| | - Jaime Carmona-Fonseca
- Grupo de Investigación Salud y Comunidad César Uribe Piedrahíta, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
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36
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Haydinger CD, Ashander LM, Tan ACR, Smith JR. Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1: More than a Leukocyte Adhesion Molecule. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050743. [PMID: 37237555 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is a transmembrane protein in the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed on the surface of multiple cell populations and upregulated by inflammatory stimuli. It mediates cellular adhesive interactions by binding to the β2 integrins macrophage antigen 1 and leukocyte function-associated antigen 1, as well as other ligands. It has important roles in the immune system, including in leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium and transendothelial migration, and at the immunological synapse formed between lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells. ICAM-1 has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of diverse diseases from cardiovascular diseases to autoimmune disorders, certain infections, and cancer. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the structure and regulation of the ICAM1 gene and the ICAM-1 protein. We discuss the roles of ICAM-1 in the normal immune system and a selection of diseases to highlight the breadth and often double-edged nature of its functions. Finally, we discuss current therapeutics and opportunities for advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron D Haydinger
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Liam M Ashander
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Alwin Chun Rong Tan
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Justine R Smith
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
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Wang Q, Zhong Y, Chen N, Chen J. From the immune system to mood disorders especially induced by Toxoplasma gondii: CD4+ T cell as a bridge. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1078984. [PMID: 37077528 PMCID: PMC10106765 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1078984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a ubiquitous and obligatory intracellular protozoa, not only alters peripheral immune status, but crosses the blood-brain barrier to trigger brain parenchymal injury and central neuroinflammation to establish latent cerebral infection in humans and other vertebrates. Recent findings underscore the strong correlation between alterations in the peripheral and central immune environment and mood disorders. Th17 and Th1 cells are important pro-inflammatory cells that can drive the pathology of mood disorders by promoting neuroinflammation. As opposed to Th17 and Th1, regulatory T cells have inhibitory inflammatory and neuroprotective functions that can ameliorate mood disorders. T. gondii induces neuroinflammation, which can be mediated by CD4+ T cells (such as Tregs, Th17, Th1, and Th2). Though the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorder have been currently studied, emerging evidence points to unique role of CD4+ T cells in mood disorder, especially those caused by T. gondii infection. In this review, we explore some recent studies that extend our understanding of the relationship between mood disorders and T. gondii.
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38
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Imlay LS, Lawong AK, Gahalawat S, Kumar A, Xing C, Mittal N, Wittlin S, Churchyard A, Niederstrasser H, Crespo-Fernandez B, Posner BA, Gamo FJ, Baum J, Winzeler EA, LALEU B, Ready JM, Phillips MA. Fast-Killing Tyrosine Amide (( S)-SW228703) with Blood- and Liver-Stage Antimalarial Activity Associated with the Cyclic Amine Resistance Locus ( PfCARL). ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:527-539. [PMID: 36763526 PMCID: PMC10053980 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Current malaria treatments are threatened by drug resistance, and new drugs are urgently needed. In a phenotypic screen for new antimalarials, we identified (S)-SW228703 ((S)-SW703), a tyrosine amide with asexual blood and liver stage activity and a fast-killing profile. Resistance to (S)-SW703 is associated with mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum cyclic amine resistance locus (PfCARL) and P. falciparum acetyl CoA transporter (PfACT), similarly to several other compounds that share features such as fast activity and liver-stage activity. Compounds with these resistance mechanisms are thought to act in the ER, though their targets are unknown. The tyramine of (S)-SW703 is shared with some reported PfCARL-associated compounds; however, we observed that strict S-stereochemistry was required for the activity of (S)-SW703, suggesting differences in the mechanism of action or binding mode. (S)-SW703 provides a new chemical series with broad activity for multiple life-cycle stages and a fast-killing mechanism of action, available for lead optimization to generate new treatments for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah S. Imlay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Aloysus K. Lawong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Suraksha Gahalawat
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Chao Xing
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Hanspeter Niederstrasser
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | | | - Bruce A. Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | | | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Benoît LALEU
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Joseph M. Ready
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Margaret A. Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
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Malaria-derived exosomes exacerbate liver injury during blood stage of Plasmodium berghei infection. Acta Trop 2023; 239:106815. [PMID: 36608749 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Liver injury is a common clinical feature of Plasmodium spp. infection and contributes to multi-organ failure of severe malaria. Malaria-derived exosomes (MD-Exos) have recently engaged as key mediators in parasite-host interactions, modulating the subsequent pathogenic process. However, the role of MD-Exos in malaria-related liver injury and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, exosomes from C57BL/6 mice infected with or without P. berghei ANKA serum (namely inf-Exos or un-Exos) were isolated and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, western blotting, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The miRNAs profiling between inf-Exos and un-Exos were generated using RNA-seq and qPCR. The functions of inf-Exos on liver injury were investigated after two types of exosomes injected into mice intravenously (i.v.), by examining histopathological and apoptotic changes, macrophage polarization, and pro-inflammatory response. The infected red blood cells-stimulated mouse Raw264.7 macrophage cells targeted by inf-Exos or un-Exos were cultured for further study and verification the potential mechanisms. We found that both inf-Exos and un-Exos displayed a typical cup-shaped structure with a diameter of 60-200 nm, and had a positive expression of exosomal markers (e.g., CD9, CD63, and CD81). Compared with infected control mice, the treatment of inf-Exos but not un-Exos dramatically enhanced peripheral blood parasitemia and ECM incidence, exacerbated liver histopathological damage, elevated numbers of liver apoptotic cells, CD68+and CD86+ macrophages. The CD68+-TREM-1+ macrophages in liver tissues and the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were increased by inf-Exos treatment in vivo. Meanwhile, the treatment of inf-Exos resulted in a substantial increase of the mRNA levels of CD86, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, but led to a remarkable decrease of Bcl-6 and SOCS-1 in Raw264.7 cells stimulated with iRBC in vitro. Notably, compared to un-Exos, five types of miRNAs (including miR-10a-5p, miR-10b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-205-5p, and miR-21a-5p), that were previously reported to target Bcl-6 or SOCS-1, present higher abundance on inf-Exos, as demonstrated by RNA-seq and qPCR. Collectively, our data suggest that inf-Exos exacerbate malaria-induced liver pathology via triggering excessive pro-inflammatory response and promoting macrophage M1 polarization. Our findings will provide new insights into the roles of inf-Exos in malaria parasite-host interaction and pathogenesis of liver injury.
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40
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Cardona-Arias JA, Higuita Gutiérrez LF, Carmona-Fonseca J. Diagnostic Accuracy of a Thick Blood Smear Compared to qPCR for Malaria Associated with Pregnancy in Colombia. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8020119. [PMID: 36828535 PMCID: PMC9959527 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the thick blood smear (TBS) versus quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the diagnosis of malaria associated with pregnancy (MAP) caused by P. falciparum or P. vivax in Colombia in its gestational malaria (GM), placental malaria (PM), and congenital malaria (CM) forms as well as to compare its accuracy in different subgroups of pregnant women according to the presence of fever, anemia and a history of malaria. This was a diagnostic evaluation of 829 pregnant women, 579 placentas, 381 umbilical cord samples, and 221 neonatal peripheral blood samples. Accuracy was evaluated based on the parameters of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and validity index, with their 95% confidence intervals. The frequency of GM was 36% (n = 297/829), PM 27% (n = 159/579), and CM 16.5% (n = 63/381) in umbilical cord samples and 2% (n = 5/221) in neonatal peripheral blood samples. For GM, the sensitivity was 55%, with higher rates in those infected with P. vivax (68%), with a history of malaria (69%), and with fever (96%). These three subgroups presented the best results in terms of the negative likelihood ratio and validity index. For PM, sensitivity was 8%; in subgroup analyses in terms of species, symptomatology (anemia and fever), and history of malaria, it was 1-18%, and the negative likelihood ratio was >0.80 in all subgroups. No false positives were recorded in any of the subgroups. The TBS did not detect any cases of CM. This study found the TBS yielded satisfactory results in terms of diagnosing GM for P. vivax, pregnant women with previous malaria and febrile. It also showed that the TBS is not useful for diagnosing PM and CM. It is necessary to conduct surveillance of MAP with molecular methods in in groups where TBS is deficient (asymptomatic GM, P. falciparum, and pregnant women without history of malaria) to optimize the timely treatment of PM and CM, avoid the deleterious effects of MAP and achieve the malaria elimination goals in Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis Felipe Higuita Gutiérrez
- Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Jaime Carmona-Fonseca
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad César Uribe Piedrahíta, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
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Siłka W, Wieczorek M, Siłka J, Woźniak M. Malaria Detection Using Advanced Deep Learning Architecture. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:1501. [PMID: 36772541 PMCID: PMC9921611 DOI: 10.3390/s23031501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The early diagnosis and treatment of malaria are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in developing countries where the disease is prevalent. In this article, we present a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture for detecting malaria from blood samples with a 99.68% accuracy. Our method outperforms the existing approaches in terms of both accuracy and speed, making it a promising tool for malaria diagnosis in resource-limited settings. The CNN was trained on a large dataset of blood smears and was able to accurately classify infected and uninfected samples with high sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, we present an analysis of model performance on different subtypes of malaria and discuss the implications of our findings for the use of deep learning in infectious disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Siłka
- Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-008 Kraków, Poland
| | - Michał Wieczorek
- Faculty of Applied Mathematics, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Geosolution Sp. z o.o., 02-672 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Siłka
- Faculty of Applied Mathematics, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Geosolution Sp. z o.o., 02-672 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Woźniak
- Faculty of Applied Mathematics, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Geosolution Sp. z o.o., 02-672 Warsaw, Poland
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Feineis D, Bringmann G. Asian Ancistrocladus Lianas as Creative Producers of Naphthylisoquinoline Alkaloids. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 119:1-335. [PMID: 36587292 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-10457-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
This book describes a unique class of secondary metabolites, the mono- and dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids. They occur in lianas of the paleotropical Ancistrocladaceae and Dioncophyllaceae families, exclusively. Their unprecedented structures include stereogenic centers and rotationally hindered, and thus likewise stereogenic, axes. Extended recent investigations on six Ancistrocladus species from Asia, as reported in this review, shed light on their fascinating phytochemical productivity, with over 100 such intriguing natural products. This high chemodiversity arises from a likewise unique biosynthesis from acetate-malonate units, following a novel polyketidic pathway to plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloids. Some of the compounds show most promising antiparasitic activities. Likewise presented are strategies for the regio- and stereoselective total synthesis of the alkaloids, including the directed construction of the chiral axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Feineis
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Bringmann
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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Storm J, Camarda G, Haley MJ, Brough D, Couper KN, Craig AG. Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte co-culture with the monocyte cell line THP-1 does not trigger production of soluble factors reducing brain microvascular barrier function. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285323. [PMID: 37141324 PMCID: PMC10159134 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Monocytes contribute to the pro-inflammatory immune response during the blood stage of a Plasmodium falciparum infection, but their precise role in malaria pathology is not clear. Besides phagocytosis, monocytes are activated by products from P. falciparum infected erythrocytes (IE) and one of the activation pathways is potentially the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a multi-protein complex that leads to the production of interleukin (IL)-1β. In cerebral malaria cases, monocytes accumulate at IE sequestration sites in the brain microvascular and the locally produced IL-1β, or other secreted molecules, could contribute to leakage of the blood-brain barrier. To study the activation of monocytes by IE within the brain microvasculature in an in vitro model, we co-cultured IT4var14 IE and the monocyte cell line THP-1 for 24 hours and determined whether generated soluble molecules affect barrier function of human brain microvascular endothelial cells, measured by real time trans-endothelial electrical resistance. The medium produced after co-culture did not affect endothelial barrier function and similarly no effect was measured after inducing oxidative stress by adding xanthine oxidase to the co-culture. While IL-1β does decrease barrier function, barely any IL-1β was produced in the co- cultures, indicative of a lack of or incomplete THP-1 activation by IE in this co-culture model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Storm
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Grazia Camarda
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Haley
- Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David Brough
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin N Couper
- Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alister G Craig
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Tebben K, Yirampo S, Coulibaly D, Koné AK, Laurens MB, Stucke EM, Dembélé A, Tolo Y, Traoré K, Niangaly A, Berry AA, Kouriba B, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, Lyke KE, Takala-Harrison S, Thera MA, Travassos MA, Serre D. Malian children infected with Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium falciparum display very similar gene expression profiles. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010802. [PMID: 36696438 PMCID: PMC9901758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites caused 241 million cases of malaria and over 600,000 deaths in 2020. Both P. falciparum and P. ovale are endemic to Mali and cause clinical malaria, with P. falciparum infections typically being more severe. Here, we sequenced RNA from nine pediatric blood samples collected during infections with either P. falciparum or P. ovale, and characterized the host and parasite gene expression profiles. We found that human gene expression varies more between individuals than according to the parasite species causing the infection, while parasite gene expression profiles cluster by species. Additionally, we characterized DNA polymorphisms of the parasites directly from the RNA-seq reads and found comparable levels of genetic diversity in both species, despite dramatic differences in prevalence. Our results provide unique insights into host-pathogen interactions during malaria infections and their variations according to the infecting Plasmodium species, which will be critical to develop better elimination strategies against all human Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Tebben
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore Maryland, United States of America
| | - Salif Yirampo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Drissa Coulibaly
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Abdoulaye K. Koné
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Matthew B. Laurens
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Emily M. Stucke
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ahmadou Dembélé
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Youssouf Tolo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Karim Traoré
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Amadou Niangaly
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Andrea A. Berry
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bourema Kouriba
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Christopher V. Plowe
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ogobara K. Doumbo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Kirsten E. Lyke
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shannon Takala-Harrison
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mahamadou A. Thera
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mark A. Travassos
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David Serre
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore Maryland, United States of America
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Donsante S, Siciliano G, Ciardo M, Palmisano B, Messina V, de Turris V, Farinacci G, Serafini M, Silvestrini F, Corsi A, Riminucci M, Alano P. An in vivo humanized model to study homing and sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum transmission stages in the bone marrow. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1161669. [PMID: 37153157 PMCID: PMC10154621 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1161669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Recent evidence suggests that the bone marrow (BM) plays a key role in the diffusion of P. falciparum malaria by providing a "niche" for the maturation of the parasite gametocytes, responsible for human-to-mosquito transmission. Suitable humanized in vivo models to study the mechanisms of the interplay between the parasite and the human BM components are still missing. Methods We report a novel experimental system based on the infusion of immature P. falciparum gametocytes into immunocompromised mice carrying chimeric ectopic ossicles whose stromal and bone compartments derive from human osteoprogenitor cells. Results We demonstrate that immature gametocytes home within minutes to the ossicles and reach the extravascular regions, where they are retained in contact with different human BM stromal cell types. Discussion Our model represents a powerful tool to study BM function and the interplay essential for parasite transmission in P. falciparum malaria and can be extended to study other infections in which the human BM plays a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Donsante
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Siciliano
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Ciardo
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Biagio Palmisano
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Messina
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria de Turris
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Farinacci
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Serafini
- Centro Ricerca M. Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Corsi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Riminucci
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Mara Riminucci, ; Pietro Alano,
| | - Pietro Alano
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Mara Riminucci, ; Pietro Alano,
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Plirat W, Chaniad P, Phuwajaroanpong A, Septama AW, Punsawad C. Phytochemical, Antimalarial, and Acute Oral Toxicity Properties of Selected Crude Extracts of Prabchompoothaweep Remedy in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7120395. [PMID: 36548650 PMCID: PMC9785619 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7120395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a life-threatening health problem and encounters with the increasing of antimalarial drug resistance. Medicinal plants play a critical role in synthesizing novel and potent antimalarial agents. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents, antiplasmodial activity, and evaluate the toxicity of crude ethanolic extracts of Myristica fragrans, Atractylodes lancea, and Prabchompoothaweep remedy in a mouse model. The phytochemical constituents were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Antimalarial efficacy against Plasmodium berghei was assessed using 4-day suppressive tests at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight. Acute toxicity was assessed at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight of crude extracts. The 4-day suppression test showed that all crude extracts significantly suppressed parasitemia (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Higher parasitemia suppression was observed both in Prabchompoothaweep remedy at a dose of 600 mg/kg (60.1%), and A. lancea at a dose of 400 mg/kg (60.1%). The acute oral toxicity test indicated that the LD50 values of all extracts were greater than 2000 mg/kg and that these extracts were not toxic in the mouse model. LC-MS analysis revealed several compounds in M. fragrans, A. lancea, and Prabchompoothaweep remedy. For quantitative analysis, 1,2,6,8-tetrahydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone 2-O-b-D-glucoside, chlorogenic acid, and 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl) ethyl 3-hydroxyoctanoate were found in A. lancea, while (7′x,8′x)-4,7′-epoxy-3,8′-bilign-7-ene-3,5′-dimethoxy-4′,9,9′-triol, edulisin III, and tetra-hydrosappanone A trimethyl ether are found in M. fragrans. 6′-O-Formylmarmin was present in the Prabchompoothaweep remedy, followed by pterostilbene glycinate and amlaic acid. This study showed that the ethanolic extracts of A. lancea and Prabchompoothaweep remedy possess antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei. None of the extracts had toxic effects on liver and kidney function. Therefore, the ethanolic extract of A. lancea rhizome and Prabchompoothaweep remedy could be used as an alternative source of new antimalarial agents. Further studies are needed to determine the active compounds in both extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walaiporn Plirat
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Prapaporn Chaniad
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Arisara Phuwajaroanpong
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Abdi Wira Septama
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Traditional Medicine, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong Science Center, Bogor 16915, Indonesia
| | - Chuchard Punsawad
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Correspondence:
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Chaves JB, Portugal Tavares de Moraes B, Regina Ferrarini S, Noé da Fonseca F, Silva AR, Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque CF. Potential of nanoformulations in malaria treatment. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:999300. [PMID: 36386185 PMCID: PMC9645116 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.999300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by the protozoan Plasmodium sp and affects millions of people worldwide. Its clinical form ranges from asymptomatic to potentially fatal and severe. Current treatments include single drugs such as chloroquine, lumefantrine, primaquine, or in combination with artemisinin or its derivatives. Resistance to antimalarial drugs has increased; therefore, there is an urgent need to diversify therapeutic approaches. The disease cycle is influenced by biological, social, and anthropological factors. This longevity and complexity contributes to the records of drug resistance, where further studies and proposals for new therapeutic formulations are needed for successful treatment of malaria. Nanotechnology is promising for drug development. Preclinical formulations with antimalarial agents have shown positive results, but only a few have progressed to clinical phase. Therefore, studies focusing on the development and evaluation of antimalarial formulations should be encouraged because of their enormous therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaina Braga Chaves
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro—UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bianca Portugal Tavares de Moraes
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro—UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Stela Regina Ferrarini
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Laboratory, Federal University of Mato Grosso of Sinop Campus—UFMT, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Francisco Noé da Fonseca
- Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Parque Estação Biológica—PqEB, EMBRAPA, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Adriana Ribeiro Silva
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ—UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cassiano Felippe Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro—UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ—UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Cassiano Felippe Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque,
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Bailly C, Hénichart JP. Advocacy for the Medicinal Plant Artabotrys hexapetalus (Yingzhao) and Antimalarial Yingzhaosu Endoperoxides. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27196192. [PMID: 36234725 PMCID: PMC9573098 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The medicinal plant Artabotrys hexapetalus (synonyms: A.uncinatus and A. odoratissimus) is known as yingzhao in Chinese. Extracts of the plant have long been used in Asian folk medicine to treat various symptoms and diseases, including fevers, microbial infections, ulcers, hepatic disorders and other health problems. In particular, extracts from the roots and fruits of the plant are used for treating malaria. Numerous bioactive natural products have been isolated from the plant, mainly aporphine (artabonatines, artacinatine) and benzylisoquinoline (hexapetalines) alkaloids, terpenoids (artaboterpenoids), flavonoids (artabotrysides), butanolides (uncinine, artapetalins) and a small series of endoperoxides known as yingzhaosu A-to-D. These natural products confer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties to the plant extracts. The lead compound yingzhaosu A displays marked activities against the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei. Total syntheses have been developed to access yingzhaosu compounds and analogues, such as the potent compound C14-epi-yingzhaosu A and simpler molecules with a dioxane unit. The mechanism of action of yingzhaosu A points to an iron(II)-induced degradation leading to the formation of two alkylating species, an unsaturated ketone and a cyclohexyl radical, which can then react with vital parasitic proteins. A bioreductive activation of yingzhaosu A endoperoxide can also occur with the heme iron complex. The mechanism of action of yingzhaosu endoperoxides is discussed, to promote further chemical and pharmacological studies of these neglected, but highly interesting bioactive compounds. Yingzhaosu A/C represent useful templates for designing novel antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bailly
- OncoWitan, Scientific Consulting Office, 59290 Lille (Wasquehal), France
- Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lille, 3 Rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59000 Lille, France
- Correspondence:
| | - Jean-Pierre Hénichart
- Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lille, 3 Rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59000 Lille, France
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Babatunde KA, Adenuga OF. Neutrophils in malaria: A double-edged sword role. Front Immunol 2022; 13:922377. [PMID: 35967409 PMCID: PMC9367684 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.922377] [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: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in human peripheral blood. They form the first line of defense against invading foreign pathogens and might play a crucial role in malaria. According to World Health Organization (WHO), malaria is a globally significant disease caused by protozoan parasites from the Plasmodium genus, and it's responsible for 627,000 deaths in 2020. Neutrophils participate in the defense response against the malaria parasite via phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Neutrophils might also be involved in the pathogenesis of malaria by the release of toxic granules and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Intriguingly, malaria parasites inhibit the anti-microbial function of neutrophils, thus making malaria patients more susceptible to secondary opportunistic Salmonella infections. In this review, we will provide a summary of the role of neutrophils during malaria infection, some contradicting mouse model neutrophil data and neutrophil-related mechanisms involved in malaria patients' susceptibility to bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kehinde Adebayo Babatunde
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
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50
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Thiam F, Diop G, Coulonges C, Derbois C, Mbengue B, Thiam A, Nguer CM, Zagury JF, Deleuze JF, Dieye A. G6PD and HBB polymorphisms in the Senegalese population: prevalence, correlation with clinical malaria. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13487. [PMID: 35811813 PMCID: PMC9266585 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Host genetic factors contribute to the variability of malaria phenotypes and can allow a better understanding of mechanisms involved in susceptibility and/or resistance to Plasmodium falciparum infection outcomes. Several genetic polymorphisms were reported to be prevalent among populations living in tropical malaria-endemic regions and induce protection against malaria. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of HBB (chr11) and G6PD (chrX) deficiencies polymorphisms among Senegalese populations and their associations with the risk for severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria occurrence. Methods We performed a retrospective study with 437 samples, 323 patients recruited in hospitals located in three different endemic areas where malaria episodes were confirmed and 114 free malaria controls. The patients enrolled were classified into two groups: severe malaria (SM) (153 patients) and uncomplicated malaria (UM) (170 patients). PCR and DNA sequencing assessed host genetic polymorphisms in HBB and G6PD. Using a multivariate regression and additive model, estimates of the impact of human HBB and G6PD polymorphisms on malaria incidence were performed. Results Six frequent SNPs with minor allele frequencies (MAF) > 3% were detected in the HBB gene (rs7946748, rs7480526, rs10768683, rs35209591, HbS (rs334) and rs713040) and two in the G6PD gene (rs762515 and rs1050828 (G6PD-202 G > A). Analysis of selected HbS polymorphism showed significant association with protective effect against severe malaria with a significant p-value = 0.033 (OR 0.38, 95% CI [0.16-0.91]) for SM vs. UM comparison. Surprisingly, our study did not identify the protective effect of variant HbC polymorphism against severe malaria. Finally, we found some of the polymorphisms, like HbS (rs334), are associated with age and biological parameters like eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes etc. Conclusion Our data report HBB and G6PD polymorphisms in the Senegalese population and their correlation with severe/mild malaria and outcome. The G6PD and HBB deficiencies are widespread in West Africa endemic malaria regions such as The Gambia, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The study shows the critical role of genetic factors in malaria outcomes. Indeed, genetic markers could be good tools for malaria endemicity prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatou Thiam
- Groupe de Recherche Biotechnologie Appliquée et Bioprocédés Environnementaux (GRBA-BE), Laboratoire Eau, Energie, Environnement et Procédés Industriels (LE3PI), Département de Génie Chimique et Biologie Appliquée, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar, Dakar Fann, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Gora Diop
- Unité Postulante de Biologie Génétique, Génomique et Bio-informatique (G2B), Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP, Avenue Cheikh Anta DIOP, Dakar Fann, Dakar, Sénégal,Pole d’Immunophysiopathologie & Maladies Infectieuses (IMI), Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Cedric Coulonges
- Equipe GBA «Génomique, Bioinformatique & Applications », Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France
| | - Céline Derbois
- CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Babacar Mbengue
- Service d’Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d’Odontostomatologie, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Alassane Thiam
- Pole d’Immunophysiopathologie & Maladies Infectieuses (IMI), Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Cheikh Momar Nguer
- Groupe de Recherche Biotechnologie Appliquée et Bioprocédés Environnementaux (GRBA-BE), Laboratoire Eau, Energie, Environnement et Procédés Industriels (LE3PI), Département de Génie Chimique et Biologie Appliquée, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar, Dakar Fann, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Jean Francois Zagury
- Equipe GBA «Génomique, Bioinformatique & Applications », Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Francois Deleuze
- CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Alioune Dieye
- Service d’Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d’Odontostomatologie, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP, Dakar, Sénégal
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