1
|
Idih FM, Atanu FO, Ndu CK, Michael RE, Kadiri B, Jimoh LO, Usman BO, Ogugua VN. Lycopene possess an antimalarial effect on chloroquine-resistant malaria and its hematological aberrations in murine model. Parasitol Int 2024; 101:102873. [PMID: 38428566 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102873] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains a major public health issue worldwide, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The resistance of Plasmodium parasites to commonly used antimalarial drugs has necessitated the development of novel drugs and targets for malaria treatment. Lycopene is a natural compound present in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables. This study aimed to evaluate the antimalarial activity of lycopene and its co-administration with chloroquine against chloroquine-resistant malaria, as well as to assess its impact on hematological abnormalities associated with malaria infection. The experimental animals for this study were infected with 10 7 NK65 Plasmodium berghei-infected red blood cells via intraperitoneal injection. The animals were then treated with artemether-lumefantrine, chloroquine, and varying doses of lycopene. The study evaluated percentage parasitemia, mean survival time, and various hematological parameters, including red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, red blood cell distribution width - coefficient of variation, red blood cell distribution width - standard deviation, white blood cell count, granulocyte count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count, and procalcitonin level. The study revealed that lycopene demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) antimalarial activity and the ability to ameliorate hematological abnormalities associated with acute malaria infection. The findings of this study highlight the potential of lycopene as a novel antimalarial agent. The results of this study may contribute to the development of new drugs for malaria treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Favour Moses Idih
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Genomics and Molecular Biotechnology Research and Training Laboratory, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria.
| | - Francis Onakpa Atanu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
| | - Chidiebere Kingsley Ndu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Racheal Enechojo Michael
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Genomics and Molecular Biotechnology Research and Training Laboratory, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
| | - Blessing Kadiri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Genomics and Molecular Biotechnology Research and Training Laboratory, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
| | - Lukman Ojo Jimoh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Genomics and Molecular Biotechnology Research and Training Laboratory, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
| | - Bilkis Ojochide Usman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Genomics and Molecular Biotechnology Research and Training Laboratory, Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
| | - Victor Nwadiogbu Ogugua
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Venishetty VK, Lecot J, Nguyen A, Zhang J, Prince WT. First-in-human, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single and multiple ascending doses clinical study to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of cipargamin administered intravenously in healthy adults. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024:e0128723. [PMID: 39058022 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01287-23] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This first-in-human study assessed safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of cipargamin (intravenous) in healthy adults. It included part 1, single ascending dose [SAD: 10.5 mg-210 mg; n = 8 (active: 6, placebo: 2)], and part 2, multiple ascending dose [MAD: 60 and 120 mg daily for 5 days; n = 9 (active: 6, placebo: 3)]. Last dose follow-ups were on days 3, 4, and 6 for SAD and 7, 8, and 10 for MAD. Safety and PK review was done at completion of each cohort. We explored the cipargamin use for clinical development in patients with severe malaria. In SAD part, systemic exposure (maximum measured concentration and area under the curve) increased with increasing dose (10.5 mg-210 mg) following single intravenous dose. Cipargamin was eliminated with a mean T1/2 of 21.9-38.9 h. Volume of distribution (92.9 L-154 L) and clearance (2.43 L/h-4.33 L/h) was moderate and low, respectively, across the dose range. In MAD part, the mean accumulation ratio was 1.51 (60 mg) and 2.43 (120 mg) after once-daily cipargamin administration for 5 days. After day 5, the mean T1/2 was 35.5 (60 mg) and 31.9 h (120 mg) with twofold dose increase (60-120 mg) resulting in ~2-fold increased exposure. Cipargamin was well tolerated with commonly reported mild gastrointestinal, neurological, and genitourinary events. Increasing exposure to cipargamin showed higher baseline-corrected QTcF, and model-predicted ΔΔQTcF indicated that an effect on ΔΔQTcF ≥10 ms can be excluded up to 6470 ng/mL. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to inadequate Fridericia's QT correction. CLINICAL TRIALS This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04321252.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amanda Nguyen
- BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schenberg K, Hoad VC, Harley R, Bentley P. Managing the risk of transfusion-transmitted malaria from Australian blood donations: Recommendation of a new screening strategy. Vox Sang 2024. [PMID: 39048116 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13706] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) from transfusible components, Australia tests for malaria antibodies in both travellers returning from and former residents of malaria-endemic areas. The testing is performed a minimum of 120 days after last potential exposure. TTM is an extremely rare event and managing the risk adds considerable complexity. The objectives of this study were to analyse various testing and deferral strategies, considering the risk, donation numbers and operational complexities. MATERIALS AND METHODS A residual risk model was developed to calculate the risk of TTM in five testing/deferral strategies. Australian blood donor data from 2020 and 2021 were used and incorporated the incidence of parasitaemia, Plasmodium species and the malaria enzyme immunoassay test's failure rate. Donor and donation loss or gain and an operational assessment were performed. RESULTS The current model's estimated risk of TTM is 1 in 67.9 million transfused units. Testing residents with a 120-day plasma restriction for visitors without testing was found to have the same estimated risk, with an expected increase of 342 donations per year, significant cost savings and a 62% reduction in the number of donors requiring assessment. CONCLUSION A strategy that involves testing residents of malaria areas only and a 120-day plasma travel restriction would not significantly increase the risk of TTM, is operationally simpler, costs less and results in a small increase in donations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katia Schenberg
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Veronica C Hoad
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Robert Harley
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter Bentley
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gebrie H, Yimer M, Ayehu A, Mohammed H, Hailgiorgis H, Wuletaw Y, Hailu M, Tolera G, Tasew G, Kassa M, Gidey B. Efficacy and safety of chloroquine plus primaquine for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Hamusit site, Northwestern Ethiopia. Malar J 2024; 23:202. [PMID: 38971786 PMCID: PMC11227712 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-05031-9] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax malaria is still an important public health problem in Ethiopia. Unlike Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax has a dormant liver stage (hypnozoite) that can be a risk of recurrent vivax malaria unless treated by radical cure with primaquine. Drug resistance to chloroquine is threatening malaria control and elimination efforts. This study assessed the therapeutic efficacy and safety of chloroquine plus 14 days of primaquine on P. vivax infection based on parasitological, clinical, and haematological parameters. METHODS A single-arm in vivo prospective therapeutic efficacy study was conducted to assess the clinical and parasitological response to the first-line treatment of P. vivax in Ethiopia, chloroquine plus 14 days low dose of (0.25 mg/kg/day) primaquine between December 2022 and March 2023 at Hamusit Health Centre using the standard World Health Organization (WHO) protocol. A total of 100 study participants with P. vivax mono-infection who were over 6 months old were enrolled and monitored for adequate clinical and parasitological responses for 42 days. The WHO double-entry Excel sheet and SPSS v.25 software were used for Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and a paired t-test was used for analysis of haemoglobin improvements between follow up days. RESULTS A total of 100 patients were enrolled among those, 96% cases were rural residents, 93% had previous malaria exposure, and predominant age group was 5-15 years (61%). 92.6% (95% CI 85.1-96.4%) of enrolled patients were adequate clinical and parasitological response, and 7.4% (95% CI 3.6-14.9%) recurrences were observed among treated patients. The fever and parasite clearance rate on day 3 were 98% and 94%, respectively. The baseline haemoglobin levels improved significantly compared to those days 14 and 42 (p < 0.001). No serious adverse event was observed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS In this study, co-administration of chloroquine with primaquine was efficacious and well-tolerated with fast resolution of fever and high parasites clearance rate. However, the 7.4% failure is reported is alarming that warrant further monitoring of the therapeutic efficacy study of P. vivax.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Habtamu Gebrie
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science College of Medicine and Health Science, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.
| | - Mulat Yimer
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Animen Ayehu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Yonas Wuletaw
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mesay Hailu
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Geremew Tasew
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mogess Kassa
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Achan J, Barry A, Leroy D, Kamara G, Duparc S, Kaszubska W, Gandhi P, Buffet B, Tshilab P, Ogutu B, Taylor T, Krishna S, Richardson N, Ramachandruni H, Rietveld H. Defining the next generation of severe malaria treatment: a target product profile. Malar J 2024; 23:174. [PMID: 38835069 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04986-z] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe malaria is a life-threatening infection, particularly affecting children under the age of 5 years in Africa. Current treatment with parenteral artemisinin derivatives is highly efficacious. However, artemisinin partial resistance is widespread in Southeast Asia, resulting in delayed parasite clearance after therapy, and has emerged independently in South America, Oceania, and Africa. Hence, new treatments for severe malaria are needed, and it is prudent to define their characteristics now. This manuscript focuses on the target product profile (TPP) for new treatments for severe malaria. It also highlights preparedness when considering ways of protecting the utility of artemisinin-based therapies. TARGET PRODUCT PROFILE Severe malaria treatments must be highly potent, with rapid onset of antiparasitic activity to clear the infection as quickly as possible to prevent complications. They should also have a low potential for drug resistance selection, given the high parasite burden in patients with severe malaria. Combination therapies are needed to deter resistance selection and dissemination. Partner drugs which are approved for uncomplicated malaria treatment would provide the most rapid development pathway for combinations, though new candidate molecules should be considered. Artemisinin combination approaches to severe malaria would extend the lifespan of current therapy, but ideally, completely novel, non-artemisinin-based combination therapies for severe malaria should be developed. These should be advanced to at least phase 2 clinical trials, enabling rapid progression to patient use should current treatment fail clinically. New drug combinations for severe malaria should be available as injectable formulations for rapid and effective treatment, or as rectal formulations for pre-referral intervention in resource-limited settings. CONCLUSION Defining the TPP is a key step to align responses across the community to proactively address the potential for clinical failure of artesunate in severe malaria. In the shorter term, artemisinin-based combination therapies should be developed using approved or novel drugs. In the longer term, novel combination treatments should be pursued. Thus, this TPP aims to direct efforts to preserve the efficacy of existing treatments while improving care and outcomes for individuals affected by this life-threatening disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Aïssata Barry
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Didier Leroy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, CH-1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - George Kamara
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Magburaka District Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Stephan Duparc
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, CH-1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Wiweka Kaszubska
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, CH-1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | | | - Bénédicte Buffet
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, CH-1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | | | - Bernhards Ogutu
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Terrie Taylor
- Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Sanjeev Krishna
- Institut Für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, and German Center for Infection Research (Dzif), Tübingen, Germany
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
- Clinical Academic Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's University of London, London, UK
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Hanu Ramachandruni
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, CH-1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland.
| | - Hans Rietveld
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, CH-1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lv Y, Wu S, Nie Q, Liu S, Xu W, Chen G, Du Y, Chen J. Extracellular vesicles derived from plasmodium-infected red blood cells alleviate cerebral malaria in plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected C57BL/6J mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:111982. [PMID: 38569430 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111982] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
RTS,S is the first malaria vaccine recommended for implementation among young children at risk. However, vaccine efficacy is modest and short-lived. To mitigate the risk of cerebral malaria (CM) among children under the age of 5, it is imperative to develop new vaccines. EVs are potential vaccine candidates as they obtain the ability of brain-targeted delivery and transfer plasmodium antigens and immunomodulators during infections. This study extracted EVs from BALB/c mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL (P.y17XNL). C57BL/6J mice were intravenously immunized with EVs (EV-I.V. + CM group) or subcutaneously vaccinated with the combination of EVs and CpG ODN-1826 (EV + CPG ODN-S.C. + CM group) on days 0 and 20, followed by infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (P.bANKA) on day 20 post-second immunization. We monitored Parasitemia and survival rate. The integrity of the Blood-brain barrier (BBB) was examined using Evans blue staining.The levels of cytokines and adhesion molecules were evaluated using Luminex, RT-qPCR, and WB. Brain pathology was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining. The serum levels of IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Compared with those in the P.bANKA-infected group, parasitemia increased slowly, death was delayed (day 10 post-infection), and the survival rate reached 75 %-83.3 % in the EV-I.V. + ECM and EV + CPG ODN-S.C. + ECM groups. Meanwhile, compared with the EV + CPG ODN-S.C. + ECM group, although parasitemia was almost the same, the survival rate increased in the EV-I.V. + ECM group.Additionally, EVs immunization markedly downregulated inflammatory responses in the spleen and brain and ameliorated brain pathological changes, including BBB disruption and infected red blood cell (iRBC) sequestration. Furthermore, the EVs immunization group exhibited enhanced antibody responses (upregulation of IgG1 and IgG2a production) compared to the normal control group. EV immunization exerted protective effects, improving the integrity of the BBB, downregulating inflammation response of brain tissue, result in reduces the incidence of CM. The protective effects were determined by immunological pathways and brain targets elicited by EVs. Intravenous immunization exhibited better performance than subcutaneous immunization, which perhaps correlated with EVs, which can naturally cross BBB to play a better role in brain protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yinyi Lv
- Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou University, No 1139 Shifu Road, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Shuang Wu
- Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou University, No 1139 Shifu Road, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Qing Nie
- Weifang Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, No 4801 Huixian Road, Gaoxin Distric, Weifang 261061, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shuangchun Liu
- Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Taizhou University, No 381, Zhongshan East Road, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Wenxin Xu
- Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou University, No 1139 Shifu Road, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou University, No 1139 Shifu Road, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou 318000, China.
| | - Yunting Du
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, NO. 44 Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang 110042, China.
| | - Jinguang Chen
- Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou University, No 1139 Shifu Road, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou 318000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ngasala B, Bushukatale S, Chiduo M, Makene T, Mkony L, Mohamed A, Molteni F, Chacky F, Njau RJA, Mwaiswelo R. Efficacy of artesunate-amodiaquine for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in mainland Tanzania. Malar J 2024; 23:90. [PMID: 38553737 PMCID: PMC10979577 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04923-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diversification of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is suggested as one of the strategies that can be used to contain artemisinin resistance. Artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) is one of the artemisinin-based combinations that can be used in the diversification strategy as an alternative first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in mainland Tanzania. There is however limited data on the efficacy of ASAQ in mainland Tanzania. This study assessed the efficacy of ASAQ for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in selected sentinel sites for therapeutic efficacy studies in mainland Tanzania. METHODS Between December 2018 and March 2020, children aged between 6 months and 10 years, attending at Nagaga, Mkuzi, and Mlimba primary health facilities, and with suspected uncomplicated malaria infection were screened for eligibility to participate in the study. Malaria infection was screened using microscopy. Children with uncomplicated P. falciparum monoinfection and who fulfilled all other inclusion criteria, and had none of the exclusion criteria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, were treated with ASAQ. Follow-up visits were scheduled on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 or on any day of recurrent infection for clinical and laboratory assessment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-corrected cure rate on day 28 was the primary outcome. RESULTS A total of 264 children, 88 in each of the three study sites (Mlimba, Mkuzi and Nagaga health facilities) were enrolled and treated with ASAQ. The ASAQ PCR-corrected cure rate was 100% at all the three study sites. None of the participants had early treatment failure or late clinical failure. Furthermore, none of the participants had a serious adverse event. CONCLUSION ASAQ was highly efficacious for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in mainland Tanzania, therefore, it can be deployed as an alternative first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria as part of diversification strategy to contain the spread of partial artemisinin resistance in the country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Billy Ngasala
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Samwel Bushukatale
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Mercy Chiduo
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, P.O Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Twilumba Makene
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Lilian Mkony
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ally Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 743, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fablizio Molteni
- National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 743, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Frank Chacky
- National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 743, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ritha J A Njau
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Richard Mwaiswelo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, P.O Box 65300, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hviid L, Jensen AR, Deitsch KW. PfEMP1 and var genes - Still of key importance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria pathogenesis and immunity. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2024; 125:53-103. [PMID: 39095112 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2024.02.001] [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: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The most severe form of malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium falciparum parasites, continues to be an important cause of human suffering and poverty. The P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family of clonally variant antigens, which mediates the adhesion of infected erythrocytes to the vascular endothelium in various tissues and organs, is a central component of the pathogenesis of the disease and a key target of the acquired immune response to malaria. Much new knowledge has accumulated since we published a systematic overview of the PfEMP1 family almost ten years ago. In this chapter, we therefore aim to summarize research progress since 2015 on the structure, function, regulation etc. of this key protein family of arguably the most important human parasite. Recent insights regarding PfEMP1-specific immune responses and PfEMP1-specific vaccination against malaria, as well as an outlook for the coming years are also covered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lars Hviid
- Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anja R Jensen
- Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirk W Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Himmel T, Harl J, Matt J, Nedorost N, Iezhova T, Ilgūnas M, Valkiūnas G, Weissenböck H. RNAscope in situ hybridization reveals microvascular sequestration of Plasmodium relictum pSGS1 blood stages but absence of exo-erythrocytic dormant stages during latent infection of Serinus canaria. Malar J 2024; 23:70. [PMID: 38459560 PMCID: PMC10924391 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04899-x] [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: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birds chronically infected with avian malaria parasites often show relapses of parasitaemia after latent stages marked by absence of parasites in the peripheral circulation. These relapses are assumed to result from the activation of dormant exo-erythrocytic stages produced during secondary (post-erythrocytic) merogony of avian Plasmodium spp. Yet, there is no morphological proof of persistent or dormant tissue stages in the avian host during latent infections. This study investigated persistence of Plasmodium relictum pSGS1 in birds with latent infections during winter, with the goal to detect presumed persisting tissue stages using a highly sensitive RNAscope® in situ hybridization technology. METHODS Fourteen domestic canaries were infected with P. relictum pSGS1 by blood-inoculation in spring, and blood films examined during the first 4 months post infection, and during winter and spring of the following year. After parasitaemia was no longer detectable, half of the birds were dissected, and tissue samples investigated for persisting tissue stages using RNAscope ISH and histology. The remaining birds were blood-checked and dissected after re-appearance of parasitaemia, and their tissues equally examined. RESULTS Systematic examination of tissues showed no exo-erythrocytic stages in birds exhibiting latent infections by blood-film microscopy, indicating absence of dormant tissue stages in P. relictum pSGS1-infected canaries. Instead, RNAscope ISH revealed rare P. relictum blood stages in capillaries of various tissues and organs, demonstrating persistence of the parasites in the microvasculature. Birds examined after re-appearance of parasitemia showed higher numbers of P. relictum blood stages in both capillaries and larger blood vessels, indicating replication during early spring and re-appearance in the peripheral circulation. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that persistence of P. relictum pSGS1 during latent infection is mediated by continuous low-level erythrocytic merogony and possibly tissue sequestration of infected blood cells. Re-appearance of parasitaemia in spring seems to result from increased erythrocytic merogony, therefore representing recrudescence and not relapse in blood-inoculated canaries. Further, the study highlights strengths and limitations of the RNAscope ISH technology for the detection of rare parasite stages in tissues, providing directions for future research on persistence and tissue sequestration of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Himmel
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Josef Harl
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Matt
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nora Nedorost
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tatjana Iezhova
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mikas Ilgūnas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mwaiswelo R, Ngasala B, Chaky F, Molteni F, Mohamed A, Lazaro S, Samwel B, Mmbando BP. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine effectiveness for seasonal malaria chemoprevention in settings with extended seasonal malaria transmission in Tanzania. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2143. [PMID: 38273019 PMCID: PMC10810795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52706-z] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Effectiveness of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) as seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) was assessed in Nanyumbu and Masasi Districts. Between March and June 2021, children aged 3-59 months were enrolled in a cluster randomized study. Children in the intervention clusters received a monthly, 3-days course of DP for three consecutive months regardless of malaria infection status, and those in the control clusters received no intervention. Malaria infection was assessed at before the first-round and at 7 weeks after the third-round of DP in both arms. Malaria prevalence after the third-round of DP administration was the primary outcome. Chi-square tests and logistic regression model were used to compare proportions and adjust for explanatory variables. Before the intervention, malaria prevalence was 13.7% (161/1171) and 18.2% (212/1169) in the intervention and control clusters, respectively, p < 004. Malaria prevalence declined to 5.8% (60/1036) in the intervention clusters after three rounds of DP, and in the control clusters it declined to 9.3% (97/1048), p = 0.003. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios between the intervention and control arms were 0.42 (95%CI 0.32-0.55, p < 0.001) and 0.77 (95%CI 0.53-1.13, p = 0.189), respectively. SMC using DP was effective for control of malaria in the two Districts.Trial registration: NCT05874869, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ 25/05/2023.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Mwaiswelo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Billy Ngasala
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Frank Chaky
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | | | - Ally Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Samwel Lazaro
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Bushukatale Samwel
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Bruno P Mmbando
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Courlet P, Wilkins JJ, Oeuvray C, Gao W, Khandelwal A. Semi-mechanistic population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling of a Plasmodium elongation factor 2 inhibitor cabamiquine for prevention and cure of malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0089123. [PMID: 37966273 PMCID: PMC10720512 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00891-23] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cabamiquine is a novel antimalarial agent that demonstrates the potential for chemoprevention and treatment of malaria. In this article, the dose-exposure-response relationship of cabamiquine was characterized using a population pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) model, incorporating the effects of cabamiquine on parasite dynamics at the liver and blood stages of malaria infection. Modeling was performed sequentially. First, a three-compartmental population PK model was developed, comprising linear elimination, a transit absorption model in combination with first-order absorption, and a recirculation model. Second, this model was expanded into a PK/PD model using parasitemia data from an induced blood stage malaria (IBSM) human challenge model. To describe the parasite growth and killing in the blood, a turnover model was used. Finally, the liver stage parasite dynamics were characterized using data from a sporozoite challenge model (SpzCh), and system parameters were fixed based on biological plausibility. Cabamiquine concentration in the central compartment was used to drive parasite killing at the blood and liver stages. Blood stage minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICb) were estimated at 7.12 ng/mL [95% confidence interval (CI95%): 6.26-7.88 ng/mL] and 1.28 ng/mL (CI95%: 1.12-1.43 ng/mL) for IBSM and SpzCh populations, respectively, while liver stage MICl was lower (0.61 ng/mL; CI95%: 0.24-0.96 ng/mL). In conclusion, a population PK/PD model was developed by incorporating parasite dynamics and drug activity at the blood and liver stages based on clinical data and biological knowledge. This model can potentially facilitate antimalarial agent development by supporting the efficient selection of the optimal dosing regimen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Perrine Courlet
- Merck Institute for Pharmacometrics, Ares Trading S.A., (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Claude Oeuvray
- The Global Health Institute of Merck (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Wei Gao
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Inc., Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Paccoud O, Chamillard X, Kendjo E, Vinatier I, Surgers L, Magne D, Wyplosz B, Angoulvant A, Bouchaud O, Izri A, Matheron S, Houzé S, Thellier M, Ndour AP, Buffet P, Caumes E, Jauréguiberry S. Favorable outcome without corticosteroids during post-artesunate delayed hemolysis with positive direct antiglobulin test in severe imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria, France. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 137:144-148. [PMID: 37926196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Positive direct antiglobulin tests (DATs) have been reported in cases of post-artesunate delayed hemolysis (PADH), but the causal role of auto-immune hemolysis remains unclear. We aimed to analyze a cohort of patients with PADH and DAT during severe malaria. METHODS We describe PADH and DAT results in a 7-year multi-center retrospective cohort of patients receiving artesunate for severe imported malaria. RESULTS Of 337 patients treated with artesunate, 46 (13.6%) had at least one DAT result within 30 days of treatment initiation, and 25/46 (54.3%) had at least one positive DAT. Among 40 patients with available data, 17 (42.5%) experienced PADH. Patient characteristics were similar for patients with a positive or negative DAT, and DAT positivity was not associated with PADH occurrence (P = 0.36). Among patients, 5/13 (38.5%) with a positive DAT after day 7 experienced PADH, compared to 10/13 (76.9%) of those with a negative DAT after day 7 (P = 0.11). Overall, 41% of patients required blood transfusions, and outcome was favorable without corticosteroids, even in cases of PADH. CONCLUSIONS DAT does not appear to be a marker of PADH, but rather an indirect marker of an immune-mediated mechanism. DAT positivity should not lead to the administration of systemic corticosteroids during PADH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Paccoud
- Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Chamillard
- Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS) Ile-de-France, Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale de l'EFS Ile-de-France, Paris, France
| | - Eric Kendjo
- Centre National de Référence du Paludisme (NRC-M), Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Vinatier
- Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS) Ile-de-France, Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale de l'EFS Ile-de-France, Paris, France
| | - Laure Surgers
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Paris, France
| | - Denis Magne
- Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Laboratoire de Mycologie et Parasitologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Wyplosz
- Université de Paris Saclay, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Adéla Angoulvant
- Université de Paris Saclay, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Laboratoire de Mycologie et Parasitologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Olivier Bouchaud
- Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France; Société Française de Médecine des Voyages
| | - Arezki Izri
- Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Laboratoire de Mycologie et Parasitologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France
| | - Sophie Matheron
- Université de Paris, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Bichat Claude Bernard, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Houzé
- Université de Paris, IRD, MERIT, Paris, France; Université de Paris, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Laboratoire de Mycologie et Parasitologie, Hôpital Bichat Claude Bernard, Paris, France
| | - Marc Thellier
- Centre National de Référence du Paludisme (NRC-M), Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Laboratoire de Mycologie et Parasitologie, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Alioune P Ndour
- Université de Paris, INSERM, Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge, Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, France
| | - Pierre Buffet
- Université de Paris, INSERM, Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge, Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, France
| | - Eric Caumes
- Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France; Société Française de Médecine des Voyages
| | - Stéphane Jauréguiberry
- Centre National de Référence du Paludisme (NRC-M), Paris, France; Université de Paris Saclay, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France; Société Française de Médecine des Voyages; Université de Paris Saclay, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations, Villejuif, France.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
White NJ, Bonnington C, Nosten FH. A proposed method of grading malaria chemoprevention efficacy. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2023; 117:761-764. [PMID: 37427562 PMCID: PMC10629946 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficacy and effectiveness of antimalarial drugs are threatened by increasing levels of resistance and therefore require continuous monitoring. Chemoprevention is increasingly deployed as a malaria control measure, but there are no generally accepted methods of assessment. We propose a simple method of grading the parasitological response to chemoprevention (focusing on seasonal malaria chemoprevention) that is based on pharmacometric assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N J White
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - C Bonnington
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
- Malaria Consortium, London, UK
| | - F H Nosten
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol‐Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jajosky RP, Wu SC, Jajosky PG, Stowell SR. Plasmodium knowlesi ( Pk) Malaria: A Review & Proposal of Therapeutically Rational Exchange (T-REX) of Pk-Resistant Red Blood Cells. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:478. [PMID: 37888606 PMCID: PMC10610852 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi (Pk) causes zoonotic malaria and is known as the "fifth human malaria parasite". Pk malaria is an emerging threat because infections are increasing and can be fatal. While most infections are in Southeast Asia (SEA), especially Malaysia, travelers frequently visit this region and can present with Pk malaria around the world. So, clinicians need to know (1) patients who present with fever after recent travel to SEA might be infected with Pk and (2) Pk is often misdiagnosed as P. malariae (which typically causes less severe malaria). Here we review the history, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of Pk malaria. Severe disease is most common in adults. Signs and symptoms can include fever, abdominal pain, jaundice, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hyponatremia, hyperparasitemia, and thrombocytopenia. Dengue is one of the diseases to be considered in the differential. Regarding pathophysiologic mechanisms, when Pk parasites invade mature red blood cells (RBCs, i.e., normocytes) and reticulocytes, changes in the red blood cell (RBC) surface can result in life-threatening cytoadherence, sequestration, and reduced RBC deformability. Since molecular mechanisms involving the erythrocytic stage are responsible for onset of severe disease and lethal outcomes, it is biologically plausible that manual exchange transfusion (ET) or automated RBC exchange (RBCX) could be highly beneficial by replacing "sticky" parasitized RBCs with uninfected, deformable, healthy donor RBCs. Here we suggest use of special Pk-resistant donor RBCs to optimize adjunctive manual ET/RBCX for malaria. "Therapeutically-rational exchange transfusion" (T-REX) is proposed in which Pk-resistant RBCs are transfused (instead of disease-promoting RBCs). Because expression of the Duffy antigen on the surface of human RBCs is essential for parasite invasion, T-REX of Duffy-negative RBCs-also known as Fy(a-b-) RBCs-could replace the majority of the patient's circulating normocytes with Pk invasion-resistant RBCs (in a single procedure lasting about 2 h). When sequestered or non-sequestered iRBCs rupture-in a 24 h Pk asexual life cycle-the released merozoites cannot invade Fy(a-b-) RBCs. When Fy(a-b-) RBC units are scarce (e.g., in Malaysia), clinicians can consider the risks and benefits of transfusing plausibly Pk-resistant RBCs, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient (G6PDd) RBCs and Southeast Asian ovalocytes (SAO). Patients typically require a very short recovery time (<1 h) after the procedure. Fy(a-b-) RBCs should have a normal lifespan, while SAO and G6PDd RBCs may have mildly reduced half-lives. Because SAO and G6PDd RBCs come from screened blood donors who are healthy and not anemic, these RBCs have a low-risk for hemolysis and do not need to be removed after the patient recovers from malaria. T-REX could be especially useful if (1) antimalarial medications are not readily available, (2) patients are likely to progress to severe disease, or (3) drug-resistant strains emerge. In conclusion, T-REX is a proposed optimization of manual ET/RBCX that has not yet been utilized but can be considered by physicians to treat Pk malaria patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Philip Jajosky
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 630E New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.-C.W.)
- Biconcavity Inc., Lilburn, GA 30047, USA
| | - Shang-Chuen Wu
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 630E New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.-C.W.)
| | | | - Sean R. Stowell
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 630E New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.-C.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Saralamba S, Simpson JA, Choosri N, White L, Pan-Ngum W, Dondorp AM, White NJ. An artesunate pharmacometric model to explain therapeutic responses in falciparum malaria. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023; 78:2192-2202. [PMID: 37473441 PMCID: PMC10477127 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The artemisinins are potent and widely used antimalarial drugs that are eliminated rapidly. A simple concentration-effect pharmacometric model does not explain why dosing more frequently than once daily fails to augment parasite clearance and improve therapeutic responses in vivo. Artemisinins can induce a temporary non-replicative or 'dormant' drug refractory state in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites which may explain recrudescences observed in clinical trials despite full drug susceptibility, but whether it explains the dosing-response relationship is uncertain. OBJECTIVES To propose a revised model of antimalarial pharmacodynamics that incorporates reversible asexual parasite injury and temporary drug refractoriness in order to explain the failure of frequent dosing to augment therapeutic efficacy in falciparum malaria. METHODS The model was fitted using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach with the parasite clearance data from 39 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria treated with artesunate from western Cambodia and 40 patients from northwestern Thailand reported previously. RESULTS The revised model captured the dynamics of parasite clearance data. Its predictions are consistent with observed therapeutic responses. CONCLUSIONS A within-host pharmacometric model is proposed in which it is hypothesized that some malaria parasites enter a temporary drug refractory state after exposure to artemisinin antimalarials, which is followed by delayed parasite death or reactivation. The model fitted the observed sequential parasite density data from patients with acute P. falciparum malaria, and it supported reduced ring stage activity in artemisinin-resistant infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sompob Saralamba
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Julie A Simpson
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Noppon Choosri
- Center of Data Analytics and Knowledge Synthesis for Healthcare, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Lisa White
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Wirichada Pan-Ngum
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Arjen M Dondorp
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicholas J White
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Omondi CJ, Odongo D, Otambo WO, Ochwedo KO, Otieno A, Lee MC, Kazura JW, Githeko AK, Yan G. Malaria diagnosis in rural healthcare facilities and treatment-seeking behavior in malaria endemic settings in western Kenya. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001532. [PMID: 37471336 PMCID: PMC10358955 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Accurate malaria diagnosis and timely treatment are requirements for effective management of the disease. However, treatment efficacy may be significantly reduced in resource-constrained healthcare facilities with poorly equipped laboratories and frequent drug and rapid diagnostic test kit (RDT) stock-outs. Furthermore, patient may avoid seeking treatment from such facilities. The study's goal was to determine treatment-seeking behavior, malaria diagnosis and treatment quality, and likely treatment-seeking determinants in the local population. Passive case detection, which targeted all patients with suspected malaria cases, was conducted in ten public healthcare facilities over a three-month period. Monthly malaria cases, methods of diagnosis and antimalarial drug availability were assessed. A household-based survey was also carried out. Structured questionnaires were used to collect knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) data from household heads. Malaria knowledge, treatment seeking behavior, and predictors of malaria treatment-seeking were all determined. Three of the seven dispensaries lacked a laboratory to conduct microscopy- diagnosis. These three dispensaries also experienced frequent RDT stock-outs, which resulted in depending on clinical signs as diagnosis for malaria. The majority of local residents with fever (50.3%) purchased antimalarial drugs from a chemist. About 37% of fever patients sought treatment at healthcare facility while the remaining 12.7% did not treat their fevers. In irrigated areas, 45.5% (46/64) of fever patients sought treatment at healthcare facilities, compared to 25% (18/64) in non-irrigated areas (p = 0.009). Most children aged below 5 who had fever (77.7%) were taken to healthcare facility for treatment compared to 31.4% of children aged 5-14 years or 20.9% of adults (0.0001). Predictors of treatment seeking included access to healthcare facility (OR = 16.23, 95% CI: 2.74-96.12), and ability to pay hospital bills (OR = 10.6, 95% CI: 1.97-57). Other factors that influenced health-seeking behavior included the severity of symptoms, the age of the patient and knowledge of malaria symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Collince J. Omondi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
| | - David Odongo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Wilfred O. Otambo
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Department of Zoology, Maseno University, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Kevin O. Ochwedo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
| | - Antony Otieno
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ming-Chieh Lee
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - James W. Kazura
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Andrew K. Githeko
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Climate and Human Health Research Unit, Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Yin X, Li Y, Bagchus W, Yalkinoglu Ö, Bezuidenhout D, Tappert A, McCarthy J, Marquart L, Oeuvray C. Evaluation of a multiphasic parasite clearance profile after treatment of experimental human infection with the investigational anti-malarial M5717 using segmented mixed effect models. Malar J 2023; 22:199. [PMID: 37381013 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04627-x] [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: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evaluation of parasite clearance patterns in experimental human infection trials helps increase understanding of drug action. In a previously reported phase Ib trial of a new investigational anti-malarial drug M5717, parasite clearance showed a biphasic linear pattern: slow removal phase with a near flat clearance rate followed by a fast clearance phase with a steep slope. In this study three statistical approaches were implemented and compared to estimate the parasite clearance rate for each phase and the time point corresponding to the change of clearance rates (changepoint between the two phases). METHODS Data using three M5717 doses 150 mg (n = 6), 400 mg (n = 8), 800 mg (n = 8) were used to estimate biphasic clearance rates. Three models were investigated: firstly, segmented mixed models with estimated changepoint-models with/without random effects in various parameters were compared. Secondly, a segmented mixed model using grid search-this method is similar to the first except that changepoints were not estimated, instead they were selected based on model fit from given candidate values. Thirdly, a two-stage approach whereby a segmented regression model fit to each participant followed by a meta-analysis method. Hourly rate of parasite clearance (HRPC) interpreted as the percentage of parasites removed each hour was calculated. RESULTS The three models generated similar results. Using segmented mixed models, the estimated changepoints after treatment in hours (95% CI) were: 150 mg: 33.9 (28.7, 39.1); 400 mg: 57.4 (52.5, 62.4); and 800 mg: 52.8 (47.4, 58.1). For all three treatment groups, there was nearly no clearance before the changepoints, but rapid clearance in the second phase (HRPC [95% CI]): 150 mg: 16.8% (14.3, 19.1%); 400 mg: 18.6% (16.0, 21.1%); and 800 mg: 11.7% (9.3, 14.1%). CONCLUSIONS All three statistical approaches are effective tools to characterize the bi-phasic clearance of M5717 in the phase 1b experimental Plasmodium falciparum malaria human infection study. The statistical approaches produced similar results to estimate the two-phase clearance rates and the changepoint for each treatment dose of M5717. However, the segmented mixed model with random changepoints has several advantages: it is computationally efficient, provides precision for changepoint estimates and is robust concerning outlying datapoints or individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Yin
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. (an Affiliate of Merck KGaA), 45 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA, 01821, USA.
| | - Ying Li
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. (an Affiliate of Merck KGaA), 45 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA, 01821, USA
| | - Wilhelmina Bagchus
- WMB: Merck Serono S.A (an Affiliate of Merck KGaA), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Deon Bezuidenhout
- WMB: Merck Serono S.A (an Affiliate of Merck KGaA), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - James McCarthy
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Louise Marquart
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Claude Oeuvray
- The Global Health Institute of Merck (an Affiliate of Merck KGaA), Eysins, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Demarta-Gatsi C, Andenmatten N, Jiménez-Díaz MB, Gobeau N, Cherkaoui-Rabti MH, Fuchs A, Díaz P, Berja S, Sánchez R, Gómez H, Ruiz E, Sainz P, Salazar E, Gil-Merino R, Mendoza LM, Eguizabal C, Leroy D, Moehrle JJ, Tornesi B, Angulo-Barturen I. Predicting Optimal Antimalarial Drug Combinations from a Standardized Plasmodium falciparum Humanized Mouse Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0157422. [PMID: 37133382 PMCID: PMC10269072 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01574-22] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of new combinations of antimalarial drugs is urgently needed to prevent the spread of parasites resistant to drugs in clinical use and contribute to the control and eradication of malaria. In this work, we evaluated a standardized humanized mouse model of erythrocyte asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum (PfalcHuMouse) for the selection of optimal drug combinations. First, we showed that the replication of P. falciparum was robust and highly reproducible in the PfalcHuMouse model by retrospective analysis of historical data. Second, we compared the relative value of parasite clearance from blood, parasite regrowth after suboptimal treatment (recrudescence), and cure as variables of therapeutic response to measure the contributions of partner drugs to combinations in vivo. To address the comparison, we first formalized and validated the day of recrudescence (DoR) as a new variable and found that there was a log-linear relationship with the number of viable parasites per mouse. Then, using historical data on monotherapy and two small cohorts of PfalcHuMice evaluated with ferroquine plus artefenomel or piperaquine plus artefenomel, we found that only measurements of parasite killing (i.e., cure of mice) as a function of drug exposure in blood allowed direct estimation of the individual drug contribution to efficacy by using multivariate statistical modeling and intuitive graphic displays. Overall, the analysis of parasite killing in the PfalcHuMouse model is a unique and robust experimental in vivo tool to inform the selection of optimal combinations by pharmacometric pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Aline Fuchs
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pablo Díaz
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Sandra Berja
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | | | - Hazel Gómez
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | | | - Paula Sainz
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Cristina Eguizabal
- Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
- Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Didier Leroy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
White NJ. The Antimalarial Activity of Tafenoquine in Falciparum Malaria. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:1928-1929. [PMID: 36794679 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J White
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Wynberg E, Commons RJ, Humphreys G, Ashurst H, Burrow R, Adjei GO, Adjuik M, Anstey NM, Anvikar A, Baird KJ, Barber BE, Barennes H, Baudin E, Bell DJ, Bethell D, Binh TQ, Borghini-Fuhrer I, Chu CS, Daher A, D’Alessandro U, Das D, Davis TME, de Vries PJ, Djimde AA, Dondorp AM, Dorsey G, Faucher JFF, Fogg C, Gaye O, Grigg M, Hatz C, Kager PA, Lacerda M, Laman M, Mårtensson A, Menan HIE, Monteiro WM, Moore BR, Nosten F, Ogutu B, Osorio L, Penali LK, Pereira DB, Rahim AG, Ramharter M, Sagara I, Schramm B, Seidlein L, Siqueira AM, Sirima SB, Starzengruber P, Sutanto I, Taylor WR, Toure OA, Utzinger J, Valea I, Valentini G, White NJ, William T, Woodrow CJ, Richmond CL, Guerin PJ, Price RN, Stepniewska K. Variability in white blood cell count during uncomplicated malaria and implications for parasite density estimation: a WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network individual patient data meta-analysis. Malar J 2023; 22:174. [PMID: 37280686 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04583-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that when peripheral malarial parasitaemia is quantified by thick film microscopy, an actual white blood cell (WBC) count from a concurrently collected blood sample is used in calculations. However, in resource-limited settings an assumed WBC count is often used instead. The aim of this study was to describe the variability in WBC count during acute uncomplicated malaria, and estimate the impact of using an assumed value of WBC on estimates of parasite density and clearance. METHODS Uncomplicated malaria drug efficacy studies that measured WBC count were selected from the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network data repository for an individual patient data meta-analysis of WBC counts. Regression models with random intercepts for study-site were used to assess WBC count variability at presentation and during follow-up. Inflation factors for parasitaemia density, and clearance estimates were calculated for methods using assumed WBC counts (8000 cells/µL and age-stratified values) using estimates derived from the measured WBC value as reference. RESULTS Eighty-four studies enrolling 27,656 patients with clinically uncomplicated malaria were included. Geometric mean WBC counts (× 1000 cells/µL) in age groups < 1, 1-4, 5-14 and ≥ 15 years were 10.5, 8.3, 7.1, 5.7 and 7.5, 7.0, 6.5, 6.0 for individuals with falciparum (n = 24,978) and vivax (n = 2678) malaria, respectively. At presentation, higher WBC counts were seen among patients with higher parasitaemia, severe anaemia and, for individuals with vivax malaria, in regions with shorter regional relapse periodicity. Among falciparum malaria patients, using an assumed WBC count of 8000 cells/µL resulted in parasite density underestimation by a median (IQR) of 26% (4-41%) in infants < 1 year old but an overestimation by 50% (16-91%) in adults aged ≥ 15 years. Use of age-stratified assumed WBC values removed systematic bias but did not improve precision of parasitaemia estimation. Imprecision of parasite clearance estimates was only affected by the within-patient WBC variability over time, and remained < 10% for 79% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Using an assumed WBC value for parasite density estimation from a thick smear may lead to underdiagnosis of hyperparasitaemia and could adversely affect clinical management; but does not result in clinically consequential inaccuracies in the estimation of the prevalence of prolonged parasite clearance and artemisinin resistance.
Collapse
|
21
|
Suwandi JF, Kurniawan A, Susanto L. Determinant of parasite clearance and density on uncomplicated falciparum malaria infections in malaria-endemic area of Lampung Province, Indonesia. PARASITES, HOSTS AND DISEASES 2023; 61:147-153. [PMID: 37258261 DOI: 10.3347/phd.22073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Lampung is a malaria-endemic region in Indonesia with an annual parasite incidence of 0.06 per 1,000 population. The socio-demographic factors, clinical conditions, and artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) types might affect parasite clearance and parasite density. This study aims to investigate factors that influence parasite clearance and parasite density in malaria patients. A retrospective analytic observational and a cross-sectional approach was used to conduct this study. A total of 66 malaria patients were examined to investigate parasite density and clearance, socio-demographic profiles, clinical conditions, and ACT types. To analyze data, univariate, bivariate, and multivariate tests were used. Age (P=0.045; r=0.238) and ACT type (P=0.021; r=0.273) were the only variables that had a significant correlation with parasite clearance. Age (P=0.003; r=0.345) had a significant correlation with parasite density. The most influential factors related to parasite clearance were the ACT type (dihydroartemisinin piperaquine) (P=0.017; odds ratio (OR) 0.109; 95.0% confidence interval (CI), 0.018-0.675) and age (P=0.030; OR 0.132; 95.0% CI, 0.021-0.823). Age (P=0.046; OR 0.320; 0.105-0.978, 95.0% CI) was the most significant variable associated with parasite density.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jhons Fatriyadi Suwandi
- Program Study of Clinical Parasitology Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia
| | - Agnes Kurniawan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Lisawati Susanto
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Oxendine Harp K, Bashi A, Botchway F, Addo-Gyan D, Tetteh-Tsifoanya M, Lamptey A, Djameh G, Iqbal SA, Lekpor C, Banerjee S, Wilson MD, Dei-Adomakoh Y, Adjei AA, Stiles JK, Driss A. Sickle Cell Hemoglobin Genotypes Affect Malaria Parasite Growth and Correlate with Exosomal miR-451a and let-7i-5p Levels. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087546. [PMID: 37108709 PMCID: PMC10141851 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087546] [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: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria affects a significant portion of the global population, with 247 million cases in 2021, primarily in Africa. However, certain hemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell trait (SCT), have been linked to lower mortality rates in malaria patients. Hemoglobin (Hb) mutations, including HbS and HbC, can cause sickle cell disease (SCD) when both alleles are inherited (HbSS and HbSC). In SCT, one allele is inherited and paired with a normal allele (HbAS, HbAC). The high prevalence of these alleles in Africa may be attributed to their protective effect against malaria. Biomarkers are crucial for SCD and malaria diagnosis and prognosis. Studies indicate that miRNAs, specifically miR-451a and let-7i-5p, are differentially expressed in HbSS and HbAS compared to controls. Our research examined the levels of exosomal miR-451a and let-7i-5p in red blood cells (RBCs) and infected red blood cells (iRBCs) from multiple sickle Hb genotypes and their impact on parasite growth. We assessed exosomal miR-451a and let-7i-5p levels in vitro in RBC and iRBC supernatants. Exosomal miRNAs exhibited distinct expression patterns in iRBCs from individuals with different sickle Hb genotypes. Additionally, we discovered a correlation between let-7i-5p levels and trophozoite count. Exosomal miR-451a and let-7i-5p could modulate SCD and malaria severity and serve as potential biomarkers for malaria vaccines and therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keri Oxendine Harp
- Department of Physiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
| | - Alaijah Bashi
- Department of Physiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
| | - Felix Botchway
- Department of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box 4236, Ghana
| | - Daniel Addo-Gyan
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG581, Ghana
| | - Mark Tetteh-Tsifoanya
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG581, Ghana
| | - Amanda Lamptey
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG581, Ghana
| | - Georgina Djameh
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG581, Ghana
| | - Shareen A Iqbal
- Department of Physiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
| | - Cecilia Lekpor
- Department of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box 4236, Ghana
| | - Saswati Banerjee
- Department of Physiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
| | - Michael D Wilson
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG581, Ghana
| | - Yvonne Dei-Adomakoh
- Department of Haematology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra P.O. Box 77, Ghana
| | - Andrew A Adjei
- Department of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box 4236, Ghana
| | - Jonathan K Stiles
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
| | - Adel Driss
- Department of Physiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Funwei RI, Uyaiabasi GN, Hammed WA, Ojurongbe O, Walker O, Falade CO. High prevalence of persistent residual parasitemia on days 3 and 14 after artemether-lumefantrine or pyronaridine-artesunate treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Nigeria. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:519-526. [PMID: 36510009 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07753-8] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microscopic evaluation of parasite clearance is the gold standard in antimalarial drug efficacy trials. However, the presence of sub-microscopic residual parasitemia after artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) needs to be investigated. METHODS One hundred and twenty (AL: n = 60, PA: n = 60) days 3 and 14 dried blood spots, negative by microscopy were analysed for residual parasitemia using nested PCR. Isolates with residual parasitemia on days 3 and 14 were further genotyped with their corresponding day-0 isolates using merozoite surface proteins msp-1, msp-2, and glurp genes for allelic similarity. RESULTS Persistent PCR-determined sub-microscopic residual parasitemia at day 3 post ACT treatment was 83.3 (AL) and 88.3% (PA), respectively (ρ = 0.600), while 63.6 and 36.4% (ρ = 0.066) isolates were parasitemic at day 14 for AL and PA, respectively. Microscopy-confirmed gametocytemia persisted from days 0 to 7 and from days 0 to 21 for AL and PA. When the alleles of day 3 versus day 0 were compared according to base pair sizes, 59% of parasites shared identical alleles for glurp, 36% each for 3D7 and FC27, while K1 was 77%, RO33 64%, and MAD20 23%, respectively. Similarly, day 14 versus day 0 was 36% (glurp), 64% (3D7), and 32% (FC27), while 73% (K1), 77% (RO33), and 41% (MAD20), respectively. CONCLUSION The occurrence of residual parasitemia on days 3 and 14 following AL or PA treatment may be attributable to the presence of either viable asexual, gametocytes, or dead parasite DNAs, which requires further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roland I Funwei
- Department of Pharmacology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. .,Center for Advanced Medical Research and Biotechnology (CAMRAB), Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
| | - Gabriel N Uyaiabasi
- Department of Pharmacology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.,Center for Advanced Medical Research and Biotechnology (CAMRAB), Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Wasiu A Hammed
- Center for Advanced Medical Research and Biotechnology (CAMRAB), Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Olusola Ojurongbe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria.,Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Oladapo Walker
- Department of Pharmacology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.,Center for Advanced Medical Research and Biotechnology (CAMRAB), Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Catherine O Falade
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.,Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ntenda PAM, Chirambo AC, Nkoka O, El-Meidany WM, Goupeyou-Youmsi J. Implication of asymptomatic and clinical Plasmodium falciparum infections on biomarkers of iron status among school-aged children in Malawi. Malar J 2022; 21:278. [PMID: 36183114 PMCID: PMC9526385 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04297-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Iron status is considered as a continuum from an iron deficiency with anaemia, without anaemia, varying amounts of stored iron to iron overload. The burden of Plasmodium falciparum infections is typically high among school-aged children (SAC). Nonetheless, SAC are often less likely to be covered by malaria interventions, making them a group with an untreated reservoir of parasite transmission. This study aimed to assess the effects of asymptomatic and clinical malaria infections on biochemical markers of iron status among SAC in Malawi. Methods Data from the 2015–2016 Malawi Micronutrient Survey (MNS) was used and multivariable logistic regression models using a generalized estimating equation to account for the complex cluster survey design were constructed. Blood samples of 684 children aged 5 to 14 years old were evaluated for clinical and asymptomatic malaria infections. Furthermore, blood samples were used to estimate haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF) and, soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) concentrations. Results Of the 684 SAC analysed, approximately 42% had asymptomatic malaria, while 41.0% had clinical malaria. Anaemia (low Hb levels), iron deficiency (low SF concentration), and functional iron deficiency (high sTfR levels) were found in 20%, 5%, and 30% of the children, respectively. School-aged children with asymptomatic malaria had increased odds of being anaemic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.29–5.99) and increased levels of sTfR (aOR: 3.00, 95% CI 2.01–4.47). Similarly, SAC with clinical malaria had increased odds of being anaemic (aOR: 3.54, 95% CI 2.19–5.72) and increased levels of sTfR (aOR: 3.02, 95% CI 2.02–4.52). Conclusions Both asymptomatic and clinical malaria were independent risk factors for anaemia and functional iron deficiency (FID). The notion that asymptomatic and clinical malaria were associated with both anaemia and FID underscores the need for public health programmers to consider adding mass screening and treatment for malaria to existing school-based health programmes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-022-04297-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter A M Ntenda
- Malaria Alert Centre, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Private Bag 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi.
| | - Angeziwa C Chirambo
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, P.O. Box 30096, Mahatma Ghandhi Road, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Owen Nkoka
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Walaa M El-Meidany
- Department of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Hiph 65 El-Horreya Avenue, El-Ibrahimia, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Jessy Goupeyou-Youmsi
- Malaria Alert Centre, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Private Bag 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Omondi CJ, Otambo WO, Odongo D, Ochwedo KO, Otieno A, Onyango SA, Orondo P, Ondeto BM, Lee MC, Zhong D, Kazura JW, Githeko AK, Yan G. Asymptomatic and submicroscopic Plasmodium infections in an area before and during integrated vector control in Homa Bay, western Kenya. Malar J 2022; 21:272. [PMID: 36153552 PMCID: PMC9509636 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been the primary vector control strategy until indoor residual spraying (IRS) was added in Homa Bay and Migori Counties in western Kenya. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of LLINs integrated with IRS on the prevalence of asymptomatic and submicroscopic Plasmodium infections in Homa Bay County. METHODS A two-stage cluster sampling procedure was employed to enroll study participants aged ≥ 6 months old. Four consecutive community cross-sectional surveys for Plasmodium infection were conducted in residents of Homa Bay county, Kenya. Prior to the start of the study, all study households received LLINs, which were distributed between June 2017 and March 2018. The first (February 2018) and second (June 2018) surveys were conducted before and after the first round of IRS (Feb-Mar 2018), while the third (February 2019) and fourth (June 2019) surveys were conducted before and after the second application of IRS (February-March 2019). Finger-prick blood samples were obtained to prepare thick and thin smears for microscopic determination and qPCR diagnosis of Plasmodium genus. RESULTS Plasmodium spp. infection prevalence by microscopy was 18.5% (113/610) before IRS, 14.2% (105/737) and 3.3% (24/720) after the first round of IRS and 1.3% (11/849) after the second round of IRS (p < 0.0001). Submicroscopic (blood smear negative, qPCR positive) parasitaemia reduced from 18.9% (115/610) before IRS to 5.4% (46/849) after IRS (p < 0.0001). However, the proportion of PCR positive infections that were submicroscopic increased from 50.4% (115/228) to 80.7% (46/57) over the study period (p < 0.0001). Similarly, while the absolute number and proportions of microscopy positives which were asymptomatic decreased from 12% (73/610) to 1.2% (9/849) (p < 0.0001), the relative proportion increased. Geometric mean density of P. falciparum parasitaemia decreased over the 2-year study period (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that two annual rounds of IRS integrated with LLINs significantly reduced the prevalence of Plasmodium parasitaemia, while the proportion of asymptomatic and submicroscopic infections increased. To reduce cryptic P. falciparum transmission and improve malaria control, strategies aimed at reducing the number of asymptomatic and submicroscopic infections should be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Collince J Omondi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya.
| | - Wilfred O Otambo
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Department of Zoology, Maseno University, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - David Odongo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kevin O Ochwedo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
| | - Antony Otieno
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Shirley A Onyango
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Department of Zoological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Pauline Orondo
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
| | - Benyl M Ondeto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
| | - Ming-Chieh Lee
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Daibin Zhong
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - James W Kazura
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Andrew K Githeko
- Sub-Saharan International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Climate and Human Health Research Unit, Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ikegbunam MN, Uba C, Flügge J, Abone H, Ezeagwuna D, Ushie S, Esimone C. Malaria surveillance amongst pregnant women attending antenatal care in private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis, South Eastern Nigeria. MALARIAWORLD JOURNAL 2022; 13:2. [PMID: 35813272 PMCID: PMC9242532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Recent reports suggest that pregnant women living in holoendemic regions of sub-Sahara Africa die in great numbers annually due to malaria disease resulting from their higher susceptibility, reduced immunity and demographic associated factors. This work investigated the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in selected private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis South East Nigeria. Methods Venous blood samples were collected from 270 pregnant women during ANC visits between October 2016 and December 2017. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, gestational age, knowledge of malaria and preventive measures while clinical presentations and symptoms were extracted from the physician's clerking form. Laboratory diagnosis was done using microscopy. The effect of the demographic variables and other associated factors on prevalence and parasite densities was studied using Chi-square and ANOVA tests. Results The overall P. falciparum prevalence was 42.6%. Prevalence varied with the maternal age, gestational age, preventive measures adopted by the pregnant women and clinical presentations. 27.8 % of the infected women were highly parasitized (>5000 parasites/μl); 67% had a moderate parasite density (1,000-4,999 parasites/μl) and 5.2% showed a low parasite density (1-999 parasites/μl). We observed that 35.2%, 30%, 18.9% and 5.2% of the study cohorts preferred and used treated bed nets, insecticides, windows and door screening and non-treated bed nets respectively as malaria preventive measures. 5.9% did not use any protection. Conclusions The findings of this study revealed high prevalence of malaria among pregnant women living in Onitsha metropolis with high mean parasite densities despite strong adherence to use of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and other malaria preventive measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moses N. Ikegbunam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria,Molecular Research Foundation for Students and Scientists, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria,Institute for Tropical Medicine, Tübingen, Germany,,
| | - Chibuzo Uba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | | | - Harrison Abone
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Dorothy Ezeagwuna
- Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Simeon Ushie
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Charles Esimone
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria,Molecular Research Foundation for Students and Scientists, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Idris IO, Ayeni GO, Iyamu IO, Sina-Odunsi AB, Adebisi YA, Obwoya JG. Factors influencing severity of recurrent malaria in a conflict-affected state of South Sudan: an unmatched case-control study. Confl Health 2022; 16:34. [PMID: 35690836 PMCID: PMC9188688 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-022-00463-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The burden of malaria remains the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and South Sudan is not an exception. The country has borne the brunt of years of chronic warfare and remains endemic of malaria, with increasing mortality and morbidity. Limited data still exists on factors influencing the recurrence of severe malaria, especially in emergency contexts such as South Sudan, affected by various conflicts and humanitarian situations. This study therefore aimed to investigate factors influencing severity of occurrence malaria in selected primary healthcare centres in South Sudan. This would assist and guide in malaria prevention, treatment, and eradication efforts. Methods We conducted an unmatched case-control study using routinely collected clinic data for individuals aged 1 year and above who received a diagnosis of severe malaria at 3 primary healthcare centres (PHCC); Malual Bab PHCC, Matangai PHCC and Malek PHCC between September 15, 2019 to December 15, 2019 in South Sudan. Patient characteristics were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics were also conducted to identify the associated factors influencing recurrence of severe malaria. All analyses were conducted using R Version 3.6.2. Results A total of 289 recurrent malaria cases were included in this study. More than half of the participants were female. Overall, the prevalence of severe recurrent malaria was 66.1% (191) while 74.4% (215) did not complete malaria treatment. Among those who did not complete malaria treatment, 76.7% (165) had severe recurrent malaria, while among those who completed malaria treatment 35.1% (26) had severe recurrent malaria (p < 0.001). There is a significant association between marital status (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.19–0.56, p < 0.001), employment status (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14–0.87, p = 0.024), the use of preventive measures (OR 3.82, 95% CI 1.81–8.43, p < 0.001) and nutrition status (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.13–0.37, p < 0.001). When adjusted for employment, marital status, nutritional and prevention measures in turns using Mantel–Haenszel test of association, this effect remained statistically significant. Conclusions Our study showed that there is a high prevalence of severe recurrent malaria in South Sudan and that a significant relationship exists between severe recurrent malaria and antimalarial treatment dosage completion influenced by certain personal and social factors such as marital status, employment status, the use of preventive measures and nutrition status. Findings from our study would be useful for effective response to control and prevent malaria in endemic areas of South Sudan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Israel Oluwaseyidayo Idris
- Department of Field Operation and Project Coordination, Health Pooled Fund, Juba, South Sudan. .,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, V.N Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. .,Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni
- Department of Field Operation and Project Coordination, Health Pooled Fund, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Ihoghosa Osamuyi Iyamu
- School of Population and Public Health (SPPH), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ayomide Busayo Sina-Odunsi
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.,Regional Office for the East and Horn of Africa, International Organization for Migration, United Nations Migration Agency, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Justin Geno Obwoya
- Department of Field Operation and Project Coordination, Health Pooled Fund, Juba, South Sudan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Ley B, Alam MS, Satyagraha AW, Phru CS, Thriemer K, Tadesse D, Shibiru T, Hailu A, Kibria MG, Hossain MS, Rahmat H, Poespoprodjo JR, Khan WA, Simpson JA, Price RN. Variation in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase activity following acute malaria. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010406. [PMID: 35544453 PMCID: PMC9094517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Primaquine and tafenoquine are the only licensed drugs with activity against Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites but cause haemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Malaria also causes haemolysis, leading to the replacement of older erythrocytes with low G6PD activity by reticulocytes and young erythrocytes with higher activity. Aim of this study was to assess the impact of acute malaria on G6PD activity. Selected patients with uncomplicated malaria were recruited in Bangladesh (n = 87), Indonesia (n = 75), and Ethiopia (n = 173); G6PD activity was measured at the initial presentation with malaria and a median of 176 days later (range 140 to 998) in the absence of malaria. Among selected participants (deficient participants preferentially enrolled in Bangladesh but not at other sites) G6PD activity fell between malaria and follow up by 79.1% (95%CI: 40.4 to 117.8) in 6 participants classified as deficient (<30% activity), 43.7% (95%CI: 34.2 to 53.1) in 39 individuals with intermediate activity (30% to <70%), and by 4.5% (95%CI: 1.4 to 7.6) in 290 G6PD normal (≥70%) participants. In Bangladesh and Indonesia G6PD activity was significantly higher during acute malaria than when the same individuals were retested during follow up (40.9% (95%CI: 33.4-48.1) and 7.4% (95%CI: 0.2 to 14.6) respectively), whereas in Ethiopia G6PD activity was 3.6% (95%CI: -1.0 to -6.1) lower during acute malaria. The change in G6PD activity was apparent in patients presenting with either P. vivax or P. falciparum infection. Overall, 66.7% (4/6) severely deficient participants and 87.2% (34/39) with intermediate deficiency had normal activities when presenting with malaria. These findings suggest that G6PD activity rises significantly and at clinically relevant levels during acute malaria. Prospective case-control studies are warranted to confirm the degree to which the predicted population attributable risks of drug induced haemolysis is lower than would be predicted from cross sectional surveys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Ley
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Mohammad Shafiul Alam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Ching Swe Phru
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kamala Thriemer
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Dagimawie Tadesse
- Arba Minch University, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Tamiru Shibiru
- Arba Minch University, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Asrat Hailu
- Arba Minch University, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Mohammad Golam Kibria
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Sharif Hossain
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Hisni Rahmat
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Jeanne R. Poespoprodjo
- Timika Malaria Research Program, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Papua
- Centre for Child Health-PRO, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Wasif Ali Khan
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Julie A. Simpson
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ric N. Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Assessment of Plasmodium falciparum Artemisinin Resistance Independent of kelch13 Polymorphisms and with Escalating Malaria in Bangladesh. mBio 2022; 13:e0344421. [PMID: 35073756 PMCID: PMC8787467 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03444-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging resistance to artemisinin drugs threatens the elimination of malaria. Resistance is widespread in South East Asia (SEA) and Myanmar. Neighboring Bangladesh, where 90% of infections occur in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs), lacks recent assessment. We undertook a prospective study in the sole district-level hospital in Bandarban, a CHT district with low population densities but 60% of reported malaria cases. Thirty patients presented with malaria in 2018. An increase to 68 patients in 2019 correlated with the district-level rise in malaria, rainfall, humidity, and temperature. Twenty-four patients (7 in 2018 and 17 in 2019) with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum monoinfection were assessed for clearing parasites after starting artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). The median (range) time to clear half of the initial parasites was 5.6 (1.5 to 9.6) h, with 20% of patients showing a median of 8 h. There was no correlation between parasite clearance and initial parasitemia, blood cell counts, or mutations of P. falciparum gene Pfkelch13 (the molecular marker of artemisinin resistance [AR]). The in vitro ring-stage survival assay (RSA) revealed one (of four) culture-adapted strains with a quantifiable resistance of 2.01% ± 0.1% (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]). Regression analyses of in vivo and in vitro measurements of the four CHT strains and WHO-validated K13 resistance mutations yielded good correlation (R2 = 0.7; ρ = 0.9, P < 0.005), strengthening evaluation of emerging AR with small sample sizes, a challenge in many low/moderate-prevalence sites. There is an urgent need to deploy multiple, complementary approaches to understand the evolutionary dynamics of the emergence of P. falciparum resistant to artemisinin derivatives in countries where malaria is endemic. IMPORTANCE Malaria elimination is a Millennium Development Goal. Artemisinins, fast-acting antimalarial drugs, have played a key role in malaria elimination. Emergence of artemisinin resistance threatens the global elimination of malaria. Over the last decade, advanced clinical and laboratory methods have documented its spread throughout South East Asia and Myanmar. Neighboring Bangladesh lies in the historical path of dissemination of antimalarial resistance to the rest of the world, yet it has not been evaluated by combinations of leading methods, particularly in the highland Chittagong Hill Tracts adjacent to Myanmar which contain >90% of malaria in Bangladesh. We show the first establishment of capacity to assess clinical artemisinin resistance directly in patients in the hilltops and laboratory adaptation of Bangladeshi parasite strains from a remote, sparsely populated malaria frontier that is responsive to climate. Our study also provides a generalized model for comprehensive monitoring of drug resistance for countries where malaria is endemic.
Collapse
|
30
|
Sears KP, Knowles DP, Fry LM. Clinical Progression of Theileria haneyi in Splenectomized Horses Reveals Decreased Virulence Compared to Theileria equi. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020254. [PMID: 35215197 PMCID: PMC8879895 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The global importance of the hemoparasite Theileria haneyi to equine health was recently shown by its resistance to imidocarb dipropionate (ID) and its interference with T. equi clearance by ID in some co-infected horses. Genetic characterization of T. haneyi revealed marked genomic reduction compared to T. equi, and initial experiments demonstrated reduced clinical severity in spleen-intact horses. Furthermore, in early experiments, splenectomized horses survived T. haneyi infection and progressed to an asymptomatic carrier state, in stark contrast to the high fatality rate of T. equi in splenectomized horses. Thus, we hypothesized that T. haneyi is less virulent than T. equi. To objectively assess virulence, clinical data from nine splenectomized, T. haneyi-infected horses were evaluated and compared to published data on T. equi-infected, splenectomized horses. Seven of eight splenectomized, T. haneyi-infected horses survived. Further, in six horses co-infected with T. equi and T. haneyi, only horses cleared of T. equi by ID survived splenectomy and became asymptomatic carriers. The reduced virulence of T. haneyi in splenectomized horses instructs why T. haneyi was, until recently, undetected. This naturally occurring comparative reduction in virulence in a natural host provides a foundation for defining virulence mechanisms of theileriosis and Apicomplexa in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly P. Sears
- Department of Clinical Science, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-4801, USA;
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA;
| | - Donald P. Knowles
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA;
| | - Lindsay M. Fry
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA;
- USDA—ARS, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-509-595-1822
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wunderlich F, Delic D, Gerovska D, Araúzo-Bravo MJ. Vaccination Accelerates Liver-Intrinsic Expression of Megakaryocyte-Related Genes in Response to Blood-Stage Malaria. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020287. [PMID: 35214745 PMCID: PMC8880532 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythropoiesis and megakaryo-/thrombopoiesis occur in the bone marrow proceeding from common, even bipotent, progenitor cells. Recently, we have shown that protective vaccination accelerates extramedullary hepatic erythroblastosis in response to blood-stage malaria of Plasmodium chabaudi. Here, we investigated whether protective vaccination also accelerates extramedullary hepatic megakaryo-/thrombopoiesis. Female Balb/c mice were twice vaccinated with a non-infectious vaccine before infecting with 106 P. chabaudi-parasitized erythrocytes. Using gene expression microarrays and quantitative real-time PCR, transcripts of genes known to be expressed in the bone marrow by cells of the megakaryo-/thrombocytic lineage were compared in livers of vaccination-protected and unprotected mice on days 0, 1, 4, 8, and 11 p.i. Livers of vaccination-protected mice responded with expression of megakaryo-/thrombocytic genes faster to P. chabaudi than those of unvaccinated mice, evidenced at early patency on day 4 p.i., when livers exhibited significantly higher levels of malaria-induced transcripts of the genes Selp and Pdgfb (p-values < 0.0001), Gp5 (p-value < 0.001), and Fli1, Runx1, Myb, Mpl, Gp1ba, Gp1bb, Gp6, Gp9, Pf4, and Clec1b (p-values < 0.01). Together with additionally analyzed genes known to be related to megakaryopoiesis, our data suggest that protective vaccination accelerates liver-intrinsic megakaryo-/thrombopoiesis in response to blood-stage malaria that presumably contributes to vaccination-induced survival of otherwise lethal blood-stage malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Wunderlich
- Department of Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Denis Delic
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach, Germany
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Heidelberg, Germany
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (M.J.A.-B.)
| | - Daniela Gerovska
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain;
| | - Marcos J. Araúzo-Bravo
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain;
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- TransBioNet Thematic Network of Excellence for Transitional Bioinformatics, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (M.J.A.-B.)
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Xie H, Xie S, Wang M, Wei H, Huang H, Xie A, Li J, Fang C, Shi F, Yang Q, Qi Y, Yin Z, Wang X, Huang J. Properties and Roles of γδT Cells in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis NSM Infected C57BL/6 Mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:788546. [PMID: 35127555 PMCID: PMC8811364 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.788546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many kinds of immune cells are involved in malaria infection. γδT cells represent a special type of immune cell between natural and adaptive immune cells that play critical roles in anti-parasite infection. Methods In this study, malaria infection model was constructed. Distribution of γδT cells in various immune organs and dynamic changes of γδT cells in the spleens of C57BL/6 mice after infection were detected by flow cytometry. And activation status of γδT cells was detected by flow cytometry. Then γδT cells in naive and infected mice were sorted and performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Finally, γδTCR KO mice model was constructed and the effect of γδT cell depletion on mouse T and B cell immunity against Plasmodium infection was explored. Results Here, splenic γδT cells were found to increase significantly on day 14 after Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis NSM infection in C57BL/6 mice. Higher level of CD69, ICOS and PD-1, lower level of CD62L, and decreased IFN-γ producing after stimulation by PMA and ionomycin were found in γδT cells from infected mice, compared with naive mice. Moreover, 11 clusters were identified in γδT cells by scRNA-seq based t-SNE analysis. Cluster 4, 5, and 7 in γδT cells from infected mice were found the expression of numerous genes involved in immune response. In the same time, the GO enrichment analysis revealed that the marker genes in the infection group were involved in innate and adaptive immunity, pathway enrichment analysis identified the marker genes in the infected group shared many key signalling molecules with other cells or against pathogen infection. Furthermore, increased parasitaemia, decreased numbers of RBC and PLT, and increased numbers of WBC were found in the peripheral blood from γδTCR KO mice. Finally, lower IFN-γ and CD69 expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, lower B cell percentage and numbers, and less CD69 expressing B cells were found in the spleen from γδTCR KO infected mice, and lower levels of IgG and IgM antibodies in the serum were also observed than WT mice. Conclusions Overall, this study demonstrates the diversity of γδT cells in the spleen of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis NSM infected C57BL/6 mice at both the protein and RNA levels, and suggests that the expansion of γδT cells in cluster 4, 5 and 7 could promote both cellular and humoral immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shihao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haixia Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - He Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anqi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feihu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanwei Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhinan Yin
- Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xinhua Wang, ; Jun Huang,
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Immunology, Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xinhua Wang, ; Jun Huang,
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sikka R, Bharti PK, Gupta H. microRNAs: An opportunity to overcome significant challenges in malaria detection and control. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2022; 3:100115. [PMID: 35801230 PMCID: PMC9253159 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2022.100115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Organ damage and pathological disease states lead to the rapid release of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of endogenous small non-coding RNAs, into the blood circulation. Because secreted miRNAs can be detected in biologic fluids such as plasma, they are currently being explored as promising non-invasive biomarkers of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Malaria remains a major global health challenge but still the potential of miRNAs has not been explored extensively in the context of malaria compared to other diseases. Here, we highlight important miRNAs found during different phases of the malaria life cycle in the anopheline vector and the human host. We have also put forward our opinion on how malaria parasite-stage-specific miRNAs can be incorporated into new diagnostic and prognostic tools to detect carrier mosquitoes and infected patients. In addition, we have emphasised the potential of miRNAs to be used as new therapeutics to treat severe malaria patients, an unresearched area of malaria control.
Collapse
|
34
|
Ursing J, Johns R, Aydin-Schmidt B, Calçada C, Kofoed PE, Ghanchi NK, Veiga MI, Rombo L. OUP accepted manuscript. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 77:1005-1011. [PMID: 35137072 PMCID: PMC8969533 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium falciparum strains that are resistant to standard-dose chloroquine can be treated by higher chloroquine concentrations maintained for a longer time in vivo. Objectives To determine the relative importance of chloroquine concentrations versus exposure time for elimination of chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant P. falciparum in vitro. Methods Chloroquine-susceptible (3D7) and -resistant (FCR3) strains were exposed in vitro to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 times their respective 90% inhibitory chloroquine concentrations for 3, 5, 7 or 14 days and then followed until recrudescence, or not, by 42 days after the end of exposure. Results Exposure to chloroquine appeared to eliminate susceptible and resistant parasites, leaving small pyknotic apparently dead parasites. Chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant parasites recrudesced after 3 and 5 days of chloroquine exposure. Recrudescence occurred in one out of four 7 day exposure series but not after 14 days exposure. The median time to recrudescence was 13 to 28 days with a range of 8 to 41 days after the end of exposure. Time to recrudescence after the end of exposure increased with duration of exposure for susceptible and resistant strains (P < 0.001). Time to recrudescence did not correlate with concentrations greater than 1× IC90. Conclusions Chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant P. falciparum probably become dormant. Elimination of dormant parasites is primarily dependent upon the duration of chloroquine exposure. Exposure to effective drug concentrations for 7 days eliminates most parasites in vitro. The results support in vivo data indicating that elimination of chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum correlates with Day 7 chloroquine concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Ursing
- Projecto de Saúde de Bandim, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Corresponding author. E-mail:
| | - Rasmus Johns
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Berit Aydin-Schmidt
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carla Calçada
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Poul-Erik Kofoed
- Projecto de Saúde de Bandim, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Kolding, Denmark
| | - Najia Karim Ghanchi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Maria Isabel Veiga
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Lars Rombo
- Centre for Clinical Research, Region Sörmland, Eskilstuna, Sweden
- Unit of infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Gupta H, Wassmer SC. Harnessing the Potential of miRNAs in Malaria Diagnostic and Prevention. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:793954. [PMID: 34976869 PMCID: PMC8716737 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.793954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite encouraging progress over the past decade, malaria remains a major global health challenge. Its severe form accounts for the majority of malaria-related deaths, and early diagnosis is key for a positive outcome. However, this is hindered by the non-specific symptoms caused by malaria, which often overlap with those of other viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. In addition, current tools are unable to detect the nature and degree of vital organ dysfunction associated with severe malaria, as complications develop silently until the effective treatment window is closed. It is therefore crucial to identify cheap and reliable early biomarkers of this wide-spectrum disease. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are rapidly released into the blood circulation upon physiological changes, including infection and organ damage. The present review details our current knowledge of miRNAs as biomarkers of specific organ dysfunction in patients with malaria, and both promising candidates identified by pre-clinical models and important knowledge gaps are highlighted for future evaluation in humans. miRNAs associated with infected vectors are also described, with a view to expandind this rapidly growing field of research to malaria transmission and surveillance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Himanshu Gupta
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel C. Wassmer
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Saidi AM, Guenther G, Izem R, Chen X, Seydel K, Postels D. Plasmodium falciparum clearance time in Malawian children with cerebral malaria: a retrospective cohort study. Malar J 2021; 20:408. [PMID: 34663346 PMCID: PMC8524966 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03947-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Standard treatment for both uncomplicated and severe malaria is artemisinin derivatives. Delayed parasite clearance times preceded the appearance of artemisinin treatment failures in Southeast Asia. Most worldwide malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where clinically significant artemisinin resistance or treatment failure has not yet been detected. The recent emergence of a resistance-conferring genetic mutation in the Plasmodium falciparum parasite in Africa warrants continued monitoring throughout the continent. METHODS An analysis was performed on data from a retrospective cohort study of Malawian children with cerebral malaria admitted between 2010 and 2019 to a public referral hospital, ascertaining parasite clearance times across years. Data were collected from patients treated for severe malaria with quinine or artesunate, an artemisinin derivative. Parasite density was determined at admission and every subsequent 6 h until parasitaemia was below 1000 parasites/µl.The mean parasite clearance time in all children admitted in any one year was compared to the parasite clearance time in 2014, the first year of artesunate use in Malawi. RESULTS The median population parasite clearance time was slower from 2010 to 2013 (quinine-treated patients) compared to 2014, the first year of artesunate use in Malawi (30 h (95% CI: 30-30) vs 18 h (95% CI: 18-24)). After adjustment for admission parasite count, there was no statistically significant difference in the median population parasite clearance time when comparing 2014 with any subsequent year. CONCLUSION Malaria parasite clearance times in Malawian children with cerebral malaria remained constant between 2014 and 2019, arguing against evolving artemisinin resistance in parasites in this region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexuse M Saidi
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
| | - Geoffrey Guenther
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rima Izem
- Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
- Statistical Methods and Consulting, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xiaojun Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Karl Seydel
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Douglas Postels
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Division of Neurology, The George Washington University/Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Balikagala B, Fukuda N, Ikeda M, Katuro OT, Tachibana SI, Yamauchi M, Opio W, Emoto S, Anywar DA, Kimura E, Palacpac NMQ, Odongo-Aginya EI, Ogwang M, Horii T, Mita T. Evidence of Artemisinin-Resistant Malaria in Africa. N Engl J Med 2021; 385:1163-1171. [PMID: 34551228 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2101746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 384] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the six Southeast Asian countries that make up the Greater Mekong Subregion, Plasmodium falciparum has developed resistance to derivatives of artemisinin, the main component of first-line treatments for malaria. Clinical resistance to artemisinin monotherapy in other global regions, including Africa, would be problematic. METHODS In this longitudinal study conducted in Northern Uganda, we treated patients who had P. falciparum infection with intravenous artesunate (a water-soluble artemisinin derivative) and estimated the parasite clearance half-life. We evaluated ex vivo susceptibility of the parasite using a ring-stage survival assay and genotyped resistance-related genes. RESULTS From 2017 through 2019, a total of 14 of 240 patients who received intravenous artesunate had evidence of in vivo artemisinin resistance (parasite clearance half-life, >5 hours). Of these 14 patients, 13 were infected with P. falciparum parasites with mutations in the A675V or C469Y allele in the kelch13 gene. Such mutations were associated with prolonged parasite clearance half-lives (geometric mean, 3.95 hours for A675V and 3.30 hours for C469Y, vs. 1.78 hours for wild-type allele; P<0.001 and P = 0.05, respectively). The ring-stage survival assay showed a higher frequency of parasite survival among organisms with the A675V allele than among those with the wild-type allele. The prevalence of parasites with kelch13 mutations increased significantly, from 3.9% in 2015 to 19.8% in 2019, due primarily to the increased frequency of the A675V and C469Y alleles (P<0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms flanking the A675V mutation in Uganda were substantially different from those in Southeast Asia. CONCLUSIONS The independent emergence and local spread of clinically artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum has been identified in Africa. The two kelch13 mutations may be markers for detection of these resistant parasites. (Funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and others.).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betty Balikagala
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Naoyuki Fukuda
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Mie Ikeda
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Osbert T Katuro
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Shin-Ichiro Tachibana
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Masato Yamauchi
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Walter Opio
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Sakurako Emoto
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Denis A Anywar
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Eisaku Kimura
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Nirianne M Q Palacpac
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Emmanuel I Odongo-Aginya
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Martin Ogwang
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Toshihiro Horii
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| | - Toshihiro Mita
- From the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, School of Medicine (B.B., N.F., M.I., S.-I.T., M.Y., S.E., T.M.), and the Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine (B.B.), Juntendo University, Tokyo, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (E.K.), and the Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka (N.M.Q.P., T.H.) - all in Japan; and Mildmay Uganda, Nazibwa Hill, Kampala (O.T.K.), and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (W.O., M.O.) and the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University (D.A.A., E.I.O.-A.), Gulu - all in Uganda
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Discrete Survival Model Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Response to Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies among Children in Regions of Varying Malaria Transmission in Cameroon. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091106. [PMID: 34578139 PMCID: PMC8465257 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The need to monitor changes in parasite clearance following treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is important in the containment of drug resistance. This study aimed to model Plasmodium falciparum response to ACTs among children in two different transmission settings (Mutengene and Garoua) in Cameroon. Using the step function, a discrete-time survival model was fitted with all the covariates included that might play a role in parasite clearance. The probability of clearing parasites within 24 h following treatment was 21.6% and 70.3% for younger children aged 6 to 59 months and 29.3% and 59.8% for older children aged 60 to 120 months in Mutengene and Garoua, respectively. After two days of treatment, the conditional probability of clearing parasites given that they were not cleared on day 1 was 76.7% and 96.6% for children aged 6–59 months and 83.1% and 93.5% for children aged 60–120 months in Mutengene and Garoua, respectively. The model demonstrated that the ecological setting, age group and pretreatment serum levels of creatinine and alanine aminotransferase were the main factors that significantly influenced parasite clearance in vivo after administration of ACTs (p < 0.05). The findings highlight the need for further investigations on host differential response to ACTs in current practice.
Collapse
|
39
|
Tebben K, Bradwell K, Serre D. Variation in selective constraints along the Plasmodium life cycle. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 92:104908. [PMID: 33975022 PMCID: PMC8205998 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites, the cause of malaria, have a complex life cycle, infecting alternatively vertebrate hosts and female Anopheles mosquitoes and undergoing intra- and extra-cellular development in several organs of these hosts. Most of the ~5000 protein-coding genes present in Plasmodium genomes are only expressed at specific life stages, and different genes might therefore be subject to different selective pressures depending on the biological activity of the parasite and its microenvironment at this point in development. Here, we estimate the selective constraints on the protein-coding sequences of all annotated genes of rodent and primate Plasmodium parasites and, using data from scRNA-seq experiments spanning many developmental stages, analyze their variation with regard to when these genes are expressed in the parasite life cycle. Our study reveals extensive variation in selective constraints throughout the parasites' development and highlights stages that are evolving more rapidly than others. These findings provide novel insights into the biology of these parasites and could provide important information to develop better treatment strategies or vaccines against these medically-important organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Tebben
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Katie Bradwell
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - David Serre
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Although the last two decades have seen a substantial decline in malaria incidence and mortality due to the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and artemisinin combination therapy, the threat of drug resistance is a constant obstacle to sustainable malaria control. Given that patients can die quickly from this disease, public health officials and doctors need to understand whether drug resistance exists in the parasite population, as well as how prevalent it is so they can make informed decisions about treatment. As testing for drug efficacy before providing treatment to malaria patients is impractical, researchers need molecular markers of resistance that can be more readily tracked in parasite populations. To this end, much work has been done to unravel the genetic underpinnings of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. The aim of this review is to provide a broad overview of common genomic approaches that have been used to discover the alleles that drive drug response phenotypes in the most lethal human malaria parasite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frances Rocamora
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Prusty D, Gupta N, Upadhyay A, Dar A, Naik B, Kumar N, Prajapati VK. Asymptomatic malaria infection prevailing risks for human health and malaria elimination. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 93:104987. [PMID: 34216796 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
There has been a consistent rise in malaria cases in the last few years. The existing malaria control measures are challenged by insecticide resistance in the mosquito vector, drug résistance in parasite populations, and asymptomatic malaria (ASM) in healthy individuals. The absence of apparent malaria symptoms and the presence of low parasitemia makes ASM a hidden reservoir for malaria transmission and an impediment in malaria elimination efforts. This review focuses on ASM in malaria-endemic countries and the past and present research trends from those geographical locations. The harmful impacts of asymptomatic malaria on human health and its contribution to disease transmission are highlighted. We discuss certain crucial genetic changes in the parasite and host immune response necessary for maintaining low parasitemia leading to long-term parasite survival in the host. Since the chronic health effects and the potential roles for disease transmission of ASM remain mostly unknown to significant populations, we offer proposals for developing general awareness. We also suggest advanced technology-based diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies to eliminate ASM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dhaneswar Prusty
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, 305817, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Nidhi Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Arun Upadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Ashraf Dar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazaratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Biswajit Naik
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Navin Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201308, UP, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Wang H, Li S, Cui Z, Qin T, Shi H, Ma J, Li L, Yu G, Jiang T, Li C. Analysis of spleen histopathology, splenocyte composition and haematological parameters in four strains of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei K173. Malar J 2021; 20:249. [PMID: 34090420 PMCID: PMC8180108 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03786-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a fatal disease that presents clinically as a continuum of symptoms and severity, which are determined by complex host-parasite interactions. Clearance of infection is believed to be accomplished by the spleen and mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS), independent of artemisinin treatment. The spleen filters infected red blood cells (RBCs) from circulation through immune-mediated recognition of the infected RBCs followed by phagocytosis. This study evaluated the tolerance of four different strains of mice to Plasmodium berghei strain K173 (P. berghei K173), and the differences in the role of the spleen in controlling P. berghei K173 infection. METHODS Using different strains of mice (C57BL/6, BALB/C, ICR, and KM mice) infected with P. berghei K173, the mechanisms leading to splenomegaly, histopathology, splenocyte activation and proliferation, and their relationship to the control of parasitaemia and host mortality were examined and evaluated. RESULTS Survival time of mice infected with P. berghei K173 varied, although the infection was uniformly lethal. Mice of the C57BL/6 strain were the most resistant, while mice of the strain ICR were the most susceptible. BALB/c and KM mice were intermediate. In the course of P. berghei K173 infection, all infected mice experienced significant splenomegaly. Parasites were observed in the red pulp at 3 days post infection (dpi) in all animals. All spleens retained late trophozoite stages as well as a fraction of earlier ring-stage parasites. The percentages of macrophages in infected C57BL/6 and KM mice were higher than uninfected mice on 8 dpi. Spleens of infected ICR and KM mice exhibited structural disorganization and remodelling. Furthermore, parasitaemia was significantly higher in KM versus C57BL/6 mice at 8 dpi. The percentages of macrophages in ICR infected mice were lower than uninfected mice, and the parasitaemia was higher than other strains. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here demonstrate the rate of splenic mechanical filtration and that splenic macrophages are the predominant roles in controlling an individual's total parasite burden. This can influence the pathogenesis of malaria. Finally, different genetic backgrounds of mice have different splenic mechanisms for controlling malaria infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huajing Wang
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Li
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Cui
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tingting Qin
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Shi
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Ji Ma
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lanfang Li
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Guihua Yu
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tingliang Jiang
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Canghai Li
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 16 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Kho S, Qotrunnada L, Leonardo L, Andries B, Wardani PAI, Fricot A, Henry B, Hardy D, Margyaningsih NI, Apriyanti D, Puspitasari AM, Prayoga P, Trianty L, Kenangalem E, Chretien F, Brousse V, Safeukui I, del Portillo HA, Fernandez-Becerra C, Meibalan E, Marti M, Price RN, Woodberry T, Ndour PA, Russell BM, Yeo TW, Minigo G, Noviyanti R, Poespoprodjo JR, Siregar NC, Buffet PA, Anstey NM. Evaluation of splenic accumulation and colocalization of immature reticulocytes and Plasmodium vivax in asymptomatic malaria: A prospective human splenectomy study. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003632. [PMID: 34038413 PMCID: PMC8154101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A very large biomass of intact asexual-stage malaria parasites accumulates in the spleen of asymptomatic human individuals infected with Plasmodium vivax. The mechanisms underlying this intense tropism are not clear. We hypothesised that immature reticulocytes, in which P. vivax develops, may display high densities in the spleen, thereby providing a niche for parasite survival. METHODS AND FINDINGS We examined spleen tissue in 22 mostly untreated individuals naturally exposed to P. vivax and Plasmodium falciparum undergoing splenectomy for any clinical indication in malaria-endemic Papua, Indonesia (2015 to 2017). Infection, parasite and immature reticulocyte density, and splenic distribution were analysed by optical microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular assays. Nine non-endemic control spleens from individuals undergoing spleno-pancreatectomy in France (2017 to 2020) were also examined for reticulocyte densities. There were no exclusion criteria or sample size considerations in both patient cohorts for this demanding approach. In Indonesia, 95.5% (21/22) of splenectomy patients had asymptomatic splenic Plasmodium infection (7 P. vivax, 13 P. falciparum, and 1 mixed infection). Significant splenic accumulation of immature CD71 intermediate- and high-expressing reticulocytes was seen, with concentrations 11 times greater than in peripheral blood. Accordingly, in France, reticulocyte concentrations in the splenic effluent were higher than in peripheral blood. Greater rigidity of reticulocytes in splenic than in peripheral blood, and their higher densities in splenic cords both suggest a mechanical retention process. Asexual-stage P. vivax-infected erythrocytes of all developmental stages accumulated in the spleen, with non-phagocytosed parasite densities 3,590 times (IQR: 2,600 to 4,130) higher than in circulating blood, and median total splenic parasite loads 81 (IQR: 14 to 205) times greater, accounting for 98.7% (IQR: 95.1% to 98.9%) of the estimated total-body P. vivax biomass. More reticulocytes were in contact with sinus lumen endothelial cells in P. vivax- than in P. falciparum-infected spleens. Histological analyses revealed 96% of P. vivax rings/trophozoites and 46% of schizonts colocalised with 92% of immature reticulocytes in the cords and sinus lumens of the red pulp. Larger splenic cohort studies and similar investigations in untreated symptomatic malaria are warranted. CONCLUSIONS Immature CD71+ reticulocytes and splenic P. vivax-infected erythrocytes of all asexual stages accumulate in the same splenic compartments, suggesting the existence of a cryptic endosplenic lifecycle in chronic P. vivax infection. Findings provide insight into P. vivax-specific adaptions that have evolved to maximise survival and replication in the spleen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Kho
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | | | - Leo Leonardo
- Timika Malaria Research Program, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Benediktus Andries
- Timika Malaria Research Program, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | | | - Aurelie Fricot
- UMR_S1134, BIGR, Inserm, Université de F-75015 Paris, and Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Henry
- UMR_S1134, BIGR, Inserm, Université de F-75015 Paris, and Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - David Hardy
- Institut Pasteur, Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Paris, France
| | | | - Dwi Apriyanti
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Pak Prayoga
- Timika Malaria Research Program, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Leily Trianty
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Enny Kenangalem
- Timika Malaria Research Program, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
- Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kabupaten Mimika, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Fabrice Chretien
- Institut Pasteur, Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Valentine Brousse
- UMR_S1134, BIGR, Inserm, Université de F-75015 Paris, and Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Innocent Safeukui
- Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Hernando A. del Portillo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Fernandez-Becerra
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
| | - Elamaran Meibalan
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthias Marti
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ric N. Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tonia Woodberry
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Papa A. Ndour
- UMR_S1134, BIGR, Inserm, Université de F-75015 Paris, and Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Bruce M. Russell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tsin W. Yeo
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Gabriela Minigo
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | | | - Jeanne R. Poespoprodjo
- Timika Malaria Research Program, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
- Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kabupaten Mimika, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nurjati C. Siregar
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Rumah Sakit Cipto Mangunkusumo and Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Pierre A. Buffet
- UMR_S1134, BIGR, Inserm, Université de F-75015 Paris, and Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Nicholas M. Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Peters MAE, Greischar MA, Mideo N. Challenges in forming inferences from limited data: a case study of malaria parasite maturation. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210065. [PMID: 33906391 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inferring biological processes from population dynamics is a common challenge in ecology, particularly when faced with incomplete data. This challenge extends to inferring parasite traits from within-host infection dynamics. We focus on rodent malaria infections (Plasmodium berghei), a system for which previous work inferred an immune-mediated extension in the length of the parasite development cycle within red blood cells. By developing a system of delay-differential equations to describe within-host infection dynamics and simulating data, we demonstrate the potential to obtain biased estimates of parasite (and host) traits when key biological processes are not considered. Despite generating infection dynamics using a fixed parasite developmental cycle length, we find that known sources of measurement bias in parasite stage and abundance data can affect estimates of parasite developmental duration, with stage misclassification driving inferences about extended cycle length. We discuss alternative protocols and statistical methods that can mitigate such misestimation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline A E Peters
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto Ontario, Canada
| | - Megan A Greischar
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Nicole Mideo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Ley B, Alam MS, Kibria MG, Marfurt J, Phru CS, Ami JQ, Thriemer K, Auburn S, Jahan N, Johora FT, Hossain MS, Koepfli C, Khan WA, Price RN. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in individuals with and without malaria: Analysis of clinical trial, cross-sectional and case-control data from Bangladesh. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003576. [PMID: 33891581 PMCID: PMC8064587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity is dependent upon G6PD genotype and age of the red blood cell (RBC) population, with younger RBCs having higher activity. Peripheral parasitemia with Plasmodium spp. induces hemolysis, replacing older RBCs with younger cells with higher G6PD activity. This study aimed to assess whether G6PD activity varies between individuals with and without malaria or a history of malaria. METHODS AND FINDINGS Individuals living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh were enrolled into 3 complementary studies: (i) a prospective, single-arm clinical efficacy trial of patients (n = 175) with uncomplicated malaria done between 2014 and 2015, (ii) a cross-sectional survey done between 2015 and 2016 (n = 999), and (iii) a matched case-control study of aparasitemic individuals with and without a history of malaria done in 2020 (n = 506). G6PD activity was compared between individuals with and without malaria diagnosed by microscopy, rapid diagnostic test (RDT), or polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and in aparasitemic participants with and without a history of malaria. In the cross-sectional survey and clinical trial, 15.5% (182/1,174) of participants had peripheral parasitemia detected by microscopy or RDT, 3.1% (36/1,174) were positive by PCR only, and 81.4% (956/1,174) were aparasitemic. Aparasitemic individuals had significantly lower G6PD activity (median 6.9 U/g Hb, IQR 5.2-8.6) than those with peripheral parasitemia detected by microscopy or RDT (7.9 U/g Hb, IQR 6.6-9.8, p < 0.001), but G6PD activity similar to those with parasitemia detected by PCR alone (submicroscopic parasitemia) (6.1 U/g Hb, IQR 4.8-8.6, p = 0.312). In total, 7.7% (14/182) of patients with malaria had G6PD activity < 70% compared to 25.0% (248/992) of participants with submicroscopic or no parasitemia (odds ratio [OR] 0.25, 95% CI 0.14-0.44, p < 0.001). In the case-control study, the median G6PD activity was 10.3 U/g Hb (IQR 8.8-12.2) in 253 patients with a history of malaria and 10.2 U/g Hb (IQR 8.7-11.8) in 253 individuals without a history of malaria (p = 0.323). The proportion of individuals with G6PD activity < 70% was 11.5% (29/253) in the cases and 15.4% (39/253) in the controls (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.41-1.23, p = 0.192). Limitations of the study included the non-contemporaneous nature of the clinical trial and cross-sectional survey. CONCLUSIONS Patients with acute malaria had significantly higher G6PD activity than individuals without malaria, and this could not be accounted for by a protective effect of G6PD deficiency. G6PD-deficient patients with malaria may have higher than expected G6PD enzyme activity and an attenuated risk of primaquine-induced hemolysis compared to the risk when not infected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Ley
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Mohammad Shafiul Alam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Golam Kibria
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jutta Marfurt
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Ching Swe Phru
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jenifar Quaiyum Ami
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kamala Thriemer
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Sarah Auburn
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Nusrat Jahan
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fatema Tuj Johora
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Sharif Hossain
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Cristian Koepfli
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Wasif Ali Khan
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ric N. Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Zech J, Salaymeh N, Hunt NH, Mäder K, Golenser J. Efficient Treatment of Experimental Cerebral Malaria by an Artemisone-SMEDDS System: Impact of Application Route and Dosing Frequency. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e02106-20. [PMID: 33558284 PMCID: PMC8097435 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02106-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisone (ART) has been successfully tested in vitro and in animal models against several diseases. However, its poor aqueous solubility and limited chemical stability are serious challenges. We developed a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) that overcomes these limitations. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of this formulation against experimental cerebral malaria in mice and the impact of its administration using different routes (gavage, intranasal delivery, and parenteral injections) and frequency on the efficacy of the treatment. The minimal effective daily oral dose was 20 mg/kg. We found that splitting a dose of 20 mg/kg ART given every 24 h, by administering two doses of 10 mg/kg each every 12 h, was highly effective and gave far superior results compared to 20 mg/kg once daily. We obtained the best results with nasal treatment; oral treatment was ranked second, and the least effective route of administration was intraperitoneal injection. A complete cure of experimental cerebral malaria could be achieved through choosing the optimal route of application, dose, and dosing interval. Altogether, the developed formulation combines easy manufacturing with high stability and could be a successful and very versatile carrier for the delivery of ART in the treatment of human severe malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Zech
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Nadeen Salaymeh
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nicholas H Hunt
- Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Karsten Mäder
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jacob Golenser
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Parasite-Host Dynamics throughout Antimalarial Drug Development Stages Complicate the Translation of Parasite Clearance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01539-20. [PMID: 33526486 PMCID: PMC8097426 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01539-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ensuring continued success against malaria depends on a pipeline of new antimalarials. Antimalarial drug development utilizes preclinical murine and experimental human malaria infection studies to evaluate drug efficacy. Ensuring continued success against malaria depends on a pipeline of new antimalarials. Antimalarial drug development utilizes preclinical murine and experimental human malaria infection studies to evaluate drug efficacy. A sequential approach is typically adapted, with results from each stage informing the design of the next stage of development. The validity of this approach depends on confidence that results from murine malarial studies predict the outcome of clinical trials in humans. Parasite clearance rates following treatment are key parameters of drug efficacy. To investigate the validity of forward predictions, we developed a suite of mathematical models to capture parasite growth and drug clearance along the drug development pathway and estimated parasite clearance rates. When comparing the three infection experiments, we identified different relationships of parasite clearance with dose and different maximum parasite clearance rates. In Plasmodium berghei-NMRI mouse infections, we estimated a maximum parasite clearance rate of 0.2 (1/h); in Plasmodium falciparum-SCID mouse infections, 0.05 (1/h); and in human volunteer infection studies with P. falciparum, we found a maximum parasite clearance rate of 0.12 (1/h) and 0.18 (1/h) after treatment with OZ439 and MMV048, respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed that host-parasite driven processes account for up to 25% of variance in parasite clearance for medium-high doses of antimalarials. Although there are limitations in translating parasite clearance rates across these experiments, they provide insight into characterizing key parameters of drug action and dose response and assist in decision-making regarding dosage for further drug development.
Collapse
|
48
|
Yoon J, Jang WS, Nam J, Mihn DC, Lim CS. An Automated Microscopic Malaria Parasite Detection System Using Digital Image Analysis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11030527. [PMID: 33809642 PMCID: PMC8002244 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11030527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid diagnosis and parasitemia measurement is crucial for management of malaria. Microscopic examination of peripheral blood (PB) smears is the gold standard for malaria detection. However, this method is labor-intensive. Here, we aimed to develop a completely automated microscopic system for malaria detection and parasitemia measurement. The automated system comprises a microscope, plastic chip, fluorescent dye, and an image analysis program. Analytical performance was evaluated regarding linearity, precision, and limit of detection and was compared with that of conventional microscopic PB smear examination and flow cytometry. The automated microscopic malaria parasite detection system showed a high degree of linearity for Plasmodium falciparum culture (R2 = 0.958, p = 0.005) and Plasmodium vivax infected samples (R2 = 0.931, p = 0.008). Precision was defined as the %CV of the assay results at each level of parasitemia and the %CV value for our system was lower than that for microscopic examination for all densities of parasitemia. The limit of detection analysis showed 95% probability for parasite detection was 0.00066112%, and a high correlation was observed among all three methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the system was both 100% (n = 21/21) and 100% (n = 50/50), respectively, and the system correctly identified all P. vivax and P. falciparum samples. The automated microscopic malaria parasite detection system offers several advantages over conventional microscopy for rapid diagnosis and parasite density monitoring of malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jung Yoon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea; (J.Y.); (W.S.J.)
| | - Woong Sik Jang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea; (J.Y.); (W.S.J.)
| | - Jeonghun Nam
- Department of Song-Do Bio-Environmental Engineering, Incheon Jaeneung University, Incheon 21987, Korea;
| | - Do-CiC Mihn
- Department of Diagnostic Immunology, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Korea;
| | - Chae Seung Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea; (J.Y.); (W.S.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2626-3245
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Wang X, Xie Y, Jiang N, Wang J, Liang H, Liu D, Yang N, Sang X, Feng Y, Chen R, Chen Q. Enhanced Antimalarial Efficacy Obtained by Targeted Delivery of Artemisinin in Heparin-Coated Magnetic Hollow Mesoporous Nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:287-297. [PMID: 33356111 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c20070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is one of the deadliest infectious diseases threatening half of the world population. With the deterioration of the parasiticidal effect of the current antimalarials, novel approaches such as screening of more specific inhibitors and targeted delivery of drugs have been under intensive research. Herein, we prepare hollow mesoporous ferrite nanoparticles (HMFNs) of 200 nm with ferromagnetic properties using a one-pot hydrothermal reaction. A magnetically targeted drug-delivery system coloaded with artemisinin in the inner magnetite shell and heparin on the outer mesoporous shell (HMFN@ART@HEP) is developed. Specific targeting of the magnetic nanoparticles to the parasite-infected erythrocytes is achieved by the attraction between the HMFNs and hemozoin (paramagnetic), a vital metabolite of plasmodium in the erythrocytic stage. With the hemozoin production reaching the maximum during the schizont period of the parasite, HMFN@ART@HEPs are adsorbed to the infected red blood cells (iRBCs), which not only interferes with the release of merozoites but also significantly enhances the inhibitory efficacy due to the increased local concentration of artemisinin. Subsequently, the heparin coated on the surface of the nanoparticles can efficiently interfere with the invasion of freshly released merozoites to new RBCs through the specific interaction between the parasite-derived ligands and heparin, which further increases the inhibitory effect on malaria. As a cluster of heparin, heparin-coated nanoparticles provide stronger blocking capability than free heparin, resulting from multivalent interactions with surface receptors on merozoite. Thus, we have developed a HMFN-based delivery system with considerable antimalarial efficacy, which is a promising platform for treatment against malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Basic Sciences, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Yiwei Xie
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- College of Information and Electrical Engineering, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Hongrui Liang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Dingyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Wang QB, Du YT, Liu F, Sun XD, Sun X, Chen G, Pang W, Cao YM. Adaptive immune responses mediated age-related Plasmodium yoelii 17XL and 17XNL infections in 4 and 8-week-old BALB/c mice. BMC Immunol 2021; 22:6. [PMID: 33430765 PMCID: PMC7798208 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-020-00391-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUD It is important to expound the opposite clinical outcomes between children and adulthood for eradicate malaria. There remains unknown about the correlation between adaptive immune response and age-related in malaria. METHODS 4 and 8-week-old mice were used to mimic children and adulthood, respectively. Parasitemia and the survival rate were monitored. The proportion and function of Th1 and Th2 cells were detected by FACS. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, total IgG, IgG1, IgG2a and Plasmodium yoelii MSP-1-specific IgG were measured by ELISA. RESULTS The adult group showed greater resistance to P. yoelii 17XL infection, with lower parasitemia. Compared with 4-week-old mice, the percentage of CD4+T-bet+IFN-γ+ Th1 cells as well as IFN-γ production were significantly increased on day 5 p.i. in the 8-week-old mice after P. yoelii 17XNL infection. The percentage of CD4+GATA3+IL-4+ Th2 cells and CD4+CXCR5+ Tfh cells, and IL-4 production in the 8-week-old mice significantly increased on day 5 and day 10 after P. yoelii 17XNL infection. Notably, the levels of total IgG, IgG1, IgG2a and P. yoelii MSP-1-specific IgG were also significantly increased in the 8-week-old mice. PD-1, a marker of exhaustion, was up-regulated on CD4+ or activated CD4+ T cells in the 8-week-old mice as compared to the 4-week-old group. CONCLUSIONS Thus, we consider that enhanced cellular and humoral adaptive immunity might contribute to rapid clearance of malaria among adults, likely in a PD-1-dependent manner due to induction of CD4+ T cells exhaustion in P. yoelii 17XNL infected 8-week-old mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Bo Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Wuxi 9th Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 999 Liang Xi Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Yun-Ting Du
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, NO. 44 Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Sun
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Xun Sun
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Taizhou University Medical School, No 1139 Shifu Road, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou, 317700, China.
| | - Wei Pang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China.
| | - Ya-Ming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China.
| |
Collapse
|