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Amaral PST, Garcia KKS, Suárez-Mutis MC, Coelho RR, Galardo AK, Murta F, Moresco GG, Siqueira AM, Gurgel-Gonçalves R. Malaria in areas under mining activity in the Amazon: A review. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2024; 57:e002002024. [PMID: 38922216 PMCID: PMC11210384 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0551-2023] [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: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Deforestation and high human mobility due to mining activities have been key to the increase in malaria cases in the Americas. Here, we review the epidemiological and control aspects of malaria in the Amazon mining areas. Epidemiological evidence shows: 1) a positive correlation between illegal mining activity and malaria incidence, mostly in the Amazon region; 2) most Brazilian miners are males aged 15-29 years who move between states and even countries; 3) miners do not fear the disease and rely on medical care, diagnosis, and medication when they become ill; 4) illegal mining has emerged as the most reported anthropogenic activity within indigenous lands and is identified as a major cause of malaria outbreaks among indigenous people in the Amazon; and 5) because mining is largely illegal, most areas are not covered by any healthcare facilities or activities, leading to little assistance in the diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Our review identified five strategies for reducing the malaria incidence in areas with mining activities: 1) reviewing legislation to control deforestation and mining expansion, particularly in indigenous lands; 2) strengthening malaria surveillance by expanding the network of community health agents to support rapid diagnosis and treatment; 3) reinforcing vector control strategies, such as the use of insecticide-treated nets; 4) integrating deforestation alerts into the national malaria control program; and 5) implementing multi-sectoral activities and providing prompt assistance to indigenous populations. With this roadmap, we can expect a decrease in malaria incidence in the Amazonian mining areas in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Sebastian Tavares Amaral
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Brasília, DF, Brasil
- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Klauss Kleydmann Sabino Garcia
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Brasília, DF, Brasil
- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | | | - Ronan Rocha Coelho
- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Allan Kardec Galardo
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Instituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Estado do Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brasil
| | - Felipe Murta
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Departamento de Ensino e Pesquisa, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Gilberto Gilmar Moresco
- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - André Machado Siqueira
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia Vetores, Brasília, DF, Brasil
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Prah DA, Laryea-Akrong E. Asymptomatic Low-Density Plasmodium falciparum Infections: Parasites Under the Host's Immune Radar? J Infect Dis 2024; 229:1913-1918. [PMID: 38349649 PMCID: PMC11175676 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
A large body of evidence suggests that low parasite carriage in Plasmodium falciparum asymptomatic infection is required for the maintenance of malaria immunity. However, the fact that treating such infections has little to no impact on subsequent clinical malaria is rarely noted. In this paper, we review data and argue that low-density parasite carriage in asymptomatic infection may not support host immune processes and that parasites are virtually under the host's immunological radar. We also discuss factors that may be constraining parasitemia in asymptomatic infections from reaching the threshold required to cause clinical symptoms. A thorough understanding of this infectious reservoir is essential for malaria control and eradication because asymptomatic infections contribute significantly to Plasmodium transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Ahu Prah
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | - Elizabeth Laryea-Akrong
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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3
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Boyle MJ, Engwerda CR, Jagannathan P. The impact of Plasmodium-driven immunoregulatory networks on immunity to malaria. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01041-5. [PMID: 38862638 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01041-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites, drives multiple regulatory responses across the immune landscape. These regulatory responses help to protect against inflammatory disease but may in some situations hamper the acquisition of adaptive immune responses that clear parasites. In addition, the regulatory responses that occur during Plasmodium infection may negatively affect malaria vaccine efficacy in the most at-risk populations. Here, we discuss the specific cellular mechanisms of immunoregulatory networks that develop during malaria, with a focus on knowledge gained from human studies and studies that involve the main malaria parasite to affect humans, Plasmodium falciparum. Leveraging this knowledge may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to increase protective immunity to malaria during infection or after vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle J Boyle
- Life Sciences Division, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | | | - Prasanna Jagannathan
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Nalwoga A, Sabourin KR, Miley W, Jackson C, Maktabi M, Labo N, Mugisha J, Whitby D, Rochford R, Newton R. Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Is Associated With Increased Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) Seropositivity and Higher KSHV Antibody Breadth and Magnitude: Results of a Case-Control Study From Rural Uganda. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:432-442. [PMID: 37536670 PMCID: PMC10873168 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad308] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously, we showed that children with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria infection had higher Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) viral load, increased risk of KSHV seropositivity, and higher KSHV antibody levels. We hypothesize that clinical malaria has an even larger association with KSHV seropositivity. In the current study, we investigated the association between clinical malaria and KSHV seropositivity and antibody levels. METHODS Between December 2020 and March 2022, sick children (aged 5-10 years) presenting at a clinic in Uganda were enrolled in a case-control study. Pf was detected using malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and subsequently with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Children with malaria were categorized into 2 groups: RDT+/PfPCR+ and RDT-/PfPCR+. RESULTS The seropositivity of KSHV was 60% (47/78) among Pf-uninfected children, 79% (61/77) among children who were RDT-/PfPCR+ (odds ratio [OR], 2.41 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.15-5.02]), and 95% (141/149) in children who were RDT+/PfPCR+ (OR, 10.52 [95% CI, 4.17-26.58]; Ptrend < .001). Furthermore, RDT+/PfPCR+ children followed by RDT-/PfPCR+ children had higher KSHV IgG and IgM antibody levels and reacted to more KSHV antigens compared to uninfected children. CONCLUSIONS Clinical malaria is associated with both increased KSHV seropositivity and antibody magnitude, suggesting that Pf is affecting KSHV immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Nalwoga
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Cancer Epidemiology Programme, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Katherine R Sabourin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Wendell Miley
- Viral Oncology Section, AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Conner Jackson
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado-Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Mahdi Maktabi
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Nazzarena Labo
- Viral Oncology Section, AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Joseph Mugisha
- Cancer Epidemiology Programme, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Denise Whitby
- Viral Oncology Section, AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Rosemary Rochford
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Robert Newton
- Cancer Epidemiology Programme, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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Kimenyi KM, Akinyi MY, Mwikali K, Gilmore T, Mwangi S, Omer E, Gichuki B, Wambua J, Njunge J, Obiero G, Bejon P, Langhorne J, Abdi A, Ochola-Oyier LI. Distinct transcriptomic signatures define febrile malaria depending on initial infective states, asymptomatic or uninfected. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:140. [PMID: 38287287 PMCID: PMC10823747 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-08973-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cumulative malaria parasite exposure in endemic regions often results in the acquisition of partial immunity and asymptomatic infections. There is limited information on how host-parasite interactions mediate the maintenance of chronic symptomless infections that sustain malaria transmission. METHODS Here, we determined the gene expression profiles of the parasite population and the corresponding host peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 21 children (< 15 years). We compared children who were defined as uninfected, asymptomatic and those with febrile malaria. RESULTS Children with asymptomatic infections had a parasite transcriptional profile characterized by a bias toward trophozoite stage (~ 12 h-post invasion) parasites and low parasite levels, while early ring stage parasites were characteristic of febrile malaria. The host response of asymptomatic children was characterized by downregulated transcription of genes associated with inflammatory responses, compared with children with febrile malaria,. Interestingly, the host responses during febrile infections that followed an asymptomatic infection featured stronger inflammatory responses, whereas the febrile host responses from previously uninfected children featured increased humoral immune responses. CONCLUSIONS The priming effect of prior asymptomatic infection may explain the blunted acquisition of antibody responses seen to malaria antigens following natural exposure or vaccination in malaria endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin M Kimenyi
- KEMRI‑Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Kioko Mwikali
- KEMRI‑Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Shaban Mwangi
- KEMRI‑Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elisha Omer
- KEMRI‑Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | | | - James Njunge
- KEMRI‑Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - George Obiero
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI‑Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Abstract
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Despite significant declines in malaria-attributable morbidity and mortality over the last two decades, it remains a major public health burden in many countries. This underscores the critical need for improved strategies to prevent, treat and control malaria if we are to ultimately progress towards the eradication of this disease. Ideally, this will include the development and deployment of a highly effective malaria vaccine that is able to induce long-lasting protective immunity. There are many malaria vaccine candidates in development, with more than a dozen of these in clinical development. RTS,S/AS01 (also known as Mosquirix) is the most advanced malaria vaccine and was shown to have modest efficacy against clinical malaria in phase III trials in 5- to 17-month-old infants. Following pilot implementation trials, the World Health Organisation has recommended it for use in Africa in young children who are most at risk of infection with P. falciparum, the deadliest of the human malaria parasites. It is well recognised that more effective malaria vaccines are needed. In this review, we discuss malaria vaccine candidates that have progressed into clinical evaluation and highlight the most advanced candidates: Sanaria's irradiated sporozoite vaccine (PfSPZ Vaccine), the chemoattenuated sporozoite vaccine (PfSPZ-CVac), RTS,S/AS01 and the novel malaria vaccine candidate, R21, which displayed promising, high-level efficacy in a recent small phase IIb trial in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle I Stanisic
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, Australia.
| | - Michael F Good
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, Australia.
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Almojil D, Diawara A, Soulama I, Dieng MM, Manikandan V, Sermé SS, Sombié S, Diarra A, Barry A, Coulibaly SA, Sirima SB, Idaghdour Y. Impact of Plasmodium falciparum infection on DNA methylation of circulating immune cells. Front Genet 2023; 14:1197933. [PMID: 37470040 PMCID: PMC10352500 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1197933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulation of immune cell responses to infection is a complex process that involves various molecular mechanisms, including epigenetic regulation. DNA methylation has been shown to play central roles in regulating gene expression and modulating cell response during infection. However, the nature and extent to which DNA methylation is involved in the host immune response in human malaria remains largely unknown. Here, we present a longitudinal study investigating the temporal dynamics of genome-wide in vivo DNA methylation profiles using 189 MethylationEPIC 850 K profiles from 66 children in Burkina Faso, West Africa, sampled three times: before infection, during symptomatic parasitemia, and after malaria treatment. The results revealed major changes in the DNA methylation profiles of children in response to both Plasmodium falciparum infection and malaria treatment, with widespread hypomethylation of CpGs upon infection (82% of 6.8 K differentially methylated regions). We document a remarkable reversal of CpG methylation profiles upon treatment to pre-infection states. These changes implicate divergence in core immune processes, including the regulation of lymphocyte, neutrophil, and myeloid leukocyte function. Integrative DNA methylation-mRNA analysis of a top differentially methylated region overlapping the pro-inflammatory gene TNF implicates DNA methylation of TNF cis regulatory elements in the molecular mechanisms of TNF regulation in human malaria. Our results highlight a central role of epigenetic regulation in mounting the host immune response to P. falciparum infection and in response to malaria treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dareen Almojil
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Aïssatou Diawara
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Issiaka Soulama
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Mame Massar Dieng
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vinu Manikandan
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samuel S. Sermé
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Salif Sombié
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Amidou Diarra
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Aissata Barry
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Sodiomon B. Sirima
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Youssef Idaghdour
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Tiono AB, Palacpac NMQ, Bougouma EC, Nebie I, Ouédraogo A, Houard S, Arisue N, D’Alessio F, Horii T, Sirima SB. Plasmodium falciparum infection coinciding with the malaria vaccine candidate BK-SE36 administration interferes with the immune responses in Burkinabe children. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1119820. [PMID: 36993981 PMCID: PMC10040972 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1119820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundA vaccine targeting the erythrocyte stages of Plasmodium falciparum could play a role in preventing clinical disease. BK-SE36 is a promising malaria vaccine candidate that has shown a good safety profile and immunological responses during field evaluations. It was observed that repeated natural infections could result in immune tolerance against SE36 molecule.MethodsThe primary trial was conducted to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the BK-SE36 in two cohorts of children aged 25-60 months (Cohort 1) and 12-24 months (Cohort 2). Immunization was at full dose (1.0 mL) administered at 0, 1, and 6 months. Blood samples were collected before each vaccination for immunological assessments and detection of Plasmodium falciparum infection by microscopy. Blood samples were further collected one month post each vaccination to evaluate immunogenicity.ResultsOf seventy-two (72) subjects that have received BK-SE36 vaccination, 71 had available blood smears during vaccination days. One month post Dose 2, the geometric mean of SE36 antibodies was 263.2 (95% CI: 178.9-387.1) in uninfected individuals compared to 77.1 (95% CI: 47.3-125.7) in infected participants. The same trend was observed one-month post booster dose. Participants uninfected at the time of booster vaccination had significantly higher GMTs compared to those who were infected (424.1 (95% CI: 301.9-595.8) vs. 92.8 (95% CI: 34.9-246.6), p = 0.002. There was a 14.3 (95% CI: 9.7-21.1) and 2.4 (95% CI: 1.3-4.4) fold-change, respectively, in uninfected and infected participants between one-month post Dose 2 and booster. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).ConclusionConcomitant infection by P. falciparum during BK-SE36 vaccine candidate administration is associated with reduced humoral responses. However, it is to be noted that the BK-SE36 primary trial was not designed to investigate the influence of concomitant infection on vaccine-induced immune response and should be interpreted cautiously.Trial registrationWHO ICTRP, PACTR201411000934120.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred B. Tiono
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, Ouagadougou (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme (CNRFP), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Nirianne Marie Q. Palacpac
- Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Issa Nebie
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, Ouagadougou (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Alphonse Ouédraogo
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, Ouagadougou (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Sophie Houard
- European Vaccine Initiative (EVI), Universitäts Klinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nobuko Arisue
- Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Flavia D’Alessio
- European Vaccine Initiative (EVI), Universitäts Klinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Toshihiro Horii
- Department of Malaria Vaccine Development, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- *Correspondence: Toshihiro Horii, ; Sodiomon B. Sirima,
| | - Sodiomon B. Sirima
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, Ouagadougou (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- *Correspondence: Toshihiro Horii, ; Sodiomon B. Sirima,
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