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p. falciparum

Not Open Access | KAHRP dynamically relocalizes to remodeled actin junctions and associates with knob spirals in P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes

September 14, 2021 - 14:36 -- NOT Open Access
Tags: 
KAHRP, knob spiral, p. falciparum, erythrocyte
Author(s): 
Sanchez CP, Patra P, Chang SS, Karathanasis C, Hanebutte L, Kilian N, Cyrklaff M, Heilemann M, Schwarz US, Kudryashev M, Lanzer M
Reference: 
Mol Microbiol. 2021 Sep 13

The knob-associated histidine-rich protein (KAHRP) plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of Plasmodium falciparum malaria by forming membrane protrusions in infected erythrocytes, which anchor parasite-encoded adhesins to the membrane skeleton. The resulting sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes in the microvasculature leads to severe disease. Despite KAHRP being an important virulence factor, its physical location within the membrane skeleton is still debated, as is its function in knob formation.

Decreased parasite burden and altered host response in children with sickle cell anemia and severe anemia with malaria

September 8, 2021 - 15:56 -- Open Access
Tags: 
children, sickle cell anemia, severe anemia, malaria, p. falciparum
Author(s): 
Henrici RC, Sautter CL, Bond C, Opoka RO, Namazzi R, Datta D, Ware RE, Conroy AL, John CC
Reference: 
Blood Adv. 2021 Sep 1:bloodadvances.2021004704

Plasmodium falciparum malaria causes morbidity and mortality in African children with sickle cell anemia (SCA), but comparisons of host responses to P. falciparum between children with SCA (HbSS) and HbAA are limited. We assessed parasite biomass and plasma markers of inflammation and endothelial activation in children with HbAA (n=208) or HbSS (n=22) who presented with severe anemia and P. falciparum parasitemia to Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Genotyping was performed at study completion.

Antimalarial drug resistance in the Central and Adamawa regions of Cameroon: Prevalence of mutations in P. falciparum crt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr and Pfdhps genes

August 25, 2021 - 16:18 -- Open Access
Tags: 
antimalarial drug, resistance, malaria, p. falciparum, Cameroon
Author(s): 
Tuedom AGB, Sarah-Matio EM, Nsango SE, et al.
Reference: 
PLoS One. 2021 Aug 19;16(8):e0256343

The spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistant parasites remains one of the major challenges for malaria control and elimination in Sub Saharan Africa. Monitoring of molecular markers conferring resistance to different antimalarials is important to track the spread of resistant parasites and to optimize the therapeutic lifespan of current drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of known mutations in the drug resistance genes Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr and Pfdhps in two different epidemiological settings in Cameroon. Dried blood spots collected in 2018 and 2019 from asymptomatic individuals were used for DNA extraction and then the Plasmodium infection status was determined byPCR.

Neutrophils dominate in opsonic phagocytosis of P. falciparum blood-stage merozoites and protect against febrile malaria

August 25, 2021 - 15:58 -- Open Access
Tags: 
opsonic phagocytosis, p. falciparum, blood-stage merozoite, malaria
Author(s): 
Garcia-Senosiain A, Kana IH, Singh S, Das MK, Dziegiel MH, Hertegonne S, Adu B, Theisen M
Reference: 
Commun Biol. 2021 Aug 19;4(1):984

Antibody-mediated opsonic phagocytosis (OP) of Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage merozoites has been associated with protection against malaria. However, the precise contribution of different peripheral blood phagocytes in the OP mechanism remains unknown. Here, we developed an in vitro OP assay using peripheral blood leukocytes that allowed us to quantify the contribution of each phagocytic cell type in the OP of merozoites.

Label-free imaging and classification of live P. falciparum enables high performance parasitemia quantification without fixation or staining

August 10, 2021 - 17:49 -- Open Access
Tags: 
p. falciparum, parasitemia, label-free imaging
Author(s): 
Lebel P, Dial R, Vemuri VNP, Garcia V, DeRisi J, Gómez-Sjöberg R
Reference: 
PLoS Comput Biol. 2021 Aug 9;17(8):e1009257

Manual microscopic inspection of fixed and stained blood smears has remained the gold standard for Plasmodium parasitemia analysis for over a century. Unfortunately, smear preparation consumes time and reagents, while manual microscopy is skill-dependent and labor-intensive.

Functionalized supported membranes for quantifying adhesion of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes

July 13, 2021 - 15:09 -- Open Access
Tags: 
p. falciparum, erythrocyte, malaria
Author(s): 
Fröhlich B, Dasanna AK, Lansche C, Czajor J, Sanchez CP, Cyrklaff M, Yamamoto A, Craig A, Schwarz US, Lanzer M, Tanaka M
Reference: 
Biophys J. 2021 Jul 8:S0006-3495(21)00552-X

The pathology of Plasmodium falciparum malaria is largely defined by the cytoadhesion of infected erythrocytes to the microvascular endothelial lining. The complexity of the endothelial surface and the large range of interactions available for the infected erythrocyte via parasite-encoded adhesins makes analysis of critical contributions during cytoadherence challenging to define.

High prevalence of P. falciparum K13 mutations in Rwanda is associated with slow parasite clearance after treatment with artemether-lumefantrine

July 6, 2021 - 13:43 -- Open Access
Tags: 
p. falciparum, Rwanda, artemether-lumefantrine, Southeast Asia
Author(s): 
Straimer J, Gandhi P, Renner KC, Schmitt EK
Reference: 
J Infect Dis. 2021 Jul 3:jiab352

In Southeast Asia, mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum k13 gene have led to delayed parasite clearance and treatment failures in malaria patients receiving artemisinin combination therapies. Until recently, relevant k13 mutations had been mostly absent from Africa.

NOT Open Access | Functional human IgA targets a conserved site on malaria sporozoites

June 29, 2021 - 14:02 -- NOT Open Access
Tags: 
resistant, IgA, malaria, mosquito, p. falciparum
Author(s): 
Tan J, Cho H, Crompton PD, et al.
Reference: 
Sci Transl Med. 2021 Jun 23;13(599):eabg2344

Immunoglobulin (Ig)A antibodies play a critical role in protection against mucosal pathogens. However, the role of serum IgA in immunity to nonmucosal pathogens, such as Plasmodium falciparum, is poorly characterized, despite being the second most abundant isotype in blood after IgG. Here, we investigated the circulating IgA response in humans to P. falciparum sporozoites that are injected into the skin by mosquitoes and migrate to the liver via the bloodstream to initiate malaria infection. We found that circulating IgA was induced in three independent sporozoite-exposed cohorts: individuals living in an endemic region in Mali, malaria-naïve individuals immunized intravenously with three large doses of irradiated sporozoites, and malaria-naïve individuals exposed to a single controlled mosquito bite infection.

NOT Open Access | A Proteasome Mutation Sensitizes P. falciparum Cam3.II K13(C580Y) Parasites to DHA and OZ439

May 12, 2021 - 09:25 -- NOT Open Access
Tags: 
ACT, p. falciparum, C580Y, DHA, malaria
Author(s): 
Rosenthal MR, Ng CL
Reference: 
ACS Infect Dis. 2021 May 10

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), the World Health Organization-recommended first-line therapy for uncomplicated falciparum malaria, has led to significant decreases in malaria-associated morbidity and mortality in the past two decades. Decreased therapeutic efficacy of artemisinins, the cornerstone of ACTs, is threatening the gains made against this disease.

NOT Open Access | Immunoinformatics approach for multi-epitope vaccine design against P. falciparum malaria

April 29, 2021 - 07:23 -- NOT Open Access
Tags: 
vaccine, p. falciparum, malaria
Author(s): 
Maharaj L, Adeleke VT, Fatoba AJ, Adeniyi AA, Tshilwane SI, Adeleke MA, Maharaj R, Okpeku M
Reference: 
Infect Genet Evol. 2021 Apr 24:104875

Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) is a leading causative agent of malaria, an infectious disease that can be fatal. Unfortunately, control measures are becoming less effective over time. A vaccine is needed to effectively control malaria and lead towards the total elimination of the disease. There have been multiple attempts to develop a vaccine, but to date, none have been certified as appropriate for wide-scale use. In this study, an immunoinformatics method is presented to design a multi-epitope vaccine construct predicted to be effective against P. falciparum malaria.

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