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Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alvaro Baeza Garcia, Edwin Siu, Xin Du, Lin Leng, Blandine Franke-Fayard, Chris J. Janse, Shanshan W. Howland, Laurent Renia, Elias Lolis, Richard Bucala
Summary: Cerebral malaria, the deadliest complication of Plasmodium parasite infection, may be caused by neuroinflammation leading to cerebral edema and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Plasmodium MIF can enhance inflammatory response by signaling through host MIF receptor CD74, contributing to the development of cerebral malaria. Studies using CD74 deficient hosts and PMIF deficient parasites suggest a potential mechanism for the onset of experimental cerebral malaria and liver stage Plasmodium development.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Wei, Weijia Cheng, Wenhao Dai, Feng Lu, Yaru Cheng, Tingting Jiang, Zhenyu Ren, Yiting Xie, Jiahui Xu, Qun Zhao, Xianjun Yu, Yi Yin, Jian Li, Haifeng Dong
Summary: This study introduces a nanoparticle formulation of an antimalarial drug coated in a biomimetic membrane derived from brain microvascular endothelial cells and demonstrates its therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of cerebral malaria, offering new insight into nanoparticle-based therapeutics for malaria and parasitic infections.
Article
Microbiology
Clare K. Cimperman, Mirna Pena, Sohret M. Gokcek, Brandon P. Theall, Meha V. Patel, Anisha Sharma, ChenFeng Qi, Daniel Sturdevant, Louis H. Miller, Patrick L. Collins, Susan K. Pierce, Munir Akkaya
Summary: Hundreds of thousands of lives are lost each year due to brain damage caused by malaria. The majority of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan African children. Host genetic background plays a crucial role in determining the course and outcome of the disease.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Aleena Das, Welka Sahu, Deepak Kumar Ojha, K. Sony Reddy, Mrutyunjay Suar
Summary: An untargeted metabolomics approach was used to identify the changes in metabolic pathways and metabolites in the serum of mice with different pathological stages of malaria. The study provides insights into the host biology during malaria and could be helpful for the selection of animal models for evaluating diagnostic and therapeutic interventions against malaria.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Physiology
David J. Culp, Bently Robinson, Melanie N. Cash
Summary: The study suggests that lack of salivary amylase in mice leads to increased severity of caries on smooth surface and sulcal surface when challenged with Streptococcus mutans and fed a sucrose-rich diet.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica Correa Bezerra Bellei, Nicolas Glanzmann, Barbara Albuquerque Carpinter, Daniela Chaves Renhe, Carolina Brandi Marques, Marina Rocha Azevedo, Livia Maria Barreto, Vinicius Novaes Rocha, Isabelle Karine da Costa Nunes, Henrique Marcelo Gualberto Pereira, Elaine Soares Coimbra, Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho, Adilson David da Silva, Fernando de Pilla Varotti, Kezia Katiani Gorza Scopel
Summary: Chloroquine remains the most effective drug for malaria treatment, although resistance to it has emerged. This study focuses on the synthesis of quinoline derivatives to develop new antimalarials. Compound 3 showed promising activity against malaria, inhibiting parasite growth and protecting against severe malaria development.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sabrina Mota, Johanna Bensalel, Do Hee Park, Sandra Gonzalez, Ana Rodriguez, Julio Gallego-Delgado
Summary: Cerebral malaria is a severe complication of malaria infection, with a high mortality rate. This study found that a combination of a statin and an angiotensin II receptor blocker as adjunctive therapy to conventional antimalarial drugs reduced endothelial activation and improved survival rates in a mouse model of CM.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sujung Hong, Yeoung-Hyun Park, Jingu Lee, Jieun Moon, Eunji Kong, Jehwi Jeon, Joo-Cheol Park, Hyung-Ryong Kim, Pilhan Kim
Summary: This study validated the use of optical clearing technique for comprehensive 3D cellular-level analysis of dental pulp cells, revealing unique 3D spatiotemporal changes in normal and pathological conditions. Specifically, an increase in CD11c+ dendritic cells was observed in the dental pulpitis model, showing a distinct spatial 3D arrangement within 12 hours after irritation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Debanjan Mukherjee, Angelo Ferreira Chora, Jean-Christophe Lone, Ricardo S. Ramiro, Birte Blankenhaus, Karine Serre, Mario Ramirez, Isabel Gordo, Marc Veldhoen, Patrick Varga-Weisz, Maria M. Mota
Summary: This study reveals that the microbiota colonizing the lung can promote respiratory distress syndrome and mortality during malaria infections. Parasite sequestration in the lung results in sustained immune activation and production of anti-inflammatory cytokine compromises microbial control, leading to severe lung disease. Clearance of bacteria prevents MA-ARDS-associated lethality. Hence, the balance between the host's anti-inflammatory response and microbial control should be considered when intervening against respiratory complications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Yu Han, Xue Bai, Siying Liu, Jingfei Zhu, Fan Zhang, Lifen Xie, Guodi Liu, Xiaohui Jiang, Mingchao Zhang, Yingkang Huang, Jingfeng Wang, Dapei Li, Huiying Zhang, Yuanqing He, Sudan He, Yu Xia, Xiulong Xu, Feng Xu, Feng Ma
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of XAF1 in enhancing interferon-induced apoptosis and combating RNA virus infections. XAF1 stabilizes IRF1 protein and induces the expression of antiviral genes, thereby strengthening the host's antiviral innate immunity.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Darin L. Wiesner
Summary: Candida albicans in the gut serves as a mutualist by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that protect against invasive fungal infections, revealing a previously unknown beneficial role of this fungus in the body.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Michael J. Ricciardi, Lauren N. Rust, Nuria Pedreno-Lopez, Sofiya Yusova, Sreya Biswas, Gabriela M. Webb, Lucas Gonzalez-Nieto, Thomas B. Voigt, Johan J. Louw, Fernanda D. Laurino, John R. DiBello, Hans-Peter Raue, Aaron M. Barber-Axthelm, Kimberly Chun, Samantha Uttke, Lidiane M. S. Raphael, Aaron Yrizarry-Medina, Brandon C. Rosen, Rebecca Agnor, Lina Gao, Caralyn Labriola, Michael Axthelm, Jeremy Smedley, Justin G. Julander, Myrna C. Bonaldo, Laura M. Walker, IIhem Messaoudi, Mark K. Slifka, Dennis R. Burton, Esper G. Kallas, Jonah B. Sacha, David I. Watkins, Benjamin J. Burwitz
Summary: Yellow fever virus is a global health threat and current vaccines are insufficient. This study identifies two antibodies isolated from vaccinated humans that can effectively neutralize the virus and prevent severe disease and death during acute infection.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Enzo Z. Poirier, Michael D. Buck, Probir Chakravarty, Joana Carvalho, Bruno Frederico, Ana Cardoso, Lyn Healy, Rachel Ulferts, Rupert Beale, Caetano Reis e Sousa
Summary: The discovery of a Dicer isoform called antiviral Dicer provides protection for tissue stem cells against RNA viruses, shedding light on the molecular regulation of antiviral RNAi in mammalian innate immunity. Different cell-intrinsic antiviral pathways can be tailored to the differentiation status of cells.
Article
Immunology
Oyebola O. Oyesola, Kerry L. Hilligan, Sivaranjani Namasivayam, Nina Howard, Chad S. Clancy, Mingming Zhao, Sandra D. Oland, Kasalina N. Kiwanuka, Nicole L. Garza, Bernard A. P. Lafont, Reed F. Johnson, Katrin D. Mayer-Barber, Alan Sher, P'ng Loke
Summary: Regions with endemic helminth infections have lower COVID-19 severity and mortality. Research shows that lung remodeling caused by previous infection with a lung-migrating helminth, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, enhances viral clearance and survival in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. This protection is linked to increased accumulation of specific CD8(+) T cells and is dependent on the presence of macrophages with a type 2 transcriptional and epigenetic signature.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Hongxia Duan, Shuai Zhao, Jianquan Xiang, Chenhui Ju, Xuehui Chen, Irene Gramaglia, Xiyun Yan
Summary: The study found that endothelial CD146 plays a crucial role in experimental cerebral malaria, with its overexpression leading to the aggregation of infected red blood cells and lymphocytes, thereby disrupting BBB integrity. Deletion of endothelial CD146 or treatment with anti-CD146 antibody can prevent severe symptoms of cerebral malaria, and combined treatment with anti-CD146 antibody and antiparasitic drugs can improve cognition and memory in patients with cerebral malaria.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
