Article
Immunology
Bridget E. Barber, Azrin N. Abd-Rahman, Rebecca Webster, Adam J. Potter, Stacey Llewellyn, Louise Marquart, Nischal Sahai, Indika Leelasena, Geoffrey W. Birrell, Michael D. Edstein, G. Dennis Shanks, David Wesche, Joerg J. Moehrle, James S. McCarthy
Summary: A single oral dose of tafenoquine is effective against blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum infection, but prior screening for glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is necessary due to the estimated dose required to clear asexual parasitaemia being >= 460 mg (in adults).
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Selena Alonso, Marta Vidal, Gemma Ruiz-Olalla, Raquel Gonzalez, Chenjerai Jairoce, M. Nelia Manaca, Miquel Vazquez-Santiago, Reyes Balcells, Anifa Vala, Maria Ruperez, Pau Cistero, Laura Fuente-Soro, Evelina Angov, Ross L. Coppel, Benoit Gamain, David Cavanagh, James G. Beeson, Arsenio Nhacolo, Esperanca Sevene, John J. Aponte, Eusebio Macete, Ruth Aguilar, Alfredo Mayor, Clara Menendez, Carlota Dobano, Gemma Moncunill
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal HIV infection and placental malaria on the cord blood levels of IgG and IgG subclasses, with findings showing that maternal antibody levels were the main determinants of cord antibody levels. HIV infection and placental malaria were found to reduce the transfer and cord levels of antibodies.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Isaac Ssewanyana, John Rek, Isabel Rodriguez, Lindsey Wu, Emmanuel Arinaitwe, Joaniter I. Nankabirwa, James G. Beeson, Harriet Mayanja-Kizza, Philip J. Rosenthal, Grant Dorsey, Moses R. Kamya, Chris Drakeley, Bryan Greenhouse, Kevin K. A. Tetteh
Summary: The study revealed that the decay rate of total IgG following infection decreased with age during declining malaria transmission, and the increase in avidity index post-infection was largely due to the rapid loss of non-avid total IgG. Further research is needed to understand the functional differences between IgG1 and IgG3 to determine their role in protective immunity to malaria.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Preeti Kushwaha, Vipin Kumar, Biswajit Saha
Summary: beta-Carboline alkaloids are important nitrogen-based natural alkaloids and therapeutic molecules that exhibit various pharmacological activities through diverse mechanisms. There has been increasing attention towards developing effective antimalarial drugs based on this compound. This article comprehensively reviews the clinical and preclinical antimalarial scaffolds containing beta-carboline structure. The study focuses on the natural and semi-synthetic analogues of beta-carbolines reported in the last decade (2011-2021), providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential for future therapeutic development.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Raphael A. Reyes, Rolando Garza, Evelien M. Bunnik
Summary: In this study, researchers isolated human monoclonal antibodies against two potential transmission-blocking vaccine candidates for malaria, Pfs48/45 and Pfs230, and identified the epitopes responsible for their transmission-reducing activity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Celia Miguel-Blanco, James M. Murithi, Ernest Diez Benavente, Fiona Angrisano, Katarzyna A. Sala, Donelly A. van Schalkwyk, Manu Vanaerschot, Frank Schwach, Matthew J. Fuchter, Oliver Billker, Colin J. Sutherland, Susana G. Campino, Taane G. Clark, Andrew M. Blagborough, David A. Fidock, Esperanza Herreros, Francisco Javier Gamo, Jake Baum, Michael J. Delves
Summary: New antimalarial therapeutics are urgently needed to combat emerging parasite and mosquito resistance. Intense drug screening efforts have identified promising new antimalarial molecules with novel modes of action to combat existing drug resistance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arne Alder, Cecilia P. Sanchez, Matthew R. G. Russell, Lucy M. Collinson, Michael Lanzer, Michael J. Blackman, Tim-Wolf Gilberger, Joachim M. Matz
Summary: Malaria parasites use a complex to acidify the digestive vacuole and degrade host erythrocyte hemoglobin, which is essential for their survival in the human bloodstream.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Deborah M. Stiffler, Janet Oyieko, Carolyne M. Kifude, David M. Rockabrand, Shirley Luckhart, V. Ann Stewart
Summary: This study in Kombewa, Kenya found that individuals infected with HIV-1 were more likely to carry gametocytes, with significantly higher gametocyte copy numbers. In addition, HIV-1 positivity was associated with higher gametocyte prevalence in men and increased gametocyte carriage with age.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Colleen M. Leonard, Ashenafi Assefa, Heven Sime, Hussein Mohammed, Amha Kebede, Hiwot Solomon, Chris Drakeley, Matt Murphy, Jimee Hwang, Eric Rogier
Summary: Assessing the spatial distribution of malaria exposure using multiple metrics can improve understanding of malaria transmission dynamics in a region. In low-transmission areas, antibody data provide a useful marker to assess malaria exposure. This study conducted blood sample assessments in three regions in Ethiopia, showing low prevalence of malaria infection.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Heather J. Painter, Joanne M. Morrisey, Michael W. Mather, Lindsey M. Orchard, Cuyler Luck, Martin J. Smilkstein, Michael K. Riscoe, Akhil B. Vaidya, Manuel Llinas
Summary: The emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites poses a challenge to global malaria eradication efforts, highlighting the importance of identifying new antimalarial drugs. Studying the molecular mechanism of drug resistance has revealed a novel resistance mechanism that could potentially guide the development of future antimalarial combination therapies.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
James S. McCarthy, Azrin N. Abd-Rahman, Katharine A. Collins, Louise Marquart, Paul Griffin, Anne Kummel, Aline Fuchs, Cornelis Winnips, Vishal Mishra, Katalin Csermak-Renner, J. Prakash Jain, Preetam Gandhi
Summary: The new antimalarial compound cipargamin showed antimalarial activity in healthy volunteers infected with blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum, although some subjects experienced serious liver function changes during treatment. Further evaluation of the compound's hepatic safety profile is needed despite the promising antimalarial activity observed.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Lekkala Ravindar, Siti Aishah Hasbullah, K. P. Rakesh, Nurul Izzaty Hassan
Summary: Malaria is a deadly parasitic infection ranked as the fifth most lethal worldwide. Antimalarial medications are crucial for preventing and eradicating malaria. The 4-aminoquinoline moiety has diverse biological applications and has been favored in antimalarial drug discovery. This review focuses on its efficacy when hybridized with various heterocyclic scaffolds, aiding the development of more effective antimalarial agents.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hae Soo Yun, Sylvatrie-Danne Dinzouna-Boutamba, Sanghyun Lee, Zin Moon, Dongmi Kwak, Dong-Il Chung, Yeonchul Hong, Man Hee Rhee, Youn-Kyoung Goo
Summary: The extract of Petasites japonicus shows potential antimalarial effects by inhibiting the proliferation of Plasmodium parasites and improving hematological parameters. These effects may be attributed to the inhibition of platelet activation related to attenuated glycoprotein VI downstream signaling.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen, Soad A. L. Bayoumi, Nesma M. Mohamed, Yaser A. Mostafa, Che J. Ngwa, Gabriele Pradel, Salwa F. Farag
Summary: Malaria is a dangerous parasitic disease, and new antimalarial drugs are urgently needed. Natural products, particularly phenylpropanoids, have shown potential as antimalarial agents. In this study, in silico analysis and in vitro assays were conducted to assess the antimalarial activity of naturally-occurring phenylpropanoids.
Article
Immunology
K. C. Natasha, L. W. Preston Church, Pouria Riyahi, Sumana Chakravarty, Robert A. Seder, Judith E. Epstein, Kirsten E. Lyke, Benjamin Mordmueller, Peter G. Kremsner, Mahamadou S. Sissoko, Sarah Healy, Patrick E. Duffy, Said A. Jongo, Vicente Urbano Nsue Ndong Nchama, Salim Abdulla, Maxmillian Mpina, Sodiomon B. Sirima, Matthew B. Laurens, Laura C. Steinhardt, Martina Oneko, MingLin Li, Tooba Murshedkar, Peter F. Billingsley, B. Kim Lee Sim, Thomas L. Richie, Stephen L. Hoffman
Summary: Females aged 11 and above produced significantly higher levels of antibodies after receiving malaria vaccine compared to males, but this did not result in better protection for females. Protection levels after vaccination were equivalent between males and females.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Stefano Guerra, Julie G. Ledford, Erik Melen, Iris Lavi, Anne-Elie Carsin, Debra A. Stern, Jing Zhai, Marta Vidal, Mariona Bustamante, Kenneth J. Addison, Renata G. Vallecillo, Dean Billheimer, Gerard H. Koppelman, Judith Garcia-Aymerich, Nathanael Lemonnier, Montserrat Fito, Carlota Dobano, Simon Kebede Merid, Inger Kull, Rosemary R. C. McEachan, John Wright, Leda Chatzi, Manolis Kogevinas, Daniela Porta, Silvia Narduzzi, Ferran Ballester, Ana Esplugues, Carlos Zabaleta, Amaia Irizar, Jordi Sunyer, Marilyn Halonen, Jean Bousquet, Fernando D. Martinez, Josep M. Anto
Summary: A study was conducted to screen circulating proteins in childhood asthma and investigate their association with the disease in a mouse model. It was found that creatine kinase (CK) was consistently associated with asthma, and this association was further supported by gene expression analysis and a mouse model experiment.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Natalie Mazur, Jonne Terstappen, Ranju Baral, Azucena Bardaji, Philippe Beutels, Ursula J. Buchholz, Cheryl Cohen, James E. Crowe, Clare L. Cutland, Linda Eckert, Daniel Feikin, Tiffany Fitzpatrick, Youyi Fong, Barney S. Graham, Terho Heikkinen, Deborah Higgins, Siddhivinayak Hirve, Keith P. Klugman, Leyla Kragten-Tabatabaie, Philippe Lemey, Romina Libster, Yvette Lowensteyn, Asuncion Mejias, Flor M. Munoz, Patrick K. Munywoki, Lawrence Mwananyanda, Harish Nair, Marta C. Nunes, Octavio Ramilo, Peter Richmond, Tracy J. Ruckwardt, Charles Sande, Padmini Srikantiah, Naveen Thacker, Kody A. Waldstein, Dan Weinberger, Joanne Wildenbeest, Dexter Wiseman, Heather J. Zar, Maria Zambon, Louis Bont
Summary: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity in older adults. Efforts are being made to develop RSV vaccines and immunoprophylaxis using various approaches, with 33 candidates currently in clinical development. Understanding antibody targets has led to more rational and structure-based vaccine design. An extended half-life monoclonal antibody for infants is expected to receive regulatory approval within a year. Other approaches include live-attenuated vaccines for older infants, subunit vaccines for pregnant women, and vector and nucleic acid vaccines for older adults. Ensuring access and affordability of RSV vaccines globally is a priority.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Miquel Porta, Jose Pumarega, Magda Gasull, Ruth Aguilar, Luis A. Henriquez-Hernandez, Xavier Basagana, Manuel Zumbado, Judit Villar-Garcia, Cristina Rius, Sneha Mehta, Marta Vidal, Alfons Jimenez, Laura Campi, Joan Lop, Octavio L. Perez Luzardo, Carlota Dobano, Gemma Moncunill
Summary: In a prospective cohort study of 154 individuals from the general population of Barcelona, individual concentrations of certain pollutants and chemical elements were found to be associated with COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection. If these associations are confirmed as causal, measures can be taken to mitigate the corresponding risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Matthias Paulus Wagner, Chetan E. Chitnis
Summary: During its life cycle, the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is exposed to high levels of oxidative stress, causing lipid peroxidation. This study explores the control and repair of lipid peroxidation damage in the P. falciparum blood stages. The identification of host peroxiredoxin 6 as a key enzyme for repairing lipid peroxidation provides potential targets for malaria drugs.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ruth Aguilar, Xue Li, Claudia S. Crowell, Teresa Burrell, Marta Vidal, Rocio Rubio, Alfons Jimenez, Pablo Hernandez-Luis, Dieter Hofmann, Hrvoje Mijocevic, Samuel Jeske, Catharina Christa, Elvira D'Ippolito, Paul Lingor, Percy A. Knolle, Hedwig Roggendorf, Alina Priller, Sarah Yazici, Carlo Carolis, Alfredo Mayor, Patrik Schreiner, Holger Poppert, Henriette Beyer, Sophia E. Schambeck, Luis Izquierdo, Marta Tortajada, Ana Angulo, Erwin Soutschek, Pablo Engel, Alberto Garcia-Basteiro, Dirk H. Busch, Gemma Moncunill, Ulrike Protzer, Carlota Dobano, Markus Gerhard
Summary: This study found a strong positive correlation between neutralizing antibody levels and IgG levels, especially against RBD, in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, symptomatic infection was positively associated with antibody levels and neutralizing activity. These findings suggest that relatively simple and high-throughput serological assays can be used to assess levels of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Economics
Robbin Jan van Duijne, Jan Nijman, Chetan Choithani
Summary: This article engages with different literatures in economic geography, postcolonial urbanism, and planetary urbanization to develop a theoretical understanding of remote urban formations emerging in India's countryside. The analysis utilizes extensive primary data collected from study sites in Bihar and West Bengal, which provides a unique and rich dataset for these remote areas. The research observes the emergence of urban formations resulting from densification, expansion, and amalgamation of built-up environments, as well as a significant shift in employment from the agricultural sector. The concept of injected urbanism is introduced to describe this form of exogenously generated urbanization through remittances in the absence of significant local agglomeration processes. Injected urbanism drives local economic restructuring and the emergence of a consumption economy, but its dependence on economic activity elsewhere raises questions about its sustainability.
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manolis Kogevinas, Marianna Karachaliou, Ana Espinosa, Ruth Aguilar, Gemma Castano-Vinyals, Judith Garcia-Aymerich, Anna Carreras, Beatriz Cortes, Vanessa Pleguezuelos, Kyriaki Papantoniou, Rocio Rubio, Alfons Jimenez, Marta Vidal, Pau Serra, Daniel Parras, Pere Santamaria, Luis Izquierdo, Marta Cirach, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Payam Dadvand, Kurt Straif, Gemma Moncunill, Rafael de Cid, Carlota Dobano, Cathryn Tonne
Summary: This study found an association between long-term exposure to air pollution and a lower antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines. Among vaccinated individuals without prior infection, higher levels of exposure to PM2.5, NO2, BC, and O3 were associated with lower vaccine antibody responses. This association persisted over time since vaccination.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Amir Ariff, Yong Song, Ruth Aguilar, Augusto Nhabomba, Maria Nelia Manaca, Siew-Kim Khoo, Selma Wiertsema, Quique Bassat, Arnoldo Barbosa, Llorenc Quinto, Ingrid A. Laing, Caterina Guinovart, Pedro L. Alonso, Carlota Dobano, Peter Le Souef, Guicheng Zhang
Summary: In a randomized controlled clinical trial in Mozambique, researchers found significant associations between TLR4 gene and related genes with the incidence of clinical malaria. These findings suggest a potential central role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of clinical malaria.
Article
Pediatrics
Athena N. Nguyen, Alec L. Plotkin, Oludare A. Odumade, Lesley De Armas, Savita Pahwa, Elena Morrocchi, Nicola Cotugno, Paolo Rossi, Caroline Foster, Sara Dominguez-Rodriguez, Alfredo Tagarro, Caitlin Syphurs, Joann Diray-Arce, Benoit Fatou, Al Ozonoff, Ofer Levy, Paolo Palma, Kinga K. Smolen
Summary: This study investigates the long-term immune profile of children with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV) by measuring plasma cytokines, chemokines, and adenosine deaminases (ADAs) and how it is affected by the timing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. The results show significant differences in plasma cytokine, chemokine, and ADA concentrations between early-ART and late-ART treatment groups. Early treatment appears to dampen the long-term inflammatory profile in PHIV participants.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marta Ribes, Julia Montana, Marta Vidal, Ruth Aguilar, Patricia Nicolas, Uxue Alfonso, Natalia Rodrigo, Carlo Carolis, Carlota Dobano, Gemma Moncunill, Carlos Chaccour
Summary: This study conducted a seroprevalence survey in the community of Cizur, Spain and found the lowest proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children under 10 and the highest among adolescents. The study also identified a heterogeneous immune-response profile among participants, with generally correlated levels. Additionally, individuals with a technical education level were most affected financially. Therefore, economic impact biases should be considered when designing public health measures.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Shmuel Shoham, Carolina Batista, Yanis Ben Amor, Onder Ergonul, Mazen Hassanain, Peter Hotez, Gagandeep Kang, Jerome H. Kim, Bhavna Lall, Heidi J. Larson, Denise Naniche, Timothy Sheahan, Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft, Samba O. Sow, Annelies Wilder-Smith, Prashant Yadav, Maria Elena Bottazzi
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on immunocompromised patients, who are at increased risk for impaired vaccine responses, severe disease, prolonged hospitalizations, and deaths. People with deficiencies in lymphocyte number or function, such as transplant recipients and those with hematologic malignancies, are particularly at risk. Their impaired immune responses to vaccination and infection leave them more vulnerable to high viral loads and severe complications of COVID-19, which can in turn lead to disease progression, development of immune escape variants, and transmission of infection.
Article
Immunology
Chenjerai Jairoce, Didac Macia, Jorge P. Torres-Yaguana, Leonie Mayer, Marta Vidal, Rebeca Santano, Ramon Hurtado-Guerrero, Karine Reiter, David L. Narum, Borja Lopez-Gutierrez, Timothy Hamerly, Jahit Sacarlal, Ruth Aguilar, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Gemma Moncunill, Luis Izquierdo, Carlota Dobano
Summary: The study shows that the RTS,S/AS02A malaria vaccine induces IgG antibodies that equally recognize nonfucosylated and native-like fucosylated PfCSP, indicating that posttranslational modification by O-fucosylation does not significantly affect antibody-antigen binding.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Alfredo Mayor, Deus S. Ishengoma, Joshua L. Proctor, Robert Verity
Summary: This review discusses sampling design practices for malaria molecular surveillance (MMS) and highlights the factors that need to be considered. It provides examples for different use cases and serves as a guide for sample and data collection, methodological innovation, and utilization of MMS to support malaria elimination.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Claudia Gomes, Rosauro Varo, Miquel Duran-Frigola, Antonio Sitoe, Rubio Bila, Sonia Machevo, Alfredo Mayor, Quique Bassat, Ana Rodriguez
Summary: Malaria can progress from an uncomplicated infection to a life-threatening severe disease. Early symptoms are often nonspecific, making it difficult to identify patients at high risk. By analyzing the transcriptomic response of human brain microvascular endothelial cells to Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes, several biomarkers have been identified to distinguish uncomplicated from severe malaria, as well as to differentiate children with cerebral malaria within the severe malaria group.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Raquel Gonzalez, Anna Gonce, M. del Mar Gil, Edurne Mazarico, Elena Ferriols-Perez, Paloma Toro, Elisa Llurba, Elisa Saez, Miguel angel Rodriguez-Zambrano, Laura Garcia-Otero, Marta Lopez, Belen Santacruz, M. angeles Roman, Antoni Paya, Sofia Alonso, Monica Cruz-Lemini, Clara Pons-Duran, Luis Bernardo Herrera, Haily Chen, Azucena Bardaji, Llorenc Quinto, Clara Menendez
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in pregnant and postpartum women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results showed that although the prevalence of infection was lower in the HCQ group, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of COVID-19 progression, adverse events, and electrocardiogram changes.
ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
