Article
Microbiology
Emily M. Stucke, Antoine Dara, Ankit Dwivedi, Theresa K. Hodges, Sandra Ott, Drissa Coulibaly, Abdoulaye K. Kone, Karim Traore, Boureima Guindo, Bourama M. Tangara, Amadou Niangaly, Modibo Daou, Issa Diarra, Youssouf Tolo, Mody Sissoko, Luke J. Tallon, Lisa Sadzewicz, Albert E. Zhou, Matthew B. Laurens, Amed Ouattara, Bourema Kouriba, Ogobara K. Doumbo, Shannon Takala-Harrison, David Serre, Christopher Plowe, Mahamadou A. Thera, Mark A. Travassos, Joana C. Silva
Summary: Genes encoding the highly diverse Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (PfEMP1) antigens play a critical role in immune evasion and infected erythrocyte sequestration. Enriching for parasite RNA in clinical samples using a custom capture array allowed for the identification and annotation of var-like transcripts, particularly in samples with low parasitemia. This method has broad applicability to other highly diverse antigens from different parasites and pathogens.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Adina Heinberg, Inbar Amit-Avraham, Vera Mitesser, Karina Simantov, Manish Goyal, Yuval Nevo, Sofia Kandelis-Shalev, Emilie Thompson, Ron Dzikowski
Summary: This study reveals that the deadliest form of human malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, is able to evade the human immune response by selectively expressing a single variant of a surface antigen. The researchers found that a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcribed from an intron of an active gene is implicated in the choice of the single active variant. They also identified a protein called PfTPx-1, which interacts with the lncRNA and is involved in gene activation. Furthermore, they show that PfTPx-1 plays a role in providing a redox-controlled nuclear microenvironment ideal for active transcription.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sneha Bhandari, Sri Krishna, Priyanka P. Patel, Mrigendra P. Singh, Neeru Singh, Anjana Sharma, Praveen K. Bharti
Summary: The study identified specific characteristics of the var gene family that were closely associated with malaria severity, demonstrating prognostic features and specific sequence tags for cerebral malaria. High-quality IgG responses were observed for all peptides in the DBL alpha region.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Melissa D. Conrad, Victor Asua, Shreeya Garg, David Giesbrecht, Karamoko Niare, Sawyer Smith, Jane F. Namuganga, Thomas Katairo, Jennifer Legac, Rebecca M. Crudale, Patrick K. Tumwebaze, Samuel L. Nsobya, Roland A. Cooper, Moses R. Kamya, Grant Dorsey, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Philip J. Rosenthal
Summary: This study identified multifocal emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum with partial resistance to artemisinins in Uganda. The emergence and spread of resistance were predominantly observed in areas where effective malaria control had been discontinued or transmission was unstable.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Abel Cruz Camacho, Edo Kiper, Sonia Oren, Nir Zaharoni, Netta Nir, Noam Soffer, Yael Noy, Bar Ben David, Anna Rivkin, Ron Rotkopf, Dan Michael, Teresa G. Carvalho, Neta Regev-Rudzki
Summary: A high-throughput RT-qPCR platform was developed to investigate gene expression changes of Plasmodium falciparum during its lifecycle in the human host. The study found that the antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin and choline significantly altered gene expression patterns and developmental rate of the parasites. In addition, lactate and kynurenic acid were identified as potential regulators of sexual differentiation in malaria parasites. This research expands our understanding of gene expression changes during sexual differentiation.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Torben Rehn, Pedro Lubiana, Thi Huyen Trang Nguyen, Eva Pansegrau, Marius Schmitt, Lisa Katharina Roth, Jana Brehmer, Thomas Roeder, Daniel Cadar, Nahla Galal Metwally, Iris Bruchhaus
Summary: This study reveals the ability of P. falciparum expressing vir genes to bind to CD36, and finds that this cytoadhesion is dependent on the presence of PfEMP1 proteins. These findings are important for studying VIR proteins.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brendan Fries, Carlos A. Guerra, Guillermo A. Garcia, Sean L. Wu, Jordan M. Smith, Jeremias Nzamio Mba Oyono, Olivier T. Donfack, Jose Osa Osa Nfumu, Simon Hay, David L. Smith, Andrew J. Dolgert
Summary: Different population layers performed differently in matching the gold standard distribution at different population densities. Choosing the appropriate population map has a significant impact on burden estimates in a malaria model.
Article
Microbiology
Xuan Cao, Yuhao Wen, Ying Li, Xuying Ma, Qingqing Jing, Lubin Jiang, Gang Wei
Summary: By analyzing the genome structure of Plasmodium falciparum, it has been found that PfSET2 is crucial for the 3D organization of heterochromatin, which keeps var genes in a transcription repressive state. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the regulation of high-order chromatin structure in P. falciparum.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Theresa Reiker, Monica Golumbeanu, Andrew Shattock, Lydia Burgert, Thomas A. Smith, Sarah Filippi, Ewan Cameron, Melissa A. Penny
Summary: Individual-based models are essential in the global fight against infectious diseases, but the complexity of the models can pose challenges for calibration. The authors propose using a Bayesian optimization framework to calibrate a complex malaria transmission simulator, resulting in improved fitting outcomes compared to previous calibrations.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gabriel J. Foster, Mackenzie A. C. Sievert, Katrina Button-Simons, Katelyn M. Vendrely, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Michael T. Ferdig
Summary: The use of cyclical regression covariates (CRC) can effectively eliminate the confounding effect of developmentally driven transcriptional changes in clinical samples, leading to reduced errors in transcriptome analysis. This method has immediate application in parasite transcriptome sequencing directly from clinical blood samples and in cost-constrained in vitro experiments.
Article
Cell Biology
James A. Watson, Sophie Uyoga, Perpetual Wanjiku, Johnstone Makale, Gideon M. Nyutu, Neema Mturi, Elizabeth C. George, Charles J. Woodrow, Nicholas P. J. Day, Philip Bejon, Robert O. Opoka, Arjen M. Dondorp, Chandy C. John, Kathryn Maitland, Thomas N. Williams, Nicholas J. White
Summary: Severe malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is difficult to accurately diagnose in children in high-transmission settings. A combination of platelet count and plasma PfHRP2 concentration can be used to identify severe falciparum malaria in severely ill patients. About one-third of children enrolled in clinical studies of severe malaria in high-transmission settings in Africa had other causes of their severe illness.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jan Stephan Wichers-Misterek, Annika M. Binder, Paolo Mesen-Ramirez, Lilian Patrick Dorner, Soraya Safavi, Gwendolin Fuchs, Tobias L. Lenz, Anna Bachmann, Danny Wilson, Friedrich Frischknecht, Tim-Wolf Gilberger
Summary: The unique three-membrane pellicle is a key feature driving the transition between different life cycle stages of the malaria parasite. A novel subpellicular microtubule-associated protein, SPM3, was identified in the genus Plasmodium. Knockout of this protein resulted in malformed gametocytes and aberrant microtubules in Plasmodium falciparum, while in Plasmodium berghei, it caused perturbed microtubule architecture, aberrant sporozoite motility, and decreased transmission efficiency.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yonas Yimam, Mehdi Mohebali, Mohammad Javad Abbaszadeh Afshar
Summary: This study compared the diagnostic performance of a new ultrasensitive rapid diagnostic test (us-RDT) and a conventional rapid diagnostic test (co-RDT) for detecting malaria. The results showed that us-RDT had higher sensitivity, especially in asymptomatic individuals and low transmission areas.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jack Adderley, Christian Doerig
Summary: This study fills gaps in the kinomes of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, highlighting their similarities and differences for target selection. It also identifies kinases that are not suitable targets for drug discovery due to their high similarity with human counterparts.
Review
Immunology
Cindy S. Chu, Marie Stolbrink, Daniel Stolady, Makoto Saito, Candy Beau, Kan Choun, Tha Gay Wah, Ne Mu, Klay Htoo, Be Nu, Arunrot Keereevijit, Jacher Wiladpaingern, Verena Carrara, Aung Pyae Phyo, Khin Maung Lwin, Christine Luxemburger, Stephane Proux, Prakaykaew Charunwatthana, Rose McGready, Nicholas J. White, Francois Nosten
Summary: This study reviewed all malaria cases managed by the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit along the Thailand-Myanmar border between 2000 and 2016. The results showed that Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria had higher incidence and mortality rates in this area compared to areas of low seasonal malaria transmission.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
N. Kolevzon, D. Hashoul, S. Naik, A. Rubinstein, E. Yavin
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2016)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meital B. D. Bloch, Eylon Yavin, Aviram Nissan, Ilana Ariel, Ron Kenett, Dovrat Brass, Abraham Rubinstein
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2017)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Orit Amsalem, Taher Nassar, Sandrine Benhamron, Philip Lazarovici, Simon Benita, Eylon Yavin
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ofrah Faust, Dana Grunhaus, Odelia Shimshon, Eylon Yavin, Assaf Friedler
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Galia Tiram, Shiran Ferber, Paula Ofek, Anat Eldar-Boock, Dikla Ben-Shushan, Eilam Yeini, Adva Krivitsky, Roni Blatt, Nava Almog, Jack Henkin, Orit Amsalem, Eylon Yavin, Gadi Cohen, Philip Lazarovici, Joo Sang Lee, Eytan Ruppin, Michael Milyavsky, Rachel Grossman, Zvi Ram, Marcelo Calderon, Rainer Haag, Ronit Satchi-Fainaro
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maxim Mogilevsky, Odelia Shimshon, Saran Kumar, Adi Mogilevsky, Eli Keshet, Eylon Yavin, Florian Heyd, Rotem Karni
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Oncology
Vadim V. Maximov, Rania Akkawi, Saleh Khawaled, Zaidoun Salah, Lina Jaber, Ahlam Barhoum, Omer Or, Marco Galasso, Kyle C. Kurek, Eylon Yavin, Rami Aqeilan
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2019)
Article
Biophysics
Dina Hashoul, Rachel Shapira, Maria Falchenko, Odelia Tepper, Vera Paviov, Aviram Nissan, Eylon Yavin
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Polina Denichenko, Maxim Mogilevsky, Antoine Clery, Thomas Welte, Jakob Biran, Odelia Shimshon, Georgina D. Barnabas, Miri Danan-Gotthold, Saran Kumar, Eylon Yavin, Erez Y. Levanon, Frederic H. Allain, Tamar Geiger, Gil Levkowitz, Rotem Karni
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Terese Soudah, Saleh Khawaled, Rami Aqeilan, Eylon Yavin
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eylon Yavin
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Odelia Tepper, Itamar Peled, Yair Fastman, Adina Heinberg, Vera Mitesser, Ron Dzikowski, Eylon Yavin
Summary: In this study, FIT-PNAs were used as molecular probes to detect SNPs associated with artemisinin and chloroquine drug resistances in Plasmodium falciparum. The results showed that FIT-PNAs could effectively discriminate between wild-type and mutant strains of the parasite. FIT-PNAs were able to penetrate infected red blood cells and the difference in fluorescence signals could be detected using FACS analysis and confocal microscopy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Odelia Tepper, Hongchao Zheng, Daniel H. Appella, Eylon Yavin
Summary: The cpFIT-PNA probes are highly emissive RNA sensors with improved mismatch discrimination compared to FIT-PNAs.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Itamar Peled, Eylon Yavin
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Terese Soudah, Maxim Mogilevsky, Rotem Karni, Eylon Yavin
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2017)