Article
Microbiology
Brittany N. Araj, Bruce Swihart, Robert Morrison, Patricia Gonzales Hurtado, Andrew Teo, Almahamoudou Mahamar, Oumar Attaher, Bacary S. Diarra, Santara Gaoussou, Djibrilla Issiaka, Alassane Dicko, Patrick E. Duffy, Michal Fried
Summary: The study utilized proteomic analyses of PfEMP1 from clinical parasite isolates collected from Malian children to identify targets of immunity. Peptide-specific antibody responses in children were examined, and it was found that high antibody levels to specific PfEMP1 domains correlated with decreased parasite burden in future infections. These findings suggest that certain PfEMP1 domains play a role in protective immunity against malaria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raj Kumar Sah, Soumya Pati, Monika Saini, Shailja Singh
Summary: The sphingolipid pool plays a crucial role in regulating cellular functions in Plasmodium falciparum, and the parasite co-opts sphingolipids from host erythrocytes for its growth. By inhibiting SphK, the growth and development of P. falciparum can be inhibited, highlighting the importance of endogenous S1P in erythrocytes for parasite growth. Plasma S1P levels have no significant effect on Plasmodium growth, indicating a host-mediated effect.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Klemens Engelberg, Tyler Bechtel, Cynthia Michaud, Eranthie Weerapana, Marc-Jan Gubbels
Summary: This study used a reciprocal proximity based biotinylation approach to map the proteome of the basal complex in Toxoplasma gondii, identifying key components involved in cell division steps and revealing bidirectional daughter budding.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rakhee Lohia, Benoit Allegrini, Laurence Berry, Helene Guizouarn, Rachel Cerdan, Manouk Abkarian, Dominique Douguet, Eric Honore, Kai Wengelnik
Summary: A gain-of-function variant (E756del) in the PIEZO1 channel prevents severe malaria. Activation of PIEZO1 by Yoda1 and Jedi2 inhibitors induces echinocytosis and dehydration of red blood cells, inhibiting invasion by Plasmodium falciparum.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Margaux Chauvet, Cerina Chhuon, Joanna Lipecka, Sebastien Dechavanne, Celia Dechavanne, Murielle Lohezic, Margherita Ortalli, Damien Pineau, Jean-Antoine Ribeil, Sandra Manceau, Caroline Le Van Kim, Adrian J. F. Luty, Florence Migot-Nabias, Slim Azouzi, Ida Chiara Guerrera, Anais Merckx
Summary: This passage discusses the possible reasons for the high prevalence of sickle cell disease in certain populations may be related to the protective effect of HbS against severe malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. By studying protein phosphorylation, it reveals the impact of HbS heterozygous carriage on the phosphorylation of proteins in red blood cell membranes and skeletal proteins, as well as parasite proteins during infection with malaria, which may lead to a less severe manifestation of malaria symptoms.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Mia Andrews, Jake Baum, Paul R. Gilson, Danny W. Wilson
Summary: This article discusses recent evidence and re-evaluates previous data regarding the invasion of red blood cells by malaria parasite merozoites. It suggests that merozoites are capable of motility and have spherical or elongated-teardrop shapes. Furthermore, the article highlights that merozoites invade red blood cells 'wider end' first and pack within schizonts with this wider end facing outwards.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Gladys J. Keitany, Bethany J. Jenkins, Harold T. Obiakor, Shaji Daniel, Atis Muehlenbachs, Jean-Philippe Semblat, Benoit Gamain, Justin Y. A. Doritchamou, Sanjay A. Desai, Nicholas J. MacDonald, David L. Narum, Robert Morrison, Tracy Saveria, Marissa Vignali, Andrew Oleinikov, Michal Fried, Patrick E. Duffy
Summary: This study characterizes an invariant protein associated with placental malaria (PM), PfCSA-L, which binds both VAR2CSA and placental CSA with high affinity. Unlike VAR2CSA, PfCSA-L is peripherally associated with the outer surface of knobs through protein-protein interactions with VAR2CSA. The findings suggest that sequestration of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) involves complexes of invariant and variant surface proteins, allowing parasites to maintain diversity and function on the iRBC surface.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hayley E. Bullen, Paul R. Sanders, Madeline G. Dans, Thorey K. Jonsdottir, David T. Riglar, Oliver Looker, Catherine S. Palmer, Betty Kouskousis, Sarah C. Charnaud, Tony Triglia, Mikha Gabriela, Molly Parkyn Schneider, Jo-Anne Chan, Tania F. de Koning-Ward, Jake Baum, James W. Kazura, James G. Beeson, Alan F. Cowman, Paul R. Gilson, Brendan S. Crabb
Summary: Infection with Plasmodium falciparum parasites leads to a significant number of deaths each year. Understanding the proteins involved in parasite invasion and growth within human erythrocytes is important for developing new therapeutic strategies. One of these proteins, P113, has been found to play a role in both invasion and intracellular processes. Through our investigation, we discovered that P113 interacts with the protein export machinery and various proteins associated with the parasite vacuole. Furthermore, disrupting P113 affects the architecture of the vacuole membrane. This research provides insights into the function of P113 and its potential as a target for malaria treatment.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Isobel S. Walker, Stephen J. Rogerson
Summary: This article reviews the latest developments in the immunogenicity and pathogenesis of malaria, with a focus on the leading malaria killer, Plasmodium falciparum. Pathogenic factors include parasite-derived toxins and variant surface antigens that cause sequestration in the deep vasculature. The host response to these toxins and antigens plays a crucial role in determining disease severity.
Article
Immunology
Hina Singh, Syed Yusuf Mian, Alok K. Pandey, Sri Krishna, Gaurav Anand, K. Sony Reddy, Neha Chaturvedi, Vanndita Bahl, Nidhi Hans, Man Mohan Shukla, Quique Bassat, Alfredo Mayor, Kazutoyo Miura, Praveen K. Bharti, Carole Long, Neeru Singh, Virander Singh Chauhan, Deepak Gaur
Summary: This study evaluated 25 triple antibody combinations for parasite neutralization activity against clinical isolates and identified the MSP-Fu+CyRPA+RH5 antibody combination as having the maximal neutralization effect against variable P. falciparum parasites. This suggests that these antibody combinations could be promising candidate antigens for a potential blood-stage malaria vaccine.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Bikash Shakya, Geoffrey Kimiti Kilili, Ling Wang, Ernesto S. Nakayasu, Douglas J. LaCount
Summary: Exported proteins play important roles in creating a favorable environment for Plasmodium replication. This study identified several putative exported P. falciparum proteins that interact with erythrocyte cytoskeletal proteins through biochemical screening and affinity purification methods.
Article
Microbiology
Julie-Anne Gabelich, Josephine Gruetzke, Florian Kirscht, Oliver Popp, Joachim M. Matz, Gunnar Dittmar, Melanie Rug, Alyssa Ingmundson
Summary: This study aimed to find and characterize protein components of the intraerythrocytic Plasmodium-induced membrane structures (IBIS), and found that these proteins play important roles in the infected stage of the parasite.
Article
Hematology
Steven Kho, Nurjati C. Siregar, Labibah Qotrunnada, Aurelie Fricot, Abdoulaye Sissoko, Putu A. I. Shanti, Freis Candrawati, Noy N. Kambuaya, Hasrini Rini, Benediktus Andries, David Hardy, Nur I. Margyaningsih, Fauziyah Fadllan, Desandra A. Rahmayenti, Agatha M. Puspitasari, Leo Leonardo, Bagus T. G. Yayang, Dewi S. Margayani, Pak Prayoga, Leily Trianty, Enny Kenangalem, Ric N. Price, Tsin W. Yeo, Gabriela Minigo, Rintis Noviyanti, Jeanne R. Poespoprodjo, Nicholas M. Anstey, Pierre A. Buffet
Summary: Splenomegaly in malaria patients is associated with retention of uninfected red blood cells in the spleen, which is the major mechanism of anemia.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Josie L. Ferreira, Vojtech Prazak, Daven Vasishtan, Marc Siggel, Franziska Hentzschel, Annika M. Binder, Emma Pietsch, Jan Kosinski, Friedrich Frischknecht, Tim W. Gilberger, Kay Gruenewald
Summary: Microtubules in Plasmodium falciparum exhibit diverse structures coordinated by unique organizing centers at different stages of its life cycle. This unusual microtubule cytoskeleton has not been observed in any other organism to date, highlighting its importance in understanding the pathogenicity of the malaria parasite.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Noah Machuki Onchieku, Sonam Kumari, Rajan Pandey, Vaibhav Sharma, Mohit Kumar, Arunaditya Deshmukh, Inderjeet Kaur, Asif Mohmmed, Dinesh Gupta, Daniel Kiboi, Naseem Gaur, Pawan Malhotra
Summary: The reduced sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to Artemisinin and its derivatives is a global concern. Artemisinin causes cellular and genetic damage, activating the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways. The inhibition of PfDdi1 protease activity by ARTs leads to the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in parasites, disrupting the protein homeostasis and potentially impairing DNA and protein damage recovery processes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Min Zhang, Chengqi Wang, Thomas D. Otto, Jenna Oberstaller, Xiangyun Liao, Swamy R. Adapa, Kenneth Udenze, Iraad F. Bronner, Deborah Casandra, Matthew Mayho, Jacqueline Brown, Suzanne Li, Justin Swanson, Julian C. Rayner, Rays H. Y. Jiang, John H. Adams
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michel Theron, Nadia Cross, Paula Cawkill, Leyla Y. Bustamante, Julian C. Rayner
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2018)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Antoine Claessens, Lynne M. Harris, Slavica Stanojcic, Lia Chappell, Adam Stanton, Nada Kuk, Pamela Veneziano-Broccia, Yvon Sterkers, Julian C. Rayner, Catherine J. Merrick
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lisa H. Verzier, Rachael Coyle, Shivani Singh, Theo Sanderson, Julian C. Rayner
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Virginia M. Howick, Andrew J. C. Russell, Tallulah Andrews, Haynes Heaton, Adam J. Reid, Kedar Natarajan, Hellen Butungi, Tom Metcalf, Lisa H. Verzier, Julian C. Rayner, Matthew Berriman, Jeremy K. Herren, Oliver Billker, Martin Hemberg, Arthur M. Talman, Mara K. N. Lawniczak
Article
Cell Biology
Charles Hillier, Mercedes Pardo, Lu Yu, Ellen Bushell, Theo Sanderson, Tom Metcalf, Colin Herd, Burcu Anar, Julian C. Rayner, Oliver Billker, Jyoti S. Choudhary
Article
Infectious Diseases
Eugenia Lo, Jessica B. Hostetler, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, Richard D. Pearson, Muzamil M. A. Hamid, Karthigayan Gunalan, Daniel Kepple, Anthony Ford, Daniel A. Janies, Julian C. Rayner, Louis H. Miller, Guiyun Yan
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca R. Stanway, Ellen Bushell, Anush Chiappino-Pepe, Magali Roques, Theo Sanderson, Blandine Franke-Fayard, Reto Caldelari, Murielle Golomingi, Mary Nyonda, Vikash Pandey, Frank Schwach, Severine Chevalley, Jai Ramesar, Tom Metcalf, Colin Herd, Paul-Christian Burda, Julian C. Rayner, Dominique Soldati-Favre, Chris J. Janse, Vassily Hatzimanikatis, Oliver Billker, Volker T. Heussler
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William R. Proto, Sasha Siegel, Selasi Dankwa, Weimin Liu, Alison Kemp, Sarah Marsden, Zenon A. Zenonos, Steve Unwin, Paul M. Sharp, Gavin J. Wright, Beatrice H. Hahn, Manoj T. Duraisingh, Julian C. Rayner
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Sasha V. Siegel, Julian C. Rayner
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manuela Carrasquilla, Sophie Adjalley, Theo Sanderson, Alejandro Marin-Menendez, Rachael Coyle, Ruddy Montandon, Julian C. Rayner, Alena Pance, Marcus C. S. Lee
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Duncan N. Ndegwa, Prasun Kundu, Jessica B. Hostetler, Alejandro Marin-Menendez, Theo Sanderson, Kioko Mwikali, Lisa H. Verzier, Rachael Coyle, Sophie Adjalley, Julian C. Rayner
Summary: Researchers identified multiple novel vaccine candidates for P. vivax by exploring the related species P. knowlesi and testing their ability to inhibit invasion of human red blood cells. The study confirmed the utility of P. knowlesi as a model for P. vivax vaccine development and prioritized antigens for further follow up.
Article
Microbiology
Manuela Carrasquilla, Ndey F. Drammeh, Mukul Rawat, Theo Sanderson, Zenon Zenonos, Julian C. Rayner, Marcus C. S. Lee
Summary: The study presents a scalable method to assess parasite fitness and drug response using CRISPR editing and barcode sequencing. By inserting unique DNA barcodes into a safe-harbor genomic locus, multiple parasite strains were tagged and their dynamics were tracked using next-generation sequencing. The results revealed inherent fitness differences between the strains and sensitive modulation of responses to clinically relevant antimalarials, including artemisinin. This high-throughput approach provides a scalable solution for tracking parasite growth in complex mixtures.
Editorial Material
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Elena Levashina, Dominique Soldati-Favre, Andrew P. Waters, Friedrich Frischknecht, Julian C. Rayner
Summary: This is a round table discussion on the challenges and opportunities in malaria research, involving experts such as Elena Levashina, Dominique Soldati-Favre, Andrew Waters, Friedrich Frischknecht, and Julian Rayner.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Silvia N. Kariuki, Alexander W. Macharia, Johnstone Makale, Wilfred Nyamu, Stephen L. Hoffman, Melissa C. Kapulu, Philip Bejon, Julian C. Rayner, Thomas N. Williams, Amy Wesolowski
Summary: This study reveals that the Dantu blood group is associated with high-level protection against early, non-clinical, P. falciparum malaria infections in vivo. Learning more about the mechanisms involved could potentially lead to new approaches to the prevention or treatment of the disease.