Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Giulia Siciliano, Veronica Di Paolo, Dante Rotili, Rossella Migale, Francesca Pedini, Marialuisa Casella, Serena Camerini, Daniele Dalzoppo, Rob Henderson, Tonnie Huijs, Koen J. Dechering, Antonello Mai, Anna Maria Caccuri, Marco Lalle, Luigi Quintieri, Pietro Alano
Summary: This work investigates the activity of NBDHEX and its carboxylic acid metabolite on the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. NBDHEX shows strong activity against all blood stages of the parasite, with a higher potency against the gametocytes. Covalent modifications of gametocyte proteins are found to be associated with the antiparasitic effect of NBDHEX. Both NBDHEX and its metabolite have limited cytotoxicity in vitro, making them potential starting points for the development of new drugs to block malaria transmission.
Article
Immunology
Rebecca Webster, Hayley Mitchell, Jenny M. Peters, Juanita Heunis, Brighid O'Neill, Jeremy Gower, Sean Lynch, Helen Jennings, Fiona H. Amante, Stacey Llewellyn, Louise Marquart, Adam J. Potter, Geoffrey W. Birrell, Michael D. Edstein, G. Dennis Shanks, James S. McCarthy, Bridget E. Barber
Summary: A single low dose of tafenoquine can effectively reduce the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum parasites to mosquitoes, although there is a delay in its effect.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
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
Parasitology
Pornpawee Sookpongthai, Korawich Utayopas, Thassanai Sitthiyotha, Theerakamol Pengsakul, Morakot Kaewthamasorn, Kittikhun Wangkanont, Pongchai Harnyuttanakorn, Surasak Chunsrivirot, Sittiporn Pattaradilokrat
Summary: This study investigated the global diversity of Pfs25 in P. falciparum populations, identifying 11 unique haplotypes, with H1 and H2 as the major haplotypes. The distribution patterns of these haplotypes varied across different geographical populations, with limited polymorphism likely due to negative selection.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Guodong Niu, Xiaohong Wang, Yue Hao, Shambhu Kandel, Guomin Niu, Raphael G. Raptis, Jun Li
Summary: The study revealed that an extract from the fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum contained a new compound named pulixin, which effectively blocked malaria transmission and inhibited parasite proliferation. Pulixin showed no cytotoxic effects and efficiently blocked parasite transmission to mosquitoes without harming the host cells.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
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
Immunology
Roos M. de Jong, Susheel K. Singh, Karina Teelen, Marga van de Vegte-Bolmer, Geert-Jan van Gemert, Will J. R. Stone, Emily Locke, Jordan Plieskatt, Michael Theisen, Teun Bousema, Matthijs M. Jore
Summary: Researchers analyzed sera from naturally exposed individuals and found that the presence and/or intensity of antibodies against 12 novel putative surface expressed gametocyte antigens was associated with transmission reducing activity. Protein fragments of these antigens were successfully designed and expressed in different cells. All tested antigens were recognized by antibodies from individuals living in malaria-endemic areas and induced antigen-specific antibody responses in mice. However, none of these antigens induced an antibody response that reduced parasite development in the mosquito midgut.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sataporn Thongpoon, Wanlapa Roobsoong, Wang Nguitragool, Sadudee Chotirat, Takafumi Tsuboi, Eizo Takashima, Liwang Cui, Tomoko Ishino, Mayumi Tachibana, Kazutoyo Miura, Jetsumon Sattabongkot
Summary: This study aimed to investigate naturally acquired transmission-blocking immunity against Plasmodium vivax. The findings suggest that transmission-blocking immunity is primarily mediated by antibodies, with varying effectiveness against different parasite strains. These findings have implications for vaccine development.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Frankie M. T. Lyons, Mikha Gabriela, Wai-Hong Tham, Melanie H. Dietrich
Summary: This review summarizes the crucial roles of the 6-cysteine protein family in parasite development, transmission, evasion of host immune response, and host cell invasion in the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle. It also provides an overview of the current approaches for recombinant expression, monoclonal antibody production, and crystal structure analysis of the 6-cysteine proteins.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nicholas J. White, James A. Watson, J. Kevin Baird
Summary: Methaemoglobin is the result of iron oxidation from ferrous to ferric in the haem moiety of haemoglobin. The dose-dependent methaemoglobinaemia caused by 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial drugs appears to have some connection, although not a direct one, to the therapeutic efficacy against latent Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malarias (radical cure). Iatrogenic methaemoglobinaemia can be a useful measure in optimizing the drug and dose of 8-aminoquinoline drugs.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Geeta Kumari, Ravi Jain, Kumar Sah, Inderjeet Kalia, Manu Vashistha, Pooja Singh, Agam Prasad Singh, Kirandeep Samby, Jeremy Burrows, Shailja Singh
Summary: The development of resistance to current antimalarial therapies is a major concern. In this study, the antimalarial activity of Tubulin targeting compounds against P. falciparum was evaluated. The compounds showed multistage antimalarial effects and potential transmission-blocking activity. Target mining implicated PfTubulin as their molecular target. These compounds have potential for further development as next-generation antimalarial agents.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lacy M. Simons, Patricia Ferrer, Nita Gombakomba, Knashka Underwood, Raul Herrera, David L. Narum, Gaspar Canepa, Festus Acquah, Linda Amoah, Patrick E. Duffy, Carolina Barillas-Mury, Carole Long, Shwu-Maan Lee, Emily Locke, Kazutoyo Miura, Kim C. Williamson
Summary: Recent studies have found that asymptomatic carriers of P. falciparum parasites play a significant role in the transmission of malaria, emphasizing the importance of an effective malaria vaccine. Through flow cytometry screening, researchers identified 82 antibodies that bound live P. falciparum gametes/zygotes, with 10 of them showing transmission-reducing activity (TRA). After subcloning, eight TRA monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were obtained, which target new epitopes not included in current transmission-blocking vaccine candidates.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sara Consalvi, Chiara Tammaro, Federico Appetecchia, Mariangela Biava, Giovanna Poce
Summary: Even though more research and a deeper understanding of parasite sexual stages biology are needed, the development of novel strategies to block transmission has significantly accelerated. Among the innovative patented inventions, the surface-delivery of antimalarial drugs to kill transmission-stages parasites in mosquitoes shows the highest promise for success in malaria control strategies, opening up new possibilities in malaria transmission-blocking drug discovery.
EXPERT OPINION ON THERAPEUTIC PATENTS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Eizo Takashima, Mayumi Tachibana, Masayuki Morita, Hikaru Nagaoka, Bernard N. Kanoi, Takafumi Tsuboi
Summary: Efforts to control malaria have seen success in the past two decades, but have been complicated by the emergence of COVID-19. Developing more effective malaria vaccines, especially transmission-blocking vaccines, is vital for the goal of malaria elimination. Challenges in TBV development highlight the need for novel approaches and accelerated candidate discovery.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rebecca L. Clements, Alexander A. Morano, Francesca M. Navarro, James P. McGee, Esrah W. Du, Vincent A. Streva, Scott E. Lindner, Jeffrey D. Dvorin
Summary: This study identifies a basal complex protein, PfBLEB, as a key player in gametocytogenesis. Parasites lacking PfBLEB are unable to form mature gametocytes, highlighting the importance of PfBLEB. The study also provides a potential molecular target for the eradication of malaria transmission.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Vincent O. Nyasembe, David P. Tchouassi, Charles M. Mbogo, Catherine L. Sole, Christian Pirk, Baldwyn Torto
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2015)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vincent O. Nyasembe, David P. Tchouassi, Christian W. W. Pirk, Catherine L. Sole, Baldwyn Torto
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vincent O. Nyasembe, Peter E. A. Teal, Patrick Sawa, James H. Tumlinson, Christian Borgemeister, Baldwyn Torto
Article
Plant Sciences
Peter E. A. Teal, Davy Jones, Grace Jones, Baldwyn Torto, Vincent Nyasembe, Christian Borgemeister, Hans T. Alborn, Fatma Kaplan, Drion Boucias, Verena U. Lietze
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2014)
Article
Parasitology
Vincent O. Nyasembe, Peter E. A. Teal, Wolfgang R. Mukabana, James H. Tumlinson, Baldwyn Torto
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2012)
Article
Plant Sciences
Vincent O. Nyasembe, Baldwyn Torto
PHYTOCHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2014)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vincent O. Nyasembe, David P. Tchouassi, Hillary K. Kirwa, Woodbridge A. Foster, Peter E. A. Teal, Christian Borgemeister, Baldwyn Torto
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vincent O. Nyasembe, Xavier Cheseto, Fatma Kaplan, Woodbridge A. Foster, Peter E. A. Teal, James H. Tumlinson, Christian Borgemeister, Baldwyn Torto
Article
Parasitology
Vincent Odhiambo Nyasembe, David Poumo Tchouassi, Martha Njeri Muturi, Christian W. W. Pirk, Catherine L. Sole, Baldwyn Torto
Summary: This study investigated the effects of three plants on the survival, fecundity, and egg viability of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Results showed that different plant diets had varying impacts on the reproductive fitness of the mosquitoes, influencing their disease transmission potential.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Nicole G. Bender, Prachi Khare, Juan Martinez, Rebecca E. Tweedell, Vincent O. Nyasembe, Borja Lopez-Gutierrez, Abhai Tripathi, Dustin Miller, Timothy Hamerly, Eric M. Vela, Ryan R. Davis, Randall F. Howard, Sandrine Nsango, Ronald R. Cobb, Matthias Harbers, Rhoel R. Dinglasan
Summary: The study identified AnAPN1 as a key antigen for transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) against malaria. Utilizing the UF6b:GLA-LSQ immunogen was effective in focusing the humoral response to specific epitopes, resulting in potent transmission-blocking activity, making UF6b a prime TBV candidate for malaria elimination efforts.
Article
Immunology
Gregory P. Howard, Nicole G. Bender, Prachi Khare, Borja Lopez-Gutierrez, Vincent Nyasembe, William J. Weiss, Jerry W. Simecka, Timothy Hamerly, Hai-Quan Mao, Rhoel R. Dinglasan
Summary: This study developed a nanoparticle-based malaria transmission blocking vaccine that successfully induced an immune response blocking parasite transmission by co-delivering UF6b and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide immunostimulatory sequence 1018. This nanovaccine platform allows for antigen dose-sparing and achieves immunopotentiation of AnAPN1 through direct lymph node targeting.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Brian B. Tarimo, Vincent O. Nyasembe, Billy Ngasala, Christopher Basham, Isaack J. Rutagi, Meredith Muller, Srijana B. Chhetri, Rebecca Rubinstein, Jonathan J. Juliano, Mwajabu Loya, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Jessica T. Lin, Derrick K. Mathias
Summary: This study discovered that Plasmodium ovale has a prevalence of 4-15% among asymptomatic individuals in coastal Tanzania, making it difficult to detect using field diagnostics. P. ovale has a different seasonal peak compared to co-endemic P. falciparum, the ability to relapse, and efficient transmission to Anopheles vectors, which contribute to its persistence amid control efforts focused on P. falciparum.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Vincent O. Nyasembe, Timothy Hamerly, Borja Lopez-Gutierrez, Alexandra M. Leyte-Vidal, Heather Coatsworth, Rhoel R. Dinglasan
Summary: Plasmodium falciparum infection activates adipokinetic hormone signaling and lipid mobilization in the Anopheles gambiae mosquito vector to promote sporogony. It was found that P. falciparum infection significantly up-regulates the AKH pathway and lipid mobilization in An. gambiae, which is crucial for the growth and maturation of sporozoites.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Billy Ngasala, Vincent O. Nyasembe, Christopher Basham, Mwajabu Loya, Zackary Park, Brian Tarimo, Feng-Chang Lin, Andreas Martensson, Jonathan Juliano, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Derrick K. Mathias, Jessica T. Lin
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2019)