Article
Immunology
Surafel K. Tebeje, Wakweya Chali, Elifaged Hailemeskel, Jordache Ramjith, Abrham Gashaw, Temesgen Ashine, Desalegn Nebret, Endashaw Esayas, Tadele Emiru, Tizita Tsegaye, Karina Teelen, Kjerstin Lanke, Eizo Takashima, Takafumi Tsuboi, Nichole D. Salinas, Niraj H. Tolia, David Narum, Chris Drakeley, Benoit Witkowski, Amelie Vantaux, Matthijs M. Jore, William J. R. Stone, Ivo S. Hansen, Fitsum G. Tadesse, Teun Bousema
Summary: This study investigated the association between antibody prevalence and the infectivity of Plasmodium vivax to mosquitoes. The results showed that antibodies against Pvs47, Pvs230, and Pvs25 were significantly associated with a reduction in mosquito infection rates. Further research can help establish causality and contribute to our understanding of P. vivax transmission and vaccine development.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Shasha Yu, Jing Wang, Xue Luo, Hong Zheng, Luhan Wang, Xuesen Yang, Ying Wang
Summary: Malaria remains a widespread parasitic disease and poses a threat to underdeveloped areas. New control methods targeting the mosquito phase and direct killing of mosquitoes, as well as utilizing microorganisms like Wolbachia and gut flora, show potential in blocking malaria transmission.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
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
Immunology
Kazutoyo Miura, Thao P. Pham, Shwu-Maan Lee, Jordan Plieskatt, Ababacar Diouf, Issaka Sagara, Camila H. Coelho, Patrick E. Duffy, Yimin Wu, Carole A. Long
Summary: Monitoring the integrity of recombinant proteins is critical during the development of subunit vaccines. This study developed a sandwich ELISA-based in vitro potency assay, called the Antigen Integrity Assay (AIA), to monitor the potency of Pfs230 protein. The AIA demonstrated excellent precision, sensitivity, and high throughput, making it a useful tool for future subunit vaccine development.
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joseph D. Challenger, Daniela Olivera Mesa, Dari F. Da, R. Serge Yerbanga, Thierry Lefevre, Anna Cohuet, Thomas S. Churcher
Summary: Transmission-blocking vaccines for malaria are being tested and their field efficacy is predicted to be higher than in laboratory conditions. Targeting school-aged children is recommended as it can have a significant impact in reducing malaria cases. Utilizing such vaccines alongside existing interventions could have substantial benefits in malaria control.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Wenyan Gao, Yue Qiu, Liying Zhu, Xinxin Yu, Fan Yang, Muyan Chen, Gang He, Yinjie Liu, Liwang Cui, Fei Liu, Xiaotong Zhu, Yaming Cao
Summary: Dual-antigen malaria vaccines that target both pre- and post-fertilization antigens can provide a promising higher transmission-reducing activity compared to single antigens.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Susheel K. Singh, Jordan Plieskatt, Bishwanath K. Chourasia, Amanda Fabra-Garcia, Asier Garcia-Senosiain, Vandana Singh, Karin Lovgren Bengtsson, Jenny M. Reimer, Robert Sauerwein, Matthijs M. Jore, Michael Theisen
Summary: This study presents a scalable and reproducible process for manufacturing R0.6C under cGMP, resulting in a sufficient yield for clinical evaluation. Various analytical assays were established to assess the identity, release, and stability of R0.6C, confirming its potential for use as a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine. Preclinical studies demonstrated that R0.6C elicited functional antibodies and showed enhanced response when combined with adjuvant.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
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
Parasitology
Domonbabele F. D. S. Hien, Prisca S. L. Pare, Amanda Cooper, Benjamin K. Koama, Edwige Guissou, Koudraogo B. Yameogo, Rakiswende S. Yerbanga, Iain W. Farrell, Jean B. Ouedraogo, Olivier Gnankine, Rickard Ignell, Anna Cohuet, Roch K. Dabire, Philip C. Stevenson, Thierry Lefevre
Summary: The study shows that certain plant compounds in nectar can affect the lifespan of mosquitoes and the infection rate of parasites, but the effects of ricinine at different concentrations vary between the two species of mosquitoes.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Geetanjali Pendyala, J. Mauricio Calvo-Calle, Alberto Moreno, Ravi S. Kane
Summary: A vaccine based on SpyCatcher-mi3 nanoparticles presenting a chimeric PfCSP antigen was designed to target the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). This vaccine incorporates recently identified T1/junctional epitopes and reduces the number of (NANP)(n) repeats. Immunization with this vaccine in mice resulted in high and durable IgG antibody levels and a balanced antibody response against T1/junctional epitopes and (NANP)(n) repeats. Refocusing the immune response towards functionally relevant epitopes may lead to a more effective second generation PfCSP-based vaccine.
BIOENGINEERING & TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Chioma Oringanje, Lillian R. Delacruz, Yunan Han, Shirley Luckhart, Michael A. Riehle
Summary: Overexpression of AMPK in the midgut of female Anopheles stephensi resulted in changes in nutrient storage and metabolism, decreased glycogen levels, increased trehalose levels, and decreased prevalence and intensity of Plasmodium falciparum infection. This study highlights the important role of midgut AMPK activity in regulating metabolism, reproduction, and innate immunity in An. stephensi.
Article
Immunology
Jordache Ramjith, Manon Alkema, John Bradley, Alassane Dicko, Chris Drakeley, Will Stone, Teun Bousema
Summary: Malaria transmission depends on the presence of mature Plasmodium transmission stages. Transmission-blocking antimalarial drugs and vaccines can prevent transmission by reducing gametocyte densities or infectivity to mosquitos. This online tool helps researchers calculate the sample size to detect reductions in mosquito infection rate or infection burden.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Juliana Calit, Jessica E. Araujo, Bingbing Deng, Kazutoyo Miura, Xiomara A. Gaitan, Maisa da Silva Araujo, Jansen F. Medeiros, Carole A. Long, Anton Simeonov, Richard T. Eastman, Daniel Y. Bargieri
Summary: Safe and effective chemotherapeutics for blocking malaria transmission at the sexual stage of the parasite life cycle are limited. Primaquine is the only approved drug for transmission reduction, but its toxicity poses challenges to widespread use.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Danton Ivanochko, Amanda Fabra-Garcia, Karina Teelen, Marga van de Vegete-Bolmer, Geert-Jan van Gemert, Jocelyn Newton, Anthony Semesi, Marloes de Bruijni, Judith Bolscher, Jordache Ramjith, Marta Szabat, Stefanie Vogt, Lucas Kraft, Sherie Duncan, Shwu-Maan Lee, Moses R. Kamya, Margaret E. Feeney, Prasanna Jagannathan, Bryan Greenhouse, Robert W. Sauerwein, C. Richter King, Randall S. MacGill, Teun Bousem, Matthijs M. Jore, Jean -Philippe Julien
Summary: Pfs230 is a crucial protein for Plasmodium falciparum transmission to mosquitoes and a target for the most advanced malaria-transmission-blocking vaccine candidate. Through screening the B cell repertoire of naturally exposed individuals, this study identified five potent monoclonal antibodies that bind to distinct epitopes on Pfs230. The highly potent antibodies from natural infection recognized a conserved conformational epitope, while antibodies from natural infection or vaccination recognized three different sites.
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
Entomology
Caroline Stephenson, Eric Coker, Samantha Wisely, Song Liang, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, John A. Lednicky
Summary: This study investigated the incidence of dengue fever in Florida and found that average temperature, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature were associated with the risk of local dengue virus transmission. Additionally, moderate rainfall and increasing numbers of travel-related cases were also associated with local transmission. The study provides a parsimonious predictive model for dengue fever incidence in Florida and highlights the importance of travel-related cases and environmental conditions in dengue virus transmission.
Article
Entomology
Natalie Lissenden, Jennifer S. Armistead, Katherine Gleave, Seth R. Irish, Jackline L. Martin, Louisa A. Messenger, Sarah J. Moore, Corine Ngufor, Natacha Protopopoff, Richard Oxborough, Angus Spiers, Rosemary S. Lees
Summary: Mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to pyrethroid insecticides, leading to the development of new insecticide-treated nets. However, there is a lack of standardized methods to measure the efficacy of these nets against mosquitoes in the long term.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Heather Coatsworth, Jovana Bozic, Juliana Carrillo, Eva A. Buckner, Adam R. Rivers, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Derrick K. Mathias
Summary: Virome studies have shown the presence of RNA viruses in animals, leading to a rethinking of the relationships between organisms and their microbiota. Mosquito viromes, especially those of Aedes aegypti, could potentially contain a core virome that impacts the basic biology of the host. This study investigated the virome composition in A. aegypti and found varying compositions across samples, suggesting the potential for a vertically maintained core virome.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Long T. Nguyen, Nicolas C. Macaluso, Brianna L. M. Pizzano, Melanie N. Cash, Jan Spacek, Jan Karasek, Megan R. Miller, John A. Lednicky, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Marco Salemi, Piyush K. Jain
Summary: This study describes a one-pot detection reaction using a thermostable Cas12b effector endonuclease from Brevibacillus sp. that can efficiently detect and discriminate SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, validated in clinical samples. The technology offers a fast, sensitive, and cost-effective approach for COVID-19 diagnostics, enabling real-time monitoring and point-of-care testing.
Article
Entomology
Rosemary S. Lees, Jennifer S. Armistead, Salum Azizi, Edi Constant, Christen Fornadel, John E. Gimnig, Janet Hemingway, Daniel Impoinvil, Seth R. Irish, William Kisinza, Natalie Lissenden, Henry D. Mawejje, Louisa A. Messenger, Sarah Moore, Corine Ngufor, Richard Oxborough, Natacha Protopopoff, Hilary Ranson, Graham Small, Joseph Wagman, David Weetman, Sarah Zohdy, Angus Spiers
Summary: To test the effectiveness and durability of new bed nets, it is necessary to study and test insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. A group of experts collaborated to develop a protocol for standardized monitoring and accurate characterization of resistant mosquitoes, providing valuable guidance for malaria control programs and stakeholders.
Article
Microbiology
Elangwe M. Sarah-Matio, Emilie Guillochon, Sandrine E. Nsango, Luc Abate, Christelle M. Ngou, Gaelle A. Bouopda, Lionel B. Feufack-Donfack, Albert N. Bayibeki, Majoline Tchioffo Tsapi, Arthur Talman, Alejandro Marin-Menendez, Lawrence Ayong, Antoine Claessens, Thierry Lefevre, Antoine Berry, Isabelle Morlais
Summary: Malaria control heavily relies on passive case detection, which is unable to detect asymptomatic infections. This study used genotyping to reveal the genetic diversity and polymorphisms associated with antimalarial resistance in natural Plasmodium falciparum infections. The study identified higher genetic diversity in asymptomatic infections and found no genetic differentiation between parasites from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The findings also confirmed a return to chloroquine-sensitive parasites in Cameroon and suggested the persistence of low-density chloroquine-resistant parasites as a factor contributing to genetic diversity.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Revocatus M. Musiba, Brian B. Tarimo, April Monroe, Dickson Msaky, Halfan Ngowo, Kimberly Mihayo, Alex Limwagu, Godlove T. Chilla, Gasper K. Shubis, Ahmada Ibrahim, George Greer, Juma H. Mcha, Khamis A. Haji, Faiza B. Abbas, Abdullah Ali, Fredros O. Okumu, Samson S. Kiware
Summary: Despite high coverage of core vector control interventions, low-level malaria transmission persists in Zanzibar. Anopheles arabiensis is the predominant malaria vector, with a higher proportion collected outdoors and in resting sites. Blood-fed mosquitoes obtained blood meals from non-human hosts. The study highlights the need for novel interventions targeting outdoor biting mosquitoes and adaptation of strategies to complement existing interventions.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Steven M. Heaton, Paul R. Gorry, Natalie A. Borg
Summary: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is effective in reducing HIV-1 infection. However, the emergence of treatment-refractory variants remains a challenge. HIV-1 uses cellular helicases, including DDX3X, to facilitate its replication. Exploring these helicases may reveal new therapeutic targets and help prevent viral escape.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Patricia K. Dranchak, Erin Oliphant, Bryan Queme, Laurence Lamy, Yuhong Wang, Ruili Huang, Menghang Xia, Dingyin Tao, James Inglese
Summary: This article introduces a method of high-throughput screening using C. elegans, where phenotypic changes in GFP-expressing organisms guide subsequent analyses. This approach will facilitate the analysis of C. elegans orthologous phenotypes of human pathologies and enable drug library profiling for a range of therapeutic indications.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2023)
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)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Victor Clausse, Yuhong Fang, Dingyin Tao, Harichandra D. Tagad, Hongmao Sun, Yuhong Wang, Surendra Karavadhi, Kelly Lane, Zhen-Dan Shi, Olga Vasalatiy, Christopher A. LeClair, Rebecca Eells, Min Shen, Samarjit Patnaik, Ettore Appella, Nathan P. Coussens, Matthew D. Hall, Daniel H. Appella
Summary: This study reports the discovery of new WIP1 modulators from a high-throughput screen, which can identify both inhibitors and activators. These hits have the potential to be used for the treatment of different cancers with varying P53 status.
ACS PHARMACOLOGY & TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kyndall C. Dye-Braumuller, Jennifer R. Gordon, Danielle Johnson, Josie Morrissey, Kaci McCoy, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Melissa S. Nolan
Summary: This study conducted a survey of vector control programs in the southeastern United States and found that a majority of the region is vulnerable to vector-borne disease outbreaks. The study highlights the critical need for increased resources to improve vector control programs and protect public health.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
