Editorial Material
Biology
Colin Sutherland, Didier Menard
Summary: A tool that analyzes the genome of parasites in the blood of malaria patients can assist policymakers in making informed decisions on how to address the increase in drug-resistant infections.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raymond Babila Nyasa, Esendege Luke Fotabe, Roland N. Ndip
Summary: The study found a high prevalence of malaria in the Nkongho-mbeng area, with a significant proportion of asymptomatic infections. Despite a high coverage of LLINs, the malaria prevalence was unexpectedly higher among those sleeping under LLINs. Being male, unemployed, living in specific areas, and having bushes around homes were significant risk factors associated with malaria infection.
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Ahmed M. Abdou, Abdel-latif S. Seddek, Noha Abdelmageed, Mohamed O. Badry, Yoshifumi Nishikawa
Summary: This study evaluated the antimalarial efficacy of several Egyptian plant extracts and identified four promising candidates for the treatment of malaria.
BMC COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AND THERAPIES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maha Alhelf, Rasha M. S. Shoaib, Afaf Elsaid, Nermeen Bastawy, Nanis S. Elbeltagy, Eman T. Salem, Sherif Refaat, Eman H. Abuelnadar
Summary: This study investigated the association between LTA (c.179 C>A; p.Thr60Asn; rs1041981) polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Egyptian population. The results showed that LTA (c.179 C>A; p.Thr60Asn; rs1041981) polymorphism is independently associated with an increased risk for HCC.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Wael Abdrabou, Mame Massar Dieng, Aissatou Diawara, Samuel Sindie Serme, Dareen Almojil, Salif Sombie, Noelie Bere Henry, Desire Kargougou, Vinu Manikandan, Issiaka Soulama, Youssef Idaghdour
Summary: The study revealed metabolic perturbations and transcriptional changes in immune cells in children from two different ethnic groups in West Africa following seasonal malaria infection. It identified an immunosuppressive role of endogenous steroids induced by P. falciparum infection, shedding light on potential new targets for antimalarial therapeutic interventions.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Christabel N. Hikaambo, Natalia Shakela, John G. Woodland, Kathryn J. Wicht, Kelly Chibale
Summary: Zoonotic and related infections pose a significant health threat to Africa, the world's second-most populous continent. Despite the challenges faced by drug discovery scientists, recent progress in identifying potential medicines across diverse disease areas brings optimism and indicates African-led scientific initiatives are making progress.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amal A. H. Gadalla, Giulia Siciliano, Ryan Farid, Pietro Alano, Lisa Ranford-Cartwright, James S. McCarthy, Joanne Thompson, Hamza Babiker
Summary: Quantitative qRT-PCR assays have shown the high transmission capacity of Plasmodium falciparum by detecting and quantifying late gametocyte stages. Specific qRT-PCR assays targeting early-stage gametocytes have been developed and tested in natural and controlled human infections, showing sensitivity and specificity for circulating sexually committed ring stages/early gametocytes, which can enhance our understanding of epidemiological processes modulating P. falciparum transmission.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Shoaib Ashraf, Areeba Khalid, Arend L. de Vos, Yanfang Feng, Petra Rohrbach, Tayyaba Hasan
Summary: A proof-of-concept study used automated imaging platform (NanoZoomer) and algorithm (ParasiteMacro) to detect and estimate the quantity of malarial parasites, demonstrating efficient and accurate diagnostic results.
Article
Immunology
Oriana Kreutzfeld, Patrick K. Tumwebaze, Oswald Byaruhanga, Thomas Katairo, Martin Okitwi, Stephen Orena, Stephanie A. Rasmussen, Jennifer Legac, Melissa D. Conrad, Sam L. Nsobya, Ozkan Aydemir, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Maelle Duffey, Roland A. Cooper, Philip J. Rosenthal
Summary: This study investigated the susceptibility of P falciparum field isolates to PfDHFR inhibitors in two districts of Uganda and found common resistance-mediating mutations in Uganda. However, the new compound P218 retained excellent activity against mutant parasites.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Prisca Lagardere, Romain Mustiere, Nadia Amanzougaghene, Sebastien Hutter, Marion Casanova, Jean-Francois Franetich, Shahin Tajeri, Aurelie Malzert-Freon, Sophie Corvaisier, Nadine Azas, Patrice Vanelle, Pierre Verhaeghe, Nicolas Primas, Dominique Mazier, Nicolas Masurier, Vincent Lisowski
Summary: The need for new compounds effective against multiple stages of Plasmodium falciparum development is urgent due to the increasing number of strains resistant to current treatments. In this study, 25 new 4-amino-substituted analogues based on Gamhepathiopine were synthesized and evaluated on both erythrocytic and hepatic stages of the parasite. A promising compound, N2-(tert-butyl)-N [4]-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-6-(p-tolyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diamine, showed improved physicochemical properties, intestinal permeability, and microsomal stability compared to Gamhepathiopine, while maintaining good anti-plasmodial activity on the erythrocytic and hepatic stages of Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Abdirahman Abdi, Fiona Achcar, Lauriane Sollelis, Joao Luiz Silva-Filho, Kioko Mwikali, Michelle Muthui, Shaban Mwangi, Hannah W. Kimingi, Benedict Orindi, Cheryl Andisi Kivisi, Manon Alkema, Amrita Chandrasekar, Peter C. Bull, Philip Bejon, Katarzyna Modrzynska, Teun Bousema, Matthias Marti
Summary: The malaria parasite life cycle involves asexual replication in human blood and differentiation into gametocytes for transmission to mosquitoes. Host factors influence the commitment to differentiate into gametocytes, but the exact mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed data from 828 children in Kenya over 18 years to understand the relationship between host immunity, parasite growth, and transmission investment. We found that reduced plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels, which are associated with inflammatory responses, are correlated with increased transmission investment and reduced asexual replication.
Article
Microbiology
Zena Lapp, Andrew A. Obala, Lucy Abel, David A. Rasmussen, Kelsey M. Sumner, Elizabeth Freedman, Steve M. Taylor, Wendy Prudhomme-O'Meara
Summary: This study compared the genetic diversity, prevalence, and evenness of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in human and mosquito hosts. The results showed that the parasite populations in mosquitoes were more diverse compared to humans, and the prevalence of haplotypes was more even in humans. In addition, infections in humans were more likely to harbor dominant haplotypes. Furthermore, there was little overlap in the genetic composition of abdomen and head infections within a mosquito.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Daniel J. Weiss, Amelia Bertozzi-Villa, Susan F. Rumisha, Punam Amratia, Rohan Arambepola, Katherine E. Battle, Ewan Cameron, Elisabeth Chestnutt, Harry S. Gibson, Joseph Harris, Suzanne Keddie, Justin J. Millar, Jennifer Rozier, Tasmin L. Symons, Camilo Vargas-Ruiz, Simon I. Hay, David L. Smith, Pedro L. Alonso, Abdisalan M. Noor, Samir Bhatt, Peter W. Gething
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of disruptions to malaria control on malaria incidence and mortality in Africa. Findings show that reductions in access to effective antimalarial drug treatment and insecticide-treated net coverage could lead to increased malaria burden, potentially doubling malaria mortality in 2020.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yonas Yimam, Mehdi Nateghpour, Mehdi Mohebali, Mohammad Javad Abbaszadeh Afshar
Summary: Asymptomatic malaria infection in pregnant women is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is associated with an increased likelihood of anemia compared to non-infected pregnant women. Primigravida women have a higher likelihood of asymptomatic malaria infection compared to multigravida women.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Adeola Y. Olukosi, Olusola Ajibaye, Omowunmi Omoniwa, Olusola Oresanya, Aina O. Oluwagbemiga, Chinazo Ujuju, Michael Ekholuenetale, Kolawole Maxwell, Colin J. Sutherland, James K. Tibenderana, Khalid B. Beshir
Summary: A rapid surveillance study was conducted in Ebonyi and Osun states in Nigeria to assess the suitability of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) as perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC). The study revealed that both states are suitable for SP-PMC implementation, and it has been implemented in Osun since 2022. Continuous monitoring of the 540E mutation is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of SP chemoprevention in Nigeria.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Clemence Fournier, Mathieu Barbier, Agnes Camuzat, Vincent Anquetil, Serena Lattante, Fabienne Clot, Cecile Cazeneuve, Daisy Rinaldi, Philippe Couratier, Vincent Deramecourt, Mario Sabatelli, Serge Belliard, Martine Vercelletto, Sylvie Forlani, Ludmila Jornea, Eric Leguern, Alexis Brice, Isabelle Le Ber, Sophie Auriacombe, Frdric Blanc, Claire Bouteleau-Bretonniere, Mathieu Ceccaldi, Mira Didic, Bruno Dubois, Charles Duyckaerts, Frederique Etcharry-Bouix, Veronique Golfier, Didier Hannequin, Lucette Lacomblez, Richard Levy, Bernard-Franois Michel, Florence Pasquier, Catherine Thomas-Anterion, Jeremie Pariente, Franois Sellal, Eve Benchetrit, Hugo Bertin, Anne Bertrand, Anne Bissery, Stphanie Bombois, Marie-Paule Boncoeur, Pascaline Cassagnaud, Mathieu Chastan, Yaohua Chen, Marie Chupin, Olivier Colliot, Xavier Delbeucq, Christine Delmaire, Emmanuel Gerardin, Claude Hossein-Foucher, Marie-Odile Habert, Graldine Lautrette, Thibaud Lebouvier, Stphane Lehricy, Benjamin Le Toullec, Kelly Martineau, Marie-Anne Mackowiak, Jacques Monteil, Grgory Petyt, Pierre-Francois Pradat, Assi-Herve Oya, Adeline Rollin-Sillaire, Francois Salachas, Sabrina Sayah, David Wallon
NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aitor Gonzalez, Marie Artufel, Pascal Rihet
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Alassane Thiam, Michel Sanka, Rokhaya Ndiaye Diallo, Magali Torres, Babacar Mbengue, Nicolas Fernandez Nunez, Fatou Thiam, Gora Diop, Genevieve Victorero, Catherine Nguyen, Alioune Dieye, Pascal Rihet
BMC MEDICAL GENOMICS
(2019)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Vincent Huin, Mathieu Barbier, Armand Bottani, Johannes Alexander Lobrinus, Fabienne Clot, Foudil Lamari, Laureen Chat, Benoit Rucheton, Frederique Fluchere, Stephane Auvin, Peter Myers, Antoinette Gelot, Agnes Camuzat, Catherine Caillaud, Ludmila Jornea, Sylvie Forlani, Dario Saracino, Charles Duyckaerts, Alexis Brice, Alexandra Durr, Isabelle Le Ber
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Florian Rosier, Audrey Brisebarre, Claire Dupuis, Sabrina Baaklini, Denis Puthier, Christine Brun, Lydie C. Pradel, Pascal Rihet, Didier Payen
Summary: Through two genome-wide association studies, the research identified an association between SNP within the CISH gene and death in septic shock patients. Further investigation revealed rs143356980 as a key regulatory candidate that modulates pathways related to death, increasing the risk of mortality in patients with septic shock.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Florian Rosier, Nicolas Fernandez Nunez, Magali Torres, Beatrice Loriod, Pascal Rihet, Lydie C. Pradel
Summary: In this study, the transcriptional response of mice injected with LPS was compared to human cells stimulated with LPS in vitro and the blood cells of septic patients. The results showed a significant overlap in gene regulation and disease processes between mouse and human sepsis, supporting the hypothesis of common molecular and cellular mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mathieu Barbier, Melanie Bahlo, Alessandra Pennisi, Maxime Jacoupy, Rick M. Tankard, Claire Ewenczyk, Kayli C. Davies, Patricia Lino-Coulon, Claire Colace, Haloom Rafehi, Nicolas Auger, Brendan R. E. Ansell, Ivo van der Stelt, Katherine B. Howell, Marie Coutelier, David J. Amor, Emeline Mundwiller, Lena Guillot-Noel, Elsdon Storey, R. J. McKinlay Gardner, Mathew J. Wallis, Alfredo Brusco, Olga Corti, Agnes Rotig, Richard J. Leventer, Alexis Brice, Martin B. Delatycki, Giovanni Stevanin, Paul J. Lockhart, Alexandra Durr
Summary: This study identifies PNPT1 as a new causal gene for SCA25 and highlights the biological links between alterations of mtRNA trafficking, interferonopathies and ataxia.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samia Nisar, Magali Torres, Alassane Thiam, Bruno Pouvelle, Florian Rosier, Frederic Gallardo, Oumar Ka, Babacar Mbengue, Rokhaya Ndiaye Diallo, Laura Brosseau, Salvatore Spicuglia, Alioune Dieye, Sandrine Marquet, Pascal Rihet
Summary: This study systematically investigated the regulatory effect of genetic variants associated with severe malaria and identified a regulatory region that affects the risk of severe malaria. The study also demonstrated the functional activity of the identified genetic variants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Mathieu Barbier, Claire -Sophie Davoine, Emilien Petit, Maximilien Porch, Lena Guillot-Noel, Sabrina Sayah, Anne-Laure Fauret, Jean-Philippe Neau, Lucie Guyant-Marechal, Didier Deffond, Christine Tranchant, Cyril Goizet, Giulia Coarelli, Anna Castrioto, Stephan Klebe, Claire Ewenczyk, Anna Heinzmann, Perrine Charles, Maya Tchikviladze, Christine van Broeckhoven, Alexis Brice, Alexandra Durr
Summary: Through systematic sequencing of STUB1 variants in 36 dominant ataxia families, half of the TBP40-49 samples were found to have STUB1 variants. Additionally, TBP40-49 alleles were detected in 40% of STUB1 probands. The study found that the longer the TBP repeat length, the more likely the occurrence of cognitive impairment (P=0.0129) and the faster the disease progression (P=0.0003). Importantly, 13 STUB1 probands with the full SCA48 clinical phenotype had normal TBP37-39 alleles, excluding digenic inheritance as the sole mode.
GENETICS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alassane Thiam, Samia Nisar, Mathieu Adjemout, Frederic Gallardo, Oumar Ka, Babacar Mbengue, Gora Diop, Alioune Dieye, Sandrine Marquet, Pascal Rihet
Summary: ATP2B4 gene, which has been identified as a severe malaria resistance gene, is also associated with mild malaria. Eight potential causal regulatory variants have been shown to be associated with severe malaria. The homozygous genotypes of these variants for the major alleles are associated with an increased risk of mild malaria.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mathieu Adjemout, Bruno Pouvelle, Fatou Thiam, Alassane Thiam, Magali Torres, Samia Nisar, Babacar Mbengue, Alioune Dieye, Pascal Rihet, Sandrine Marquet
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jules Cretin, Mathieu Adjemout, Christelle Dieppois, Frederic Gallardo, Magali Torres, Zachary Merard, Serge Aime Sawadogo, Christophe Picard, Pascal Rihet, Pascale Paul
Summary: This study identifies a non-coding variant, rs1771575, that regulates the expression of Fc gamma Rs and is associated with the prevalence of malarial infection in children.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lamia Madaci, Charlyne Gard, Sebastien Nin, Geoffroy Venton, Pascal Rihet, Denis Puthier, Beatrice Loriod, Regis Costello
Summary: This article discusses the importance of personalized treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. The use of targeted drugs is crucial in differentiating between different types of cell targets, but cell-by-cell analysis poses challenges. The study demonstrates the applicability of the cell hashing technique for analyzing acute myeloid leukemia cells and compares it to standard single cell analysis, showing strong correlation in various parameters.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mathieu Barbier, Agnes Camuzat, Khalid El Hachimi, Justine Guegan, Daisy Rinaldi, Serena Lattante, Marion Houot, Raquel Sanchez-Valle, Mario Sabatelli, Anna Antonell, Laura Molina-Porcel, Fabienne Clot, Philippe Couratier, Emma van der Ende, Julie van der Zee, Claudia Manzoni, William Camu, Cecile Cazeneuve, Francois Sellal, Mira Didic, Veronique Golfier, Florence Pasquier, Charles Duyckaerts, Giacomina Rossi, Amalia C. Bruni, Victoria Alvarez, Estrella Gomez-Tortosa, Alexandre de Mendonca, Caroline Graff, Mario Masellis, Benedetta Nacmias, Badreddine Mohand Oumoussa, Ludmila Jornea, Sylvie Forlani, Viviana Van Deerlin, Jonathan D. Rohrer, Ellen Gelpi, Rosa Rademakers, John Van Swieten, Eric Le Guern, Christine Van Broeckhoven, Raffaele Ferrari, Emmanuelle Genin, Alexis Brice, Isabelle Le Ber
Summary: This study identified a modifier gene associated with disease onset in C9orf72 carriers on chromosome Xq27.3. The minor allele A of rs1009776 was found to be linked to earlier onset of dementia. Upregulation of SLITRK2, potentially influenced by rs1009776, may lead to synaptic dysfunctions in C9orf72 patients. Further studies are needed to understand how SLITRK2 expression modulation affects synaptic functions and impacts the onset of dementia in C9orf72 carriers.
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Vincent Huin, Mathieu Barbier, Alexandra Durr, Isabelle Le Ber