Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arne Alder, Cecilia P. Sanchez, Matthew R. G. Russell, Lucy M. Collinson, Michael Lanzer, Michael J. Blackman, Tim-Wolf Gilberger, Joachim M. Matz
Summary: Malaria parasites use a complex to acidify the digestive vacuole and degrade host erythrocyte hemoglobin, which is essential for their survival in the human bloodstream.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Preeti Kushwaha, Vipin Kumar, Biswajit Saha
Summary: beta-Carboline alkaloids are important nitrogen-based natural alkaloids and therapeutic molecules that exhibit various pharmacological activities through diverse mechanisms. There has been increasing attention towards developing effective antimalarial drugs based on this compound. This article comprehensively reviews the clinical and preclinical antimalarial scaffolds containing beta-carboline structure. The study focuses on the natural and semi-synthetic analogues of beta-carbolines reported in the last decade (2011-2021), providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential for future therapeutic development.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
James S. McCarthy, Azrin N. Abd-Rahman, Katharine A. Collins, Louise Marquart, Paul Griffin, Anne Kummel, Aline Fuchs, Cornelis Winnips, Vishal Mishra, Katalin Csermak-Renner, J. Prakash Jain, Preetam Gandhi
Summary: The new antimalarial compound cipargamin showed antimalarial activity in healthy volunteers infected with blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum, although some subjects experienced serious liver function changes during treatment. Further evaluation of the compound's hepatic safety profile is needed despite the promising antimalarial activity observed.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tran Dang Nguyen, Bo Gao, Chanaki Amaratunga, Mehul Dhorda, Thu Nguyen-Anh Tran, Nicholas J. White, Arjen M. Dondorp, Maciej F. Boni, Ricardo Aguas
Summary: Triple artemisinin-based combination therapies (TACTs) have shown high efficacy for the treatment of malaria and could delay the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance, improving treatment outcomes and the chances of malaria elimination.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(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
Microbiology
Heather J. Painter, Joanne M. Morrisey, Michael W. Mather, Lindsey M. Orchard, Cuyler Luck, Martin J. Smilkstein, Michael K. Riscoe, Akhil B. Vaidya, Manuel Llinas
Summary: The emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites poses a challenge to global malaria eradication efforts, highlighting the importance of identifying new antimalarial drugs. Studying the molecular mechanism of drug resistance has revealed a novel resistance mechanism that could potentially guide the development of future antimalarial combination therapies.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Colleen M. Leonard, Hussein Mohammed, Mekonnen Tadesse, Jessica N. McCaffery, Doug Nace, Eric S. Halsey, Samuel Girma, Ashenafi Assefa, Jimee Hwang, Eric Rogier
Summary: This study investigated whether mixed infections were missed by microscopy in a therapeutic efficacy study in Ethiopia. The results showed that even with multiple trained readers, microscopy can miss P. falciparum/P. vivax mixed infections.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Huong Giang Le, Haung Naw, Jung-Mi Kang, Tuan Cuong Vo, Moe Kyaw Myint, Zaw Than Htun, Jinyoung Lee, Won Gi Yoo, Tong-Soo Kim, Ho-Joon Shin, Byoung-Kuk Na
Summary: This study analyzed the antimalarial drug resistance genes in malaria parasites in the Mandalay region of Myanmar and found substantial levels of mutations conferring antimalarial drug resistance. Continuous monitoring of these mutations is necessary to provide useful information for policymakers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stanley C. Xie, Riley D. Metcalfe, Elyse Dunn, Craig J. Morton, Shih-Chung Huang, Tanya Puhalovich, Yawei Du, Sergio Wittlin, Shuai Nie, Madeline R. Luth, Liting Ma, Mi-Sook Kim, Charisse Flerida A. Pasaje, Krittikorn Kumpornsin, Carlo Giannangelo, Fiona J. Houghton, Alisje Churchyard, Mufuliat T. Famodimu, Daniel C. Barry, David L. Gillett, Sumanta Dey, Clara C. Kosasih, William Newman, Jacquin C. Niles, Marcus C. S. Lee, Jake Baum, Sabine Ottilie, Elizabeth A. Winzeler, Darren J. Creek, Nicholas Williamson, Michael W. Parker, Stephen Brand, Steven P. Langston, Lawrence R. Dick, Michael D. W. Griffin, Alexandra E. Gould, Leann Tilley
Summary: This study identifies aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetases as potential drug targets and presents a novel compound that can inhibit these enzymes, effectively killing the malaria parasite.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lekkala Ravindar, Siti Aishah Hasbullah, K. P. Rakesh, Nurul Izzaty Hassan
Summary: Malaria is a major public health risk and economic burden in disease-endemic countries. Drug resistance in malaria parasites is a significant problem in malaria control. Novel drug discovery is essential to combat this issue.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura E. de Vries, Patrick A. M. Jansen, Catalina Barcelo, Justin Munro, Julie M. J. Verhoef, Charisse Flerida A. Pasaje, Kelly Rubiano, Josefine Striepen, Nada Abla, Luuk Berning, Judith M. Bolscher, Claudia Demarta-Gatsi, Rob W. M. Henderson, Tonnie Huijs, Karin M. J. Koolen, Patrick K. Tumwebaze, Tomas Yeo, Anna C. C. Aguiar, Inigo Angulo-Barturen, Alisje Churchyard, Jake Baum, Benigno Crespo Fernandez, Aline Fuchs, Francisco-Javier Gamo, Rafael V. C. Guido, Maria Belen Jimenez-Diaz, Dhelio B. Pereira, Rosemary Rochford, Camille Roesch, Laura M. Sanz, Graham Trevitt, Benoit Witkowski, Sergio Wittlin, Roland A. Cooper, Philip J. Rosenthal, Robert W. Sauerwein, Joost Schalkwijk, Pedro H. H. Hermkens, Roger Bonnert, Brice Campo, David A. Fidock, Manuel Llinas, Jacquin C. Niles, Taco W. A. Kooij, Koen J. Dechering
Summary: In this study, a pantothenamide, MMV693183, was presented as a first-in-class acetyl-CoA synthetase (AcAS) inhibitor with attractive drug-like properties and in vivo efficacy. The compound showed potent activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, and effectively blocked transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes. These findings make MMV693183 a promising candidate for further clinical development.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonal Gupta, Monika Saini, Nishant Joshi, Sadat Shafi, Abul Kalam Najmi, Shailja Singh
Summary: This study investigated the localization and druggability of serpentine receptors in Plasmodium, and demonstrated the strong binding interaction between PfSR12 and R138727. The findings suggest the importance of purinergic signaling and PfSR12 in the survival and development of the malaria parasite, and indicate that Prasugrel may serve as a potential antimalarial therapy targeting PfSR12.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ilaria D'Agostino, Susi Zara, Simone Carradori, Viviana De Luca, Clemente Capasso, Clemens H. M. Kocken, Anne-Marie Zeeman, Andrea Angeli, Fabrizio Carta, Claudiu T. Supuran
Summary: The hybrid compounds synthesized in this study, which combine the Artesunate core with a sulfonamide moiety, showed high inhibition potency against the protozoan PfCA, while exhibiting low cytotoxic effects on human cells, indicating a wide therapeutic window.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rachel Weitzman, Ortal Calfon-Peretz, Trishna Saha, Naamah Bloch, Karin Ben Zaken, Avi Rosenfeld, Moshe Amitay, Abraham O. Samson
Summary: Malaria is a prevalent parasitic disease that kills between one and two million people, mostly children, every year. Most antimalarial drugs exhibit cyclic resistance patterns, supporting the use of combination therapy with multiple antimalarial drugs.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biology
N. P. Sarmah, K. Sarma, D. R. Bhattacharyya, A. A. Sultan, D. Bansal, N. Singh, P. K. Bharti, R. Sehgal, P. K. Mohapatra, P. Parida, J. Mahanta
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES
(2017)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anushree Acharya, Devendra Bansal, Praveen K. Bharti, Fahmi Y. Khan, Salem Abusalah, Ashraf Elmalik, Mohammed ElKhalifa, Pradyumna K. Mohapatra, Jagadish Mahanta, Rakesh Sehgal, Neeru Singh, Ali A. Sultan
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2018)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hargobinder Kaur, Rakesh Sehgal, Devendra Bansal, Ali A. Sultan, Ashish Bhalla, Sunit C. Singhi
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammed H. Abdelraheem, Devendra Bansal, Mohammed A. Idris, Moawia M. Mukhtar, Muzamil M. Abdel Hamid, Zainb S. Imam, Sisay Getachew, Rakesh Sehgal, Hargobinder Kaur, Amal H. Gadalla, Salam Al-Hamidhi, Zainab Al-Hashami, Ali Al-Jabri, Ali A. Sultan, Hamza A. Babiker
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2018)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Devendra Bansal, Praveen K. Bharti, Anushree Acharyaa, Mohamed H. Abdelraheem, Priyanka Patel, Ashraf Elmalik, Salem Abosalah, Fahmi Y. Khan, Mohamed ElKhalifa, Hargobinder Kaur, Elmoubasher Farag, Nilanju P. Sarmah, Pradyumna K. Mohapatra, Rakesh Sehgal, Jagadish Mahanta, Ali A. Sultan
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2019)
Letter
Hematology
Soha Albayat, Devendra Bansal, Suresh B. Kokku, Hamad Al-Romaihi, Hayat Khogali, Elmoubasher Farag
MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. J. Patgiri, K. Sarma, N. Sarmah, N. Bhattacharyya, D. K. Sarma, T. Nirmolia, D. R. Bhattacharyya, P. K. Mohapatra, D. Bansal, P. K. Bharti, R. Sehgal, J. Mahanta, A. A. Sultan
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Francis Schaffner, Devendra Bansal, Mohammed Hamad J. Al-Thani, Hamad Al-Romaihi, Elmoubasher Abu Baker Abd Farag
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Md Mazharul Islam, Elmoubashar Farag, Ahmad Mahmoudi, Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan, Muzzamil Atta, Ehsan Mostafavi, Ismail Alnour Alnager, Hassan Ali Farrag, Gaafar El Awad Eljack, Devendra Bansal, Mohamed Haroun, Randa Abdeen, Hamad Al-Romaihi, Abdul Aziz Al-Zeyara, Sowaid Ali Almalki, Zilungile Mkhize-Kwitshana
Summary: Rodents are the most abundant and diverse group of mammals and exhibit genetic and physical diversity in different ecosystems. This study in Qatar focused on the morphometric patterns of three commensal rodents, finding Rattus norvegicus as the most prevalent species. The average body weights and morphometric measurements of the external body and skull were found to be normally distributed and could serve as a reference for Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus in Qatar. Further comprehensive studies are needed to investigate the rodent population index, eco-friendly control programs, and public health importance in Qatar.
Article
Immunology
Devendra Bansal, Jazeel Abdulmajeed, Maha H. M. A. Al-Shamali, Soha S. A. Albayat, Sayed M. Himatt, Farhan S. Cyprian, Tawanda Chivese, Jesha M. A. Mundodan, Hayat S. Khogali, Rekayahouda Baaboura, Anvar H. Kaleeckal, Mujeeb C. Kandy, Ali Nizar Latif, Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari, Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi, Abdullatif Al Khal, Roberto Bertollini, Mohamed Hamad Al-Thani, Elmobashar Farag, Suhail A. R. Doi
Summary: This study conducted a case-control study among individuals with first SARS-CoV-2 infection to evaluate the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in preventing COVID-19 requiring intensive care. The results showed that the vaccine effectiveness was 59% between the first and second dose, and increased to 89% between the second dose and 4 months post the second dose. There was no waning of vaccine effectiveness from 4 to 12 months after the second dose.
Article
Virology
Carmen W. E. Embregts, Elmoubashar A. B. A. Farag, Devendra Bansal, Marjan Boter, Anne van der Linden, Vincent P. Vaes, Ingeborg van Middelkoop-van den Berg, Jeroen. IJpelaar, Hisham Ziglam, Peter V. Coyle, Imad Ibrahim, Khaled A. Mohran, Muneera Mohammed Saleh Alrajhi, Md. Mazharul Islam, Randa Abdeen, Abdul Aziz Al-Zeyara, Nidal Mahmoud Younis, Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi, Mohammad Hamad J. AlThani, Reina S. Sikkema, Marion P. G. Koopmans, Bas Oude B. Munnink, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel
Summary: RABV populations and minor variants were studied in different hosts and tissues using sequencing and analysis. The study found no differences in virus populations between different CNS regions in humans and mice, but identified an important genetic variation during in vitro passage. Difficulties in sequencing viruses from pharyngeal swab and salivary gland were also addressed.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elmoubashar Abd Farag, Shariq Jaffrey, Faisal Daraan, Maha Hammam M. A. Al-Shamali, Fahmi Y. Khan, Peter V. Coyle, Francis Schaffner, Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi, Mohammed Al-Thani, Devendra Bansal
Summary: Qatar does not have any indigenous cases of dengue, but the influx of immigrants from dengue endemic countries and the climate suitability for Aedes vector mosquitoes suggest a potential risk for local transmission. The study investigated various demographic factors to determine the epidemiological features of dengue in Qatar.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Md. Mazharul Islam, Pronesh Dutta, Rijwana Rashid, Syed Shariq Jaffery, Ariful Islam, Elmoubashar Farag, Susu M. Zughaier, Devendra Bansal, Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan
Summary: Monkeypox was mainly restricted to Africa in the past, but it has recently spread globally. This review provides an update on the virus, covering its ecology, evolution, transmission drivers, clinical features, management, knowledge gaps, and research priorities. The origin, reservoirs, and sylvatic cycle of the virus in the natural ecosystem remain unclear. Transmission occurs through contact with infected animals, humans, and natural hosts. Major drivers of transmission include trapping, hunting, bushmeat consumption, animal trade, and travel to endemic countries. However, in the 2022 epidemic, most cases in non-endemic countries were linked to direct contact with symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals through sexual activity. Preventive measures should focus on combating misinformation and stigma, promoting behavioral changes, implementing contact tracing and management, and utilizing smallpox vaccine for high-risk individuals. Additionally, long-term preparedness should be emphasized with a One Health approach, including strengthening systems, surveillance, early case detection, and mitigating socio-economic impacts of outbreaks.
Article
Parasitology
Elmoubasher Abu Baker Abd Farag, Devendra Bansal, Khaled Mardini, Ali A. Sultan, Mohammed Hamad J. Al-Thani, Salih Ali Al-Marri, Mohammed Al-Hajri, Hamad Al-Romaihi, Francis Schaffner
Summary: Mosquito-borne infections have significant consequences for public health, especially in the absence of well-established vector control and surveillance programs. A study in Qatar identified the types and distribution of mosquitoes of public health importance, with species like Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi being widespread with the risk of disease transmission. Regular field studies are needed to fill knowledge gaps and accurately assess the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Qatar.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Devendra Bansal, Anushree Acharya, Praveen K. Bharti, Mohamed H. Abdelraheem, Ashraf Elmalik, Salem Abosalah, Fahmi Y. Khan, Mohamed ElKhalifa, Hargobinder Kaur, Pradyumna K. Mohapatra, Rakesh Sehgal, Mohammed A. Idris, Jagadish Mahanta, Neeru Singh, Hamza A. Babiker, Ali A. Sultan
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2017)