scholarly journals Ivermectin Impairs the Development of Sexual and Asexual Stages of Plasmodium falciparum In Vitro

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lais Pessanha de Carvalho ◽  
Thaisa Lucas Sandri ◽  
Edésio José Tenório de Melo ◽  
Rolf Fendel ◽  
Peter G. Kremsner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Trophozoite Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blood Sucking

ABSTRACT Ivermectin is the drug of choice for many parasitic infections, with more than one billion doses being distributed in onchocerciasis programs. The drug has been put into focus recently by the malaria community because of its potential to kill blood-sucking mosquitoes, thereby reducing malaria transmission. However, the activity of ivermectin against the malaria parasite itself has been only partly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro activity of ivermectin against asexual and sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Both asexual and late-stage gametocytes were incubated with ivermectin and control drugs in vitro. The growth-inhibiting effects were assessed for asexual stages of different Plasmodium falciparum laboratory strains and culture-adapted clinical isolates using the histidine-rich protein 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The effect against stage IV/V gametocytes was evaluated based on ATP quantification. Ivermectin showed activities at nanomolar concentrations against asexual stages (50% inhibitory concentration of ∼100 nM) and stage IV/V gametocytes (500 nM) of P. falciparum. Stage-specific assays suggested that ivermectin arrests the parasite cycle at the trophozoite stage. Ivermectin might add a feature to its “wonder drug” properties with activity against asexual stages of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The observed activities might be difficult to reach with current regimens but will be more relevant with future high-dose regimens under investigation. Further studies should be performed to confirm these results in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Natural and Vaccine-Induced Acquisition of Cross-Reactive IgG-Inhibiting ICAM-1-Specific Binding of a Plasmodium falciparum PfEMP1 Subtype Associated Specifically with Cerebral Malaria

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca W. Olsen ◽  
Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah ◽  
Anja Bengtsson ◽  
Michael F. Ofori ◽  
John P. A. Lusingu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Cerebral Malaria ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Protein Receptor ◽  
Specific Igg

ABSTRACT Cerebral malaria (CM) is a potentially deadly outcome of Plasmodium falciparum malaria that is precipitated by sequestration of infected erythrocytes (IEs) in the brain. The adhesion of IEs to brain endothelial cells is mediated by a subtype of parasite-encoded erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) that facilitates dual binding to host intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and endothelial protein receptor C (EPCR). The PfEMP1 subtype is characterized by the presence of a particular motif (DBLβ_motif) in the constituent ICAM-1-binding DBLβ domain. The rate of natural acquisition of DBLβ_motif-specific IgG antibodies and the ability to induce such antibodies by vaccination are unknown, and the aim of this study was to provide such data. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure DBLβ-specific IgG in plasma from Ghanaian children with malaria. The ability of human immune plasma and DBLβ-specific rat antisera to inhibit the interaction between ICAM-1 and DBLβ was assessed using ELISA and in vitro assays of IE adhesion under flow. The acquisition of DBLβ_motif-specific IgG coincided with age-specific susceptibility to CM. Broadly cross-reactive antibodies inhibiting the interaction between ICAM-1 and DBLβ_motif domains were detectable in immune plasma and in sera of rats immunized with specific DBLβ_motif antigens. Importantly, antibodies against the DBLβ_motif inhibited ICAM-1-specific in vitro adhesion of erythrocytes infected by four of five P. falciparum isolates from cerebral malaria patients. We conclude that natural exposure to P. falciparum as well as immunization with specific DBLβ_motif antigens can induce cross-reactive antibodies that inhibit the interaction between ICAM-1 and a broad range of DBLβ_motif domains. These findings raise hope that a vaccine designed specifically to prevent CM is feasible.

scholarly journals Adaptation of the [3H]Hypoxanthine Uptake Assay forIn Vitro-Cultured Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria Parasites

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 4361-4363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan S. J. Arnold ◽  
Jessica A. Engel ◽  
Ming Jang Chua ◽  
Gillian M. Fisher ◽  
Tina S. Skinner-Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Plasmodium Knowlesi ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Zoonotic Malaria ◽  
Uptake Assay

ABSTRACTThe zoonotic malaria parasitePlasmodium knowlesihas recently been established in continuousin vitroculture. Here, thePlasmodium falciparum[3H]hypoxanthine uptake assay was adapted forP. knowlesiand used to determine the sensitivity of this parasite to chloroquine, cycloguanil, and clindamycin. The data demonstrate thatP. knowlesiis sensitive to all drugs, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) consistent with those obtained withP. falciparum. This assay provides a platform to useP. knowlesi in vitrofor drug discovery.

scholarly journals Anthracene-Polyamine Conjugates InhibitIn VitroProliferation of Intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum Parasites

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 2874-2877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jandeli Niemand ◽  
Pieter Burger ◽  
Bianca K. Verlinden ◽  
Janette Reader ◽  
Annie M. Joubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Human Malaria Parasite ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Malaria ◽  
Parasite Cell ◽  
Polyamine Conjugates

ABSTRACTAnthracene-polyamine conjugates inhibit thein vitroproliferation of the intraerythrocytic human malaria parasitePlasmodium falciparum, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) in the nM to μM range. The compounds are taken up into the intraerythrocytic parasite, where they arrest the parasite cell cycle. Both the anthracene and polyamine components of the conjugates play a role in their antiplasmodial effect.

scholarly journals Defining the Timing of Action of Antimalarial Drugs against Plasmodium falciparum

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 1455-1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danny W. Wilson ◽  
Christine Langer ◽  
Christopher D. Goodman ◽  
Geoffrey I. McFadden ◽  
James G. Beeson
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Antimalarial Activity ◽  
Trichostatin A ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Trophozoite Stage ◽  
Merozoite Invasion ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTMost current antimalarials for treatment of clinicalPlasmodium falciparummalaria fall into two broad drug families and target the food vacuole of the trophozoite stage. No antimalarials have been shown to target the brief extracellular merozoite form of blood-stage malaria. We studied a panel of 12 drugs, 10 of which have been used extensively clinically, for their invasion, schizont rupture, and growth-inhibitory activity using high-throughput flow cytometry and new approaches for the study of merozoite invasion and early intraerythrocytic development. Not surprisingly, given reported mechanisms of action, none of the drugs inhibited merozoite invasionin vitro. Pretreatment of erythrocytes with drugs suggested that halofantrine, lumefantrine, piperaquine, amodiaquine, and mefloquine diffuse into and remain within the erythrocyte and inhibit downstream growth of parasites. Studying the inhibitory activity of the drugs on intraerythrocytic development, schizont rupture, and reinvasion enabled several different inhibitory phenotypes to be defined. All drugs inhibited parasite replication when added at ring stages, but only artesunate, artemisinin, cycloheximide, and trichostatin A appeared to have substantial activity against ring stages, whereas the other drugs acted later during intraerythrocytic development. When drugs were added to late schizonts, only artemisinin, cycloheximide, and trichostatin A were able to inhibit rupture and subsequent replication. Flow cytometry proved valuable forin vitroassays of antimalarial activity, with the free merozoite population acting as a clear marker for parasite growth inhibition. These studies have important implications for further understanding the mechanisms of action of antimalarials, studying and evaluating drug resistance, and developing new antimalarials.

scholarly journals PotentEx VivoActivity of Naphthoquine and Methylene Blue against Drug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 6117-6124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grennady Wirjanata ◽  
Boni F. Sebayang ◽  
Ferryanto Chalfein ◽  
Prayoga ◽  
Irene Handayuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methylene Blue ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Drug Susceptibility ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Trophozoite Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Susceptibility Data ◽  
Highly Active

ABSTRACTThe 4-aminoquinoline naphthoquine (NQ) and the thiazine dye methylene blue (MB) have potentin vitroefficacies againstPlasmodium falciparum, but susceptibility data forP. vivaxare limited. The species- and stage-specificex vivoactivities of NQ and MB were assessed using a modified schizont maturation assay on clinical field isolates from Papua, Indonesia, where multidrug-resistantP. falciparumandP. vivaxare prevalent. Both compounds were highly active againstP. falciparum(median [range] 50% inhibitory concentration [IC50]: NQ, 8.0 nM [2.6 to 71.8 nM]; and MB, 1.6 nM [0.2 to 7.0 nM]) andP. vivax(NQ, 7.8 nM [1.5 to 34.2 nM]; and MB, 1.2 nM [0.4 to 4.3 nM]). Stage-specific drug susceptibility assays revealed significantly greater IC50s in parasites exposed at the trophozoite stage than at the ring stage for NQ inP. falciparum(26.5 versus 5.1 nM,P= 0.021) andP. vivax(341.6 versus 6.5 nM,P= 0.021) and for MB inP. vivax(10.1 versus 1.6 nM,P= 0.010). The excellentex vivoactivities of NQ and MB against bothP. falciparumandP. vivaxhighlight their potential utility for the treatment of multidrug-resistant malaria in areas where both species are endemic.

scholarly journals In VitroAnalyses of the Effects of Heparin and Parabens on Candida albicans Biofilms and Planktonic Cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa H. Miceli ◽  
Stella M. Bernardo ◽  
T. S. Neil Ku ◽  
Carla Walraven ◽  
Samuel A. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Metabolic Activity ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Planktonic Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heparin Sodium ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACTInfections and thromboses are the most common complications associated with central venous catheters. Suggested strategies for prevention and management of these complications include the use of heparin-coated catheters, heparin locks, and antimicrobial lock therapy. However, the effects of heparin onCandida albicansbiofilms and planktonic cells have not been previously studied. Therefore, we sought to determine thein vitroeffect of a heparin sodium preparation (HP) on biofilms and planktonic cells ofC. albicans. Because HP contains two preservatives, methyl paraben (MP) and propyl paraben (PP), these compounds and heparin sodium without preservatives (Pure-H) were also tested individually. The metabolic activity of the mature biofilm after treatment was assessed using XTT [2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide] reduction and microscopy. Pure-H, MP, and PP caused up to 75, 85, and 60% reductions of metabolic activity of the mature preformedC. albicansbiofilms, respectively. Maximal efficacy against the mature biofilm was observed with HP (up to 90%) compared to the individual compounds (P< 0.0001). Pure-H, MP, and PP each inhibitedC. albicansbiofilm formation up to 90%. A complete inhibition of biofilm formation was observed with HP at 5,000 U/ml and higher. When tested against planktonic cells, each compound inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicated that HP, MP, PP, and Pure-H havein vitroantifungal activity againstC. albicansmature biofilms, formation of biofilms, and planktonic cells. Investigation of high-dose heparin-based strategies (e.g., heparin locks) in combination with traditional antifungal agents for the treatment and/or prevention ofC. albicansbiofilms is warranted.

scholarly journals In VitroActivities of Daptomycin-, Vancomycin-, and Teicoplanin-Loaded Polymethylmethacrylate against Methicillin-Susceptible, Methicillin-Resistant, and Vancomycin-Intermediate Strains of Staphylococcus aureus

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 5480-5484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhan Chang ◽  
Wen-Chien Chen ◽  
Pang-Hsin Hsieh ◽  
Dave W. Chen ◽  
Mel S. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Antibacterial Activities ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Bone Cements ◽  
Antibacterial Effects ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effects of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cements loaded with daptomycin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin against methicillin-susceptibleStaphylococcus aureus(MSSA), methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA), and vancomycin-intermediateStaphylococcus aureus(VISA) strains. Standardized cement specimens made from 40 g PMMA loaded with 1 g (low-dose), 4 g (middle-dose) or 8 g (high-dose) antibiotics were tested for elution characteristics and antibacterial activities. The patterns of release of antibiotics from the cement specimens were evaluated usingin vitrobroth elution assay with high-performance liquid chromatography. The activities of broth elution fluid against differentStaphylococcus aureusstrains (MSSA, MRSA, and VISA) were then determined. The antibacterial activities of all the tested antibiotics were maintained after being mixed with PMMA. The cements loaded with higher dosages of antibiotics showed longer elution periods. Regardless of the antibiotic loading dose, the teicoplanin-loaded cements showed better elution efficacy and provided longer inhibitory periods against MSSA, MRSA, and VISA than cements loaded with the same dose of vancomycin or daptomycin. Regarding the choice of antibiotics for cement loading in the treatment ofStaphylococcus aureusinfection, teicoplanin was superior in terms of antibacterial effects.

scholarly journals Effect of Fluorescent Dyes onIn Vitro-Differentiated, Late-Stage Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytes

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 7398-7404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamirat Gebru ◽  
Benjamin Mordmüller ◽  
Jana Held
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Laboratory Strain ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Synthetic Dyes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Highly Active

ABSTRACTPlasmodium falciparumgametocytes are not associated with clinical symptoms, but they are responsible for transmitting the pathogen to mosquitoes. Therefore, gametocytocidal interventions are important for malaria control and resistance containment. Currently available drugs and vaccines are not well suited for that purpose. Several dyes have potent antimicrobial activity, but their use against gametocytes has not been investigated systematically. The gametocytocidal activity of nine synthetic dyes and four control compounds was tested against stage V gametocytes of the laboratory strain 3D7 and three clinical isolates ofP. falciparumwith a bioluminescence assay. Five of the fluorescent dyes had submicromolar 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against mature gametocytes. Three mitochondrial dyes, MitoRed, dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6), and rhodamine B, were highly active (IC50s < 200 nM). MitoRed showed the highest activity against gametocytes, with IC50s of 70 nM against 3D7 and 120 to 210 nM against clinical isolates. All compounds were more active against the laboratory strain 3D7 than against clinical isolates. In particular, the endoperoxides artesunate and dihydroartemisinin showed a 10-fold higher activity against 3D7 than against clinical isolates. In contrast to all clinically used antimalarials, several fluorescent dyes had surprisingly highin vitroactivity against late-stage gametocytes. Since they also act against asexual blood stages, they shall be considered starting points for the development of new antimalarial lead compounds.

scholarly journals Plasmodium falciparum Line-Dependent Association ofIn VitroGrowth-Inhibitory Activity and Risk of Malaria

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 1900-1908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josea Rono ◽  
Anna Färnert ◽  
Daniel Olsson ◽  
Faith Osier ◽  
Ingegerd Rooth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Erythrocyte Invasion ◽  
Growth Inhibitory ◽  
Growth Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Control Study

ABSTRACTPlasmodium falciparum's ability to invade erythrocytes is essential for its survival within the human host. Immune mechanisms that impair this ability are therefore expected to contribute to immunity against the parasite. Plasma of humans who are naturally exposed to malaria has been shown to have growth-inhibitory activity (GIA)in vitro. However, the importance of GIA in relation to protection from malaria has been unclear. In a case-control study nested within a longitudinally followed population in Tanzania, plasma samples collected at baseline from 171 individuals (55 cases and 116 age-matched controls) were assayed for GIA using threeP. falciparumlines (3D7, K1, and W2mef) chosen based on their erythrocyte invasion phenotypes. Distribution of GIA differed between the lines, with most samples inhibiting the growth of 3D7 and K1 and enhancing the growth of W2mef. GIA to 3D7 was associated with a reduced risk of malaria within 40 weeks of follow-up (odds ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21 to 0.96;P= 0.04), whereas GIA to K1 and W2mef was not. These results show that GIA, as well as its association with protection from malaria, is dependent on theP. falciparumline and can be explained by differences in erythrocyte invasion phenotypes between parasite lines. Our study contributes knowledge on the biological importance of growth inhibition and the potential influence ofP. falciparumerythrocyte invasion phenotypic differences on its relationship to protective immunity against malaria.

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