scholarly journals Prospects and Pitfalls of Pregnancy-Associated Malaria Vaccination Based on the Natural Immune Response to Plasmodium falciparum VAR2CSA-Expressing Parasites

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth G. Kane ◽  
Andrew W. Taylor-Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Chondroitin Sulphate ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Insufficient Information ◽  
Infant Deaths ◽  
Cytokine Balance ◽  
Current Vaccine

Pregnancy-associated malaria, a manifestation of severe malaria, is the cause of up to 200,000 infant deaths a year, through the effects of placental insufficiency leading to growth restriction and preterm delivery. Development of a vaccine is one strategy for control. Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells accumulate in the placenta through specific binding of pregnancy-associated parasite variants that express the VAR2CSA antigen to chondroitin sulphate A on the surface of syncytiotrophoblast cells. Parasite accumulation, accompanied by an inflammatory infiltrate, disrupts the cytokine balance of pregnancy with the potential to cause placental damage and compromise foetal growth. Multigravid women develop immunity towards VAR2CSA-expressing parasites in a gravidity-dependent manner which prevents unfavourable pregnancy outcomes. Although current vaccine design, targeting VAR2CSA antigens, has succeeded in inducing antibodies artificially, this candidate may not provide protection during the first trimester and may only protect those women living in areas endemic for malaria. It is concluded that while insufficient information about placental-parasite interactions is presently available to produce an effective vaccine, incremental progress is being made towards achieving this goal.

scholarly journals Maintenance of phenotypic diversity within a set of virulence encoding genes of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (113) ◽  
pp. 20150848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Holding ◽  
Mario Recker
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Clinical Protection ◽  
Genome Level

Infection by the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum results in a broad spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from severe and potentially life-threatening malaria to asymptomatic carriage. In a process of naturally acquired immunity, individuals living in malaria-endemic regions build up a level of clinical protection, which attenuates infection severity in an exposure-dependent manner. Underlying this shift in the immunoepidemiology as well as the observed range in malaria pathogenesis is the var multigene family and the phenotypic diversity embedded within. The var gene-encoded surface proteins Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 mediate variant-specific binding of infected red blood cells to a diverse set of host receptors that has been linked to specific disease manifestations, including cerebral and pregnancy-associated malaria. Here, we show that cross-reactive immune responses, which minimize the within-host benefit of each additionally expressed gene during infection, can cause selection for maximum phenotypic diversity at the genome level. We further show that differential functional constraints on protein diversification stably maintain uneven ratios between phenotypic groups, in line with empirical observation. Our results thus suggest that the maintenance of phenotypic diversity within P. falciparum is driven by an evolutionary trade-off that optimizes between within-host parasite fitness and between-host selection pressure.

scholarly journals Chondroitin sulfate A is a cell surface receptor for Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.

1995 ◽  
Vol 182 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Rogerson ◽  
S C Chaiyaroj ◽  
K Ng ◽  
J C Reeder ◽  
G V Brown
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Chondroitin Sulfate ◽  
Cho Cells ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Chinese Hamster ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Chondroitin Sulfate A

Adherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to cerebral postcapillary venular endothelium is believed to be a critical step in the development of cerebral malaria. Some of the possible receptors mediating adherence have been identified, but the process of adherence in vivo is poorly understood. We investigated the role of carbohydrate ligands in adherence, and we identified chondroitin sulfate (CS) as a specific receptor for P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Parasitized cells bound to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and C32 melanoma cells in a chondroitin sulfate-dependent manner, whereas glycosylation mutants lacking chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) supported little or no binding. Chondroitinase treatment of wild-type CHO cells reduced binding by up to 90%. Soluble CSA inhibited binding to CHO cells by 99.2 +/- 0.2% at 10 mg/ml and by 72.5 +/- 3.8% at 1 mg/ml, whereas a range of other glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate had no effect. Parasite lines selected for increased binding to CHO cells and most patient isolates bound specifically to immobilized CSA. We conclude that P. falciparum can express or expose proteins at the surface of the infected erythrocyte that mediate specific binding to CSA. This mechanism of adherence may contribute to the pathogenesis of P. falciparum malaria, but has wider implications as an example of an infectious agent with the capacity to bind specifically to cell-associated or immobilized CS.

scholarly journals In vitro and in vivo inhibition of malaria parasite infection by monoclonal antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Merricka C. Livingstone ◽  
Alexis A. Bitzer ◽  
Alish Giri ◽  
Kun Luo ◽  
Rajeshwer S. Sankhala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Circumsporozoite Protein ◽  
Target Epitope ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractPlasmodium falciparum malaria contributes to a significant global disease burden. Circumsporozoite protein (CSP), the most abundant sporozoite stage antigen, is a prime vaccine candidate. Inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CSP map to either a short junctional sequence or the central (NPNA)n repeat region. We compared in vitro and in vivo activities of six CSP-specific mAbs derived from human recipients of a recombinant CSP vaccine RTS,S/AS01 (mAbs 317 and 311); an irradiated whole sporozoite vaccine PfSPZ (mAbs CIS43 and MGG4); or individuals exposed to malaria (mAbs 580 and 663). RTS,S mAb 317 that specifically binds the (NPNA)n epitope, had the highest affinity and it elicited the best sterile protection in mice. The most potent inhibitor of sporozoite invasion in vitro was mAb CIS43 which shows dual-specific binding to the junctional sequence and (NPNA)n. In vivo mouse protection was associated with the mAb reactivity to the NANPx6 peptide, the in vitro inhibition of sporozoite invasion activity, and kinetic parameters measured using intact mAbs or their Fab fragments. Buried surface area between mAb and its target epitope was also associated with in vivo protection. Association and disconnects between in vitro and in vivo readouts has important implications for the design and down-selection of the next generation of CSP based interventions.

scholarly journals The Immune Correlates of Orthohantavirus Vaccine

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 518
Author(s):  
Joon-Yong Bae ◽  
Jin Il Kim ◽  
Mee Sook Park ◽  
Gee Eun Lee ◽  
Heedo Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Zoonotic Transmission ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
Relative Paucity ◽  
Immune Correlates ◽  
Current Vaccine ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Sense Of Urgency

Zoonotic transmission of orthohantaviruses from rodent reservoirs to humans has been the cause of severe fatalities. Human infections are reported worldwide, but vaccines have been approved only in China and Korea. Orthohantavirus vaccine development has been pursued with no sense of urgency due to the relative paucity of cases in countries outside China and Korea. However, the orthohantaviruses continuously evolve in hosts and thus the current vaccine may not work as well against some variants. Therefore, a more effective vaccine should be prepared against the orthohantaviruses. In this review, we discuss the issues caused by the orthohantavirus vaccine. Given the pros and cons of the orthohantavirus vaccine, we suggest strategies for the development of better vaccines in terms of pandemic preparedness.

scholarly journals Magic Peptide: Unique Properties of the LRR11 Peptide in the Activation of Leukotriene Synthesis in Human Neutrophils

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2671
Author(s):  
Galina M. Viryasova ◽  
Ekaterina A. Golenkina ◽  
Tibor Hianik ◽  
Nataliya V. Soshnikova ◽  
Nina G. Dolinnaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Acoustic Method ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Human Neutrophils ◽  
Shear Mode ◽  
Vaccine Adjuvants ◽  
High Biological Activity ◽  
Pathogen Elimination ◽  
Cpg Odns

Neutrophil-mediated innate host defense mechanisms include pathogen elimination through bacterial phagocytosis, which activates the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) product synthesis. Here, we studied the effect of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs), which mimic the receptor-recognized sites of bacterial (CpG-ODNs) and genomic (G-rich ODNs) DNAs released from the inflammatory area, on the neutrophil functions after cell stimulation with Salmonella typhimurium. A possible mechanism for ODN recognition by Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and RAGE receptor has been proposed. We found for the first time that the combination of the magic peptide LRR11 from the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) of TLR9 with the CpG-ODNs modulates the uptake and signaling from ODNs, in particular, dramatically stimulates 5-LOX pathway. Using thickness shear mode acoustic method, we confirmed the specific binding of CpG-ODNs, but not G-rich ODN, to LRR11. The RAGE receptor has been shown to play an important role in promoting ODN uptake. Thus, FPS-ZM1, a high-affinity RAGE inhibitor, suppresses the synthesis of 5-LOX products and reduces the uptake of ODNs by neutrophils; the inhibitor effect being abolished by the addition of LRR11. The results obtained revealed that the studied peptide-ODN complexes possess high biological activity and can be promising for the development of effective vaccine adjuvants and antimicrobial therapeutics.

scholarly journals The Structure of the Cysteine-Rich Domain of Plasmodium falciparum P113 Identifies the Location of the RH5 Binding Site

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Campeotto ◽  
Francis Galaway ◽  
Shahid Mehmood ◽  
Lea K. Barfod ◽  
Doris Quinkert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Blood Stage ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Binding Region ◽  
Fab Fragment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blood Stage Malaria

ABSTRACT Plasmodium falciparum RH5 is a secreted parasite ligand that is essential for erythrocyte invasion through direct interaction with the host erythrocyte receptor basigin. RH5 forms a tripartite complex with two other secreted parasite proteins, CyRPA and RIPR, and is tethered to the surface of the parasite through membrane-anchored P113. Antibodies against RH5, CyRPA, and RIPR can inhibit parasite invasion, suggesting that vaccines containing these three components have the potential to prevent blood-stage malaria. To further explore the role of the P113-RH5 interaction, we selected monoclonal antibodies against P113 that were either inhibitory or noninhibitory for RH5 binding. Using a Fab fragment as a crystallization chaperone, we determined the crystal structure of the RH5 binding region of P113 and showed that it is composed of two domains with structural similarities to rhamnose-binding lectins. We identified the RH5 binding site on P113 by using a combination of hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and site-directed mutagenesis. We found that a monoclonal antibody to P113 that bound to this interface and inhibited the RH5-P113 interaction did not inhibit parasite blood-stage growth. These findings provide further structural information on the protein interactions of RH5 and will be helpful in guiding the development of blood-stage malaria vaccines that target RH5. IMPORTANCE Malaria is a deadly infectious disease primarily caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. It remains a major global health problem, and there is no highly effective vaccine. A parasite protein called RH5 is centrally involved in the invasion of host red blood cells, making it—and the other parasite proteins it interacts with—promising vaccine targets. We recently identified a protein called P113 that binds RH5, suggesting that it anchors RH5 to the parasite surface. In this paper, we use structural biology to locate and characterize the RH5 binding region on P113. These findings will be important to guide the development of new antimalarial vaccines to ultimately prevent this disease, which affects some of the poorest people on the planet.

scholarly journals Molecular Factors and Biochemical Pathways Induced by Febrile Temperature in Intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum Parasites

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 2012-2025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miranda S. M. Oakley ◽  
Sanjai Kumar ◽  
Vivek Anantharaman ◽  
Hong Zheng ◽  
Babita Mahajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Sequence Profile ◽  
Host Cell Membrane ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Parasite Survival

ABSTRACT Intermittent episodes of febrile illness are the most benign and recognized symptom of infection with malaria parasites, although the effects on parasite survival and virulence remain unclear. In this study, we identified the molecular factors altered in response to febrile temperature by measuring differential expression levels of individual genes using high-density oligonucleotide microarray technology and by performing biological assays in asexual-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasite cultures incubated at 37°C and 41°C (an elevated temperature that is equivalent to malaria-induced febrile illness in the host). Elevated temperature had a profound influence on expression of individual genes; 336 of approximately 5,300 genes (6.3% of the genome) had altered expression profiles. Of these, 163 genes (49%) were upregulated by twofold or greater, and 173 genes (51%) were downregulated by twofold or greater. In-depth sensitive sequence profile analysis revealed that febrile temperature-induced responses caused significant alterations in the major parasite biologic networks and pathways and that these changes are well coordinated and intricately linked. One of the most notable transcriptional changes occurs in genes encoding proteins containing the predicted Pexel motifs that are exported into the host cytoplasm or inserted into the host cell membrane and are likely to be associated with erythrocyte remodeling and parasite sequestration functions. Using our sensitive computational analysis, we were also able to assign biochemical or biologic functional predictions for at least 100 distinct genes previously annotated as “hypothetical.” We find that cultivation of P. falciparum parasites at 41°C leads to parasite death in a time-dependent manner. The presence of the “crisis forms” and the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling-positive parasites following heat treatment strongly support the notion that an apoptosis-like cell death mechanism might be induced in response to febrile temperatures. These studies enhance the possibility of designing vaccines and drugs on the basis of disruption in molecules and pathways of parasite survival and virulence activated in response to febrile temperatures.

Stability of maternal serum free β-hCG following whole blood sample transit: First trimester Down’s syndrome screening in Scotland

2021 ◽  
pp. 000456322110452
Author(s):  
Angela Ballantyne ◽  
Lorna Rashid ◽  
Rebecca Pattenden
Keyword(s):  
Transit Time ◽  
Down's Syndrome ◽  
Down’S Syndrome ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Serum Free ◽  
Β Hcg ◽  
In Transit ◽  
The Impact

Background Maternal serum free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (free β-hCG) is used as a biomarker in first trimester screening for fetal Down’s syndrome. Production of free β-hCG can occur in vitro in a time- and temperature-dependent manner; thus, the current Scottish screening protocol states samples must be received by the laboratory within 72 h. To assess the validity of the protocol, an audit was conducted to determine the impact of transit time on maternal serum free β-hCG multiple of median (MoM) values in the Scottish screened population. Methods Corrected MoM values from antenatal screening carried out over one year (April 2017 to March 2018) were stratified according to sample transit time and compared. To investigate possible environmental temperature effects, the data were split according to season and maternal serum free β-hCG concentrations from summer and winter compared. Results Of the 28,368 samples included in the study, 24,368 were received on the day of phlebotomy or after one day in transit. Only 1.5% of samples were received after 3 days in transit. The difference in maternal serum free β-hCG MoM values due to transit time was not significant. No statistical difference was found between maternal serum free β-hCG concentrations from samples collected in summer and winter months. Conclusion The current sample receipt protocol in use by the Scottish Down’s syndrome screening programme is fit for purpose.

Reduced birth weight caused by sextuple drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum infection in early 2nd trimester

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helle Hansson ◽  
Daniel T R Minja ◽  
Sofie L Moeller ◽  
John P A Lusingu ◽  
Ib C Bygbjerg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Birth Outcome ◽  
Intermittent Preventive Treatment ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Close Monitoring ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mutant Haplotype

Abstract Mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum genes Pfdhfr and Pfdhps, particularly the sextuple mutant haplotype threatens the antimalarial effectiveness of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine as intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp). To explore the impact of sextuple mutant haplotype infections on outcome measures after provision of IPTp-SP, we monitored birth outcomes in women followed from prior to conception or from the first trimester until delivery. Women infected with sextuple haplotypes in early 2 nd trimester specifically, delivered newborns with a lower birth weight (-267g, 95% CI -454; -59, p=0·01) compared to women who did not have malaria during pregnancy and women infected with less SP resistant haplotypes (-461g, 95% CI -877; -44, p=0·03). Thus, sextuple haplotype infections seems to impact the effectiveness of SP for IPTp and directly impact birth outcome by lowering birth weight. Close monitoring and targeted malaria control during early pregnancy is therefore crucial to improve birth outcomes.

Extracellular fibrinogen binding protein, Efb, from Staphylococcus aureus binds to platelets and inhibits platelet aggregation

2004 ◽  
Vol 91 (04) ◽  
pp. 779-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oonagh Shannon ◽  
Jan-Ingmar Flock
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Aggregation ◽  
Potent Inhibitor ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Platelet Surface ◽  
Putative Receptor ◽  
Activated Platelets ◽  
Fibrinogen Binding ◽  
Dose Dependent

Summary S. aureus produces and secretes a protein, extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb), which contributes to virulence in wound infection. We have shown here that Efb is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Efb can bind specifically to platelets by two mechanisms; 1) to fibrinogen naturally bound to the surface of activated platelets and 2) also directly to a surface localized component on the platelets. This latter binding of Efb is independent of fibrinogen. The specific binding of Efb to the putative receptor on the platelet surface results in a stimulated, non-functional binding of fibrinogen in a dose dependent manner, distinct from natural binding of fibrinogen to platelets. The natural binding of fibrinogen to GPIIb/IIIa on activated platelets could be blocked by a monoclonal antibody against this integrin, whereas the Efb-mediated fibrinogen binding could not be blocked. The enhanced Efb-dependent fibrinogen binding to platelets is of a nature that does not promote aggregation of the platelets; instead it inhibits aggregation. The anti-thrombotic action of Efb may explain the effect of Efb on wound healing, which is delayed in the presence of Efb.

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