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Virulence Dec 2023Infections with and cause over 600,000 deaths each year, concentrated in Africa and in young children, but much of the world's population remain at risk of infection.... (Review)
Review
Infections with and cause over 600,000 deaths each year, concentrated in Africa and in young children, but much of the world's population remain at risk of infection. In this article, we review the latest developments in the immunogenicity and pathogenesis of malaria, with a particular focus on , the leading malaria killer. Pathogenic factors include parasite-derived toxins and variant surface antigens on infected erythrocytes that mediate sequestration in the deep vasculature. Host response to parasite toxins and to variant antigens is an important determinant of disease severity. Understanding how parasites sequester, and how antibody to variant antigens could prevent sequestration, may lead to new approaches to treat and prevent disease. Difficulties in malaria diagnosis, drug resistance, and specific challenges of treating pose challenges to malaria elimination, but vaccines and other preventive strategies may offer improved disease control.
Topics: Child; Humans; Child, Preschool; Virulence; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Protozoan Proteins
PubMed: 36419237
DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2150456 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Early malaria investigators were certainly correct in classifying the species and the species as belonging to the same genus, [...].
Early malaria investigators were certainly correct in classifying the species and the species as belonging to the same genus, [...].
PubMed: 38133328
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121445 -
Tropical Parasitology 2023Nonhuman primate (NHP) malaria poses a major threat to the malaria control programs. The last two decades have witnessed a paradigm shift in our understanding of the... (Review)
Review
Nonhuman primate (NHP) malaria poses a major threat to the malaria control programs. The last two decades have witnessed a paradigm shift in our understanding of the malaria caused by species other than the traditionally known human species - , , , and . The emergence of the malaria parasite of long-tailed macaque monkeys, , as the fifth malaria species of humans has made the scientific community consider the risk of other zoonotic malaria, such as , , , and others, to humans. The development of knowledge about as a pathogen which was earlier only known to experimentally cause malaria in humans and rarely cause natural infection, toward its acknowledgment as a significant cause of human malaria and a threat of malaria control programs has been made possible by the use of advanced molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing. This review explores the various aspects of NHP malaria, and the association of various factors with their emergence and potential to cause human malaria which are important to understand to be able to control these emerging infections.
PubMed: 37860614
DOI: 10.4103/tp.tp_79_22 -
Experimental Biology and Medicine... Oct 2023Malaria is the leading human parasitosis and is transmitted through the bite of anopheline mosquitoes infected with parasites of the genus spp. Among the seven species... (Review)
Review
Malaria is the leading human parasitosis and is transmitted through the bite of anopheline mosquitoes infected with parasites of the genus spp. Among the seven species that cause malaria in humans, is the most prevalent species in Latin America. In recent years, there have been an increasing number of reports of clinical complications caused by infections, which were previously neglected and underestimated. biology remains with large gaps. The emergence of next-generation sequencing technology has ensured a breakthrough in species knowledge. Coupled with this, the deposition of the Sal-1 reference genome allowed an increase in transcriptomics projects by accessing messenger RNA. Thus, the regulation of differential gene expression according to the parasite life stage was verified, and several expressed genes were linked to different biological functions. Today, with the progress associated with RNA sequencing technologies, it is possible to detect nuances and obtain robust results. Discoveries provided by transcriptomic studies allow us to understand topics such as RNA expression and regulation and proteins and metabolic pathways involved during different stages of the parasite life cycle. The information obtained enables a better comprehension of immune system evasion mechanisms; invasion and adhesion strategies used by the parasite; as well as new vaccine targets, potential molecular markers, and others therapeutic targets. In this review, we provide new insights into biology by summarizing recent findings in transcriptomic studies.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Plasmodium vivax; Malaria, Vivax; Malaria; Parasites; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 37786955
DOI: 10.1177/15353702231198070 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024
Topics: Antigens, Protozoan; Malaria; Humans; Plasmodium; Animals; Malaria Vaccines
PubMed: 38686096
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1408366 -
Science Translational Medicine Jul 2023There are no licensed vaccines against . We conducted two phase 1/2a clinical trials to assess two vaccines targeting Duffy-binding protein region II (PvDBPII)....
There are no licensed vaccines against . We conducted two phase 1/2a clinical trials to assess two vaccines targeting Duffy-binding protein region II (PvDBPII). Recombinant viral vaccines using chimpanzee adenovirus 63 (ChAd63) and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors as well as a protein and adjuvant formulation (PvDBPII/Matrix-M) were tested in both a standard and a delayed dosing regimen. Volunteers underwent controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) after their last vaccination, alongside unvaccinated controls. Efficacy was assessed by comparisons of parasite multiplication rates in the blood. PvDBPII/Matrix-M, given in a delayed dosing regimen, elicited the highest antibody responses and reduced the mean parasite multiplication rate after CHMI by 51% ( = 6) compared with unvaccinated controls ( = 13), whereas no other vaccine or regimen affected parasite growth. Both viral-vectored and protein vaccines were well tolerated and elicited expected, short-lived adverse events. Together, these results support further clinical evaluation of the PvDBPII/Matrix-M vaccine.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Parasites; Plasmodium vivax; Vaccination; Malaria
PubMed: 37437014
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf1782