| 1. |
- Bachmann, Julie, et al.
(författare)
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Affinity Proteomics Reveals Elevated Muscle Proteins in Plasma of Children with Cerebral Malaria
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLoS Pathogens. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7366 .- 1553-7374. ; 10:4, s. e1004038-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systemic inflammation and sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes are central processes in the pathophysiology of severe Plasmodium falciparum childhood malaria. However, it is still not understood why some children are more at risks to develop malaria complications than others. To identify human proteins in plasma related to childhood malaria syndromes, multiplex antibody suspension bead arrays were employed. Out of the 1,015 proteins analyzed in plasma from more than 700 children, 41 differed between malaria infected children and community controls, whereas 13 discriminated uncomplicated malaria from severe malaria syndromes. Markers of oxidative stress were found related to severe malaria anemia while markers of endothelial activation, platelet adhesion and muscular damage were identified in relation to children with cerebral malaria. These findings suggest the presence of generalized vascular inflammation, vascular wall modulations, activation of endothelium and unbalanced glucose metabolism in severe malaria. The increased levels of specific muscle proteins in plasma implicate potential muscle damage and microvasculature lesions during the course of cerebral malaria.
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| 2. |
- Ch'ng, Jun-Hong, et al.
(författare)
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Epitopes of anti-RIFIN antibodies and characterization of rif-expressing Plasmodium falciparum parasites by RNA sequencing
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Variable surface antigens of Plasmodium falciparum have been a major research focus since they facilitate parasite sequestration and give rise to deadly malaria complications. Coupled with its potential use as a vaccine candidate, the recent suggestion that the repetitive interspersed families of polypeptides (RIFINs) mediate blood group A rosetting and influence blood group distribution has raised the research profile of these adhesins. Nevertheless, detailed investigations into the functions of this highly diverse multigene family remain hampered by the limited number of validated reagents. In this study, we assess the specificities of three promising polyclonal anti-RIFIN antibodies that were IgG-purified from sera of immunized animals. Their epitope regions were mapped using a 175,000-peptide microarray holding overlapping peptides of the P. falciparum variable surface antigens. Through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence imaging, we show that different antibodies give varying results in different applications/assays. Finally, we authenticate the antibody-based detection of RIFINs in two previously uncharacterized non-rosetting parasite lines by identifying the dominant rif transcripts using RNA sequencing.
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| 3. |
- Mok, Bobo W., et al.
(författare)
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Default Pathway of var2csa Switching and Translational Repression in Plasmodium falciparum
- 2008
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 3:4, s. e1982-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antigenic variation is a subtle process of fundamental importance to the survival of a microbial pathogen. In Plasmodium falciparum malaria, PfEMP1 is the major variable antigen and adhesin expressed at the surface of the infected erythrocyte, which is encoded for by members of a family of 60 var-genes. Peri-nuclear repositioning and epigenetic mechanisms control their mono-allelic expression. The switching of PfEMP1 depends in part on variable transition rates and short-lived immune responses to shared minor epitopes. Here we show var-genes to switch to a common gene that is highly transcribed, but sparsely translated into PfEMP1 and not expressed at the erythrocyte surface. Highly clonal and adhesive P. falciparum, which expressed distinct var-genes and the corresponding PfEMP1s at onset, were propagated without enrichment or panning. The parasites successively and spontaneously switched to transcribe a shared var-gene (var2csa) matched by the loss of PfEMP1 surface expression and host cell-binding. The var2csa gene repositioned in the peri-nuclear area upon activation, away from the telomeric clusters and heterochromatin to transcribe spliced, full-length RNA. Despite abundant transcripts, the level of intracellular PfEMP1 was low suggesting post-transcriptional mechanisms to partake in protein expression. In vivo, off-switching and translational repression may constitute one pathway, among others, coordinating PfEMP1 expression.
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| 4. |
- Quintana, Maria del Pilar, et al.
(författare)
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Antibodies in children with malaria to PfEMP1, RIFIN and SURFIN expressed at the Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cell surface
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Naturally acquired antibodies to proteins expressed on the Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cell (pRBC) surface steer the course of a malaria infection by reducing sequestration and stimulating phagocytosis of pRBC. Here we have studied a selection of proteins representing three different parasite gene families employing a well-characterized parasite with a severe malaria phenotype (FCR3S1.2). The presence of naturally acquired antibodies, impact on rosetting rate, surface reactivity and opsonization for phagocytosis in relation to different blood groups of the ABO system were assessed in a set of sera from children with mild or complicated malaria from an endemic area. We show that the naturally acquired immune responses, developed during malaria natural infection, have limited access to the pRBCs inside a blood group A rosette. The data also indicate that SURFIN4.2 may have a function at the pRBC surface, particularly during rosette formation, this role however needs to be further validated. Our results also indicate epitopes differentially recognized by rosette-disrupting antibodies on a peptide array. Antibodies towards parasite-derived proteins such as PfEMP1, RIFIN and SURFIN in combination with host factors, essentially the ABO blood group of a malaria patient, are suggested to determine the outcome of a malaria infection.
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| 5. |
- Quintana, Maria del Pilar, et al.
(författare)
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SURGE complex of Plasmodium falciparum in the rhoptry-neck (SURFIN4.2-RON4-GLURP) contributes to merozoite invasion
- 2018
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 13:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasmodium falciparum invasion into red blood cells (RBCs) is a complex process engaging proteins on the merozoite surface and those contained and sequentially released from the apical organelles (micronemes and rhoptries). Fundamental to invasion is the formation of a moving junction (MJ), a region of close apposition of the merozoite and the RBC plasma membranes, through which the merozoite draws itself before settling into a newly formed parasitophorous vacuole (PV). SURFIN4.2 was identified at the surface of the parasitized RBCs (pRBCs) but was also found apically associated with the merozoite. Using antibodies against the N-terminus of the protein we show the presence of SURFIN4.2 in the neck of the rhoptries, its secretion into the PV and shedding into the culture supernatant upon schizont rupture. Using immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry we describe here a novel protein complex we have named SURGE where SURFIN4.2 forms interacts with the rhoptry neck protein 4 (RON4) and the Glutamate Rich Protein (GLURP). The N-terminal cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of SURFIN4.2 mediates binding to the RBC membrane and its interaction with RON4 suggests its involvement in the contact between the merozoite apex and the RBC at the MJ. Supporting this suggestion, we also found that polyclonal antibodies to the extracellular domain (including the CRD) of SURFIN4.2 partially inhibit merozoite invasion. We propose that the formation of the SURGE complex participates in the establishment of parasite infection within the PV and the RBCs.
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| 6. |
- Reuterswärd, Philippa, et al.
(författare)
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Levels of human proteins in plasma as indicators for acute severe pediatric malaria
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- BackgroundExisting low resource diagnostics for malaria infection suffer from sensitivity and specificity issues while lacking sufficient prognostic value. Identifying human host proteins could improve the possibilities to predict the risk of development of acute severe malaria. This will possible enable improved treatment and thereby lead to a decrease in mortality of malaria infected children. Furthermore, discovering host proteins with altered levels during active infection could generate leads to better understand host-parasite interaction.ResultsHere, we have analyzed a total of 541 pediatric plasma samples that were collected from community controls and individuals with mild or severe malaria in Rwanda. Protein profiles of these plasma samples were generated with an antibody-based suspension bead array containing 255 antibodies targeting 115 human proteins. We present 22 proteins with a strong discriminatory capacity (adjusted p-values below 10-19) for separating malaria cases from community controls. This panel of proteins contains among others acute phase proteins and proteins connected to cell adhesion and migration. Among these, three proteins showed lower plasma levels in the group of malaria-infected individuals compared to the control group. One of these proteins is the anti-adhesive secreted protein acidic and cysteine rich (SPARC) with possible connections to parasite cytoadhesion. A multi-protein panel of six proteins, including SPARC, could differentiate between controls and malaria cases with an AUC of 0.98. Furthermore, a panel of 37 proteins, including proteins associated to erythrocyte membranes, was identified as candidates for separation of mild and severe malaria patients (adjusted pvalues below 0.05).ConclusionThe herein identified set of human proteins has a significant discriminatory capacity between community controls and malaria cases. We also present proteins offering the possibility to enable stratification and risk prediction for the development of severe malaria. This constitutes an important set that could enable enhanced understanding and thereby also possibilities for better treatment of acute severe pediatric malaria.
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| 7. |
- Reuterswärd, Philippa, et al.
(författare)
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Levels of human proteins in plasma associated with acute paediatric malaria
- 2018
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : BMC. - 1475-2875 .- 1475-2875. ; 17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The intimate interaction between the pathophysiology of the human host and the biology of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite results in a wide spectrum of disease outcomes in malaria. Development of severe disease is associated with a progressively augmented imbalance in pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to high parasite loads and sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes. Although these phenomena collectively constitute common denominators for the wide variety of discrete severe malaria manifestations, the mechanistic rationales behind discrepancies in outcome are poorly understood. Exploration of the human pathophysiological response by variations in protein profiles in plasma presents an excellent opportunity to increase the understanding. This is ultimately required for better prediction, prevention and treatment of malaria, which is essential for ongoing elimination and eradication efforts. Results: An affinity proteomics approach was used to analyse 541 paediatric plasma samples collected from community controls and patients with mild or severe malaria in Rwanda. Protein profiles were generated with an antibody-based suspension bead array containing 255 antibodies targetting 115 human proteins. Here, 57 proteins were identified with significantly altered levels (adjusted p-values<0.001) in patients with malaria compared to controls. From these, the 27 most significant proteins (adjusted p-values<10(-14)) were selected for a stringent analysis approach. Here, 24 proteins showed elevated levels in malaria patients and included proteins involved in acute inflammatory response as well as cell adhesion. The remaining three proteins, also implicated in immune regulation and cellular adhesivity, displayed lower abundance in malaria patients. In addition, 37 proteins (adjusted p-values<0.05) were identified with increased levels in patients with severe compared to mild malaria. This set includes, proteins involved in tissue remodelling and erythrocyte membrane proteins. Collectively, this approach has been successfully used to identify proteins both with known and unknown association with different stages of malaria. Conclusion: In this study, a high-throughput affinity proteomics approach was used to find protein profiles in plasma linked to P. falciparum infection and malaria disease progression. The proteins presented herein are mainly involved in inflammatory response, cellular adhesion and as constituents of erythrocyte membrane. These findings have a great potential to provide increased conceptual understanding of host-parasite interaction and malaria pathogenesis.
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| 8. |
- Ribacke, Ulf, et al.
(författare)
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Genome wide gene amplifications and deletions in Plasmodium falciparum
- 2007
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Ingår i: Molecular and biochemical parasitology (Print). - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-6851 .- 1872-9428. ; 155:1, s. 33-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The extent to which duplications and deletions occur in the Plasmodium falciparum genome, outside of the subtelomeres, and their contribution to the virulence of the malaria parasite is not known. Here we show the presence of multiple genome wide copy number polymorphisms (CNPs) covering 82 genes, the most extensive spanning a cumulative size of 110 kilobases. CNPs were identified in both laboratory strains and fresh clinical isolates using a 70-mer oligonucleotide microarray in conjunction with fluorescent in situ hybridizations and real-time quantitative PCR. The CNPs were found on all chromosomes except on chromosomes 6 and 8 and involved a total of 50 genes with increased copy numbers and 32 genes with decreased copy numbers relative to the 3D7 parasite. The genes, amplified in up to six copies, encode molecules involved in cell cycle regulation. cell division, drug resistance, erythrocyte invasion, sexual differentiation and unknown functions. These together with previous findings, suggest that the malaria parasite employs gene duplications and deletions as general strategies to enhance its survival and spread. Further analysis of the impact of discovered genetic differences and the underlying mechanisms is likely to generate a better understanding of the biology and the virulence of the malaria parasite.
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