| 1. |
- Shelton, Jennifer M. G., et al.
(författare)
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Genetic determinants of anti-malarial acquired immunity in a large multi-centre study
- 2015
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875 .- 1475-2875. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Many studies report associations between human genetic factors and immunity to malaria but few have been reliably replicated. These studies are usually country-specific, use small sample sizes and are not directly comparable due to differences in methodologies. This study brings together samples and data collected from multiple sites across Africa and Asia to use standardized methods to look for consistent genetic effects on anti-malarial antibody levels. Methods: Sera, DNA samples and clinical data were collected from 13,299 individuals from ten sites in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka using standardized methods. DNA was extracted and typed for 202 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with known associations to malaria or antibody production, and antibody levels to four clinical grade malarial antigens [AMA1, MSP1, MSP2, and (NANP) 4] plus total IgE were measured by ELISA techniques. Regression models were used to investigate the associations of clinical and genetic factors with antibody levels. Results: Malaria infection increased levels of antibodies to malaria antigens and, as expected, stable predictors of anti-malarial antibody levels included age, seasonality, location, and ethnicity. Correlations between antibodies to blood-stage antigens AMA1, MSP1 and MSP2 were higher between themselves than with antibodies to the (NANP)(4) epitope of the pre-erythrocytic circumsporozoite protein, while there was little or no correlation with total IgE levels. Individuals with sickle cell trait had significantly lower antibody levels to all blood-stage antigens, and recessive homozygotes for CD36 (rs321198) had significantly lower anti-malarial antibody levels to MSP2. Conclusion: Although the most significant finding with a consistent effect across sites was for sickle cell trait, its effect is likely to be via reducing a microscopically positive parasitaemia rather than directly on antibody levels. However, this study does demonstrate a framework for the feasibility of combining data from sites with heterogeneous malaria transmission levels across Africa and Asia with which to explore genetic effects on anti-malarial immunity.
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| 2. |
- Alkadarou, Tayseer, et al.
(författare)
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Immunological characteristics of hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly syndrome in sudanese patients
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Tropical Medicine. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1687-9686 .- 1687-9694. ; 2013, s. 961051-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hyperreactive Malarial Splenomegaly (HMS) is defined as a massive enlargement of the spleen resulting from abnormal immune responses after repeated exposure to the malaria parasites. This study was carried out in Khartoum, Sudan. Sudan is considered to be one of the countries where HMS is quite prevalent. The objective of the study was to determine the incidence of HMS in patients who reported to the Omdurman Tropical Diseases Hospital (OMTDH) in Sudan and to investigate the basic laboratory and immunological characteristics of this condition in these patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out in OMTDH, and all patients with enlarged spleens were included in the study. Thirty-one out of 335 (9.3%) patients were diagnosed as having the HMS condition using international criteria for HMS diagnosis. The mean serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels in HMS patient groups were 14.3 ± 5 g/L, and this was significantly higher compared with geographically matched controls (P < 0.001). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) C anticircumsporozoite (CSP) antibody levels were higher in the HMS patients although the difference was not statistically significant, when compared with a group of patients with mild malaria. In comparison with naïve European controls, both the HMS and the mild malaria groups had significantly higher antimalarial antibody levels P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively. Plasma levels of interleukin 10 (IL10) and interferon gamma (IFN γ ) were significantly increased in the HMS patients compared with the healthy control donors (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) for IL10 and IFN γ , respectively. The findings of this study suggest that HMS is one of the significant causes of tropical splenomegaly in Sudan. HMS is associated with significant elevations of circulating IgM and antimalarial IgG antibodies as well as IL10 and IFN γ .
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| 3. |
- Bakhit, Yousuf, et al.
(författare)
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Intrafamilial and interfamilial heterogeneity of PINK1-associated Parkinson's disease in Sudan
- 2023
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Ingår i: Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. - : Elsevier. - 1353-8020 .- 1873-5126. ; 111
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PINK1 is the second most predominant gene associated with autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease. Homo-zygous mutations in this gene are associated with an early onset of symptoms. Bradykinesia, tremors, and rigidity are common features, while dystonia, motor fluctuation, and non-motor symptoms occur in a lower percentage of cases and usually respond well to levodopa. We investigated 14 individuals with parkinsonism and eleven symptom-free siblings from three consanguineous Sudanese families, two of them multigenerational, using a custom gene panel screening 34 genes, 27 risk variants, and 8 candidate genes associated with parkinsonism. We found a known pathogenic nonsense PINK1 variant (NM_032409.3:c.1366C>T; p.(Gln456*)), a novel pathogenic single base duplication (NM_032409.3:c.1597dup; p.(Gln533Profs*29)), and another novel pathogenic insertion (NM_032409.3:c.1448_1449ins[1429_1443; TTGAG]; p.(Arg483Serfs*7)). All variants were homozygous and co -segregated in all affected family members. We also identified intrafamilial and interfamilial phenotypic het-erogeneity associated with PINK1 mutations in these Sudanese cases, possibly reflecting the nature of the Sudanese population that has a large effective population size, which suggests a higher possibility of novel findings in monogenic and polygenic diseases in Sudan.
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| 6. |
- Boraschi, Diana, et al.
(författare)
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Immunity against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis during co-infections with neglected infectious diseases: recommendations for the European Union research priorities.
- 2008
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Ingår i: PLoS neglected tropical diseases. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1935-2735. ; 2:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Infectious diseases remain a major health and socioeconomic problem in many low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. For many years, the three most devastating diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) have received most of the world's attention. However, in rural and impoverished urban areas, a number of infectious diseases remain neglected and cause massive suffering. It has been calculated that a group of 13 neglected infectious diseases affects over one billion people, corresponding to a sixth of the world's population. These diseases include infections with different types of worms and parasites, cholera, and sleeping sickness, and can cause significant mortality and severe disabilities in low-income countries. For most of these diseases, vaccines are either not available, poorly effective, or too expensive. Moreover, these neglected diseases often occur in individuals who are also affected by HIV/AIDS, malaria, or TB, making the problem even more serious and indicating that co-infections are the rule rather than the exception in many geographical areas. To address the importance of combating co-infections, scientists from 14 different countries in Africa and Europe met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 9-11, 2007. The message coming from these scientists is that the only possibility for winning the fight against infections in low-income countries is by studying, in the most global way possible, the complex interaction between different infections and conditions of malnourishment. The new scientific and technical tools of the post-genomic era can allow us to reach this goal. However, a concomitant effort in improving education and social conditions will be needed to make the scientific findings effective.
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| 7. |
- Ghazy, Ramy Mohamed, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of life among health care workers in Arab countries 2 years after COVID-19 pandemic
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Public Health. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-2565. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Assessment of the quality of life (QoL) among healthcare workers (HCWs) is vital for better healthcare and is an essential indicator for competent health service delivery. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic strike, the frontline position of HCWs subjected them to tremendous mental and psychological burden with a high risk of virus acquisition. Aim: This study evaluated the QoL and its influencing factors among HCWs residing in the Arab countries. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire based on the World Health Organization QoL-BREF instrument with additional questions related to COVID-19. The study was conducted in three different languages (Arabic, English, and French) across 19 Arab countries between February 22 and March 24, 2022. Results: A total of 3,170 HCWs were included in the survey. The majority were females (75.3%), aged 18–40 years (76.4%), urban residents (90.4%), married (54.5%), and were living in middle-income countries (72.0%). The mean scores of general health and general QoL were 3.7 ± 1.0 and 3.7 ± 0.9, respectively. Those who attained average physical, psychological, social, and environmental QoL were 40.8, 15.4, 26.2, and 22.3%, respectively. The income per capita and country income affected the mean scores of all QoL domains. Previous COVID-19 infection, having relatives who died of COVID-19, and being vaccinated against COVID-19 significantly affected the mean scores of different domains. Conclusion: A large proportion of the Arab HCWs evaluated in this study had an overall poor QoL. More attention should be directed to this vulnerable group to ensure their productivity and service provision.
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