An Experimental Human Blood-Stage Model for Studying Plasmodium malariae Infection. (11th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Woodford, John; Collins, Katharine A; Odedra, Anand; Wang, Claire; Jang, Ihn Kyung; Domingo, Gonzalo J; Watts, Rebecca; Marquart, Louise; Berriman, Matthew; Otto, Thomas D; McCarthy, James S
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 221:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 948
• Page End: 955
• Publication Date: 2019-03-11
• Subjects: Plasmodium malariae -- induced blood-stage malaria -- transmission -- diagnostics -- transcriptomics -- biomarkers -- CHMI -- pLDH; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Plasmodium malariae is considered a minor malaria parasite, although its global disease burden is underappreciated. The aim of this study was to develop an induced blood-stage malaria (IBSM) model of P. malariae to study parasite biology, diagnostic assays, and treatment. Methods: This clinical trial involved 2 healthy subjects who were intravenously inoculated with cryopreserved P. malariae –infected erythrocytes. Subjects were treated with artemether-lumefantrine after development of clinical symptoms. Prior to antimalarial therapy, mosquito-feeding assays were performed to investigate transmission, and blood samples were collected for rapid diagnostic testing and parasite transcription profiling. Serial blood samples were collected for biomarker analysis. Results: Both subjects experienced symptoms and signs typical of early malaria. Parasitemia was detected 7 days after inoculation, and parasite concentrations increased until antimalarial treatment was initiated 25 and 21 days after inoculation for subjects 1 and 2 respectively (peak parasitemia levels, 174 182 and 50 291 parasites/mL, respectively). The parasite clearance half-life following artemether-lumefantrine treatment was 6.7 hours. Mosquito transmission was observed for 1 subject, while in vivo parasite transcription and biomarkers were successfully profiled. Conclusions: An IBSM model of P. malariae has been successfully developed and may be used to study the biology of, diagnostic testing for, and treatment of this neglected malaria species. Clinical Trials Registration: ACTRN12617000048381. Abstract : A human model of Plasmodium malariae infection has been successfully developed and may be used to study the biology of, diagnostic testing for, and treatment of this neglected malaria species.