Antibody-dependent neutrophil-mediated parasite killing in non-lethal rodent malaria

The effects of administrating recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) and passively transferring immune serum on infection with an attenuated variant of Plasmodium berghei XAT (Pb XAT), in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice were examined. In immune competent (C.B-17) mice, the attenuated parasite infection was inevitably self-resolving and degenerating forms inside erythrocytes appeared, coinciding with the drop in parasitaemia, whereas SCID mice were unable to control parasite growth and all the mice died. Continuous administration with rhG-CSF caused neutrophilic granulocytosis in both SCID and C.B-17 mice. The effect of rhG-CSF on the infection in C.B-17 mice was to suppress the course of the parasitaemia at an early phase whereas it had no effect in SCID mice. When immune serum was transferred on the day of infection, the prepatent period was prolonged two days in both SCID and C.B-17 mice. When administration with rhG-CSF was combined with transfer of immune serum, SCID mice showed four days delay in patency and degenerating parasites were seen during the course of parasitaemia, although the infection was ultimately fatal. C.B-17 mice similarly treated showed a seven day delay in the onset of the patent parasitaemia which was of a lesser magnitude and shorter in duration compared with control mice. On the other hand, when C.B-17 mice were splenectomized three weeks before infection and then treated with rhG-CSF and immune serum, no degenerating parasites were seen during the infection and all mice died with high parasitaemias. These results show that antibody-dependent neutrophil-mediated parasite killing may occur in the spleen of mice infected with P. berghei XAT.     

Protective immunity to malaria: studies with cloned lines of rodent malaria in CBA/Ca mice. IV. The specificity of mechanisms resulting in crisis and resolution of the primary acute phase parasitaemia of. Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi and P. yoelii yoelii

Low numbers of parasites from cloned lines of the rodent malaria parasites, Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS and P. yoelii yoelii A, injected into CBA/Ca mice produce acute but usually self-limiting infections. During crisis, i.e. 1-2 days after peak parasitaemia, 'pre-immune' mice experiencing such 'background' infections were reinfected intravenously with homologous parasites or parasites of heterologous strains or species. P. c. chabaudi AS pre-immune mice controlled an AS challenge with essentially the same kinetics as the background infection. Reinfection of AS pre-immune mice with the heterologous (CB and IP-PCI) P. c. chabaudi strains or P. chabaudi adami DS had little effect on the initial growth of these parasites, although eventually the parasitaemia was controlled. In contrast, a partial inhibitory effect on the growth of P. vinckei lentum DS was evident. Challenge with the non-lethal (A) or lethal (YM) variants of P. y. yoelii resulted in an increase in both the growth and virulence of these parasites. P. y. yoelii A pre-immune mice controlled a homologous challenge, but were less effective at controlling the YM variant. In addition, they were unable to clear rapidly a P. c. chabaudi AS or P. v. lentum DS challenge. Both the multiplication and virulence of P. berghei ANKA were enhanced. These findings demonstrate that resolution of the primary acute parasitaemia in P. c. chabaudi AS- and P. y. yoelii A-infected mice is predominantly mediated by species- and strain-specific mechanisms.     

Interferon-γ is essential for the development of cerebral malaria

Infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) causes fatal cerebral malaria (CM). While a pathogenic role for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been established, we asked whether a disruption of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signaling would modulate CM. We demonstrate here that IFN-γR-deficient mice are completely protected from CM. PbA-induced release of TNF and up-regulation of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression, recruitment of mononuclear cells, and cerebral microvascular damage with vascular leakage occur only in wild-type mice. Protected mice die at a later time of severe anemia and overwhelming parasitemia. Resistance to CM in IFN-γR-deficient mice is associated with reduced serum TNF levels, reduced interleukin-12 expression in the brain and increased T-helper 2 cytokines. In conclusion, IFN-γ is apparently required for PbA-induced endothelial ICAM-1 up-regulation and subsequent microvascular pathology, resulting in fatal CM. In the absence of IFN-γ signaling, ICAM-1 and TNF up-regulation is reduced; hence, PbA infection fails to cause fatal CM.     

瑞香素杀疟原虫裂殖体的作用

[目的 ]研究中药瑞香素在体外和体内的杀裂殖体作用。 [方法 ]在恶性疟原虫FCCl株常规体外培养中测试瑞香素杀裂殖体活性 ,并按“四天抑制性试验”在感染伯氏疟原虫ANKA株的小鼠中测定不同剂量瑞香素的体内抗疟活性。 [结果 ]体外试验中瑞香素在 1～ 10 μmol L剂量范围内有明显杀灭裂殖体作用 ,而体内试验中按D4减虫率与感染鼠在 30d内的平均生存天数评价 ,5 0或 10 0mg kg .d- 1 × 4d瑞香素灌胃以及 10 ,5 0或 10 0mg kg.d- 1 × 4d瑞香素腹腔注射给药在伯氏鼠疟原虫ANKA株感染鼠中的抗疟作用与 10mg kg .d- 1 × 4d氯喹 (CQ)灌胃的疗效相似。 [结论 ]瑞香素在体外和体内均有一定的杀裂殖体作用。     

抗咯萘啶的伯氏疟原虫感染红细胞多胺量的测定

目的：了解疟原虫的多胺代谢与咯萘啶（ＰＮＤ）抗药性的关系。方法：感染伯氏疟原虫ＡＮＫＡ株（ＰＳ）和由该株培育的中抗ＰＮＤ品系（ＰＲＡ）及高抗ＰＮＤ品系（ＰＲＢ）的昆明株小鼠于腹腔接种（ｉｐ）后ｄ７取血，经薄层层析后用荧光分光光度法测定正常ＲＢＣ、ＰＳ、ＰＲＡ和ＰＲＢ感染ＲＢＣ的丁二胺（ＰＴＣ）、精脒（ＳＰＤ）和精胺（ＳＰＭ）量。另有感染ＰＳ和ＰＲＢ的小鼠于ｉｐ后ｄ６分别１次灌胃（ｉｇ）ＰＮＤ５ｍｇ／ｋｇ和１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ，ｄ７取血，按上述方法测定给药后感染ＲＢＣ的多胺量，并与不给药组比较。结果：ＰＳ感染ＲＢＣ的多胺量均明显高于未感染疟原虫的正常ＲＢＣ，而感染ＰＲＡ和ＰＲＢ的ＲＢＣ多胺量又显著高于ＰＳ感染ＲＢＣ，且多胺量的增高与抗性程度有关。经ＰＮＤ治疗后ＰＳ感染ＲＢＣ的ＳＰＤ和ＳＰＭ较未治疗组显著下降，而ＰＲＢ感染ＲＢＣ则未见明显变化。结论：伯氏疟原虫对ＰＮＤ的抗药性与其多胺代谢有关。     

The roles of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor on the production and immunogenicity of recombinant ookinete surface antigen Pbs21 of Plasmodium berghei when prepared in a baculovirus expression system

Malarial ookinetes express an immunodominant surface protein (P28) that is a priority candidate for the development of transmission-blocking vaccines. The full length P28 gene from Plasmodium berghei [Pbs21(1-213)] and a deletion construct [Pbs21(1-188)] encoding a protein that lacks the 25 C-terminal amino acids, including the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor signal, were expressed in insect cells using baculovirus vectors. Pbs21(1-213) protein is strongly hydrophobic, found in the cytoplasm and on the surface of Spodoptera Sf21 cells, and in the culture medium. Pbs21(1-188) protein was largely found in the aqueous phase of the medium and in the cytoplasm of Sf21 cells, but was not detected on the cell surface. The presence of 25 C-terminal amino acids is therefore critical to the attachment of recombinant Pbs21 to the parasite plasma membrane. Mice were immunized subcutaneously or intramuscularly with affinity purified recombinant Pbs21(1-213), Pbs21(1-188) or native Pbs21 proteins. Following two immunizations, native Pbs21 induces higher titres when administered by either route, than the recombinant protein bearing an insect GPI anchor, which in turn is markedly more immunogenic than the recombinant polypeptide lacking a GPI anchor. When specific anti Pbs21 antibody titres exceeded 1 mg/ml all three antigens were capable of inducing transmission blockade > or = 90%, below 1 mg/ml blockade did not correlate with antibody concentration.     

IL-12对伯氏疟原虫红内期感染小鼠Th1/Th2细胞因子表达水平的影响

目的观察白细胞介素12 (IL-12) 对伯氏疟原虫(P.b)红内期感染小鼠Th1/Th2细胞因子表达水平的影响,探讨IL-12介导Th1/Th2免疫偏移在抗P.b红内期感染中的免疫调节作用.方法 BALB/c小鼠接种5×105个感染P.b的红细胞,同时分别给予0.03 μg/d或0.15 μg/d IL-12处理,用ELISA方法检测P.b感染小鼠血清或脾淋巴细胞体外培养上清中细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-4表达水平的动态变化.结果 0.03 μg/d IL-12处理组小鼠接种感染后第7天取脾淋巴细胞体外经PHA或可溶性抗原sAg刺激培养产生的IFN-γ水平较感染对照组显著升高,IL-4水平显著下降,而0.15 μg/d IL-12处理组脾淋巴细胞产生的IFN-γ及IL-4水平均较感染对照组显著下降.在感染后第3天,0.03 μg/d或0.15 μg/d IL-12处理组小鼠血清中IFN-γ均已出现,第5天达高峰,但感染后第7天 0.15 μg/d IL-12处理组血清中IFN-γ迅速下降,甚至低于感染对照组及0.03 μg/d IL-12处理组,感染对照组直到感染后第7天血清中方可检测到IFN-γ水平.结论适当低剂量IL-12诱导CD4 Th1免疫应答,产生细胞因子IFN-γ,以诱导抗P.b红内期感染的免疫保护作用;而较大剂量IL-12抑制机体抗感染免疫,甚至可致免疫病理损害.     

In vivo anti-plasmodial activities and toxic impacts of lime extract of a combination of Picralima nitida,Alstonia boonei and Gongronema latifolium in mice infected with Chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei

Background

Lime extracts of powdered combination of seeds of Picralima nitida, stem bark of Alstonia boonei and leaves of Gongronema latifolium is a common remedy used in the treatment of malaria in South Western Nigeria.

Objective

To determine the antiplasmodial activities of the combined herbal extracts and its impact on the haematological, hepatological and renological parameters in mice.

Methods

The 4-day suppressive and curative tests were used to assess the antiplasmodial activities of the extract in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei at concentration of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg body weight. The haematological parameters including red blood cells, white blood cells, packed cell volume and haemoglobin count were analysed with an auto analyser. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined, while urea, protein and creatinine were analysed by standard procedural methods.

Results

The 4-day suppressive test revealed that the test extract achieved percentage suppression of 39.0%, 41.6% and 54.68% for the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. Additionally, the curative test achieved a high percentage suppression of 80.97%, 83.84% and 86.16% at the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. The extracts did not induce significant change on haematological parameters (P>0.05), while significant elevation in the values of the ALT and AST (P<0.05) was observed and elevation of creatinine (P<0.05) at 800mg/kg.

Conclusions

The results support the traditional use of the herbal combination in the treatment of malaria, however the liver cells were impacted by the extracts in bioassay conducted with mice.     

Antimalarial activity and toxicity of Garcinia mangostana Linn.

Objective:To investigate the antimalarial activity and toxicity of the crude ethanolic extract of its pericarp both in vitro and in vim.Methods:The antimalarial activity of Gareinja mangostana(G.mangostana)Linn.extract against 3D7 and Kl Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum)clone were assessed using SYBR green I-based assay.A 4-day suppressive test of Plasmodium berghei{P.berghei)infected mouse was performed to investigate in vivo antimalarial activity.Results:The in vitro antimalarial activity was seleclive(SI5?and classified as weak and good lo moderate activity against both 3D7 and K1 P.falciparum,clones with median IC_(50)(range)values of 11.12(10.94-11.29)and 7.54(6.80-7.68)μg/mL,respectively.The extract was considered nontoxic to mice.The maximum tolerated doses for acute and subacute toxicity in mice were 5 000and 2 000 mg/kg,respectively.Median(range)parasite density on day 4 of the negative control group(25%Tween-80),mice treated with 250,500,1000,and 2 000 mg/kg body weight of the extract,and 10 mg/kg body weight of chloroquine for 14 d were 12.8(12.2-13.7),11.4(9.49-13.8),11.6(9.9-12.5),11.7(10.6-12.8),10.9(9.4-11.6)and 0(0-0)%respectively.Parasite density on day 4in the control group treated with Tween-80 was higher than the groups treated with chloroquine and all dose levels of the extract.Conclusions:G.mangostana linn,showed weak antimalarial activity of the extract both in vitro and in vivo could be due to limitation of absorption of the active compounds.     

Complement C5‐deficient mice are protected from seizures in experimental cerebral malaria

Studies have demonstrated that the membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement can evoke seizures when injected directly into rodent brain. In the course of studies that examine the role of complement in the development of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), we observed fewer seizures in mice deficient in C5, a component required for MAC formation. To determine if the MAC contributed to the tonic–clonic seizures characteristic of ECM, we performed long‐term video–electroencephalography (EEG) on C5^?/? mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA‐induced cerebral malaria and observed significantly reduced spike and seizure frequency compared to wild‐type mice. Our data suggest a role for the MAC in malaria‐induced seizures and that inhibition of the terminal complement pathway may reduce seizures and seizure‐related neurocognitive deficits.