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Query: UMLS:C0024530 (malaria)
 44,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

MALARIA RESULTS IN TWO SEEMINGLY PARADOXICAL PERTURBATIONS OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE: polyclonal B-cell activation and immunosuppression. To determine what immunoregulatory role mediators secreted by adherent cells might play in these alterations, we cultured adherent cells from uninfected mice and from mice at different times during infection with Plasmodium berghei or P. yoelii. Culture supernatants obtained from these cells were tested for their ability to enhance the in vitro proliferative responses of thymocytes to suboptimal concentrations of concanavalin A or to inhibit the mitogen-stimulated proliferation of normal spleen cells. Supernatants obtained from adherent cells of mice early in infection (days 1 to 3) contained significantly elevated levels of enhancing activity which on Bio-Gel P-100 chromatography resembled lymphocyte-activating factor. Later in infection (days 4 and 5), these supernatants contained inhibitory activity. Normal adherent cells, when cocultivated in vitro with parasitized erythrocytes, ingested parasite debris and were stimulated to produce the enhancing factor. At high parasite/adherent-cell ratios, cells elaborated an inhibitory factor. These findings suggest that during malaria, adherent cells are converted from a nonspecific helper role to a nonspecific suppressor role. This modulation in function may be due to the direct interaction between adherent cells and parasitized erythrocytes.
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PMID:Influence of malaria infection on the elaboration of soluble mediators by adherent mononuclear cells. 45 69

This study investigates protein glycosylation in the asexual intraerythrocytic stage of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and the presence in the infected erythrocyte of the respective precursors. In in vitro cultures, P. falciparum can be metabolically labeled with radioactive sugars, and its multiplication can be affected by glycosylation inhibitors, suggesting the capability of the parasite to perform protein-glycosylation reactions. Gel-filtration analysis of sugar-labeled malarial proteins before and after specific cleavage of N-glycans or O-glycans, respectively, revealed the majority of the protein-bound sugar label to be incorporated into O-glycans, but only little (7-12% of the glucosamine label) or no N-glycans were found. Analysis of the nucleotide sugar and sugar-phosphate fraction showed that radioactive galactose, glucosamine, fucose and ethanolamine were converted to their activated derivatives required for incorporation into protein. Mannose was mainly recovered as a bisphosphate, whereas the level of radiolabeled GDP-mannose was below the detection limit. The analysis of organic-solvent extracts of sugar-labeled cultures showed no evidence for the formation by the parasite of dolichol cycle intermediates, the dedicated precursors in protein N-glycosylation. Consistently, the amount of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine formed did not seem to be affected by the presence of tunicamycin in the culture. Oligosaccharyl-transferase activity was not detectable in a lysate of P. falciparum, using exogenous glycosyl donors and acceptors. Our studies show that O-glycosylation is the major form of protein glycosylation in intraerythrocytic P. falciparum, whereas there is little or no protein N-glycosylation. A part of these studies has been published in abstract form [Dieckmann-Schuppert, A., Hensel, J. and Schwarz, R. T. (1991) Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 372, 645].
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PMID:Apparent lack of N-glycosylation in the asexual intraerythrocytic stage of Plasmodium falciparum. 137 32

The phospholipid organization in monkey erythrocytes upon Plasmodium knowlesi infection has been studied. Parasitized and nonparasitized erythrocytes from malaria-infected blood were separated and pure erythrocyte membranes from parasitized cells were isolated using Affi-Gel beads. In this way, the phospholipid content and composition of the membrane of nonparasitized cells, the erythrocyte membrane of parasitized cells and the parasite could be determined. The phospholipid content and composition of the erythrocyte membranes of nonparasitized and parasitized cells and erythrocytes from chloroquine-treated monkeys cured from malaria, were the same as in normal erythrocytes. The phospholipid content of the parasite increased during its development, but its composition remained unchanged. Three independent techniques, i.e., treatment of intact cells with phospholipase A2 and sphingomyelinase C, fluorescamine labeling of aminophospholipids and a phosphatidylcholine-transfer protein-mediated exchange procedure have been applied to assess the disposition of phospholipids in: erythrocytes from healthy monkeys, nonparasitized and parasitized erythrocytes from monkeys infected with Plasmodium knowlesi, and erythrocytes from monkeys that had been cured from malaria by chloroquine treatment. The results obtained by these experiments do not show any abnormality in phospholipid asymmetry in the erythrocyte from malaria-infected (splenectomized) monkeys, neither in the nonparasitized cells, nor in the parasitized cells at any stage of parasite development. Nevertheless, a considerable degree of lipid bilayer destabilization in the membrane of the parasitized cells is apparent from the enhanced exchangeability of the PC from those cells, as well as from their increased permeability towards fluorescamine.
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PMID:Phospholipid organization in monkey erythrocytes upon Plasmodium knowlesi infection. 359 20

O-Glycosylation is the major form of protein glycosylation in human erythrocytes infected with the asexual intraerythrocytic stage of the malaria parasite. Plasmodium falciparum. This study compares aspects of O-glycosylation in P. falciparum-infected and uninfected erythrocytes. Non-labeled and metabolically glucosamine-labeled O-glycans were obtained from the protein fraction of infected or uninfected erythrocytes by beta elimination. Additional label was introduced by reduction with sodium borohydride, or by the attachment of radioactive Gal to peripheral GlcNAc using galactosyltransferase. 2-4-times more labeled O-glycans were obtained from infected erythrocytes compared to the same number of uninfected ones, consistent with additional biosynthesis by the parasite. Our analysis of these O-glycans showed no significant qualitative divergence between the O-glycans of the infected and those of the uninfected red cell. According to preliminary alditol analyses, the O-glycans of P. falciparum-infected red cells do not contain GalNAc at their reducing terminus. Moreover, GalNAc was not synthesized by P. falciparum from either Glc, Gal, GlcN or GalN. At least one O-glycan found in P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes contains GlcNAc at its reducing terminus. Gel-filtration results had suggested the presence of O-GlcNAc on proteins in the infected erythrocyte. Probing with a synthetic pentapeptide, we could show that P. falciparum expresses its own O-GlcNAc transferase during intraerythrocytic development. Using this peptide, the enzyme was characterized to some degree. The localization and function of O-GlcNAc in P. falciparum remains to be elucidated.
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PMID:Studies on O-glycans of Plasmodium-falciparum-infected human erythrocytes. Evidence for O-GlcNAc and O-GlcNAc-transferase in malaria parasites. 840 96

Syntheses for the new photosensitizers HOSiPcOSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N(CH1)1 or 3(CH3)2, Pc 34 and Pc 25, have been developed and the order of activity of these photosensitizers and the previously reported photosensitizer Pc 4, HOSiPcOSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N(CH3)2, in the dark and with broad-band red light toward Plasmodium falciparum in red blood cell (RBC) suspensions has been studied. The order of activity has been found to be Pc 4 > Pc 34 > Pc 25. Thus, the activity of the photosensitizers under both sets of conditions is inversely proportional to the length of their terminal amino alkyl chains. The 50% inhibition dye concentration (IC50) in the dark for the parasites in RBC suspension with Pc 4 is 24 nM and the dye concentration and light fluence that yield > or = 3 log10 of parasite inactivation with Pc 4 are 2 microM and 3 J/cm2, respectively. The synthesis of DNA and proteins by the parasites in culture was strongly inhibited by Pc 4 in the dark while parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) activity was unaffected. With Pc 4 and light, DNA and protein synthesis of the parasites in culture was strongly inhibited, pLDH activity of the parasites was moderately inhibited and ribosome density of the parasite cells was reduced. Gel electrophoresis studies showed that synthesis of all parasite proteins was inhibited to a similar extent. These results suggest that Pc 4 both in the dark and with light inactivates the cells by disturbing their machinery for the synthesis of not just one but a whole series of proteins. It is concluded that Pc 4 and light may be able to serve as a practical sterilization combination not only for HIV and other viruses but also for malaria parasites in RBC concentrates, and that Pc 4 by itself may have potential as a chemotherapeutic agent toward malaria.
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PMID:Structure-activity and mechanism studies on silicon phthalocyanines with Plasmodium falciparum in the dark and under red light. 927 50

Many protozoan parasites represent an important group of human pathogens. Pulsed Field Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis has been an important tool for fundamental genetic studies of parasites like Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Giardia or the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We present PFGE conditions allowing a high resolution separation of chromosomes ranging from 500 to 4000 kb within a two day electrophoresis run. In addition, we present conditions for separating large chromosomes (2000-6000 kb) within 36 hr. We demonstrate that the application of two dimensional PFGE (2D-PFGE) technique to parasite karyotypes is a very useful method for the analysis of dispersed gene families and comparative studies of the intrachromosomal genome organization.
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PMID:Separation and mapping of chromosomes of parasitic protozoa. 956 14

Plasmodium falciparum heat shock protein (PfHsp70) has been proposed to be involved in the cytoprotection of the malaria parasite through its action as a molecular chaperone. However, the biochemical and chaperone properties of PfHsp70 have not been elucidated. The heterologous overproduction of P. falciparum proteins in Escherichia coli is problematic because of its AT-rich genome and the usage of codons that are rarely used in E. coli. In this paper, we describe the successful overproduction of (His)(6)-PfHsp70 in E. coli using the pQE30 expression vector system. Initial experiments with E. coli [pQE30/PfHsp70] resulted in the overproduction of the full-length protein and truncated derivatives. The RIG plasmid, which encodes tRNAs for rare codons, was engineered into the E. coli [pQE30/PfHsp70] strain, resulting in significant reduction of the truncated (His)(6)-PfHsp70 derivatives and improved yields of the full-length protein. (His)(6)-PfHsp70 was successfully purified using nickel-chelating Sepharose affinity chromatography and its biochemical properties were determined. The V(max), K(m), and k(cat) for the basal ATPase activity of (His)(6)-PfHsp70 were found to be 14.6 nmol/min/mg, 616.5 microM, and 1.03 min(-1), respectively. Gel filtration studies indicated that (His)(6)-PfHsp70 existed largely as a monomer in solution. This is the first study to biochemically describe PfHsp70 and establishes a foundation for future studies on its chaperone properties.
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PMID:Overproduction, purification, and characterization of the Plasmodium falciparum heat shock protein 70. 1471 9

The development of an accurate, practical, and affordable diagnostic test is essential to improve the management of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in remote health centers. We evaluated the Formol Gel test (FGT) and two rK39 antigen-based dipsticks, the DUAL-IT L/M, and the Kalazar Detect for VL diagnosis in Amudat Hospital in Uganda. The DUAL-IT L/M was also evaluated for the diagnosis of malaria. All patients clinically suspect of VL were prospectively included in the study between October 2003 and March 2004. The gold standard used to define a VL case was a positive spleen aspirate or a direct agglutination test titer of >1:12,800 with an appropriate clinical response to antileishmanial therapy. A total of 131 VL and 112 non-VL patients were included in the analysis. The DUAL IT L/M was found to be more sensitive than the Kalazar Detect: 97% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 92 to 99%) versus 82% (95%CI = 74 to 87%). The Kalazar Detect and the DUAL IT L/M were highly specific (99% [95%CI = 95 to 100%] and 97% [95%CI = 92 to 99%], respectively). The FGT lacked both sensitivity (66% [95%CI = 57 to 73%]) and specificity (90% [95%CI = 83 to 94%]). The sensitivity of the DUAL IT L/M for malaria was only 57% (95%CI = 37 to 76%). The two rK39 dipsticks can be used for diagnostic confirmation of VL in this region. The DUAL-IT L/M without its malaria diagnostic component (DiaMed-IT LEISH) will be adopted as first-line test for VL in Uganda.
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PMID:Diagnostic accuracy of two rK39 antigen-based dipsticks and the formol gel test for rapid diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in northeastern Uganda. 1633 84

Plasmodium vivax infection is the second most common cause of malaria throughout the world. Like other Plasmodium species, P. vivax has a large protein complex, MSP-1, located on the merozoite surface. The C-terminal MSP-1 sub-unit, MSP-1(42), is cleaved during red blood cell invasion, causing the majority of the complex to be shed and leaving only a small 15kDa sub-unit, MSP-1(19), on the merozite surface. MSP-1(19) is considered a strong vaccine candidate. We have determined the solution structure of MSP-1(19) from P. vivax using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and show that, like in other Plasmodium species, it consists of two EGF-like domains that are oriented head-to-tail. The protein has a flat, disk-like shape with a highly charged surface. When MSP-1(19) is part of the larger MSP-1(42) precursor it exists as an independent domain with no stable contacts to the rest of the sub-unit. Gel filtration and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments indicate that P. vivax MSP-1(42) exists as a dimer in solution. MSP-1(19) itself is a monomer, however, 35 amino-acids immediately upstream of its N-terminus are sufficient to cause dimerization. Our data suggest that if MSP-1(42) exists as a dimer in vivo, secondary processing would cause the dissociation of two tightly linked MSP-1(19) proteins on the merozoite surface just prior to invasion.
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PMID:Structural studies on Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1. 1734 30

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium species, whose transmission to vertebrate hosts is facilitated by mosquito vectors. The transition from the cold blooded mosquito vector to the host represents physiological stress to the parasite, and additionally malaria blood stage infection is characterised by intense fever periods. In recent years, it has become clear that heat shock proteins play an essential role during the parasite's life cycle. Plasmodium falciparum expresses two prominent heat shock proteins: heat shock protein 70 (PfHsp70) and heat shock protein 90 (PfHsp90). Both of these proteins have been implicated in the development and pathogenesis of malaria. In eukaryotes, Hsp70 and Hsp90 proteins are functionally linked by an essential adaptor protein known as the Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (Hop). In this study, recombinant P. falciparum Hop (PfHop) was heterologously produced in E. coli and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Using specific anti-PfHop antisera, the expression and localisation of PfHop in P. falciparum was investigated. PfHop was shown to co-localise with PfHsp70 and PfHsp90 in parasites at the trophozoite stage. Gel filtration and co-immunoprecipitation experiments suggested that PfHop was present in a complex together with PfHsp70 and PfHsp90. The association of PfHop with both PfHsp70 and PfHsp90 suggests that this protein may mediate the functional interaction between the two chaperones.
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PMID:Characterisation of the Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (PfHop). 2200 44


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