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

Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria spp., is a major disease of economic importance to the poultry industry. The cloning and characterisation of genes coding for antigens of those species infecting chickens is an initial step in the identification of protective antigens suitable for the development of a genetically engineered vaccine. This report describes the molecular characterisation of an antigen of E. tenella produced by the recombinant lambda amp3 bacteriophage EtHL6. Three native polypeptides corresponding to the EtHL6 antigen, with sizes between 110 and 94 kDa, have been identified on both sporozoites and second generation merozoites of E. tenella by mouse antisera raised against the EtHL6 fusion protein. The DNA insert is a 722-bp EcoRI fragment encoding a polypeptide comprising three tandem blocks of amino acids which are highly homologous to each other. Each region, A, B and C, contains a strongly hydrophilic domain and two pairs of cysteine residues. Computer analysis has identified similarities with a group of proteins which include the circumsporozoite antigen and thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) of malaria parasites, human thrombospondin, mouse properdin and the terminal components of the complement pathway.
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PMID:Regions of an Eimeria tenella antigen contain sequences which are conserved in circumsporozoite proteins from Plasmodium spp. and which are related to the thrombospondin gene family. 220 33

Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes containing mature trophozoites and schizonts sequester along venular endothelium and are not in the peripheral circulation of patients with malaria. Knobs appear on infected erythrocytes and are the points of attachment to endothelium. Sequestration may protect the parasite from splenic destruction and may play a role in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. Correlates of sequestration have been developed in vitro using cultured human endothelium and an amelanotic melanoma cell line. Knobless strains (K-) of P. falciparum fail to sequester in vivo and to bind to cells in vitro. We now present evidence that the receptor for cytoadherence is the glycoprotein, thrombospondin. Aotus monkey or human erythrocytes containing knobby (K+) but not Aotus erythrocytes containing knobless strains of P. falciparum bind to immobilized thrombospondin. Neither binds to the adhesive proteins laminin, fibronectin, factor VIII/von Willebrand factor or vitronectin. Both soluble thrombospondin and anti-thrombospondin antibodies inhibit binding of parasitized Aotus erythrocytes to immobilize thrombospondin and to melanoma cells which secrete thrombospondin.
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PMID:Thrombospondin binds falciparum malaria parasitized erythrocytes and may mediate cytoadherence. 241 70

Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IE) specifically adhere to vascular endothelium in vivo and to human endothelial cells, some human melanoma cell lines, and human monocytes in vitro. The tissue cell receptor for a ligand on the surface of the infected erythrocytes is an Mr 88,000 glycoprotein (GP88) recognized by the MAb OKM5, which also blocks cytoadherence of IE. Isolated, affinity-purified GP88 (CD36) competitively blocks cytoadherence and when absorbed to plastic surfaces, specifically binds P. falciparum IE. Additionally, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to GP88 block cytoadherence to both target cells and immobilized GP88. Binding to GP88 by IE is unaffected by the absence of calcium or the absence of thrombospondin, a putative mediator for cytoadherence of P. falciparum IE. Thus, GP88 (CD36), which has been demonstrated to be the same as platelet glycoprotein IV, interacts directly with P. falciparum IE, presumably via a parasite-induced ligand exposed on the surface of the infected erythrocytes. CD36 is shown to be present on brain endothelium in both individuals without malaria and individuals with cerebral malaria. This would suggest that factors other than just cerebral sequestration of IE play an initiating role in the genesis of cerebral malaria.
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PMID:A human 88-kD membrane glycoprotein (CD36) functions in vitro as a receptor for a cytoadherence ligand on Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. 247 74

The primary event in the pathogenesis of severe malaria in Plasmodium falciparum infection is thought to be adherence of trophozoite- and schizont-infected erythrocytes to capillary endothelium, a process called sequestration. Identifying the endothelial molecules used as receptors is an essential step in understanding this disease process. Recent work implicates the membrane glycoprotein CD36 (platelet glycoprotein IV; refs 2-5) and the multi-functional glycoprotein thrombospondin as receptors. Although CD36 has a widespread distribution on microvascular endothelium, it may not be expressed on all capillary beds where sequestration occurs, especially in the brain. The role of thrombospondin in cell adhesion, in vitro or in vivo, is less certain. We have noticed that some parasites bind to human umbilical-vein endothelial cells independently of CD36 or thrombospondin. To screen for alternative receptors, we have developed a novel cell-adhesion assay using transfected COS cells, which confirms that CD36 is a cell-adhesion receptor. In addition, we find that an endothelial-binding line of P. falciparum binds to COS cells transfected with a complementary DNA encoding intercellular adhesion molecule-1. As this molecule is widely distributed on capillaries and is inducible, this finding may be relevant to the pathogenesis of severe malaria.
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PMID:Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is an endothelial cell adhesion receptor for Plasmodium falciparum. 247 84

Evidence is accumulating that the illness and pathology observed in malaria are not caused directly by parasite products, but by normal components of the immune response, mainly monokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), produced in excess. These mediators are released from the host's monocytes and macrophages, apparently in response to stimulation by parasite products. Recombinant TNF, if injected into a range of animal species or into tumour patients, is demonstrably toxic, giving rise to changes typical of acute malaria, and several groups have detected circulating TNF in serum from patients acutely ill with malaria. The short serum clearance time of TNF and TNF tolerance have to be considered when interpreting such data. Current studies indicate that some malarial antigens, in the absence of lipopolysaccharide, can trigger release of TNF. This and other monokines could contribute to cerebral malaria in at least 2 ways: by increasing thrombospondin secretion, and hence favouring local sequestration of knob-bearing parasitized red cells, and, as has been demonstrated in clinical trials in tumour patients, by causing neurological symptoms directly. In addition, it seems that TNF does not act alone, but as part of an interdependent synergizing network of polypeptide mediators. These evidently act together to induce secretion of other cell products, such as platelet-activating factor, prostaglandins, reactive oxygen species and procoagulant activity, that actually cause illness, biochemical change and tissue damage. Understanding these processes should lead to a range of new therapeutic interventions.
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PMID:Roles of tumour necrosis factor in the illness and pathology of malaria. 269 75

Six structural repeat motifs of 58 amino acids are found in the sequence of both mouse and human properdins. Twelve more examples of the motif are available from the sequences of thrombospondin, the terminal complement components, and the thrombospondin-related anonymous protein. The averaged Robson and Chou-Fasman secondary structure predictions show that there are 57-66% turn and 19-38% beta-sheet structures in the typical repeat motif. The high amount of turn structure is consistent with Gly, Pro, Cys, and Ser being the four most abundant amino acid residues in properdin. Comparisons with sequences found in the circumsporozoite protein from several species of malaria parasites show that their sequences and secondary structures strongly coincide only in a 18-residue segment. Further secondary structure analysis utilized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of human properdin in 2H2O buffers. These show a broad amide I band that, after second-derivative and deconvolution calculations, is shown to be composed of several components. Two at 1633 and 1683 cm-1 are strong evidence for beta-sheet structure, although overlap from beta-turns can also contribute. The presence of beta-turn structure is indicated by absorptions at 1662-1675 and 1645 cm-1. The properdin structure contains substantial quantities of beta-sheet and beta-turn structures, which is consistent with the secondary structure predictions and amino acid compositions. The length of the repeat motif is estimated as 3.3-4.3 nm, and an estimated 14-22% of nonexchanged amide protons reside in properdin. This is suggestive of a high degree of solvent accessibility in the structure.
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PMID:Secondary structure in properdin of the complement cascade and related proteins: a study by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. 281 60

Possible factors contributing to the development of cerebral malaria were discussed based on pathological changes in Burmese patients who died of cerebral malaria. Blockage of cerebral capillaries by Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes appeared to be the principal cause of cerebral malaria. From electron microscopic results, it was concluded that knobs on infected erythrocytes acted as focal junctions which mediated adhesion to endothelial cells. The knobs are, therefore, important contributors to the blockage of the capillary lumen and ensuing pathological changes in cerebral tissues. Host cell molecules such as OKM5 and thrombospondin may function as endothelial cell surface receptors for the attachment of knobs of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes. Immunological events might also play a role in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. This was suggested by the presence of IgG, IgM, P. falciparum antigens, and knob proteins in the cerebral capillaries of the people with cerebral malaria. It will be important to assess the candidate malaria vaccines now in development not only for their efficacy in reducing parasitemia but for effects they may have on the sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the brain.
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PMID:Human cerebral malaria. 304 56

Properdin is a plasma glycoprotein which stabilizes the C3bnBb enzyme complex of the alternative pathway of the complement system. Unlike the classical pathway, which is initiated by interaction of C1q with the Fc regions of IgG or IgM antibodies in immune complexes, the alternative pathway can be directly activated via binding of C3b to surfaces of foreign organisms. The stabilized C3bnBbP complex activates components C3 and C5 resulting in opsonization of foreign material (via C3b) and assembly of the membrane attack complex (via C5b) on target cells. Therefore properdin greatly enhances complement-mediated clearance and inactivation mechanisms in both natural and acquired resistance to infection. This paper shows that the primary amino acid sequence of properdin is composed mainly of six repeating motifs, each of approximately 60 amino acids, and that similar sequences are found in thrombospondin, the circumsporozoite protein of malaria parasites and regions of the membrane-attack components of complement. These similarities may provide insight into the mechanisms by which parasites avoid host defences mediated by complement.
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PMID:Properdin, the terminal complement components, thrombospondin and the circumsporozoite protein of malaria parasites contain similar sequence motifs. 304 64

Cerebral malaria is thought to involve specific attachment of Plasmodium falciparum-infected knobby red cells to venular endothelium. The nature of surface ligands on host endothelial cells that may mediate cytoadherence is poorly understood. We have investigated the effects of soluble thrombospondin, rabbit antiserum raised against thrombospondin, and human immune serum on cytoadherence of parasitized erythrocytes in ex vivo mesocecum vasculature. Preincubation of infected red cells with soluble thrombospondin or human immune serum inhibits binding of infected red cells to rat venular endothelium. Infusion of the microcirculatory preparation with rabbit antithrombospondin antibodies before perfusion of parasitized erythrocytes also resulted in decreased cytoadherence. In addition, incubation of infected cells with human immune sera obtained from malaria patients significantly inhibited the observed cytoadherence. Our results indicate that thrombospondin mediates binding of infected red cells to venular endothelium and may thus be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.
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PMID:Thrombospondin mediates the cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red cells to vascular endothelium in shear flow conditions. 327 76

Falciparum-parasitized erythrocytes develop new antigens on the erythrocyte surface. Both antimalarial antibody and thrombospondin bind to surface antigens or ligands on the surface of the infected red cell. Diverse antigens may be involved in parasite evasion of host immunity, but conserved molecules may be required for pathogenesis. There is a high degree of antigenic diversity at the infected erythrocyte surface among isolates. This diversity may underlie the potential of falciparum malaria to repeatedly reinfect the same person. There is also evidence for an antigenically conserved, possibly functionally conserved, determinant on the infected red cell surface. Antibody to a conserved determinant on the infected red cell surface may be associated with immunity to falciparum malaria. A conserved membrane surface determinant may be involved in parasitized erythrocyte sequestration. Thrombospondin binding in vitro is specific to mature trophozoites and schizonts, the same stages which sequester in vivo. Specific adhesion to thrombospondin is common among laboratory strains of falciparum-parasitized erythrocytes bearing knobs and among all isolates of falciparum tested. The numbers of parasitized erythrocytes bound to thrombospondin in vitro increases with parasitemia. Specific binding of parasitized erythrocytes to an endothelial receptor and to thrombospondin, which itself interacts with clotting factors, may play a role in sequestration and vascular obstruction.
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PMID:Parasitized erythrocyte antigens and thrombospondin adhesion in the immunology and pathogenesis of falciparum malaria. 329 86


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