Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024530 (malaria)
44,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Plasmodium yoelli sporozoite surface protein 2 (pySSP2) is considered as an important antigen for protection studies in malaria vaccine development. For the liver stage protection, anti-pySSP2 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity in BALB/c mice was investigated by immunization of genetically engineered bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) expressing pySSP2 peptides. Retrovirus-transfected bone marrow cells cultured with GMCSF and IL-4 for 7 days demonstrated 70-80% of DCs with high CD11c, CD80, CD86, and MHC class I (I-Kd) expression. Dividing bone marrow cells were infected with retrovirus expressing SSP2 on fifth, sixth, and seventh days of culture by prolonged centrifugation for 1 h at 32 degrees C. Transfection efficacy of DCs was assessed using retrovirus-shuttled green fluorescence vector (pMSCV-EGFP neo). A total of 64% of CD11c positive transfected DCs showed green fluorescence. The degree of SSP2 expression in transfected DCs was assessed by immunoprecipitation with SSP2 antibody. Both SSP2 and EGFP transfected DCs had prolonged expression of the engineered gene until day 6 since the transfection. Antigen presentation to nai;ve CTLs was assessed by immunization of retrovirus-infected DCs into BALB/c mice. Kd restricted, antigen-specific two new MHC class I (I-Kd) binding motifs were identified (A and C) in pySSP2 protein. Both A and C induced peptide-specific, IFN-gamma-secreting cytolytic CTLs upon antigen recognition on target cells. Taken together, these data indicate that genetically modified DCs by prolonged centrifugation is effective in enhanced antigen presentation. Immunization of DCs encoding SSP2 gene resulted in identification of two K(d) restricted CTL epitopes and induction of IFN-gamma-secreting cytolytic CD8+ T cells.
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PMID:Immunization of retrovirus-transfected dendritic cells induces specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes for two distinct malarial peptides presented by Kd molecule. 1294 36

In some parts of Africa, 50% of deaths attributed to malaria occur in infants less than 8 mo. Thus, immunization against malaria may have to begin in the neonatal period, when neonates have maternally acquired Abs against malaria parasite proteins. Many malaria vaccines in development rely upon CD8 cells as immune effectors. Some studies indicate that neonates do not mount optimal CD8 cell responses. We report that BALB/c mice first immunized as neonates (7 days) with a Plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite protein (PyCSP) DNA vaccine mixed with a plasmid expressing murine GM-CSF (DG) and boosted at 28 days with poxvirus expressing PyCSP were protected (93%) as well as mice immunized entirely as adults (70%). Protection was dependent on CD8 cells, and mice had excellent anti-PyCSP IFN-gamma and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Mice born of mothers previously exposed to P. yoelii parasites or immunized with the vaccine were protected and had excellent T cell responses. These data support assessment of this immunization strategy in neonates/young infants in areas in which malaria exacts its greatest toll.
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PMID:Successful induction of CD8 T cell-dependent protection against malaria by sequential immunization with DNA and recombinant poxvirus of neonatal mice born to immune mothers. 1296 Mar 42

Malaria has been reportedly increasing in incidence on the globe. Evidence from clinical studies supports a role for cytokines in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. Given the stimulatory effect of the ligand GM-CSF on the synthesis and release of the pyrogenic cytokine TNF alpha, the present study has been undertaken to investigate a possible role of GMCSF receptor in the pathogenesis of both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria. An enzyme immunoassay developed by us at our laboratory for the quantitation of GM-CSF receptor has been used. No changes in the concentration of the receptor have been indicated either at the time of diagnosis or after treatment. In addition, an intercomparison of the receptor concentration between the P. vivax and P. falciparum groups does not show any significant difference. The results suggest that GM-CSF receptor has no significant role in the pathogenesis of either type of malaria.
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PMID:Possible role of Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor receptor (GM-CSF R) in malaria. 1525 47

Acute and chronic Plasmodium falciparum malaria are accompanied by severe immunodepression possibly related to subversion of dendritic cells (DC) functionality. Phagocytosed hemozoin (malarial pigment) was shown to inhibit monocyte functions related to immunity. Hemozoin-loaded monocytes, frequently found in circulation and adherent to endothelia in malaria, may interfere with DC development and play a role in immunodepression. Hemozoin-loaded and unloaded human monocytes were differentiated in vitro to immature DC (iDC) by treatment with GM-CSF and IL-4, and to mature DC (mDC) by LPS challenge. In a second setting, hemozoin was fed to iDC further cultured to give mDC. In both settings, cells ingested large amounts of hemozoin undegraded during DC maturation. Hemozoin-fed monocytes did not apoptose but their differentiation and maturation to DC was severely impaired as shown by blunted expression of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules CD83, CD80, CD54, CD40, CD1a, and lower levels of CD83-specific mRNA in hemozoin-loaded iDC and mDC compared with unfed or latex-loaded DC. Further studies indicated activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) in hemozoin-loaded iDC and mDC, associated with increased expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA, without apparent involvement of NF-kappaB. Moreover, expression of PPAR-gamma was induced and up-regulation of CD83 was inhibited by supplementing iDC and mDC with plausible concentrations of 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, a PPAR-gamma ligand abundantly produced by hemozoin via heme-catalyzed lipoperoxidation.
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PMID:Hemozoin (malarial pigment) inhibits differentiation and maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells: a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma-mediated effect. 1535 56

The knowledge of genomic structure of man, of Plasmodium falciparum and of its main vector Anopheles gambiae has led to great progress in the understanding of malaria pathophysiology. It may also offer new perspectives for malaria therapy vaccines or control of mosquito-borne transmission. In pathophysiology, genes encoding adhesion plasmodial proteins of their receptors were identified, as well as other genes controlling the patient immune response or the antigenic parasite variability. From a therapeutic point of view, new targets for future antimalarial drugs were identified, mainly in apicoplast (a vestige of vegetal structure incorporated by the parasite during its phylogenic evolution) and several enzymes, particularly proteases. It will be now necessary among these "promising new molecules" to select a few ones (probably no more than 5 or 6) for a pre clinical and clinical pharmaceutical development. Indeed, the industrial possibilities for developing new antimalarial drugs are evidently limited and several other antimalarial drugs are already under development. For future malaria vaccines, several new targets and antigenic proteins were also identified. As for new drugs, a complete evaluation of these antigens is absolutely necessary to select few of them for clinical development. Particularly for malaria, ADN vaccines may offer very promising perspectives with the possibility to obtain both humoral and cellular immunity and to use at the same time a panel of plasmodial antigens. It could be thus possible to obtain a simultaneous immunization against different stages of Plasmodium falciparum (sporozoites, merozoites, gametocytes) and to use, as an adjuvant, a gene encoding a viral protein or a cytokine (GMCSF). In Anopheles gambiae genome, several genes encoding for key-proteins, particularly odorant receptors necessary for blood meals, were identified. Non biting-non transmitting mosquitoes were obtained by genetic manipulation and, from an academic viewpoint, offer a very attractive new perspective for the interruption of malaria transmission. Unfortunately several practical problems remain unsolved and genetically modified mosquitoes do not survive long enough among "wild" strains. On the whole genomic and proteomic gave very exciting scientific results in malaria and, very probably the post-genomic phase will even give more new data. From a practical, medical viewpoint, it is still too early and speculative to imagine their possible applications for malaria control.
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PMID:[Genomic, molecular biology and malaria: new medical perspectives?]. 1546 93

In falciparum malaria, rupture of parasitized RBC liberates hemozoin (HZ), polymerized heme that contains and generates lipoperoxidation products. In HZ and HZ-loaded monocytes 4-HNE attained approx. 50 and 15 microM, respectively. In malaria, HZ-loaded monocytes are precursors of dendritic cells (DC). Here, the role of 4-HNE as inhibitor of DC differentiation was examined. 4-HNE in HZ was quantified after derivatization by HPLC. DC were differentiated in vitro from human monocytes supplemented with GM-CSF/IL-4 and analyzed for surface antigens and 4-HNE-adducts by FACScan after labelling with specific antibodies. HZ-loading, or treatment with 4-HNE induced large numbers of 4-HNE-protein-adducts on the monocyte membrane. As low as 10 nM 4-HNE inhibited up-regulation of functionally important DC differentiation markers. 1 microM 4-HNE elicited inhibition of up-regulation of DC differentiation markers as follows: MHC-class I and II, -29% and -40%; CD1a, -16%; CD40, -25%; CD54, -27%; and CD83 (the most important DC differentiation marker), -45%, with no signs of apoptosis. The sequence of additions was important, as the inhibitory effect was reduced when 4-HNE was added after GM-CSF/IL-4, indicating that GM-CSF/IL-4 receptors could be modified by 4-HNE. In conclusion, inhibition of DC differentiation by 4-HNE may play a role in malaria immunodepression.
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PMID:Role of 4-hydroxynonenal in the hemozoin-mediated inhibition of differentiation of human monocytes to dendritic cells induced by GM-CSF/IL-4. 1640 89

Gateways to Clinical Trials are a guide to the most recent clinical trials in current literature and congresses. The data in the following tables have been retrieved from the Clinical Trials Knowledge Area of Prous Science Integrity, the drug discovery and development portal, http://integrity.prous.com. This issue focuses on the following selection of drugs: 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate, 9-aminocamptothecin; AdPEDF.11, AE-37, albumin interferon alfa, alicaforsen sodium, alvocidib hydrochloride, AMG-706, arginine butyrate, avanafil, axitinib, azimilide hydrochloride; BAY-579352, belagenpumatucel-L, beta-lapachone, BHT-3009, BIBW-2992, bremelanotide, BX-471; Casopitant mesylate, cediranib, certolizumab pegol, CH-1504, ChimeriVax-West Nile, clofazimine, CpG-7909, curcumin, Cypher; Dapoxetine hydrochloride, darusentan, diflomotecan, D-methionine, dnaJP1, D-serine, DTPw-HB Hib-MenAC, DTPw-HepB-Hib; E-7010, ecogramostim, edodekin alfa, EGFRvlll peptide vaccine, elcometrine, elcometrine/ethinylestradiol, elsilimomab, enrasentan, ertumaxomab, etalocib sodium, exisulind; Fenretinide, fesoterodine, fingolimod hydrochloride, fontolizumab; Gefitinib, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, ghrelin (human), GV-1001; HTU-PA, human papillomavirus vaccine; Indacaterol, indiplon, interleukin-21, intranasal insulin, irinotecan hydrochloride/floxuridine, ISIS-301012, ispinesib mesylate, ixabepilone; K562/GM-CSF; Lapatinib, L-BLP-25, linezolid, liposome encapsulated paclitaxel, LY-2124275; MC-1, MC-1/lisinopril, MDX-066, melanoma vaccine, MMR-V, multivalent (ACYW) meningitis vaccine; Nilotinib, nobori, nociceptin; Oblimersen sodium, orbofiban acetate, ospemifene; Paliperidone, panitumumab, PEG-filgrastim, PEGylated interferon alfacon-1, perflubutane, pertuzumab, phenserine tartrate, phVEGF-A165, pleconaril, prasugrel, prednisolone sodium metasulfobenzoate; R-411, recombinant malaria vaccine, rhGM-CSF, roflumilast, romidepsin, ruboxistaurin mesilate hydrate; Sirolimus-eluting stent, SR-4554, St. John's Wort extract; Talabostat, Taxus, TGN-255, tifacogin, tiotropium bromide, tolevamer sodium, trabectedin, tretinoin LF; Vatalanib succinate; Yellow fever vaccine, YM-155.
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PMID:Gateways to clinical trials. 1723 18

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) remains the most frequent and important infectious disease causing morbidity and death. One-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the etiologic agent of TB. The World Health Organization estimates that about eight to ten million new TB cases occur annually worldwide and the incidence of TB is currently increasing. In this context, TB is in the top three, with malaria and HIV being the leading causes of death from a single infectious agent, and approximately two million deaths are attributable to TB annually. In particular, pulmonary TB, the most common form of TB, is a highly contagious and life-threatening infection. Moreover, enhanced susceptibility to TB in HIV-infected populations is another serious health problem throughout the world. In addition, multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) has been increasing in incidence in many areas, not only in developing countries but industrialized countries as well, during the past decade. These situations, particularly the global resurgence of TB and the rapid emergence of MDR-TB, underscore the importance of the development of new antituberculous drugs and new protocols for efficacious clinical control of TB patients using ordinary antimycobacterial drugs. Concerning the development of new antituberculous drugs, the following points are of particular importance. (1) Development of drugs which display lasting antimycobacterial activity in vivo is desirable, since they can be administered with long intervals and consequently facilitate directly observed therapy and enhance patient compliance. (2) Development of novel antituberculosis compounds to combat MDR-TB is urgently needed. (3) The eradication of slowly metabolizing and, if possible, dormant populations of MTB organisms that cause relapse, using new classes of anti-TB drugs is very promising for prevention of TB incidence, because it will markedly reduce the incidence of active TB from persons who are latently infected with MTB. Unfortunately, no new drugs except rifabutin and rifapentine has been marketed for TB in the US and other countries during the 40 years after release of rifampicin. There are a number of constraints that have deterred companies from investing in new anti-TB drugs. The research is expensive, slow and difficult, and requires specialized facilities for handling MTB. There are few animal models that closely mimic the human TB disease. Development time of any anti-TB drug will be long. In fact, clinical trials will require the minimum six-month therapy, with a follow-up period of one year or more. In addition, it is hard to demonstrate obvious benefit of a new anti-TB agents over pre-existing drugs, since clinical trials involve multidrug combination therapy using highly effective ordinary anti-TB drugs. Finaly, there is the perceived lack of commercial return to companies engaged in the development of new anti-TB drugs, because over 95% of TB cases worldwide are in developing countries. In this symposium, we reviewed the following areas. 1. Critical new information on the entire genome of MTB recently obtained and increasing knowledge of various mycobacterial virulence genes are greatly promoting the identification of genes that code for new drug targets. In this context, Dr. Namba reviewed the status of new types of compounds which are being developed as anti-TB drug. He also discussed the development of new antimycobacterial drugs according to new and potential pharmacological targets and the best clinical development plans for new-TB drugs in relation to corporate strategy. 2. Using such findings for mycobacterial genomes, bioinformatics/genomics/proteomics-based drug design and drug development using quantitative structure-activity relationships may be possible in the near future. In this context, Dr. Suwa and Dr. Suzuki reviewed the usefulness of chemical genomics in searching novel drug targets for development of new antituberculous drugs. The authors reviewed (1) the history and present status of chemical genomics that is defined as the systemic search for a selective small molecular modulator for each function of all gene products, (2) recent studies of the authors on profiles of the interactions between various kinds of human proteins and small molecule modulators using the new technology devised by Reverse Proteomics Research Institute, and (3) future prospects of the development of new antituberculous drugs based on chemical genomics. 3. It appears also promising to develop new types of drug administration systems using drug vehicles, which enable efficacious drug delivery to their target in vivo. Dr. Izumikawa, Dr. Ohno and Dr. Kohno reviewed the usefulness of liposome- and polymer-based technologies, which enable efficacious delivery of encapsulated drugs at required doses for prolonged periods of time with only a single shot without toxicity, and also enable highly targeted delivery of drugs to their target in vivo. They indicated that the applications of drug delivery system using conventional anti-mycobacterial agents are challenging to improve the compliance of treatment and better clinical outcome. 4. Immunoadjunctive therapy appears to be promising in improving outcome of clinical control of refractory mycobacterial infections, including MDR-TB and M. avium complex infection. Dr. Shimizu, Dr. Sato and Dr. Tomioka reviewed the present status of immunotherapy of mycobacterial infections in combination with antimycobacterial drugs. They indicated that the development of new classes of immunomodulators other than cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, IL-12, etc.) particularly those with no severe side-effects, are urgently needed. Their review dealed with some promising immunoadjunctive agents, especially ATP and its analogues, which potentiate macrophage antimycobacterial activity via purinergic P2 receptors. The aim of this symposium is to address the future prospects of the development of new drugs and drug regimens for anti-TB chemotherapy. There are a number of difficulties in drug-design for the development of new drug formulations with increased potential for antimycobacterial effects, excellent pharmacokinetics, and tolerability. It should be emphasized that the most urgent goal of chemotherapy of TB and MAC infections, especially that associated with HIV infection, is to develop highly active, low-cost drugs which can be used not only in industrialized countries but also in developing countries, since the incidences of AIDS-associated intractable TB and MAC infections are rapidly increasing in the latter. We strongly wish a great advance of fundametal and practical studies in developing such kinds of new anti-TB drugs in the near future. 1. Prospects for non-clinical or clinical development of new antituberculous drugs in relation to corporate strategy: Kenji NAMBA (New Product Research Laboratories I, Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest threats to public health. No new anti-TB drugs have been brought into the clinic in the past 40 years. Current non-clinical works with progressed technology and Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, a non-profit organization established in 2000, accelerate research and development of faster-acting anti-TB compounds. We reviewed the status of new types of compounds which are being developed as anti-TB drug, such as diarylquinoline (TMC 207), nitroimidazole (PA-824 and OPC-67683), and moxifloxacin (MFLX). We also discussed the best clinical development plans for new-TB drugs in relation to corporate strategy. 2. Exploring novel drug targets through the chemical genomics approach and its possible application to the development of anti-tuberculosis drugs: Yorimasa SUWA (Reverse Proteomics Research Institute Co., Ltd.), Yohji SUZUKI (Teijin Ltd.) Recently, chemical genomics approach has been focused as an emerging technology for the drug discovery. In advance to a very large scale national project in US started last year, Reverse Proteomics Research Institute Co., Ltd. (REPRORI) has developed the core technologies for chemical genomics. Here we describe the outline of chemical genomics study, especially that of REPRORI, and discuss about its possible application to the development of anti-tuberculosis drugs. 3. Anti-mycobacterial agents and drug delivery: Koichi IZUMIKAWA, Hideaki OHNO, Shigeru KOHNO (Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine) Mycobacterium infection is a major clinical concern in whole world. Since the newly developed anti-mycobacterial agents are few and still unavailable in clinical settings, the applications of drug delivery system using conventional anti-mycobacterial agents are challenging to improve the compliance of treatment and better efficacy. The efficacy of anti-mycobacterial agents modified by liposome or polymer based technology have been investigated and reported using various animal models. Drug delivery system increased and prolonged the drug concentrations at the blood and targeted organs and the duration of sustained drug release, respectively. These effects lead to decrease in the frequency of drug administrations dramatically and better efficacy rates. The studies, however, were performed only in animal models, the further investigations and evaluations in human are required for practical use. 4. Adjunctive immunotherapy of mycobacterial infections: Toshiaki SHIMIZU, Katsumasa SATO, Haruaki TOMIOKA (Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shimane University School of Medicine) There is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobials and protocols for the administration of drugs that are potently efficacious against intractable mycobacterial infections. Unfortunately, development of the new drugs for solving this problem is not progressing. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
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PMID:[Development of antituberculous drugs: current status and future prospects]. 1724 Sep 21

Adjuvants have been common additions to vaccines to help facilitate vaccine delivery. With advancements in vaccine technology, several adjuvants which activate immune specific responses have emerged. Available data show these adjuvants elicit important immune responses in both healthy and immunocompromised populations, as well as the elderly. Guidelines for the use and licensure of vaccine adjuvants remain under discussion. However, there is a greater understanding of the innate and adaptive immune response, and the realization of the need for immune specific adjuvants appears to be growing. This is a focused review of four adjuvants currently in clinical trial development: ASO4, ASO2A, CPG 7907, and GM-CSF. The vaccines including these adjuvants are highly relevant today, and are expected to reduce the disease burden of cervical cancer, hepatitis B and malaria.
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PMID:Improving vaccine delivery using novel adjuvant systems. 1839 3

In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 30 million pregnant women are at risk of contracting malaria annually. Nearly 36% of healthy pregnant women receiving routine antenatal care tested positive for Plasmodium falciparum HRP-II antigen in Ghana. We tested the hypothesis that asymptomatic HRP II positive pregnant women expressed a unique Th1 and Th2 phenotype that differs from healthy controls. Plasma from healthy (n = 15) and asymptomatic (n = 25) pregnant women were evaluated for 27 biomarkers (IL-1b, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL- 17, Eotaxin, bFGF-2, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, PDGF-bb, RANTES, TNF, and VEGF) associated with Th1 and Th2 cytokine homeostasis. IL-10 and G-CSF levels were elevated in the asymptomatic group when compared with the healthy group (P = .031 and .041, resp.). The median ratios of IL-1beta:5, IL-1beta:10, IL-1beta:G-CSF, IL-1beta:Eotaxin, IL-12:G-CSF, IL-15:10, IL-17:G-CSF, IL-17:Eotaxin, TNF:IL-4, TNF:IL-5, and TNF:G-CSF were significantly different among the two groups. Thus, asymptomatic malaria carriage may be linked to circulating levels of IL-10 and G-CSF.
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PMID:Elevated levels of IL-10 and G-CSF associated with asymptomatic malaria in pregnant women. 2070 38


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