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Dhakal S, Park HS, Seddu K, Lee JS, Creisher PS, Seibert B, Davis KM, Hernandez IR, Maul RW, Klein SL. Estradiol mediates greater germinal center responses to influenza vaccination in female than male mice. mBio 2024; 15:e0032624. [PMID: 38441028 PMCID: PMC11005424 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00326-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Adult females of reproductive age develop greater antibody responses to inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) than males. How sex, age, and sex steroid concentrations impact B cells and durability of IIV-induced immunity and protection over 4 months post-vaccination (mpv) was analyzed. Vaccinated adult females had greater germinal center B cell and plasmablast frequencies in lymphoid tissues, higher neutralizing antibody responses 1-4 mpv, and better protection against live H1N1 challenge than adult males. Aged mice, regardless of sex, had reduced B cell frequencies, less durable antibody responses, and inferior protection after challenge than adult mice, which correlated with diminished estradiol among aged females. To confirm that greater IIV-induced immunity was caused by sex hormones, four core genotype (FCG) mice were used, in which the testes-determining gene, Sry, was deleted from chromosome Y (ChrY) and transferred to Chr3 to separate gonadal sex (i.e., ovaries or testes) from sex chromosome complement (i.e., XX or XY complement). Vaccinated, gonadal female FCG mice (XXF and XYF) had greater numbers of B cells, higher antiviral antibody titers, and reduced pulmonary virus titers following live H1N1 challenge than gonadal FCG males (XYM and XXM). To establish that lower estradiol concentrations cause diminished immunity, adult and aged females received either a placebo or estradiol replacement therapy prior to IIV. Estradiol replacement significantly increased IIV-induced antibody responses and reduced morbidity after the H1N1 challenge among aged females. These data highlight that estradiol is a targetable mechanism mediating greater humoral immunity following vaccination among adult females.IMPORTANCEFemales of reproductive ages develop greater antibody responses to influenza vaccines than males. We hypothesized that female-biased immunity and protection against influenza were mediated by estradiol signaling in B cells. Using diverse mouse models ranging from advanced-age mice to transgenic mice that separate sex steroids from sex chromosome complement, those mice with greater concentrations of estradiol consistently had greater numbers of antibody-producing B cells in lymphoid tissue, higher antiviral antibody titers, and greater protection against live influenza virus challenge. Treatment of aged female mice with estradiol enhanced vaccine-induced immunity and protection against disease, suggesting that estradiol signaling in B cells is critical for improved vaccine outcomes in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Dhakal
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Han-Sol Park
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kumba Seddu
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John S. Lee
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick S. Creisher
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brittany Seibert
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kimberly M. Davis
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Isabella R. Hernandez
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert W. Maul
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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2
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Kayiba NK, Nitahara Y, Tshibangu-Kabamba E, Mbuyi DK, Kabongo-Tshibaka A, Kalala NT, Tshiebue BM, Candray-Medina KS, Kaku N, Nakagama Y, Speybroeck N, Mumba DN, Disashi GT, Kaneko A, Kido Y. Malaria infection among adults residing in a highly endemic region from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Malar J 2024; 23:82. [PMID: 38500094 PMCID: PMC10946143 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04881-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adults infected with Plasmodium spp. in endemic areas need to be re-evaluated in light of global malaria elimination goals. They potentially undermine malaria interventions but remain an overlooked aspect of public health strategies. METHODS This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Plasmodium spp. infections, to identify underlying parasite species, and to assess predicting factors among adults residing in an endemic area from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A community-based cross-sectional survey in subjects aged 18 years and above was therefore carried out. Study participants were interviewed using a standard questionnaire and tested for Plasmodium spp. using a rapid diagnostic test and a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess the effect of potential predictive factors for infections with different Plasmodium spp. RESULTS Overall, 420 adults with an estimated prevalence of Plasmodium spp. infections of 60.2% [95% CI 55.5; 64.8] were included. Non-falciparum species infected 26.2% [95% CI 22.2; 30.5] of the study population. Among infected participants, three parasite species were identified, including Plasmodium falciparum (88.5%), Plasmodium malariae (39.9%), and Plasmodium ovale (7.5%) but no Plasmodium vivax. Mixed species accounted for 42.3% of infections while single-species infections predominated with P. falciparum (56.5%) among infected participants. All infected participants were asymptomatic at the time of the survey. Adults belonging to the "most economically disadvantaged" households had increased risks of infections with any Plasmodium spp. (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 2.87 [95% CI 1.66, 20.07]; p < 0.001), compared to those from the "less economically disadvantaged" households. Conversely, each 1 year increase in age reduced the risk of infections with any Plasmodium spp. (aOR = 0.99 [95% CI 0.97, 0.99]; p = 0.048). Specifically for non-falciparum spp., males had increased risks of infection than females (aOR = 1.83 [95% CI 1.13, 2.96]; p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Adults infected with malaria constitute a potentially important latent reservoir for the transmission of the disease in the study setting. They should specifically be taken into account in public health measures and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Kalenda Kayiba
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine - Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Research Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yuko Nitahara
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Evariste Tshibangu-Kabamba
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Denis Kalambayi Mbuyi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Augustin Kabongo-Tshibaka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Nestor Tshituka Kalala
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine - Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Barthélemy Mukenga Tshiebue
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Katherine-Sofia Candray-Medina
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Natsuko Kaku
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yu Nakagama
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Niko Speybroeck
- Research Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dieudonné Ngoyi Mumba
- Department of Parasitology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Ghislain Tumba Disashi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Akira Kaneko
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yasutoshi Kido
- Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan.
- Departments of Virology and Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan.
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Céspedes N, Donnelly EL, Hansten G, Fellows AM, Dobson M, Kaylor HL, Coles TA, Schauer J, Van de Water J, Luckhart S. Mast cell-derived IL-10 protects intestinal barrier integrity during malaria in mice and regulates parasite transmission to Anopheles stephensi with a female-biased immune response. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0036023. [PMID: 38299826 PMCID: PMC10929420 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00360-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria is strongly predisposed to bacteremia, which is associated with increased gastrointestinal permeability and a poor clinical prognosis. We previously identified mast cells (MCs) as mediators of intestinal permeability in malaria and described multiple cytokines that rise with parasitemia, including interleukin (IL)-10, which could protect the host from an inflammatory response and alter parasite transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes. Here, we used the Cre-loxP system and non-lethal Plasmodium yoelii yoelii 17XNL to study the roles of MC-derived IL-10 in malaria immunity and transmission. Our data suggest a sex-biased and local inflammatory response mediated by MC-derived IL-10, supported by early increased number and activation of MCs in females relative to males. Increased parasitemia in female MC IL-10 (-) mice was associated with increased ileal levels of chemokines and plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO). We also observed increased intestinal permeability in female and male MC IL-10 (-) mice relative to MC IL-10 (+) mice but no differences in blood bacterial 16S DNA levels. Transmission success of P. yoelii to A. stephensi was higher in female relative to male mice and from female and male MC IL-10 (-) mice relative to MC IL-10 (+) mice. These patterns were associated with increased plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in female MC IL-10 (-) mice and increased plasma levels of chemokines and markers of neutrophil activation in male MC IL-10 (-) mice. Overall, these data suggest that MC-derived IL-10 protects intestinal barrier integrity, regulates parasite transmission, and controls local and systemic host immune responses during malaria, with a female bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Céspedes
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Erinn L. Donnelly
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Gretchen Hansten
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Abigail M. Fellows
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Megan Dobson
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Hannah L. Kaylor
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Taylor A. Coles
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Joseph Schauer
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
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4
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Dunn SE, Perry WA, Klein SL. Mechanisms and consequences of sex differences in immune responses. Nat Rev Nephrol 2024; 20:37-55. [PMID: 37993681 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00787-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Biological sex differences refer to differences between males and females caused by the sex chromosome complement (that is, XY or XX), reproductive tissues (that is, the presence of testes or ovaries), and concentrations of sex steroids (that is, testosterone or oestrogens and progesterone). Although these sex differences are binary for most human individuals and mice, transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy, individuals with genetic syndromes (for example, Klinefelter and Turner syndromes) and people with disorders of sexual development reflect the diversity in sex-based biology. The broad distribution of sex steroid hormone receptors across diverse cell types and the differential expression of X-linked and autosomal genes means that sex is a biological variable that can affect the function of all physiological systems, including the immune system. Sex differences in immune cell function and immune responses to foreign and self antigens affect the development and outcome of diverse diseases and immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E Dunn
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Whitney A Perry
- Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sabra L Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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5
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Dhakal S, Park HS, Seddu K, Lee J, Creisher PS, Davis KM, Hernandez IR, Maul RW, Klein SL. Estradiol Mediates Greater Germinal Center Responses to Influenza Vaccination in Female than Male Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.27.568847. [PMID: 38077071 PMCID: PMC10705292 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.27.568847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Adult females of reproductive ages develop greater antibody responses to inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) than males. How sex, age, and sex steroid changes impact B cells and durability of IIV-induced immunity and protection over 4-months post-vaccination (mpv) was analyzed. Vaccinated adult females had greater germinal center (GC) B cell and plasmablast frequencies in lymphoid tissues, higher neutralizing antibody responses 1-4 mpv, and better protection against live H1N1 challenge than adult males. Aged mice, regardless of sex, had reduced B cell frequencies, less durable antibody responses, and inferior protection after challenge than adult mice, which correlated with diminished estradiol among aged females. To confirm that greater IIV-induced immunity was caused by sex hormones, four core genotype (FCG) mice were used, in which the testes determining gene, Sry, was deleted from ChrY and transferred to Chr3, to separate gonadal sex (i.e., ovaries or testes) from sex chromosome complement (i.e., XX or XY complement). Vaccinated, gonadal female FCG mice (XXF and XYF) had greater numbers of B cells, higher antiviral antibody titers, and reduced pulmonary virus titers following live H1N1 challenge than gonadal FCG males (XYM and XXM). To establish that lower estradiol concentrations cause diminished immunity, adult and aged females received either a placebo or estradiol replacement therapy prior to IIV. Estradiol replacement significantly increased IIV-induced antibody responses and reduced morbidity after the H1N1 challenge among aged females. These data highlight that estradiol is a targetable mechanism mediating greater humoral immunity following vaccination among adult females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Dhakal
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Han-Sol Park
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kumba Seddu
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John Lee
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick S. Creisher
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kimberly M. Davis
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Isabella R. Hernandez
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert W. Maul
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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6
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Méndez SB, Matus-Ortega M, Miramontes RH, Salazar-Juárez A. The effect of chronic stress on the immunogenicity and immunoprotection of the M 6-TT vaccine in female mice. Physiol Behav 2023; 271:114345. [PMID: 37704173 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Active vaccination is an effective therapeutic option to reduce the reinforcing effects of opioids. Several studies showed that chronic stress affects the immune system decreasing the efficiency of some vaccines. Heroin withdrawal is a stressor and it is a stage in which the patient who abuses heroin is vulnerable to stress affects the immune response and consequently its immunoprotective capacity, then, the objective was to determine the effect of heroin-withdrawal and heroin-withdrawal plus immobilization, on the immune (immunogenicity) and protective response (behavioral response) of morphine-6-hemisuccinate-tetanus toxoid (M6-TT) vaccine in animals of two inbred mice strains with different sensitivity to drug-opioid and stress. Female BALB/c and C57Bl/6 inbred mice were immunized with the M6-TT. A solid-phase antibody-capture ELISA was used to monitor antibody titer responses after each booster dose in vaccinated animals. During the vaccination period, the animals were subjected to two different stress conditions: drug-withdrawal (DW) and immobilization (IMM). The study used tail-flick testing to evaluate the heroin-induced antinociceptive effects. Additionally, heroin-induced locomotor activity was evaluated. Stress decreased the heroin-specific antibody titer generated by the M6-TT vaccine in the two inbred mouse strains evaluated. In the two stress conditions, the antibody titer was not able to decrease the heroin-induced antinociceptive effects and locomotor activity. These findings suggest that stress decreases the production of antibodies and the immunoprotective capacity of the M6-TT vaccine. This observation is important to determine the efficacy of active vaccination as a potential therapy for patients with opioid drug use disorder, since these patients during drug-withdrawal present stress disorders, which could affect the efficacy of therapy such as active vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Barbosa Méndez
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, México DF 14370, México
| | - Maura Matus-Ortega
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, México DF 14370, México
| | - Ricardo Hernández Miramontes
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, México DF 14370, México
| | - Alberto Salazar-Juárez
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, México DF 14370, México.
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7
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Herbert Mainero A, Spence PJ, Reece SE, Kamiya T. The impact of innate immunity on malaria parasite infection dynamics in rodent models. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1171176. [PMID: 37646037 PMCID: PMC10461630 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1171176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have probed the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the immune response to malaria. Yet many studies offer conflicting results on the functional impact of innate immunity for controlling parasite replication early in infection. We conduct a meta-analysis to seek consensus on the effect of innate immunity on parasite replication, examining three different species of rodent malaria parasite. Screening published studies that span four decades of research we collate, curate, and statistically analyze infection dynamics in immune-deficient or -augmented mice to identify and quantify general trends and reveal sources of disagreement among studies. Additionally, we estimate whether host factors or experimental methodology shape the impact of immune perturbations on parasite burden. First, we detected meta-analytic mean effect sizes (absolute Cohen's h) for the difference in parasite burden between treatment and control groups ranging from 0.1475 to 0.2321 across parasite species. This range is considered a small effect size and translates to a modest change in parasitaemia of roughly 7-12% on average at the peak of infection. Second, we reveal that variation across studies using P. chabaudi or P. yoelii is best explained by stochasticity (due to small sample sizes) rather than by host factors or experimental design. Third, we find that for P. berghei the impact of immune perturbation is increased when young or female mice are used and is greatest when effector molecules (as opposed to upstream signalling molecules) are disrupted (up to an 18% difference in peak parasitaemia). Finally, we find little evidence of publication bias suggesting that our results are robust. The small effect sizes we observe, across three parasite species, following experimental perturbations of the innate immune system may be explained by redundancy in a complex biological system or by incomplete (or inappropriate) data reporting for meta-analysis. Alternatively, our findings might indicate a need to re-evaluate the efficiency with which innate immunity controls parasite replication early in infection. Testing these hypotheses is necessary to translate understanding from model systems to human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Herbert Mainero
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Spence
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Reece
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tsukushi Kamiya
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, Paris, France
- HRB, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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8
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Briggs J, Murray M, Nideffer J, Jagannathan P. Sex-Linked Differences in Malaria Risk Across the Lifespan. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 441:185-208. [PMID: 37695429 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-35139-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high burden of malaria worldwide, there is surprisingly scarce research on sex-based differences in malaria outside of pregnancy. A more thorough understanding of sexual dimorphism in malaria, and what underlies these sex-based differences, could elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving malaria pathogenesis and has the potential to inform malaria control efforts, including new vaccines. This review summarizes our current understanding of sex-based differences in the epidemiology of malaria across the lifespan, potential sex- or gender-based mechanisms driving these differences, and the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Briggs
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Margaret Murray
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Jason Nideffer
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Prasanna Jagannathan
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States.
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9
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Wesołowska A. Sex—the most underappreciated variable in research: insights from helminth-infected hosts. Vet Res 2022; 53:94. [PMID: 36397174 PMCID: PMC9672581 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sex of a host affects the intensity, prevalence, and severity of helminth infection. In many cases, one sex has been found to be more susceptible than the other, with the prevalence and intensity of helminth infections being generally higher among male than female hosts; however, many exceptions exist. This observed sex bias in parasitism results primarily from ecological, behavioural, and physiological differences between males and females. Complex interactions between these influences modulate the risk of infection. Indeed, an interplay among sex hormones, sex chromosomes, the microbiome and the immune system significantly contributes to the generation of sex bias among helminth-infected hosts. However, sex hormones not only can modulate the course of infection but also can be exploited by the parasites, and helminths appear to have developed molecules and pathways for this purpose. Furthermore, host sex may influence the efficacy of anti-helminth vaccines; however, although little data exist regarding this sex-dependent efficacy, host sex is known to influence the response to vaccines. Despite its importance, host sex is frequently overlooked in parasitological studies. This review focuses on the key contributors to sex bias in the case of helminth infection. The precise nature of the mechanisms/factors determining these sex-specific differences generally remains largely unknown, and this represents an obstacle in the development of control methods. There is an urgent need to identify any protective elements that could be targeted in future therapies to provide optimal disease management with regard to host sex. Hence, more research is needed into the impact of host sex on immunity and protection.
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10
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Needle-free, spirulina-produced Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite vaccination provides sterile protection against pre-erythrocytic malaria in mice. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:113. [PMID: 36195607 PMCID: PMC9532447 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00534-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) can block hepatocyte infection by sporozoites and protect against malaria. Needle-free vaccination strategies are desirable, yet most PfCSP-targeted vaccines like RTS,S require needle-based administration. Here, we evaluated the edible algae, Arthrospira platensis (commonly called 'spirulina') as a malaria vaccine platform. Spirulina were genetically engineered to express virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of the woodchuck hepatitis B core capsid protein (WHcAg) displaying a (NANP)15 PfCSP antigen on its surface. PfCSP-spirulina administered to mice intranasally followed by oral PfCSP-spirulina boosters resulted in a strong, systemic anti-PfCSP immune response that was protective against subcutaneous challenge with PfCSP-expressing P. yoelii. Unlike male mice, female mice did not require Montanide adjuvant to reach high antibody titers or protection. The successful use of spirulina as a vaccine delivery system warrants further development of spirulina-based vaccines as a useful tool in addressing malaria and other diseases of global health importance.
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11
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Aguilar-Castro J, Cervantes-Candelas LA, Buendía-González FO, Fernández-Rivera O, Nolasco-Pérez TDJ, López-Padilla MS, Chavira-Ramírez DR, Cervantes-Sandoval A, Legorreta-Herrera M. Testosterone induces sexual dimorphism during infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:968325. [PMID: 36237427 PMCID: PMC9551224 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.968325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is the most lethal parasitic disease worldwide; men exhibit higher mortality and more severe symptomatology than women; however, in most studies of immune response in malaria, sex is not considered a variable. Sex hormones 17β-oestradiol and testosterone are responsible for the main physiological differences between sexes. When interacting with their receptors on different immune cells, they modify the expression of genes that modulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of cytokines. The immunosuppressive activity of testosterone is well accepted; however, its participation in the sexual dimorphism of the immune response to malaria has not been studied. In this work, we analysed whether altering the concentration of testosterone, through increasing the concentration of this hormone for exogenous administration for three weeks, or gonadectomy before infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA affects different cells of the immune response necessary for parasite clearance. We also assessed the concentration of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in male and female CBA/Ca mice infected or not with the parasite. Our results show that testosterone changes affect females more than males, resulting in sex-associated patterns. Testosterone administration increased parasitaemia in intact males while reducing it in intact females leading to a dimorphic pattern. In addition, gonadectomy increased parasitaemia in both sexes. Moreover, testosterone administration prevented both weight loss caused by the infection in females and hypothermia in gonadectomized mice of both sexes. Boosting testosterone concentration increased CD3+ and CD8+ populations but decreased the B220+ cells exclusively in females. Additionally, testosterone reduced IFN-γ concentration and increased IL-6 levels only in females, while in males, testosterone increased the number of NK cells. Finally, gonadectomy decreased TNF-α concentration in both sexes. Our results demonstrate that testosterone induces different patterns depending on sex and testosterone concentration. The results of this work contribute to understanding the impact of modifying testosterone concentration on the immune response specific against Plasmodium and the participation of this hormone in sexual dimorphism in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Aguilar-Castro
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luis Antonio Cervantes-Candelas
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Fidel Orlando Buendía-González
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Omar Fernández-Rivera
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Teresita de Jesús Nolasco-Pérez
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Monserrat Sofía López-Padilla
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - David Roberto Chavira-Ramírez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Armando Cervantes-Sandoval
- Laboratorio de Aplicaciones Computacionales, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Martha Legorreta-Herrera
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Martha Legorreta-Herrera,
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12
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Ursin RL, Dhakal S, Liu H, Jayaraman S, Park HS, Powell HR, Sherer ML, Littlefield KE, Fink AL, Ma Z, Mueller AL, Chen AP, Seddu K, Woldetsadik YA, Gearhart PJ, Larman HB, Maul RW, Pekosz A, Klein SL. Greater Breadth of Vaccine-Induced Immunity in Females than Males Is Mediated by Increased Antibody Diversity in Germinal Center B Cells. mBio 2022; 13:e0183922. [PMID: 35856618 PMCID: PMC9426573 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01839-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inactivated influenza vaccines induce greater antibody responses in females than males among both humans and mice. To test the breadth of protection, we used recombinant mouse-adapted A/California/2009 (maA/Cal/09) H1N1 viruses containing mutations at one (1M), two (2M), or three (3M) antigenic sites, in addition to a virus containing the 1M mutation and a substitution of the Ca2 antigenic site (Sub) with one derived from an H5 hemagglutinin (HA) to challenge mice of both sexes. Following maA/Cal/09 vaccination, females produced greater virus-specific, class-switched total IgG and IgG2c antibodies against the vaccine and all mutant viruses, and antibodies from females recognized a greater number of unique, linear HA epitopes than did antibodies from males. While females had greater neutralizing antibody titers against the vaccine virus, both sexes showed a lower neutralization capacity against mutant viruses. After virus challenge, vaccinated females had lower pulmonary virus titers and reduced morbidity than males for the 1M and 2M viruses, but not the Sub virus. Females generated greater numbers of germinal center (GC) B cells containing superior somatic hypermutation (SHM) frequencies than vaccinated males. Deletion of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (Aicda) eliminated female-biased immunity and protection against the 2M virus. Harnessing methods to improve GC B cell responses and frequencies of SHM, especially in males, should be considered in the development of universal influenza vaccines. IMPORTANCE Adult females develop greater antibody responses to influenza vaccines than males. We hypothesized that female-biased immunity and protection would be dependent on the extent of virus diversity as well as molecular mechanisms in B cells which constrain the breadth of epitope recognition. We developed a panel of mouse-adapted (ma) A/Cal/09 viruses that had mutations in the immunodominant hemagglutinin. Following vaccination against maA/Cal/09, females were better able to neutralize maA/Cal/09 than males, but neutralization of mutant maA/Cal/09 viruses was equally poor in both sexes, despite vaccinated females being better protected against these viruses. Vaccinated females benefited from the greater production of class-switched, somatically hypermutated antibodies generated in germinal center B cells, which increased recognition of more diverse maA/Cal/09 hemagglutinin antigen epitopes. Female-biased protection against influenza infection and disease after vaccination is driven by differential mechanisms in males versus females and should be considered in the design of novel vaccine platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Ursin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Santosh Dhakal
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hsuan Liu
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sahana Jayaraman
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Han-Sol Park
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Harrison R. Powell
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Morgan L. Sherer
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kirsten E. Littlefield
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashley L. Fink
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zexu Ma
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alice L. Mueller
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Allison P. Chen
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kumba Seddu
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yishak A. Woldetsadik
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Patricia J. Gearhart
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - H. Benjamin Larman
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert W. Maul
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Pekosz
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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13
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Engler-Chiurazzi EB, Chastain WH, Citron KK, Lambert LE, Kikkeri DN, Shrestha SS. Estrogen, the Peripheral Immune System and Major Depression – A Reproductive Lifespan Perspective. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:850623. [PMID: 35493954 PMCID: PMC9051447 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.850623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depression is a significant medical issue impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Identifying factors contributing to its manifestation has been a subject of intense investigation for decades and several targets have emerged including sex hormones and the immune system. Indeed, an extensive body of literature has demonstrated that sex hormones play a critical role in modulating brain function and impacting mental health, especially among female organisms. Emerging findings also indicate an inflammatory etiology of major depression, revealing new opportunities to supplement, or even supersede, currently available pharmacological interventions in some patient populations. Given the established sex differences in immunity and the profound impact of fluctuations of sex hormone levels on the immune system within the female, interrogating how the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems converge to impact women’s mental health is warranted. Here, we review the impacts of endogenous estrogens as well as exogenously administered estrogen-containing therapies on affect and immunity and discuss these observations in the context of distinct reproductive milestones across the female lifespan. A theoretical framework and important considerations for additional study in regards to mental health and major depression are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi,
| | - Wesley H. Chastain
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Kailen K. Citron
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Lillian E. Lambert
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Divya N. Kikkeri
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Sharhana S. Shrestha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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14
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Abate A, Assefa M, Golassa L. Five-Year Trend of Malaria Prevalence in Mojo Town, Central Ethiopia: Shifting Burden of the Disease and Its Implication for Malaria Elimination: A Retrospective Study. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:455-464. [PMID: 35177912 PMCID: PMC8846561 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s348203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria continues to strike hardest against the health and economic development in Ethiopia. The peak of malaria incidence follows the main rainfall season in each year; however, its transmission tends to be highly heterogeneous within or between years and from area to area. Thus, this study was aimed to determine the trend prevalence of malaria in Mojo town, central Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in Mojo town, East Shoa zone, Ethiopia from February to March 2021. Malaria cases and related data documented between 2016 and 2020 were carefully reviewed from laboratory registration logbooks. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 19,106 blood films were examined from malaria-suspected patients. The overall microscopically confirmed prevalence of malaria was 4.2% (793/19,106). Plasmodium vivax was the predominant species accounting for 76.2% (604/793) of positive samples. Malaria cases declined from 259 in 2016 to 77 in 2020. The proportion of malaria was higher among males (64.8%, 514/793) than females (35.2%, 279/793) (P < 0.0001). Higher malaria cases were observed from the age group 15–24 years followed by the age group of 25–34 (P < 0.0001). The number of malaria cases was at a high level from September to November and lowest from December to February. Conclusion Despite a declining trend of malaria prevalence, it remains a public health burden in the area. P. vivax, the predominant species, should get attention during prevention and control strategies for the successful progress of the malaria elimination program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andargie Abate
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- Correspondence: Andargie Abate, Email
| | - Mesfin Assefa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachamo University, Hossaena, Ethiopia
| | - Lemu Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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15
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Del Rio L, Murcia-Belmonte A, Buendía AJ, Navarro JA, Ortega N, Alvarez D, Salinas J, Caro MR. Effect of Female Sex Hormones on the Immune Response against Chlamydia abortus and on Protection Conferred by an Inactivated Experimental Vaccine in a Mouse Model. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11010093. [PMID: 35056041 PMCID: PMC8781621 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice are valuable models extensively used to test vaccine candidates against Chlamydia abortus and to clarify immunopathological mechanisms of the bacteria. As this pathogen has the ability to reactivate during pregnancy, it is important to deepen the knowledge and understanding of some of the effects of female hormones on immunity and vaccination. This study is aimed at describing the role of sex hormones in the pathology of OEA during chlamydial clearance using ovariectomised mice and also gaining an understanding of how 17β-oestradiol or progesterone may impact the effectiveness of vaccination. Animals were treated with sex hormones and infected with C. abortus, and the kinetics of infection and immune response were analysed by means of bacterial isolation, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. In a second phase of the study, protection conferred by an experimental vaccine after hormone treatment was assessed. Oestradiol showed a stimulatory effect on the immune response during infection, with a more efficient recruitment of macrophages and T-cells at the infection site. Furthermore, after vaccination, oestradiol-treated animals showed a stronger protection against infection, indicating that this hormone has a positive effect, stimulating a specific memory response to the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Del Rio
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.M.-B.); (N.O.); (D.A.); (J.S.); (M.R.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Antonio Murcia-Belmonte
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.M.-B.); (N.O.); (D.A.); (J.S.); (M.R.C.)
| | - Antonio Julián Buendía
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.J.B.); (J.A.N.)
| | - Jose Antonio Navarro
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.J.B.); (J.A.N.)
| | - Nieves Ortega
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.M.-B.); (N.O.); (D.A.); (J.S.); (M.R.C.)
| | - Daniel Alvarez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.M.-B.); (N.O.); (D.A.); (J.S.); (M.R.C.)
| | - Jesús Salinas
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.M.-B.); (N.O.); (D.A.); (J.S.); (M.R.C.)
| | - María Rosa Caro
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (A.M.-B.); (N.O.); (D.A.); (J.S.); (M.R.C.)
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16
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Murdock BJ, Famie JP, Piecuch CE, Pawlowski KD, Mendelson FE, Pieroni CH, Iniguez SD, Zhao L, Goutman SA, Feldman EL. NK cells associate with ALS in a sex- and age-dependent manner. JCI Insight 2021; 6:147129. [PMID: 33974561 PMCID: PMC8262328 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.147129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are innate immune cells implicated in ALS; whether NK cells impact ALS in a sex- and age-specific manner was investigated. Herein, NK cells were depleted in male and female SOD1G93A ALS mice, survival and neuroinflammation were assessed, and data were stratified by sex. NK cell depletion extended survival in female but not male ALS mice with sex-specific effects on spinal cord microglia. In humans, NK cell numbers, NK cell subpopulations, and NK cell surface markers were examined in prospectively blood collected from subjects with ALS and control subjects; longitudinal changes in these metrics were correlated to revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) slope and stratified by sex and age. Expression of NK cell trafficking and cytotoxicity markers was elevated in subjects with ALS, and changes in CXCR3+ NK cells and 7 trafficking and cytotoxicity markers (CD11a, CD11b, CD38, CX3CR1, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp46) correlated with disease progression. Age affected the associations between ALSFRS-R and markers NKG2D and NKp46, whereas sex impacted the NKp30 association. Collectively, these findings suggest that NK cells contribute to ALS progression in a sex- and age-specific manner and demonstrate that age and sex are critical variables when designing and assessing ALS immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lili Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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17
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Briggs J, Teyssier N, Nankabirwa JI, Rek J, Jagannathan P, Arinaitwe E, Bousema T, Drakeley C, Murray M, Crawford E, Hathaway N, Staedke SG, Smith D, Rosenthal PJ, Kamya M, Dorsey G, Rodriguez-Barraquer I, Greenhouse B. Sex-based differences in clearance of chronic Plasmodium falciparum infection. eLife 2020; 9:59872. [PMID: 33107430 PMCID: PMC7591246 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have reported a male bias in incidence and/or prevalence of malaria infection in males compared to females. To test the hypothesis that sex-based differences in host-parasite interactions affect the epidemiology of malaria, we intensively followed Plasmodium falciparum infections in a cohort in a malaria endemic area of eastern Uganda and estimated both force of infection (FOI) and rate of clearance using amplicon deep-sequencing. We found no evidence of differences in behavioral risk factors, incidence of malaria, or FOI by sex. In contrast, females cleared asymptomatic infections at a faster rate than males (hazard ratio [HR]=1.82, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.75 by clone and HR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.47 by infection event) in multivariate models adjusted for age, timing of infection onset, and parasite density. These findings implicate biological sex-based differences as an important factor in the host response to this globally important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Briggs
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Noam Teyssier
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Joaniter I Nankabirwa
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - John Rek
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Emmanuel Arinaitwe
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Drakeley
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Margaret Murray
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, United States
| | | | - Nicholas Hathaway
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States
| | - Sarah G Staedke
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Smith
- Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Phillip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Moses Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | | | - Bryan Greenhouse
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
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18
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Shears MJ, Seilie AM, Kim Lee Sim B, Hoffman SL, Murphy SC. Quantification of Plasmodium knowlesi versus Plasmodium falciparum in the rhesus liver: implications for malaria vaccine studies in rhesus models. Malar J 2020; 19:313. [PMID: 32867784 PMCID: PMC7457220 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03385-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rhesus macaques are valuable pre-clinical models for malaria vaccine development. The Plasmodium knowlesi/rhesus and Plasmodium falciparum/rhesus models are two established platforms for malaria vaccine testing, and both have previously been used to assess live-attenuated sporozoite vaccines. However, there is evidence that the susceptibility of the rhesus liver to P. knowlesi versus P. falciparum sporozoites likely differs, potentially complicating comparisons between these two platforms. Methods To quantify the differing susceptibility of rhesus to P. knowlesi and P. falciparum sporozoites, animals were infected by direct venous inoculation of purified, cryopreserved wild-type P. knowlesi sporozoites (PkSPZ) or P. falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ). The entire liver was collected 5 days post-infection, and parasite burden in each liver lobe was quantified using an ultrasensitive Plasmodium 18S rRNA RT-PCR biomarker assay. The potential of using 18S rRNA copy number in the rhesus liver to directly measure the efficacy of vaccines targeting P. falciparum sporozoites and liver stages was also theoretically evaluated. Results Infection of rhesus with a high dose of PkSPZ led to consistently high burden liver stage infections (range 9.5–10.1 log10 copies 18S rRNA/g of liver), with similar amounts of parasite 18S rRNA detected in every liver lobe. Inoculation of rhesus with high doses of PfSPZ led to more variable, lower liver burdens (range 4.9–6.6 log10 copies 18S rRNA/g of liver in infected lobes), with parasite 18S rRNA below the limit of detection in some liver lobes. The low signal and heterogeneity of liver burden in the PfSPZ-infected animals indicates that even this extremely sensitive molecular assay cannot be used to assess reliably vaccine efficacy in the P. falciparum/rhesus platform. Conclusions Detection of 18S rRNA in the liver following high dose intravenous PfSPZ confirmed that rhesus are modestly susceptible to wild-type P. falciparum sporozoites. However, comparison of 18S rRNA RT-PCR biomarker signal indicates that the P. falciparum liver burden was 3–5 logs lower than in PkSPZ-infected animals. Quantification of this difference in liver stage burden will help guide and interpret data from pre-clinical studies of live-attenuated sporozoite vaccines in rhesus models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie J Shears
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, 750 Republican St., F870, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.,Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, 750 Republican St., Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Annette M Seilie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, 750 Republican St., F870, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.,Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, 750 Republican St., Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - B Kim Lee Sim
- Sanaria, Inc., 9800 Medical Center Drive, Suite A209, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Stephen L Hoffman
- Sanaria, Inc., 9800 Medical Center Drive, Suite A209, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Sean C Murphy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, 750 Republican St., F870, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA. .,Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, 750 Republican St., Seattle, WA, 98109, USA. .,Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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