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Woolley SD, Grigg MJ, Marquart L, Gower J, Piera K, Nair AS, Amante FM, Rajahram GS, William T, Frazer DM, Chalon S, McCarthy JS, Anstey NM, Barber BE. Longitudinal changes in iron homeostasis in human experimental and clinical malaria. medRxiv 2023:2023.12.19.23300265. [PMID: 38196596 PMCID: PMC10775340 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.19.23300265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Background The interaction between iron deficiency and malaria is incompletely understood. We evaluated longitudinal changes in iron homeostasis in volunteers enrolled in malaria volunteer infection studies (VIS) and in Malaysian patients with falciparum and vivax malaria. Methods We retrieved samples and associated data from 55 participants enrolled in malaria VIS, and 171 malaria patients and 30 healthy controls enrolled in clinical studies in Malaysia. Ferritin, hepcidin, erythropoietin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured by ELISA. Results In the VIS, participants' parasitaemia was correlated with baseline mean corpuscular volume (MCV), but not iron status (ferritin, hepcidin or sTfR). Ferritin, hepcidin and sTfR all increased during the VIS. Ferritin and hepcidin normalised by day 28, while sTfR remained elevated. In VIS participants, baseline iron status (ferritin) was associated with post-treatment increases in liver transaminase levels. In Malaysian malaria patients, hepcidin and ferritin were elevated on admission compared to healthy controls, while sTfR increased following admission. Hepcidin normalised by day 28; however, ferritin and sTfR both remained elevated 4 weeks following admission. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that parasitaemia is associated with an individual's MCV rather than iron status. The persistent elevation in sTfR 4 weeks post-infection in both malaria VIS and clinical malaria may reflect a causal link between malaria and iron deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Woolley
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Clinical Sciences Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Grigg
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Louise Marquart
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jeremy Gower
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kim Piera
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Arya Sheela Nair
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Fiona M Amante
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Giri S Rajahram
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Timothy William
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - David M Frazer
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - James S McCarthy
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Institute, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas M Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Bridget E Barber
- Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
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Rao SPS, Manjunatha UH, Mikolajczak S, Ashigbie PG, Diagana TT. Drug discovery for parasitic diseases: powered by technology, enabled by pharmacology, informed by clinical science. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:260-271. [PMID: 36803572 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
While prevention is a bedrock of public health, innovative therapeutics are needed to complement the armamentarium of interventions required to achieve disease control and elimination targets for neglected diseases. Extraordinary advances in drug discovery technologies have occurred over the past decades, along with accumulation of scientific knowledge and experience in pharmacological and clinical sciences that are transforming many aspects of drug R&D across disciplines. We reflect on how these advances have propelled drug discovery for parasitic infections, focusing on malaria, kinetoplastid diseases, and cryptosporidiosis. We also discuss challenges and research priorities to accelerate discovery and development of urgently needed novel antiparasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paul G Ashigbie
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA.
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Okoro RN, Geidam AD, Bukar AA, Zarami AB, Ohieku JD, Musa AB, Yerima TS. Superiority trial of intermittent treatment with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine versus sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine for the prevention of malaria during pregnancy. Futur J Pharm Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1186/s43094-023-00460-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Malaria in pregnancy is responsible for various adverse maternal and birth outcomes. The emerging resistance to sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (SP) raises important concerns about its use for intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) in Africa. This trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of IPTp with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine (DP) as an alternative to IPTp with SP.
Results
The double-blind, randomized, and controlled superiority trial was conducted between July 2020 and June 2021. A total of 250 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive SP (n = 125) or DP (n = 125). Two hundred and six (82.4%) participants that contributed to the outcomes were included in the modified intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, while 84 participants that completed the three courses of the study drugs were included in the per protocol (PP) analysis. The ITT analysis results showed that the incidence of histopathologically confirmed placental malaria was nonsignificantly higher in the DP group compared with the SP group (62.5% vs. 51.1%, P = 0.098). After adjusting for confounders, the risk of histopathologically confirmed placental malaria was also nonsignificantly higher in the DP group (Adjusted Relative Risk [RR] = 1.27, 95% CI 0.94–1.71) compared with the SP group. In contrast, the risk of a low APGAR score was significantly lower in the DP group (RR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.38–0.52) compared with the SP group. Also, the risk of a composite adverse birth outcome (low birth weight or preterm delivery or neonates small for the gestational age) was nonsignificantly lower in the DP group (Adjusted RR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.55–1.21) compared with the SP group. Both drugs were well tolerated, although nausea and vomiting occurred in a significant number of participants in the SP group.
Conclusions
A three-course IPTp with DP was safe and was not found to be superior to IPTp with SP in the prevention of placental malaria. Although IPTp with DP was associated with a significant lower risk of low APGAR score and nonsignificant lower risks of other adverse birth outcomes compared with IPTp with SP.
Trial registration
PACTR, PACTR202002644579177. Registered 20 February 2020, https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=9753.
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Okagu IU, Aguchem RN, Ezema CA, Ezeorba TPC, Eje OE, Ndefo JC. Molecular mechanisms of hematological and biochemical alterations in malaria: A review. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 247:111446. [PMID: 34953384 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a dangerous disease that contributes to millions of hospital visits and hundreds of thousands of deaths, especially in children residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Although several interventions such as vector control, case detection, and treatment are already in place, there is no substantive reduction in the disease burden. Several studies in the past have reported the emergence of resistant strains of malaria parasites (MPs) and mosquitoes, and poor adherence and inaccessibility to effective antimalarial drugs as the major factors for this persistent menace of malaria infections. Moreover, victory against MP infections for many years has been hampered by an incomplete understanding of the complex nature of malaria pathogenesis. Very recent studies have identified different complex interactions and hematological alterations induced by malaria parasites. However, no studies have hybridized these alterations for a better understanding of Malaria pathogenesis. Hence, this review thoroughly discusses the molecular mechanisms of all reported hematological and biochemical alterations induced by MPs infections. Specifically, the mechanisms in which MP-infection induces anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, dyslipidemia, hypoglycemia, oxidative stress, and liver and kidney malfunctions were presented. The study also discussed how MPs evade the host's immune response and suggested strategies to limit evasion of the host's immune response to combat malaria and its complications.
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Ndayisaba G, Yeka A, Asante KP, Grobusch MP, Karita E, Mugerwa H, Asiimwe S, Oduro A, Fofana B, Doumbia S, Jain JP, Barsainya S, Kullak-Ublick GA, Su G, Schmitt EK, Csermak K, Gandhi P, Hughes D. Hepatic safety and tolerability of cipargamin (KAE609), in adult patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a randomized, phase II, controlled, dose-escalation trial in sub-Saharan Africa. Malar J 2021; 20:478. [PMID: 34930267 PMCID: PMC8686384 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-04009-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel anti-malarial cipargamin (KAE609) has potent, rapid activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Transient asymptomatic liver function test elevations were previously observed in cipargamin-treated subjects in two trials: one in malaria patients in Asia and one in volunteers with experimentally induced malaria. In this study, the hepatic safety of cipargamin given as single doses of 10 to 150 mg and 10 to 50 mg once daily for 3 days was assessed. Efficacy results, frequency of treatment-emerging mutations in the atp4 gene and pharmacokinetics have been published elsewhere. Further, the R561H mutation in the k13 gene, which confers artemisinin-resistance, was associated with delayed parasite clearance following treatment with artemether-lumefantrine in Rwanda in this study. This was also the first study with cipargamin to be conducted in patients in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS This was a Phase II, multicentre, randomized, open-label, dose-escalation trial in adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in five sub-Saharan countries, using artemether-lumefantrine as control. The primary endpoint was ≥ 2 Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Grade increase from baseline in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) during the 4-week trial. RESULTS Overall, 2/135 patients treated with cipargamin had ≥ 2 CTCAE Grade increases from baseline in ALT or AST compared to 2/51 artemether-lumefantrine patients, with no significant difference between any cipargamin treatment group and the control group. Cipargamin exposure was comparable to or higher than those in previous studies. Hepatic adverse events and general safety and tolerability were similar for all cipargamin doses and artemether-lumefantrine. Cipargamin was well tolerated with no safety concerns. CONCLUSIONS This active-controlled, dose escalation study was a detailed assessment of the hepatic safety of cipargamin, across a wide range of doses, in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Comparison with previous cipargamin trials requires caution as no clear conclusion can be drawn as to whether hepatic safety and potential immunity to malaria would differ with ethnicity, patient age and or geography. Previous concerns regarding hepatic safety may have been confounded by factors including malaria itself, whether natural or experimental infection, and should not limit the further development of cipargamin. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03334747 (7 Nov 2017), other study ID CKAE609A2202.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adoke Yeka
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Masafu, Uganda
| | - Kwaku Poku Asante
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Martin P Grobusch
- Centre de Recherches Médicales en Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Stephen Asiimwe
- Kabwohe Clinical Research Centre and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Jay Prakash Jain
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | - Gerd A Kullak-Ublick
- Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Campus, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- University Hospital Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Guoqin Su
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | | | - Katalin Csermak
- Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Campus, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Preetam Gandhi
- Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Campus, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
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Odedra A, Woodford J, Chalon S, Barber BE, McCarthy JS. Letter Regarding Kamau et al: 2021 Safety and Tolerability of Mosquito-Bite Induced Controlled Human Infection with P. vivax in Malaria-Naïve Study Participants - Clinical Profile and Utility of Molecular Diagnostic Methods. J Infect Dis 2021; 225:926-927. [PMID: 34610127 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anand Odedra
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. London, United Kingdom
| | - John Woodford
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Bridget E Barber
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James S McCarthy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Schmitt EK, Ndayisaba G, Yeka A, Asante KP, Grobusch MP, Karita E, Mugerwa H, Asiimwe S, Oduro A, Fofana B, Doumbia S, Su G, Csermak Renner K, Venishetty VK, Sayyed S, Straimer J, Demin I, Barsainya S, Boulton C, Gandhi P. Efficacy of cipargamin (KAE609) in a randomized, Phase II dose-escalation study in adults in sub-Saharan Africa with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 74:1831-1839. [PMID: 34410358 PMCID: PMC9155642 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cipargamin (KAE609) is a potent antimalarial in a phase II trial. Here we report efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and resistance marker analysis across a range of cipargamin doses. These were secondary endpoints from a study primarily conducted to assess the hepatic safety of cipargamin (hepatic safety data are reported elsewhere). Methods This phase II, multicenter, randomized, open-label, dose-escalation trial was conducted in sub-Saharan Africa in adults with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Cipargamin monotherapy was given as single doses up to 150 mg or up to 50 mg once daily for 3 days, with artemether-lumefantrine as control. Key efficacy endpoints were parasite clearance time (PCT), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–corrected and uncorrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) at 14 and 28 days. Pharmacokinetics and molecular markers of drug resistance were also assessed. Results All single or multiple cipargamin doses ≥50 mg were associated with rapid parasite clearance, with median PCT of 8 hours versus 24 hours for artemether-lumefantrine. PCR-corrected ACPR at 14 and 28 days was >75% and 65%, respectively, for each cipargamin dose. A treatment-emerging mutation in the Pfatp4 gene, G358S, was detected in 65% of treatment failures. Pharmacokinetic parameters were consistent with previous data, and approximately dose proportional. Conclusions Cipargamin, at single doses of 50 to 150 mg, was associated with very rapid parasite clearance, PCR-corrected ACPR at 28 days of >65% in adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, and recrudescent parasites frequently harbored a treatment-emerging mutation. Cipargamin will be further developed with a suitable combination partner. Clinical Trials Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03334747).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adoke Yeka
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Busia, Uganda
| | | | - Martin P Grobusch
- Centre de Recherches Médicales en Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Stephen Asiimwe
- Kabwohe Clinical Research Center and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Guoqin Su
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | - Judith Straimer
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, California, USA
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Xiong Y, Ma Y, Tian Y, Zhang C, Yang W, Liu B, Ruan L, Lu C, Huang L. A Longitudinal Cohort Study Using a Modified Child-Pugh Score to Escalate Respiratory Support in COVID-19 Patients - Hubei Province, China, 2020. China CDC Wkly 2021; 3:423-429. [PMID: 34594905 PMCID: PMC8392970 DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2021.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yibai Xiong
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Ma
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaxin Tian
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lianguo Ruan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jinyintan Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Cheng Lu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Woodford J, Gillman A, Jenvey P, Roberts J, Woolley S, Barber BE, Fernandez M, Rose S, Thomas P, Anstey NM, McCarthy JS. Positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in experimental human malaria to identify organ-specific changes in morphology and glucose metabolism: A prospective cohort study. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003567. [PMID: 34038421 PMCID: PMC8154100 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax has been proposed to infect and replicate in the human spleen and bone marrow. Compared to Plasmodium falciparum, which is known to undergo microvascular tissue sequestration, little is known about the behavior of P. vivax outside of the circulating compartment. This may be due in part to difficulties in studying parasite location and activity in life. METHODS AND FINDINGS To identify organ-specific changes during the early stages of P. vivax infection, we performed 18-F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) at baseline and just prior to onset of clinical illness in P. vivax experimentally induced blood-stage malaria (IBSM) and compared findings to P. falciparum IBSM. Seven healthy, malaria-naive participants were enrolled from 3 IBSM trials: NCT02867059, ACTRN12616000174482, and ACTRN12619001085167. Imaging took place between 2016 and 2019 at the Herston Imaging Research Facility, Australia. Postinoculation imaging was performed after a median of 9 days in both species (n = 3 P. vivax; n = 4 P. falciparum). All participants were aged between 19 and 23 years, and 6/7 were male. Splenic volume (P. vivax: +28.8% [confidence interval (CI) +10.3% to +57.3%], P. falciparum: +22.9 [CI -15.3% to +61.1%]) and radiotracer uptake (P. vivax: +15.5% [CI -0.7% to +31.7%], P. falciparum: +5.5% [CI +1.4% to +9.6%]) increased following infection with each species, but more so in P. vivax infection (volume: p = 0.72, radiotracer uptake: p = 0.036). There was no change in FDG uptake in the bone marrow (P. vivax: +4.6% [CI -15.9% to +25.0%], P. falciparum: +3.2% [CI -3.2% to +9.6%]) or liver (P. vivax: +6.2% [CI -8.7% to +21.1%], P. falciparum: -1.4% [CI -4.6% to +1.8%]) following infection with either species. In participants with P. vivax, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet count decreased from baseline at the time of postinoculation imaging. Decrements in hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly greater in participants with P. vivax infection compared to P. falciparum. The main limitations of this study are the small sample size and the inability of this tracer to differentiate between host and parasite metabolic activity. CONCLUSIONS PET/MRI indicated greater splenic tropism and metabolic activity in early P. vivax infection compared to P. falciparum, supporting the hypothesis of splenic accumulation of P. vivax very early in infection. The absence of uptake in the bone marrow and liver suggests that, at least in early infection, these tissues do not harbor a large parasite biomass or do not provoke a prominent metabolic response. PET/MRI is a safe and noninvasive method to evaluate infection-associated organ changes in morphology and glucose metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Woodford
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ashley Gillman
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Peter Jenvey
- Department of Radiology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jennie Roberts
- Department of Radiology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Stephen Woolley
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Centre for Defence Pathology, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bridget E. Barber
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Melissa Fernandez
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Stephen Rose
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Paul Thomas
- Herston Imaging Research Facility, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nicholas M. Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - James S. McCarthy
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Woolley SD, Fernandez M, Rebelo M, Llewellyn SA, Marquart L, Amante FH, Jennings HE, Webster R, Trenholme K, Chalon S, Moehrle JJ, McCarthy JS, Barber BE. Development and evaluation of a new Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 blood stage malaria cell bank for use in malaria volunteer infection studies. Malar J 2021; 20:93. [PMID: 33593375 PMCID: PMC7885253 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background New anti-malarial therapeutics are required to counter the threat of increasing drug resistance. Malaria volunteer infection studies (VIS), particularly the induced blood stage malaria (IBSM) model, play a key role in accelerating anti-malarial drug development. Supply of the reference 3D7-V2 Plasmodium falciparum malaria cell bank (MCB) is limited. This study aimed to develop a new MCB, and compare the safety and infectivity of this MCB with the existing 3D7-V2 MCB, in a VIS. A second bank (3D7-V1) developed in 1995 was also evaluated. Methods The 3D7-V2 MCB was expanded in vitro using a bioreactor to produce a new MCB designated 3D7-MBE-008. This bank and 3D7-V1 were then evaluated using the IBSM model, where healthy participants were intravenously inoculated with blood-stage parasites. Participants were treated with artemether-lumefantrine when parasitaemia or clinical thresholds were reached. Safety, infectivity and parasite growth and clearance were evaluated. Results The in vitro expansion of 3D7-V2 produced 200 vials of the 3D7-MBE-008 MCB, with a parasitaemia of 4.3%. This compares to 0.1% in the existing 3D7-V2 MCB, and < 0.01% in the 3D7-V1 MCB. All four participants (two per MCB) developed detectable P. falciparum infection after inoculation with approximately 2800 parasites. For the 3D7-MBE-008 MCB, the parasite multiplication rate of 48 h (PMR48) using non-linear mixed effects modelling was 34.6 (95% CI 18.5–64.6), similar to the parental 3D7-V2 line; parasitaemia in both participants exceeded 10,000/mL by day 8. Growth of the 3D7-V1 was slower (PMR48 of 11.5 [95% CI 8.5–15.6]), with parasitaemia exceeding 10,000 parasites/mL on days 10 and 8.5. Rapid parasite clearance followed artemether-lumefantrine treatment in all four participants, with clearance half-lives of 4.01 and 4.06 (weighted mean 4.04 [95% CI 3.61–4.57]) hours for 3D7-MBE-008 and 4.11 and 4.52 (weighted mean 4.31 [95% CI 4.16–4.47]) hours for 3D7-V1. A total of 59 adverse events occurred; most were of mild severity with three being severe in the 3D7-MBE-008 study. Conclusion The safety, growth and clearance profiles of the expanded 3D7-MBE-008 MCB closely resemble that of its parent, indicating its suitability for future studies. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials registry numbers: P3487 (3D7-V1): ACTRN12619001085167. P3491 (3D7-MBE-008): ACTRN12619001079134
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Woolley
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Defence Pathology, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Joint Hospital Group, ICT Building, Birmingham Research Park, Vincent Drive, Birmingham, UK.,Clinical Sciences Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Maria Rebelo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Louise Marquart
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Fiona H Amante
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Helen E Jennings
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rebecca Webster
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Katharine Trenholme
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephan Chalon
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 20 Route de Pre-Bois, PO Box 1826, 1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Joerg J Moehrle
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 20 Route de Pre-Bois, PO Box 1826, 1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - James S McCarthy
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Bridget E Barber
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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McCarthy JS, Abd-Rahman AN, Collins KA, Marquart L, Griffin P, Kümmel A, Fuchs A, Winnips C, Mishra V, Csermak-Renner K, Jain JP, Gandhi P. Defining the Antimalarial Activity of Cipargamin in Healthy Volunteers Experimentally Infected with Blood-Stage Plasmodium falciparum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e01423-20. [PMID: 33199389 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.01423-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The spiroindolone cipargamin, a new antimalarial compound that inhibits Plasmodium ATP4, is currently in clinical development. This study aimed to characterize the antimalarial activity of cipargamin in healthy volunteers experimentally infected with blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum. The spiroindolone cipargamin, a new antimalarial compound that inhibits Plasmodium ATP4, is currently in clinical development. This study aimed to characterize the antimalarial activity of cipargamin in healthy volunteers experimentally infected with blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum. Eight subjects were intravenously inoculated with parasite-infected erythrocytes and received a single oral dose of 10 mg cipargamin 7 days later. Blood samples were collected to monitor the development and clearance of parasitemia and plasma cipargamin concentrations. Parasite regrowth was treated with piperaquine monotherapy to clear asexual parasites, while allowing gametocyte transmissibility to mosquitoes to be investigated. An initial rapid decrease in parasitemia occurred in all participants following cipargamin dosing, with a parasite clearance half-life of 3.99 h. As anticipated from the dose selected, parasite regrowth occurred in all 8 subjects 3 to 8 days after dosing and allowed the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship to be determined. Based on the limited data from the single subtherapeutic dose cohort, a MIC of 11.6 ng/ml and minimum parasiticidal concentration that achieves 90% of maximum effect of 23.5 ng/ml were estimated, and a single 95-mg dose (95% confidence interval [CI], 50 to 270) was predicted to clear 109 parasites/ml. Low gametocyte densities were detected in all subjects following piperaquine treatment, which did not transmit to mosquitoes. Serious adverse liver function changes were observed in three subjects, which led to premature study termination. The antimalarial activity characterized in this study supports the further clinical development of cipargamin as a new treatment for P. falciparum malaria, although the hepatic safety profile of the compound warrants further evaluation. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT02543086.)
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12
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Odedra A, Webb L, Marquart L, Britton LJ, Chalon S, Moehrle JJ, Anstey NM, William T, Grigg MJ, Lalloo DG, Barber BE, McCarthy JS. Liver Function Test Abnormalities in Experimental and Clinical Plasmodium vivax Infection. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:1910-1917. [PMID: 32815508 PMCID: PMC7646782 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transaminase elevations after treatment in malaria volunteer infection studies (VISs) have raised safety concerns. We investigated transaminase elevations from two human Plasmodium vivax VISs where subjects were treated with chloroquine (n = 24) or artefenomel (n = 8) and compared them with studies in Thailand (n = 41) and Malaysia (n = 76). In the VISs, alanine transaminase (ALT) increased to ≥ 2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) in 11/32 (34%) volunteers, peaking 5–8 days post-treatment. Transaminase elevations were asymptomatic, were not associated with elevated bilirubin, and resolved by day 42. The risk of an ALT ≥ 2.5 × ULN increased more than 4-fold (odds ratio [OR] 4.28; 95% CI: 1.26–14.59; P = 0.02) for every log10 increase in the parasite clearance burden (PCB), defined as the log-fold reduction in parasitemia 24 hours post-treatment. Although an elevated ALT ≥ 2.5 × ULN was more common after artefenomel than after chloroquine (5/8 [63%] versus 6/24 [25%]; OR 5.0; 95% CI: 0.91–27.47; P = 0.06), this risk disappeared when corrected for PCB. Peak ALT also correlated with peak C-reactive protein (R = 0.44; P = 0.012). Elevations in ALT (≥ 2.5 × ULN) were less common in malaria-endemic settings, occurring in 1/41 (2.5%) Thai patients treated with artefenomel, and in none of 76 Malaysians treated with chloroquine or artemisinin combination therapy. Post-treatment transaminase elevations are common in experimental P. vivax infection but do not appear to impact on participant safety. Although the mechanism of these changes remains uncertain, host inflammatory response to parasite clearance may be contributory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Odedra
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lachlan Webb
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Louise Marquart
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Laurence J Britton
- School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | | | - Nicholas M Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
| | - Timothy William
- Gleneagles Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.,Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Matthew J Grigg
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
| | - David G Lalloo
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Bridget E Barber
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
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13
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Dick CF, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Vieyra A. The Functioning of Na +-ATPases from Protozoan Parasites: Are These Pumps Targets for Antiparasitic Drugs? Cells 2020; 9:E2225. [PMID: 33023071 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The ENA ATPases (from exitus natru: the exit of sodium) belonging to the P-type ATPases are structurally very similar to the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA); they exchange Na+ for H+ and, therefore, are also known as Na+-ATPases. ENA ATPases are required in alkaline milieu, as in the case for Aspergillus, where other transporters cannot mediate an uphill Na+ efflux. They are also important for salt tolerance, as described for Arabidopsis. During their life cycles, protozoan parasites might encounter a high pH environment, thus allowing consideration of ENA ATPases as possible targets for controlling certain severe parasitic diseases, such as Chagas' Disease. Phylogenetic analysis has now shown that, besides the types IIA, IIB, IIC, and IID P-type ATPases, there exists a 5th subgroup of ATPases classified as ATP4-type ATPases, found in Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. In malaria, for example, some drugs targeting PfATP4 destroy Na+ homeostasis; these drugs, which include spiroindolones, are now in clinical trials. The ENA P-type (IID P-type ATPase) and ATP4-type ATPases have no structural homologue in mammalian cells, appearing only in fungi, plants, and protozoan parasites, e.g., Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania sp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Plasmodium falciparum. This exclusivity makes Na+-ATPase a potential candidate for the biologically-based design of new therapeutic interventions; for this reason, Na+-ATPases deserves more attention.
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Bouwman SA, Zoleko-Manego R, Renner KC, Schmitt EK, Mombo-Ngoma G, Grobusch MP. The early preclinical and clinical development of cipargamin (KAE609), a novel antimalarial compound. Travel Med Infect Dis 2020; 36:101765. [PMID: 32561392 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cipargamin (KAE609) is a novel spiroindolone class drug for the treatment of malaria, currently undergoing phase 2 clinical development. This review provides an overview and interpretation of the pre-clinical and clinical data of this possible next-generation antimalarial drug published to date. METHODS We systematically searched the literature for studies on the preclinical and clinical development of cipargamin. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using the terms 'cipargamin', 'KAE609' or 'NITD609' in the English language; one additional article was identified during revision. Nineteen of these in total 43 papers identified reported original studies; 13 of those articles were on pre-clinical studies and 6 reported clinical trials. RESULTS A total of 20 studies addressing its preclinical and clinical development have been published on this compound at the time of writing. Cipargamin acts on the PfATP4, which is a P-type Na + ATPase disrupting the Na + homeostasis in the parasite. Cipargamin is a very fast-acting antimalarial, it is active against all intra-erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite and exerts gametocytocidal activity, with transmission-blocking potential. It is currently undergoing phase 2 clinical trial to assess safety and efficacy, with a special focus on hepatic safety. CONCLUSION In the search for novel antimalarial drugs, cipargamin exhibits promising properties, exerting activity against multiple intra-erythrocytic stages of plasmodia, including gametocytes. It exhibits a favourable pharmacokinetic profile, possibly allowing for single-dose treatment with a suitable combination partner. According to the clinical results of the first studies in Asian malaria patients, a possible safety concern is hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan Am Bouwman
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity, Amsterdam Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Rella Zoleko-Manego
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Esther K Schmitt
- Novartis Pharma AG, Global Health Development Unit, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin P Grobusch
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity, Amsterdam Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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