MRC FAPESP: Defining the role of the hematopoietic parasite reservoir in Plasmodium vivax infection and pathology

MRC FAPESP：定义造血寄生虫储存库在间日疟原虫感染和病理学中的作用

• 批准号: MR/W018802/1
• 负责人: Matthias Marti
• 金额: $ 112.34万
• 依托单位: University of Glasgow
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=MR%2FW018802%2F1
• 关键词: MRC; FAPESP; Defining; role; hematopoietic

Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed malaria parasite and a major public health burden. Recent studies suggest that the majority of parasites is present outside of circulation, making it difficult to track and target them. We have demonstrated that bone marrow in particular represents an under-appreciated reservoir which supports P. vivax growth and differentiation to transmission stages. Parallel studies have also reported major parasite accumulation in the spleen. Based on these findings we hypothesize that the haematopoietic niche of bone marrow and spleen represents the main parasite reservoir during infection and drives disease severity. In this ambitious research program, we will analyze infected bone marrow and spleen tissue from a series of cohorts of naturally exposed patients in endemic areas in Brazil. We will perform histological, molecular and phenotypic characterization of sequestered and circulating parasite and host cell populations to systematically investigate and quantify the role of bone marrow and spleen for parasite infection, transmission, diagnosis and pathology. This work will thus contribute much needed insights and critical tools for the ongoing global malaria elimination campaign.

间日疟原虫是分布最广的疟疾寄生虫，也是主要的公共卫生负担。最近的研究表明，大多数寄生虫存在于流通之外，这使得追踪和瞄准它们变得困难。我们已经证明，骨髓尤其是一种被低估的储存库，它支持间日疟原虫的生长和分化到传播阶段。平行研究也报告了主要寄生虫聚集在脾中。基于这些发现，我们假设骨髓和脾的造血生态位在感染期间代表了主要的寄生虫库，并推动了疾病的严重程度。在这项雄心勃勃的研究计划中，我们将分析巴西疫区一系列自然暴露患者的感染骨髓和脾组织。我们将对隔离和循环的寄生虫和宿主细胞群体进行组织学、分子和表型鉴定，以系统地研究和量化骨髓和脾在寄生虫感染、传播、诊断和病理中的作用。因此，这项工作将为正在进行的全球消除疟疾运动提供亟需的见解和重要工具。