Innate Immune Responses in Populations with Differing Susceptibility to Malaria

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant: During the initial stages of infection, circulating Plasmodium falciparum parasites initiate a cascade of events that trigger antigen presenting cells and natural killer (NK) cells to secrete both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The characteristics of these innate immune responses appear to be a critical step in determining control of parasitemia, severity of infection, and the effectiveness of ensuing adaptive responses. In Burkina Faso, the two main ethnic groups, the Fulani and Mossi, have a differential ability to control parasitemia which appears to be mediated by differences in early IFN-( associated responses. Through a whole genome transcriptional approach, we aim to understand critical gene expression patterns which account for the effective early IFN-( responses in the Fulani. We will extend these studies by defining the role of critical cellular subsets, notably NK cells and T cells, in mediating these robust IFN-( responses. Lastly, we will determine the role of enhanced detection of blood stage parasite through TLRs in mediating the differential downstream IFN-( responses in the Fulani. With growing evidence of what appears to be a "hard-wired" resistance to malaria associated with robust IFN-( responses, the ethnic groups in Burkina Faso offers a unique opportunity to delineate the mechanisms underlying these protective early IFN-( responses. Understanding the key genes/pathways and cell populations that account for these effective early responses to malaria is vital to supporting ongoing vaccine efforts and the development of novel immunomodulatory aimed at harnessing these responses.