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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
First-trimester plasmodium falciparum infections display a typical placental phenotype
Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 206, No. 12, Year 2012
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Description
Background Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) adhere to host cell receptors, allowing parasites to sequester into deep vascular beds of various organs. This defining phenomenon of malaria pathogenesis is key to the severe clinical complications associated with cerebral and placental malaria. The principal ligand associated with the binding to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) that allows placental sequestration of IEs is a P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family member encoded by the var2csa gene.Methods Here, we investigated the transcription pattern of var genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction, the expression of VAR2CSA, protein by flow cytometry, and the CSA-binding ability of IEs collected at different stages of pregnancy using a static-based Petri dish assay.Results Through comparison with the profiles of isolates from nonpregnant hosts, we report several lines of evidence showing that parasites infecting women during pregnancy preferentially express VAR2CSA protein, and that selection for the capacity to adhere to CSA via VAR2CSA expression occurs early in pregnancy.Conclusions Our data suggest that the placental tropism of P. falciparum is already established in the first trimester of pregnancy, with consequent implications for the development of the pathology associated with placental malaria. © 2012 The Author.
Authors & Co-Authors
Doritchamou, Justin
France, Paris
Université Paris Cité
France, Marseille
Ird Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement
Benin, Cotonou
University of Abomey-calavi
Bertin, Gwladys I.
France, Paris
Université Paris Cité
France, Marseille
Ird Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement
Moussiliou, Azizath
Benin, Cotonou
University of Abomey-calavi
Bigey, Pascal
France, Paris
Université Paris Cité
Viwami, Firmine
Benin, Cotonou
University of Abomey-calavi
Ezinmègnon, Sèm
Benin, Cotonou
University of Abomey-calavi
Fievét, Nadine
France, Paris
Université Paris Cité
France, Marseille
Ird Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement
Benin, Cotonou
University of Abomey-calavi
Massougbodji, Achille
Benin, Cotonou
University of Abomey-calavi
Deloron, Philippe
France, Paris
Université Paris Cité
France, Marseille
Ird Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement
Tuikue-Ndam, Nicaise
France, Paris
Université Paris Cité
France, Marseille
Ird Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement
Benin, Cotonou
University of Abomey-calavi
Statistics
Citations: 53
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/infdis/jis629
ISSN:
00221899
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Female