Role of host immune responses in Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes carriage (GAMETO)

Malaria parasites in human blood need to undergo sexual differentiation and produce gametocytes in order to transmit the infection to mosquitoes during a blood meal. Understanding how and when this phenomenon  occurs is essential to improve and/or develop control measures targeting transmission. Gametocyte production in P. falciparumcan vary depending on intrinsic parasite factors and multiple in-host environmental factors encountered during the course of an infection. That commitment to sexual development (also known as gametocytogenesis) is thought to be influenced by the environment in response to hostile and stressful growth conditions such as the host immune system. Immune responses to the malaria parasite are partially understood and most knowledge comes from the asexual blood stage of the parasites. However, little is known about the responses to sexual blood stages and how they affect transmission.  Prior to such investigation, P. falciparum gametocyte carriage dynamics will be characterized within the “In-Host” study using molecular tools. In addition, the transcript levels of the molecular markers of parasite sexual conversion in different conditions will be determined. These outcome variables (gametocyte carriage and transcript levels of molecular markers of sexual conversion) will be used to assess the association/correlation with antibodies levels (total IgG and IgG1-4 subclasses) against a panel of asexual and sexual stages antigens. It is expected that by identifying relevant in-host factors directly linked to gametocyte production, results will shed light on the processes governing malaria transmission and inform new or adapted strategies for malaria control and elimination.  

Project details

Basic Science
Vaccines (Immune Correlates)

Apr 2022 — Jan 2024

$161,378

Burkina Faso