Search for severe malaria-related factors using samples derived from endemic patients for the development of measures against severe malaria

Elucidation of the onset mechanism of severe malaria is important for the development of new measures against severe malaria. Both pathogen and host factors are involved in severe malaria. Collecting information on pathogen-side factors and host-side factors involved in such severe malaria will be a clue to clarify the onset mechanism. DRC has an extremely large number of severe malaria cases, and the Congo research base has a full range of research facilities, so ideal conditions are in place to analyze the mechanism of resistance to severe malaria. Since permission for sample collection was obtained last year, blood sampling will be carried out sequentially from severe and non-severe cases of malaria at the DRC research base. Gene expression profile analysis is performed by RNA-seq analysis using the obtained protozoan sample. Elucidation of the onset mechanism of severe malaria is important for the development of new measures against severe malaria. Both pathogen and host factors are involved in severe malaria. In this shared research, cooperation will be asked from the Democratic Republic of the Congo research center (DRC research center) and overseas partner organizations (National Institute of Medical Science, INRB), and first apply for ethics to isolate protozoa from local severe malaria patients. Establish pipelines for collection, transportation, and culture of these patient blood after obtaining an ethics petition. After the pipeline is established, the blood of critically ill patients will be collected sequentially and will be stably cultured within the INRB. After freezing the patient protozoan strain that has been successfully stably cultured, it will be transported to Japan. After culturing again, RNA-seq is performed using the patient strain, and gene expression profile analysis is performed.

Basic Science

Apr 2020 — Mar 2023

$181,400

Dem. Rep. of Congo
Japan