• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.177-182
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• 1992

Saimiri 원숭이 21마리와 Aotus 원숭이 12마리에게 Plasmedium falciparum Indochina CDC-1충주(원숭이 순응 충주)를 접종시킨 후 3주간 혈소판과 혈액치를 경시적으로 관찰하였던 바, 이들 원숭이 (Saimiri sciureus boliviensis와 Aotus nancymai karyotype-1)는 접종 14일 후에 최고의 기생률, 호중구감소증, 임파구증가증 그리고 심한 혈색소혈증과 섬유소원의 퇴행성 산물(FDP's)치의 증가를 수반한 섬한 혈소판 감소성 빈혈증이 관찰되었다. Aotus에 있어서는 평균혈색소량(MCH)과 평균혈구용적(MCV)치의 감소와 기생률의 증가를 가져왔으나, Saimiri에 있어서는 기생률이 상승함에 따라서 이들 혈액치는 유의적 차이로 상승하는 결과를 가져왔다. 일반적으로 이들 두 원숭이에 있어서 혈소판의 감소 증세와 최고 기생률을 14잎 째 나타낸 후 곧 정상 혈액치로 회복되는 소견이 관찰된다. 특히 혈소판의 변화에 있어서 Aotus 원숭이는 다른 혈액치의 변화 그리고 기생률과 깊 은 상관관계를 갖고 있었으나, Saimiri에 있어서는 상관관계를 유지하지 못하였다. 결론적으로 말라리아 연구시 Aotus 원숭이가 Saimiri 원숭이 보다 우수한 품종임과 말라리아 진단과정에 있어서 혈소판의 회복률과 재생은 말라리아의 감염시기 판정에 유용한 자료로서 활용될 수 있음을 관찰하였으며, 말라리아 병원성 판정에 대한 실험에 있어서 이들 두 종류 원숭이의 혈액치 변화 특이성을 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권10호
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• pp.1670-1674
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• 2007

Duffy binding protein (DBP) plays a critical role in Plasmodium vivax invasion of human red blood cells. We previously reported a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) that was specific to P. vivax DBP (PvDBP). However, the stabilization and the half-life of scFvs have not been studied. Here, we investigated the effect of PEGylated scFvs on their biological activity and stability in vitro. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that three clones (SFDBII-12, -58, and -92) were formed as monomers (about 70 kDa) with PEGylation. Clone SFDBII-58 gave the highest yield of PEGylated scFv. Binding analysis using BIAcore between DBP and scFv showed that both SFDBII-12 and -58 were decreased approximately by two folds at the level of binding affinity to DBP after PEGylation. However, the SFDBII-92 clone still showed a relatively high level of binding affinity ($K_D=1.02{\times}10^{-7}\;M$). Binding inhibition assay showed that PEGylated scFv was still able to competitively bind the PvDBP and playa critical role in inhibiting the interactions between PvDBP protein expressed on the surface of Cos-7 cells and Duffy receptor on the surface of erythrocytes. When both scFvs and their PEGylated counterparts were exposed to trypsin, scFv was completely degraded only after 24 h, whereas 35% of PEGylated scFvs remained intact, maintaining their stability against the proteolytic attack of trypsin until 72 h. Taken together, these results suggest that the PEGylated scFvs retain their stability against proteolytic enzymes in vivo, with no significant loss in their binding affinity to target antigen, DBP.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.319-324
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• 2010

A family of calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) is a unique enzyme which plays crucial roles in intracellular calcium signaling in plants, algae, and protozoa. CDPKs of malaria parasites are known to be key regulators for stage-specific cellular responses to calcium, a widespread secondary messenger that controls the progression of the parasite. In our study, we identified a gene encoding Plasmodium vivax CDPK4 (PvCDPK4) and characterized its molecular property and cellular localization. PvCDPK4 was a typical CDPK which had well-conserved N-terminal kinase domain and C-terminal calmodulin-like structure with 4-EF hand motifs for calcium-binding. The recombinant protein of EF hand domain of PvCDPK4 was expressed in Echerichia coli and a 34 kDa product was obtained. Immunofluorescence assay by confocal laser microscopy revealed that the protein was expressed at the mature schizont of P. vivax. The expression of PvCDPK4-EF in schizont suggests that it may participate in the proliferation or egress process in the life cycle of this parasite.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 2015

Pyronaridine and artesunate have been shown to be effective in falciparum malaria treatment. However, pyronaridine is rarely used in Hainan Island clinically, and artesunate is not widely used as a therapeutic agent. Instead, conventional antimalarial drugs, chloroquine and piperaquine, are used, explaining the emergence of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. In this article, we investigated the sensitivity of P. falciparum to antimalarial drugs used in Hainan Island for rational drug therapy. We performed in vivo (28 days) and in vitro tests to determine the sensitivity of P. falciparum to antimalarial drugs. Total 46 patients with falciparum malaria were treated with dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine phosphate (DUO-COTECXIN) and followed up for 28 day. The cure rate was 97.8%. The mean fever clearance time ($22.5{\pm}10.6hr$) and the mean parasite clearance time ($27.3{\pm}12.2hr$) showed no statistical significance with different genders, ages, temperatures, or parasite density (P>0.05). The resistance rates of chloroquine, piperaquine, pyronarididine, and artesunate detected in vitro were 71.9%, 40.6%, 12.5%, and 0%, respectively (P<0.0001). The resistance intensities decreased as follows: chloroquine>piperaquine>pyronarididine>artesunate. The inhibitory dose 50 ($IC_{50}$) was $3.77{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $2.09{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $0.09{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, and $0.05{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, and the mean concentrations for complete inhibition (CIMC) of schizont formation were $5.60{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $9.26{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $0.55{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, and $0.07{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, respectively. Dihydroartemisinin showed a strong therapeutic effect against falciparum malaria with a low toxicity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.473-480
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• 2017

Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP1) gene codes for a major malaria vaccine candidate antigen. However, its polymorphic nature represents an obstacle to the design of a protective vaccine. In this study, we analyzed the genetic polymorphism and natural selection of the C-terminal 42 kDa fragment within PvMSP1 gene ($PvMSP1_{42}$) from 77 P. vivax isolates, collected from imported cases of China-Myanmar border (CMB) areas in Yunnan province and the inland cases from Anhui, Yunnan, and Zhejiang province in China during 2009-2012. Totally, 41 haplotypes were identified and 30 of them were new haplotypes. The differences between the rates of non-synonymous and synonymous mutations suggest that $PvMSP1_{42}$ has evolved under natural selection, and a high selective pressure preferentially acted on regions identified of $PvMSP1_{33}$. Our results also demonstrated that $PvMSP1_{42}$ of P. vivax isolates collected on China-Myanmar border areas display higher genetic polymorphisms than those collected from inland of China. Such results have significant implications for understanding the dynamic of the P. vivax population and may be useful information towards China malaria elimination campaign strategies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2011

Relatively little has been studied on the AMA-1 vaccine against Plasmodium vivax and on the plasmid DNA vaccine encoding P. vivax AMA-1 (PvAMA-1). In the present study, a plasmid DNA vaccine encoding AMA-1 of the reemerging Korean P. vivax has been constructed and a preliminary study was done on its cellular immunogenicity to recipient BALB/c mice. The PvAMA-1 gene was cloned and expressed in the plasmid vector UBpcAMA-1, and a protein band of approximately 56.8 kDa was obtained from the transfected COS7 cells. BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly or using a gene gun 4 times with the vaccine, and the proportions of splenic T-cell subsets were examined by fluorocytometry at week 2 after the last injection. The spleen cells from intramuscularly injected mice revealed no significant changes in the proportions of CD8$^+$ T-cells and CD4$^+$ T-cells. However, in mice immunized using a gene gun, significantly higher (P<0.05) proportions of CD8$^+$ cells were observed compared to UB vector-injected control mice. The results indicated that cellular immunogenicity of the plasmid DNA vaccine encoding AMA-1 of the reemerging Korean P. vivax was weak when it was injected intramuscularly; however, a promising effect was observed using the gene gun injection technique.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in 1993, and is likely to continue to affect public health. The purpose of this study was to measure levels of anti-P. vivax antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in border areas of ROK, to determine the seroprevalence of malaria (2003-2005) and to plan effective control strategies. Blood samples of the inhabitants in Gimpo-si, Paju-si, and Yeoncheon-gun (Gyeonggi-do), and Cheorwon-gun (Gangwon-do) were collected and kept in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Out of a total of 1,774 serum samples tested, the overall seropositivity was 0.94% (n=17). The seropositivity was the highest in Paju-si (1.9%, 7/372), followed by Gimpo-si (1.4%, 6/425), Yeoncheon-gun (0.67%, 3/451), and Cheorwon-gun (0.19%, 1/526). The annual parasite incidence (API) in these areas gradually decreased from 2003 to 2005 (1.69, 1.09, and 0.80 in 2003, 2004, and 2005, respectively). The highest API was found in Yeoncheon-gun, followed by Cheorwon-gun, Paju-si, and Gimpo-si. The API ranking in these areas did not change over the 3 years. The seropositivity of Gimpo-si showed a strong linear relationship with the API of 2005 (r=0.9983, P=0.036). Seropositivity data obtained using IFAT may be useful for understanding malaria prevalence of relevant years, predicting future transmission of malaria, and for establishing and evaluating malaria control programs in affected areas.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.49-54
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• 2006

In order to develop tools for an early serodiagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum infection, we evaluated the usefulness of P. falciparum liver stage antigen-3 (LSA-3) as a serodiagnostic antigen. A portion of LSA-3 gene was cloned, and its recombinant protein (rLSA-3) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by column chromatography. The purified rLSA-3 and 120 test blood/serum samples collected from inhabitants in malaria-endemic areas of Mandalay, Myanmar were used for this study. In microscopic examinations of blood samples, P. falciparum positive rate was $39.1\%$ (47/120) in thin smear trials, and $33.3\%$ (40/120) in thick smear trials. Although the positive rate associated with the rLSA-3 $(30.8\%)$ was lower than that of the blood stage antigens $(70.8\%)$, rLSA-3 based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay could detect 12 seropositive cases $(10.0\%),$ in which blood stage antigens were not detected. These results indicate that the LSA-3 is a useful antigen for an early serodiagnosis of P. falciparum infection.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.142-149
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• 2000

국내에서 유행하는 Plasmodium vivax의 유전자를 조작하여 만든 재조항 Circumsporozrozite(CS) 단백질 (22)을 이용하여 말라리아에 대한 혈청학적 검사의 유용성을 평가하였다. 최초발병일로부터 진단까지 걸린 기간을 기준으로 환자들의 면역반응을 Western blot으로 알아본 결과, 15일 이내에 진단받은 환자들은 43.8%(14/32)가 양성반응을 보였고, 16일 이상 경과한 환자들은 94.4%(17/18)가 양성반응을 보여 전체적으로는 62%(31/50)의 양성률을 보였다. Blood stage 항원에 대한 항체를 갖고 있음에도 불구하고 재조합 CS단백질 항원에 대해 음성인 환자들이 22.6%(7/31)였다. 비유행지 주민(경북 예천군)들은 10.7%(3/28),유행시 주민(인천시 강화군)들은 27.6%(13/47)의 재조합 CS 단백질에 대한 항체 양성을 보였다. 재조합 CS 단백질 항원의 역학조사시 유용성을 알아보기 위하여 말라리아 유행지인 경기도 파주시 조산리, 마정리, 항양리, 뇌조리 거주 주민 422명의 전혈을 채취하여 혈액도말법과 중합효소연쇄 반응법으로 항원검사를 실시하였으며 blood stage 항원을 이용한 간접면역형광법과 재조합 CS 단백질 항원을 이용한 효소면역측정법으로 말라리아 항체보유 여부를 조사하였다. 혈액도말법에서는 422명 모두 음성이었으나, 중합효소연쇄반응법에서는 2명(0.47%)이 양성이었다. 간접면역형광법에서는 42명(9.95%), 재조합 CS 단백질 항원을 이용한 효소변역측정법에서는 71명(16.82%)이 양성으로 나타났다. 두 검사에서 모두 항체 양성을 보인 사람은 8명(11.27%)에 불과하였다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제61권1호
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• pp.33-41
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• 2023

The discovery of new antimalarial drugs can be developed using asynchronized Plasmodium berghei malaria parasites in vivo in mice. Studies on a particular stage are also required to assess the effectiveness and mode of action of drugs. In this report, we used endoperoxide 6-(1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro [7.11] nonadec-4-yl) hexan-1-ol (N-251) as a model antimalarial compound on P. chabaudi parasites. We examined the antimalarial effect of N-251 against ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich P. chabaudi parasites and asynchronized P. berghei parasites using the 4-day suppressive test. The ED₅₀ values were 27, 22, and 22 mg/kg, respectively, and the antimalarial activity of N-251 was verified in both rodent malaria parasites. To assess the stage-specific effect of N-251 in vivo, we evaluated the change of parasitemia and distribution of parasite stages using ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich P. chabaudi parasites with one-day drug administration for one life cycle. We discovered that the parasitemias decreased after 13 and 9 hours post-treatment in the ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich groups, respectively. Additionally, in the ring-stage-rich N-251 treated group, the ring-stage parasites hindered trophozoite parasite development. For the trophozoite-stage-rich N-251 treated group, the distribution of the trophozoite stage was maintained without a change in parasitemia until 9 hours. Because of these findings, it can be concluded that N-251 suppressed the trophozoite stage but not the ring stage. We report for the first time that N-251 specifically suppresses the trophozoite stage using P. chabaudi in mice. The results show that P. chabaudi is a reliable model for the characterization of stage-specific antimalarial effects.