Last Updated: 21/11/2024
Plasmodium vivax: transcriptome sequencing analysis
Objectives
The aim of this study is to utilize RNA-seq transcriptome analysis to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and (cyto)adhesion of Plasmodium vivax, with a focus on identifying specific expression patterns associated with its virulence.
In the last decade, next-generation sequencing has contributed extraordinarily to the understanding of molecular biology, ecology and parasite epidemiology. In malaria, notable advances have been observed in the study of the genus Plasmodium. Of the many species that cause human malaria, the neglected and geographically dispersed Plasmodium vivax has proven to be the parasite causing the greatest social and economic impact. Cases of resistance to antimalarials and disease severity have been gradually reported, alerting to the need to study its immunopathogenesis and biology. are capable of adhering to the lung, brain and placental endothelium. The low frequencies of circulating schizonts observed, given the high adhesive capacity of these forms, indicate that these parasites may be “sequestered” in the microvasculature, thus leading to an increase in the severity of the disease. However, studies associated with the biology of P. vivax and its pathogenesis on the molecular mechanisms involved in the parasitic adhesion of P. vivax are incipient mainly due to the impossibility of continuous cultivation. The recent improved sequencing, assembly and annotation of the reference genome of the P. vivax P01 strain opens up new possibilities, including transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), with the aim of understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying several aspects of P pathogenesis. . The low parasitemias verified, the multiclonality of infections and contamination with genetic material from the human host are still experimental limitations, even if supplanted by enrichment techniques and ex vivo maturation of P. vivax. RNA-seq can significantly contribute to the identification of specific expression patterns, which may be associated with its virulence and allow characterizing host-pathogen interactions and impacting the design of future drugs and vaccines to combat the disease. With this objective in mind and as a result of this project, (i) achieved the isolation of RNA from a panel of clinical isolates of P. vivax from the Brazilian Amazon enriched in (cyto)adhesion phenotypes, (ii) successfully performed the generation of transcriptomic libraries and (iii) their sequencing on an Illumina® SNG platform. Currently, data analysis is taking place using the necessary bioinformatics tools. The team’s expectation is that new opportunities will open up for the production of new knowledge of the biology of this apicomplexan parasite, so that in the future the fight against vivax malaria will be more efficient in the application of measures to control and transmit the disease, with a view to its eradication.
Mar 2018 — Jun 2018
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