Lee, R. S., Waters, A. P. and Brewer, J. M. (2018) A cryptic cycle in haematopoietic niches promotes initiation of malaria transmission and evasion of chemotherapy. Nature Communications, 9, 1689. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04108-9) (PMID:29703959) (PMCID:PMC5924373)
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Abstract
Blood stage human malaria parasites may exploit erythropoietic tissue niches and colonise erythroid progenitors; however, the precise influence of the erythropoietic environment on fundamental parasite biology remains unknown. Here we use quantitative approaches to enumerate Plasmodium infected erythropoietic precursor cells using an in vivo rodent model of Plasmodium berghei. We show that parasitised early reticulocytes (ER) in the major sites of haematopoiesis establish a cryptic asexual cycle. Moreover, this cycle is characterised by early preferential commitment to gametocytogenesis, which occurs in sufficient numbers to generate almost all of the initial population of circulating, mature gametocytes. In addition, we show that P. berghei is less sensitive to artemisinin in splenic ER than in blood, which suggests that haematopoietic tissues may enable origins of recrudescent infection and emerging resistance to antimalarials. Continuous propagation in these sites may also provide a mechanism for continuous transmission and infection in malaria endemic regions.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Waters, Professor Andy and Lee, Ms Rebecca and Brewer, Professor James |
Authors: | Lee, R. S., Waters, A. P., and Brewer, J. M. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity |
Journal Name: | Nature Communications |
Publisher: | Nature Research |
ISSN: | 2041-1723 |
ISSN (Online): | 2041-1723 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 The Authors |
First Published: | First published in Nature Communications 9: 1689 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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