Project description:The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate the global gene expression of the rodent malaria parasites Plasmodium yoelii, Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium chabaudi blood-stage parasites and specifically compare the blood stage gene expression profiles of samples derived from previous studies on Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi
Project description:Analysis of blood samples taken throughout the acute phase of infection from mice infected with avirulent P. chabaudi AS strain or virulent CB strain The influence of parasite genetic factors on immune responses and development of severe pathology of malaria is largely unknown. In this study, we performed genome-wide transcriptomic profiling of whole blood during blood-stage infections of two strains of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi that differ in virulence. We identified several transcriptomic signatures associated with the virulent infection, including signatures for lung inflammation, stronger and prolonged anemia and platelet aggregation. The latter two signatures were detected prior to pathology. The anemia signature indicated deregulation of host erythropoiesis, and the lung inflammation signature was linked to increased neutrophil infiltration, more cell death and greater parasite sequestration in the lungs. This comparative whole-blood transcriptomics profiling of virulent and avirulent malaria infections shows the validity of this approach to inform severity of malarial infection and provide insight into pathogenic mechanisms.
Project description:Recent advances in high throughput sequencing methodologies allow the opportunity to probe in depth the transcriptomes of organisms including important human pathogens. In this project, we are using Illumina sequencing technology to analyze the transcriptome (RNA-Seq) of experimentally accessible stages of the mouse malaria parasite, P. chabaudi AS. The aim is to analyse cir gene expression during Plasmodium chabaudi infection and determine whether host genetic background can influence cir expression. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/. Abstract: Transcriptome sequencing of blood stage P. chabaudi AS parasites grown under different host genetic backgrounds.
Project description:The spleen is considered as the major lymphoid organ involved in generating immune responses to the erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, but access to human spleens is not practical and most studies rely on peripheral blood for assessing immune responses. However, the suitability of peripheral blood as a proxy for splenic immune responses is unknown. Here, we have analysed transcriptome activity for whole spleens over 12 days of erythrocytic stage Plasmodium chabaudi infection in C57BL/6 mice. These data will be compared with comparable data taken from whole blood: and previously published: GSE93631
