Browsing by Author "Alter, Galit"

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    Accumulation of Neutrophil Phagocytic Antibody Features Tracks With Naturally Acquired Immunity Against Malaria in Children
    (Oxford University Press, 2023) Nziza, Nadege; Tran, Tuan M.; DeRiso, Elizabeth A.; Dolatshahi, Sepideh; Herman, Jonathan D.; de Lacerda, Luna; Junqueira, Caroline; Lieberman, Judy; Ongoiba, Aissata; Doumbo, Safiatou; Kayentao, Kassoum; Traore, Boubacar; Crompton, Peter D.; Alter, Galit; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Studies have demonstrated the protective role of antibodies against malaria. Young children are known to be particularly vulnerable to malaria, pointing to the evolution of naturally acquired clinical immunity over time. However, whether changes in antibody functionality track with the acquisition of naturally acquired malaria immunity remains incompletely understood. Methods: Using systems serology, we characterized sporozoite- and merozoite-specific antibody profiles of uninfected Malian children before the malaria season who differed in their ability to control parasitemia and fever following Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infection. We then assessed the contributions of individual traits to overall clinical outcomes, focusing on the immunodominant sporozoite CSP and merozoite AMA1 and MSP1 antigens. Results: Humoral immunity evolved with age, with an expansion of both magnitude and functional quality, particularly within blood-stage phagocytic antibody activity. Moreover, concerning clinical outcomes postinfection, protected children had higher antibody-dependent neutrophil activity along with higher levels of MSP1-specific IgG3 and IgA and CSP-specific IgG3 and IgG4 prior to the malaria season. Conclusions: These data point to the natural evolution of functional humoral immunity to Pf with age and highlight particular antibody Fc-effector profiles associated with the control of malaria in children, providing clues for the design of next-generation vaccines or therapeutics.
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    A Molecular Signature in Blood Reveals a Role for p53 in Regulating Malaria-Induced Inflammation
    (Elsevier, 2019-10-15) Tran, Tuan M.; Guha, Rajan; Portugal, Silvia; Skinner, Jeff; Ongoiba, Aissata; Bhardwaj, Jyoti; Jones, Marcus; Moebius, Jacqueline; Venepally, Pratap; Doumbo, Safiatou; DeRiso, Elizabeth A.; Li, Shanping; Vijayan, Kamalakannan; Anzick, Sarah L.; Hart, Geoffrey T.; O’Connell, Elise M.; Doumbo, Ogobara K.; Kaushansky, Alexis; Alter, Galit; Felgner, Phillip L.; Lorenzi, Hernan; Kayentao, Kassoum; Traore, Boubacar; Kirkness, Ewen F.; Crompton, Peter D.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Immunity that controls parasitemia and inflammation during Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria can be acquired with repeated infections. A limited understanding of this complex immune response impedes the development of vaccines and adjunctive therapies. We conducted a prospective systems biology study of children who differed in their ability to control parasitemia and fever following Pf infection. By integrating whole-blood transcriptomics, flow-cytometric analysis, and plasma cytokine and antibody profiles, we demonstrate that a pre-infection signature of B cell enrichment; upregulation of T-helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cell-associated pathways, including interferon responses; and p53 activation associated with control of malarial fever and coordinated with Pf-specific IgG and Fc receptor activation to control parasitemia. Our hypothesis-generating approach identified host molecules that may contribute to differential clinical outcomes during Pf infection. As a proof of concept, we have shown that enhanced p53 expression in monocytes attenuated Plasmodium-induced inflammation and predicted protection from fever.