Extracellular Vesicles: Translational Agenda Questions for Three Protozoan Parasites.

The protozoan parasites Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi continue to exert a significant toll on the disease landscape of the human population in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Control measures have helped reduce the burden of their respective diseases-malaria, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease-in endemic regions.

Putative molecular markers of resistance to antimalarial drugs in malaria parasites from Ghana.

Introduction: Antimalarial drugs including artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) regimens and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) are used in Ghana for malaria therapeutics and prophylaxis respectively. The genetic basis of development of drug resistance involves single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding proteins for multiple cellular and metabolic processes. The prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in nine genes linked to ACT and SP resistance in the malaria parasite population was determined.

Genetic deletions and high diversity of histidine-rich proteins 2 and 3 genes in parasite populations in Ghana.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are used to diagnose malaria in Ghana and other malaria endemic countries. histidine-rich protein 2 (PFHRP2 based RDTs are widely used, however the occurrence of deletions of the gene in some parasites have resulted in false negative test results. Monoclonal antibodies of PFHRP2 cross reacts with PFHRP3 because they share structural similarities and this complements the detection of the parasites by RDT.

Transcriptome-module phenotype association study implicates extracellular vesicles biogenesis in artemisinin resistance.

malaria is still an important disease in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Great strides have been made in its control spear-headed by artemisinin (ART)-based combination therapies (ACTs). However, concerns about the imminent spread of ART-resistant (ARTr) malaria parasites to sSA threaten gains already made.

Malaria artemisinin resistance: an extracellular vesicles export hypothesis.

Plasmodium falciparum causes malaria, and its resistance to artemisinin (ART) - a drug used for managing malaria - threatens to interfere with the effective control of malaria. ART resistance (ARTr) is driven by increased tolerance to oxidative stress and reduced haemoglobin trafficking to the food vacuole. We discuss how extracellular vesicles (EVs) may play a role in developing ARTr.

Novel pfk13 polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum population in Ghana.

The molecular determinants of Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance are the single nucleotide polymorphisms in the parasite's kelch propeller domain, pfk13. Validated and candidate markers are under surveillance in malaria endemic countries using artemisinin-based combination therapy. However, pfk13 mutations which may confer parasite artemisinin resistance in Africa remains elusive.

Genetic associations in chronic hepatitis B infection: toward developing polygenic risk scores.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection results in multiple clinical phenotypes of varying severity. One of the critical gaps in CHB management is the lack of a genetic-based tool to aid existing hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis risk stratification models for patients with active CHB. Such individual predictive models for CHB are plagued by an inherent limitation of discriminatory power that clearly indicates the need for their improvement.

Implicating extracellular vesicles in Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance development.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a disease of significant public health impact today. With the risk of emerging artemisinin resistance stalling malaria control efforts, the need to deepen our understanding of the parasite's biology is dire. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vital to the biology of P.

Malaria Parasites in Ghana Show Signatures of Balancing Selection at Artemisinin Resistance Predisposing Background Genes.

Sub-Saharan Africa is courting the risk of artemisinin resistance (ARTr) emerging in malaria parasites. Current molecular surveillance efforts for ARTr have been built on the utility of kelch13 () validated molecular markers. However, whether these molecular markers will serve the purpose of early detection of artemisinin-resistant parasites in Ghana is hinged on a dependent evolution.

Therapeutic potential of HIV-1 entry inhibitor peptidomimetics.

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection remains a public health concern globally. Although great strides in the management of HIV-1 have been achieved, current highly active antiretroviral therapy is limited by multidrug resistance, prolonged use-related effects, and inability to purge the HIV-1 latent pool. Even though novel therapeutic options with HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are being explored, the scalability of bNAbs is limited by economic cost of production and obligatory requirement for parenteral administration.

Hepatitis B infection outcome is associated with novel human leukocyte antigen variants in Ghanaian cohort.

Genetic association studies can determine the effect size of gene loci on disease outcomes. In the arena of HBV infections, HLA alleles that associate with HBV outcomes can be used in clinical management decisions. This potential translational utility can shape the future management of HBV infections by identifying at-risk individuals and tailoring medical interventions accordingly.