Diversity and population structure of malaria parasites from Tanzanian and Malian mothers and children
LMIV scientists study molecular pathogenesis of malaria in partnership with teams in Tanzania and Mali. In Tanzania, the Mother Offspring Malaria Study (MOMS) has examined the relationship between parasite phenotype and clinical outcomes, and is identifying parasite ligands and soluble mediators involved in malaria outcomes during early life.
Longitudinal and cross-sectional cohorts were recruited at hospitals in two separate regions of Tanzania: Muheza Designated District Hospital is located on the north-eastern coast of Tanzania, and the Morogoro Regional Hospital located 200 km inland. Pregnant women and newborns were recruited and followed through the study at regular intervals to capture both parasite samples and clinical phenotypes over 5 years.
Parasite samples from the MOMS study have provided representation from Tanzania in the Plasmodium falciparum population genomics community project. These samples are also being analysed to understand the local diversity and population structure of malaria parasites from Tanzanian mothers and children. Subsets of sequenced samples have also been assayed by RNA-seq and microarray platforms, and these data provide an additional dimension of information for on-going expression studies in the Duffy group.
Cohorts of pregnant women and newborns have now been initiated in Ouelessebougou, Mali, where malaria transmission is highly seasonal but intense. Comparisons of parasite phenotype, genome variation, and transcriptional profiles between Tanzania and Mali will give insights into the effects of transmission ecology and ethnicity on these parameters, and whether there are common features that explain malaria outcomes in different parts of Africa.
Lead Partners
Patrick Duffy
Patrick.Duffy@nih.gov
NIH/NIAID
Laboratory of Malaria Immunology & Vaccinology (LMIV)
Michal Fried
Michal.Fried@nih.gov
NIH/NIAID
Laboratory of Malaria Immunology & Vaccinology (LMIV)
Edward Kabyemela
earkabyemela@yahoo.com
Muhimbili University
Alassane Dicko
earkabyemela@yahoo.com
University of Bamako
Malaria Research and Training Program
Jason Wendler
jwendler@well.ox.ac.uk
Oxford University
Publications
Manske M, Miotto O. et al. Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum diversity in natural infections by deep sequencing. Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/nature11174
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