Comparative analysis of asexual and sexual stage Plasmodium falciparum development in different red blood cell types
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Date
2020-06-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Malaria Journal
Abstract
Background: Red blood cell (RBC) polymorphisms are suggested to influence the course of Plasmodium falciparum
malaria. Whereas some variants have been found to be protective, others have been found to enhance parasite development.
This study evaluated the effect of variant haemoglobin (Hb) and ABO blood groups on P. falciparum merozoite
invasion, multiplication rates as well as gametocyte development.
Methods: Approximately 2.5 mL of venous blood was collected from each participant. Flow cytometry was used
to determine the in vitro merozoite invasion rates of NF54 parasites into the blood of 66 non-parasitaemic individuals
with variant Hb genotypes (HbSS, HbSC) and blood groups (A, B, O), which were then compared with invasion
into HbAA blood. The ex vivo asexual parasite multiplication and gametocyte production rates of parasites from 79
uncomplicated malaria patients with varying Hb genotypes (HbAS, HbAC and HbAA) were also estimated using
microscopy.
Results: Merozoite invasion rates were significantly reduced by about 50% in RBCs containing HbSS and HbSC relative
to HbAA cells. The presence of blood group O and B reduced the invasion rates of HbSS by about 50% and 60%,
respectively, relative to HbSC but the presence of blood group A removed the inhibitory effect of HbSS. The initial
parasite densities in uncomplicated malaria patients with Hb genotypes HbAS and HbAC cells were similar but significantly
lower than those with genotype HbAA. The ex vivo parasite multiplication rate, gametocytaemia and gametocyte
conversion rates followed a similar trend but did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Parasite invasion rate into erythrocytes is dependent on both erythrocyte blood group antigen and
haemoglobin genotype as blood group O and B provided protection via reduced merozoite invasion in RBCs containing
HbSS relative to HbSC. Regardless of haemoglobin type, greater than 70% malaria patients had circulating ring
stage parasites that differentiated into stage II gametocytes in 4 days.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Haemoglobinopathies, Malaria, Gametocyte, Merozoite, Red blood cell (RBC), polymorphisms, Plasmodium falciparum
Citation
Amoah, L.E., Acquah, F.K., Nyarko, P.B. et al. Comparative analysis of asexual and sexual stage Plasmodium falciparum development in different red blood cell types. Malar J 19, 200 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03275-9