Direct activation of antimalarial immunity by artificial exposure of phosphatidylserine on malaria parasite-infected red blood cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07521
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49040:Parasitology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Tougan Takahiro 大阪大学, 微生物病研究所, 特任准教授 (20379093)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: マラリア / 感染赤血球 / ホスファチジルセリン / エリトーシス / 免疫誘導型抗マラリア薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In an effort to elucidate the mechanism by which phosphatidylserine is exposed on the surface of malaria-infected red blood cells, we conducted a screening of low molecular weight compounds that halt proliferation at the schizont stage in an in vitro culture system of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of tropical malaria. From the 400 compounds included in the Pathogen Box provided by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), we identified 21 compounds and found compound X, which exposes phosphatidylserine on the surface of red blood cells, among these low molecular weight compounds. It was confirmed that infected red blood cells treated with this compound X were more readily phagocytosed by the human monocyte line, THP-1 cells.

Free Research Field

寄生虫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はマラリア原虫の宿主の免疫回避メカニズムを中心とした寄生原虫特有の生存戦略の解明につながり、マラリアに対する防御戦略、治療戦略を考える上で、低分子化合物のよる抗マラリア免疫の亢進、という新たな視点を提供する。本メカニズムの応用は“免疫誘導型抗マラリア薬”という新しい概念の抗マラリア薬を創造につながる。