New Treatment for Severe Malaria Using Glycosaminoglycans
Author Information
Author(s): Anna M. Vogt, Fredrik Pettersson, Kirsten Moll, Cathrine Jonsson, Johan Normark, Ulf Ribacke, Thomas G. Egwang, Hans-Peter Ekre, Dorothe Spillmann, Qijun Chen, Mats Wahlgren
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
Can depolymerized glycosaminoglycans (dGAGs) effectively disrupt the binding of malaria-infected erythrocytes and reduce their sequestration in severe malaria?
Conclusion
The study suggests that dGAGs can significantly reduce the sequestration of malaria-infected erythrocytes, potentially offering a new adjunct therapy for severe malaria.
Supporting Evidence
- dGAGs were shown to disrupt rosettes and inhibit merozoite invasion of erythrocytes in vitro.
- An intravenous injection of dGAGs blocked up to 80% of infected erythrocytes from binding in the microvasculature of rats.
- dGAGs released sequestered parasites into circulation in both rat and macaque models.
Takeaway
Researchers found a new treatment that helps release malaria-infected blood cells from where they get stuck in the body, which could help people with severe malaria feel better.
Methodology
The study involved generating depolymerized glycosaminoglycans (dGAGs) from heparin and testing their effects on malaria-infected erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo using rat and macaque models.
Limitations
The study was limited by the number of animal models used and the variability in response among different malaria strains.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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