ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0914-6164
Current Organisations
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
,
The University of Edinburgh
,
University of Leicester
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2008
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-11-2011
DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS1522
Abstract: Malaria infection triggers pro-inflammatory responses in humans that are detrimental to host health. Parasite-induced enhancement in cytokine levels correlate with malaria-associated pathologies. Here we show that parasite tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (PfTyrRS), a housekeeping protein translation enzyme, induces pro-inflammatory responses from host immune cells. PfTyrRS exits from the parasite cytoplasm into the infected red blood cell (iRBC) cytoplasm, from where it is released into the extracellular medium on iRBC lysis. Using its ELR peptide motif, PfTyrRS specifically binds to and internalizes into host macrophages, leading to enhanced secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. PfTyrRS-macrophage interaction also augments expression of adherence-linked host endothelial receptors ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Our description of PfTyrRS as a parasite-secreted protein that triggers pro-inflammatory host responses, along with its atomic resolution crystal structure in complex with tyrosyl-adenylate, provides a novel platform for targeting PfTyrRS in anti-parasitic strategies.
Publisher: American Society of Hematology
Date: 18-02-2010
DOI: 10.1182/BLOOD-2009-07-235150
Abstract: During Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections, von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels are elevated, postmortem studies show platelets colocalized with sequestered infected erythrocytes (IEs) at brain microvascular sites, whereas in vitro studies have demonstrated platelet-mediated IE adhesion to tumor necrosis factor-activated brain endothelium via a bridging mechanism. This current study demonstrates how all these observations could be linked through a completely novel mechanism whereby IEs adhere via platelet decorated ultra-large VWF strings on activated endothelium. Using an in vitro laminar flow model, we have demonstrated tethering and firm adhesion of IEs to the endothelium specifically at sites of platelet accumulation. We also show that an IE pro-adhesive state, capable of supporting high levels of binding within minutes of induction, can be removed through the action of the VWF protease ADAMTS-13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13). We propose that this new mechanism contributes to sequestration both independently of and in concert with current adhesion mechanisms.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-2006
DOI: 10.1086/504689
Abstract: Falciparum malaria is characterized by cytoadherence of host erythrocytes containing mature asexual-stage parasites and the consequent sequestration of these forms in tissue microvasculature. A postmortem study of pediatric malaria provided us with the opportunity to compare the genetic complexity of circulating and sequestered Plasmodium falciparum populations, in patients with fatal cerebral malaria (CM) versus control subjects with incidental P. falciparum parasitemia who died of causes other than malaria. Parasite genotypes identified in peripheral blood collected at the time of admission to the hospital constituted a subset of those detected in the tissues at death. Despite a higher tissue burden of parasitized erythrocytes in patients with CM than in parasitemic control subjects, parasite populations in tissues from patients with CM were less genetically complex, and the genotypes were more homogeneously distributed throughout the body, than in patients with incidental infection. Our findings support the notion that CM is associated with the emergence of a small number of dominant genotypes in an infected in idual.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2008
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 04-2008
DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00378-07
Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increases susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum infection, and this has most clearly been demonstrated in pregnant women. Variant surface antigens on the surfaces of erythrocytes infected with P. falciparum are major targets of protective immunity. We studied the impact of HIV infection on pregnant women's humoral immunity to variant surface antigens expressed by placental and pediatric isolates of P. falciparum . By flow cytometry, sera from HIV-infected women more frequently lacked antibodies to these antigens than sera from HIV-uninfected women. This difference was similar in magnitude for pediatric isolates (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] = 6.36 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14, 35.32 P 0.05) and placental isolates (unadjusted OR = 6.47 95% CI = 0.75, 55.64 P 0.10). We ided women into high and low responders on the basis of their antibody levels. After adjustment for CD4 count, maternal age, and gravidity, we found that HIV-infected women more frequently had low responses to both pediatric isolates (OR = 5.34 95% CI = 1.23, 23.16 P = 0.025) and placental isolates (OR = 4.14 95% CI = 1.71, 10.02 P = 0.002). The relative quantity of antibodies to both pediatric isolates ( P = 0.035) and placental isolates ( P = 0.005) was lower in HIV-infected women than in HIV-uninfected women. HIV infection has a broad impact on variant-specific immunity, which may explain the susceptibility of infected in iduals to clinical malaria episodes.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 31-10-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-07-2007
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 19-06-2014
Publisher: F1000 Research Ltd
Date: 24-02-2021
DOI: 10.12688/WELLCOMEOPENRES.16168.1
Abstract: MalariaGEN is a data-sharing network that enables groups around the world to work together on the genomic epidemiology of malaria. Here we describe a new release of curated genome variation data on 7,000 Plasmodium falciparum s les from MalariaGEN partner studies in 28 malaria-endemic countries. High-quality genotype calls on 3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short indels were produced using a standardised analysis pipeline. Copy number variants associated with drug resistance and structural variants that cause failure of rapid diagnostic tests were also analysed. Almost all s les showed genetic evidence of resistance to at least one antimalarial drug, and some s les from Southeast Asia carried markers of resistance to six commonly-used drugs. Genes expressed during the mosquito stage of the parasite life-cycle are prominent among loci that show strong geographic differentiation. By continuing to enlarge this open data resource we aim to facilitate research into the evolutionary processes affecting malaria control and to accelerate development of the surveillance toolkit required for malaria elimination.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 28-01-2015
DOI: 10.1111/CMI.12403
Publisher: Future Medicine Ltd
Date: 02-2012
DOI: 10.2217/FMB.11.155
Abstract: Cerebral malaria is one of a number of clinical syndromes associated with infection by human malaria parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The etiology of cerebral malaria derives from sequestration of parasitized red cells in brain microvasculature and is thought to be enhanced by the proinflammatory status of the host and virulence characteristics of the infecting parasite variant. In this article we examine the range of factors thought to influence the development of Plasmodium falciparum cerebral malaria in humans and review the evidence to support their role.
Publisher: F1000 Research Ltd
Date: 13-07-2021
DOI: 10.12688/WELLCOMEOPENRES.16168.2
Abstract: MalariaGEN is a data-sharing network that enables groups around the world to work together on the genomic epidemiology of malaria. Here we describe a new release of curated genome variation data on 7,000 Plasmodium falciparum s les from MalariaGEN partner studies in 28 malaria-endemic countries. High-quality genotype calls on 3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short indels were produced using a standardised analysis pipeline. Copy number variants associated with drug resistance and structural variants that cause failure of rapid diagnostic tests were also analysed. Almost all s les showed genetic evidence of resistance to at least one antimalarial drug, and some s les from Southeast Asia carried markers of resistance to six commonly-used drugs. Genes expressed during the mosquito stage of the parasite life-cycle are prominent among loci that show strong geographic differentiation. By continuing to enlarge this open data resource we aim to facilitate research into the evolutionary processes affecting malaria control and to accelerate development of the surveillance toolkit required for malaria elimination.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-05-2011
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 25-07-2013
Publisher: F1000 Research Ltd
Date: 16-01-2023
DOI: 10.12688/WELLCOMEOPENRES.18681.1
Abstract: We describe the MalariaGEN Pf7 data resource, the seventh release of Plasmodium falciparum genome variation data from the MalariaGEN network. It comprises over 20,000 s les from 82 partner studies in 33 countries, including several malaria endemic regions that were previously underrepresented. For the first time we include dried blood spot s les that were sequenced after selective whole genome lification, necessitating new methods to genotype copy number variations. We identify a large number of newly emerging crt mutations in parts of Southeast Asia, and show ex les of heterogeneities in patterns of drug resistance within Africa and within the Indian subcontinent. We describe the profile of variations in the C-terminal of the csp gene and relate this to the sequence used in the RTS,S and R21 malaria vaccines. Pf7 provides high-quality data on genotype calls for 6 million SNPs and short indels, analysis of large deletions that cause failure of rapid diagnostic tests, and systematic characterisation of six major drug resistance loci, all of which can be freely downloaded from the MalariaGEN website.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2010
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 20-03-2009
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 07-10-2010
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 04-12-2014
Publisher: The American Association of Immunologists
Date: 2013
Abstract: Cerebral Plasmodium falciparum malaria is characterized by adhesion of infected erythrocytes (IEs) to the cerebral microvasculature. This has been linked to parasites expressing the structurally related group A subset of the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family of IE adhesion ligands and to IEs with affinity for ICAM-1. However, recent evidence has cast doubt on both these associations, tempering hopes of the feasibility of developing a vaccine based on ICAM-1–binding PfEMP1. In this study, we report the identification of a domain cassette (DC) present in group A var genes from six genetically distinct P. falciparum parasites. The three domains in the cassette, which we call DC4, had a high level of sequence identity and cluster together phylogenetically. Erythrocytes infected by these parasites and selected in vitro for expression of DC4 adhered specifically to ICAM-1. The ICAM-1–binding capacity of DC4 was mapped to the C-terminal third of its Duffy-binding–like β3 domain. DC4 was the target of broadly cross-reactive and adhesion-inhibitory IgG Abs, and levels of DC4-specific and adhesion-inhibitory IgG increased with age among P. falciparum–exposed children. Our study challenges earlier conclusions that group A PfEMP1 proteins are not central to ICAM-1–specific IE adhesion and support the feasibility of developing a vaccine preventing cerebral malaria by inhibiting cerebral IE sequestration.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Alister Craig.