High Levels of Plasmodium falciparum Rosetting in All Clinical Forms of Severe Malaria in African Children

Ogobara K. Doumbo Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by Ogobara K. Doumbo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Mahamadou A. Thera Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by Mahamadou A. Thera in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Abdoulaye K. Koné Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by Abdoulaye K. Koné in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Ahmed Raza Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by Ahmed Raza in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Louisa J. Tempest Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by Louisa J. Tempest in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Kirsten E. Lyke Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by Kirsten E. Lyke in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Christopher V. Plowe Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by Christopher V. Plowe in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
J. Alexandra Rowe Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Center for Vaccine Development and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Search for other papers by J. Alexandra Rowe in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Plasmodium falciparum rosetting (the spontaneous binding of infected erythrocytes to uninfected erythrocytes) is a well-recognized parasite virulence factor. However, it is currently unclear whether rosetting is associated with all clinical forms of severe malaria, or only with specific syndromes such as cerebral malaria. We investigated the relationship between rosetting and clinical malaria in 209 Malian children enrolled in a case-control study of severe malaria. Rosetting was significantly higher in parasite isolates from severe malaria cases compared with non-severe hyperparasitemia and uncomplicated malaria controls (F2,117 = 8.15, P < 0.001). Analysis of sub-categories of severe malaria (unrousable coma, severe anemia, non-comatose neurological impairment, repeated seizures or a small heterogeneous group with signs of renal failure or jaundice) showed high levels of rosetting in all sub-categories, and no statistically significant differences in rosetting between sub-categories (F4,67 = 1.28, P = 0.28). Thus rosetting may contribute to the pathogenesis of all severe malaria syndromes in African children, and interventions to disrupt rosetting could be potential adjunctive therapies for all forms of severe malaria in Africa.

Author Notes

  • 1

    Carlson J, Helmby H, Hill AV, Brewster D, Greenwood BM, Wahlgren M, 1990. Human cerebral malaria: association with erythrocyte rosetting and lack of anti-rosetting antibodies. Lancet 336 :1457–1460.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 2

    Treutiger CJ, Hedlund I, Helmby H, Carlson J, Jepson A, Twumasi P, Kwiatkowski D, Greenwood BM, Wahlgren M, 1992. Rosette formation in Plasmodium falciparum isolates and anti-rosette activity of sera from Gambians with cerebral or uncomplicated malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg 46 :503–510.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 3

    Ringwald P, Peyron F, Lepers JP, Rabarison P, Rakotomalala C, Razanamparany M, Rabodonirina M, Roux J, Le Bras J, 1993. Parasite virulence factors during falciparum malaria: rosetting, cytoadherence, and modulation of cytoadherence by cytokines. Infect Immun 61 :5198–5204.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 4

    Rowe A, Obeiro J, Newbold CI, Marsh K, 1995. Plasmodium falciparum rosetting is associated with malaria severity in Kenya. Infect Immun 63 :2323–2326.

  • 5

    Newbold C, Warn P, Black G, Berendt A, Craig A, Snow B, Msobo M, Peshu N, Marsh K, 1997. Receptor-specific adhesion and clinical disease in Plasmodium falciparum. Am J Trop Med Hyg 57 :389–398.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 6

    Kun JF, Schmidt-Ott RJ, Lehman LG, Lell B, Luckner D, Greve B, Matousek P, Kremsner PG, 1998. Merozoite surface antigen 1 and 2 genotypes and rosetting of Plasmodium falciparum in severe and mild malaria in Lambarene, Gabon. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 92 :110–114.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7

    Pain A, Ferguson DJ, Kai O, Urban BC, Lowe B, Marsh K, Roberts DJ, 2001. Platelet-mediated clumping of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes is a common adhesive phenotype and is associated with severe malaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98 :1805–1810.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 8

    Heddini A, Pettersson F, Kai O, Shafi J, Obiero J, Chen Q, Barragan A, Wahlgren M, Marsh K, 2001. Fresh isolates from children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria bind to multiple receptors. Infect Immun 69 :5849–5856.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 9

    Rowe JA, Shafi J, Kai OK, Marsh K, Raza A, 2002. Nonimmune IgM, but not IgG binds to the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and correlates with rosetting and severe malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg 66 :692–699.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 10

    Kaul DK, Roth EFJ, Nagel RL, Howard RJ, Handunnetti SM, 1991. Rosetting of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells with uninfected red blood cells enhances microvascular obstruction under flow conditions. Blood 78 :812–819.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11

    Dondorp AM, Ince C, Charunwatthana P, Hanson J, van Kuijen A, Faiz MA, Rahman MR, Hasan M, Bin Yunus E, Ghose A, Ruangveerayut R, Limmathurotsakul D, Mathura K, White NJ, Day NP, 2008. Direct in vivo assessment of microcirculatory dysfunction in severe falciparum malaria. J Infect Dis 197 :79–84.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 12

    Beare NA, Harding SP, Taylor TE, Lewallen S, Molyneux ME, 2009. Perfusion abnormalities in children with cerebral malaria and malarial retinopathy. J Infect Dis 199 :263–271.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 13

    Rowe JA, Moulds JM, Newbold CI, Miller LH, 1997. P. falciparum rosetting mediated by a parasite-variant erythrocyte membrane protein and complement-receptor 1. Nature 388 :292–295.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 14

    Carlson J, Nash GB, Gabutti V, al-Yaman F, Wahlgren M, 1994. Natural protection against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria due to impaired rosette formation. Blood 84 :3909–3914.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 15

    Cockburn IA, Mackinnon MJ, O’Donnell A, Allen SJ, Moulds JM, Baisor M, Bockarie M, Reeder JC, Rowe JA, 2004. A human complement receptor 1 polymorphism that reduces Plasmodium falciparum rosetting confers protection against severe malaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101 :272–277.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 16

    Rowe JA, Handel IG, Thera MA, Deans AM, Lyke KE, Kone A, Diallo DA, Raza A, Kai O, Marsh K, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, Moulds JM, 2007. Blood group O protects against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria through the mechanism of reduced rosetting. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104 :17471–17476.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 17

    Rowe JA, Claessens A, Corrigan RA, Arman M, 2009. Adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to human cells: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Expert Rev Mol Med 11 :e16.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 18

    Carlson J, Ekre HP, Helmby H, Gysin J, Greenwood BM, Wahlgren M, 1992. Disruption of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte rosettes by standard heparin and heparin devoid of anticoagulant activity. Am J Trop Med Hyg 46 :595–602.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 19

    Rowe A, Berendt AR, Marsh K, Newbold CI, 1994. Plasmodium falciparum: a family of sulphated glycoconjugates disrupts erythrocyte rosettes. Exp Parasitol 79 :506–516.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 20

    Vogt AM, Pettersson F, Moll K, Jonsson C, Normark J, Ribacke U, Egwang TG, Ekre HP, Spillmann D, Chen Q, Wahlgren M, 2006. Release of sequestered malaria parasites upon injection of a glycosaminoglycan. PLoS Pathog 2 :e100.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 21

    Kyriacou HM, Steen KE, Raza A, Arman M, Warimwe G, Bull PC, Havlik I, Rowe JA, 2007. In vitro inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum rosette formation by Curdlan sulfate. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 51 :1321–1326.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 22

    Lyke KE, Diallo DA, Dicko A, Kone A, Coulibaly D, Guindo A, Cissoko Y, Sangare L, Coulibaly S, Dakouo B, Taylor TE, Doumbo OK, Plowe CV, 2003. Association of intraleukocytic Plasmodium falciparum malaria pigment with disease severity, clinical manifestations, and prognosis in severe malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg 69 :253–259.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 23

    Lyke KE, Burges R, Cissoko Y, Sangare L, Dao M, Diarra I, Kone A, Harley R, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, Sztein MB, 2004. Serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-12(p70) in Malian children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria and matched uncomplicated malaria or healthy controls. Infect Immun 72 :5630–5637.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 24

    Deans AM, Lyke KE, Thera MA, Plowe CV, Kone A, Doumbo OK, Kai O, Marsh K, Mackinnon MJ, Raza A, Rowe JA, 2006. Low multiplication rates of African Plasmodium falciparum isolates and lack of association of multiplication rate and red blood cell selectivity with malaria virulence. Am J Trop Med Hyg 74 :554–563.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 25

    Lyke KE, Dicko A, Kone A, Coulibaly D, Guindo A, Cissoko Y, Traore K, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, 2004. Incidence of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria as a primary endpoint for vaccine efficacy trials in Bandiagara, Mali. Vaccine 22 :3169–3174.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 26

    Diallo DA, Doumbo OK, Plowe CV, Wellems TE, Emanuel EJ, Hurst SA, 2005. Community permission for medical research in developing countries. Clin Infect Dis 41 :255–259.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 27

    WHO, 2000. Severe falciparum malaria. World Health Organization, Communicable Diseases Cluster. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 94 (Suppl 1):S1–S90.

  • 28

    Marsh K, Forster D, Waruiru C, Mwangi I, Winstanley M, Marsh V, Newton C, Winstanley P, Warn P, Peshu N, Pasvol G, Snow R, 1995. Indicators of life-threatening malaria in African children. N Engl J Med 332 :1399–1404.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 29

    Arman M, Raza A, Tempest LJ, Lyke KE, Thera MA, Kone A, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, Rowe JA, 2007. Platelet-mediated clumping of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes is associated with high parasitemia but not severe clinical manifestations of malaria in African children. Am J Trop Med Hyg 77 :943–946.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 30

    Crawley MJ, 2002. Statistical Computing: An Introduction to Data Analysis using S-Plus. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 31

    Venables WN, Ripley BD, 2002. Modern Applied Statistics with S. New York: Springer.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 32

    Rogerson SJ, Tembenu R, Dobano C, Plitt S, Taylor TE, Molyneux ME, 1999. Cytoadherence characteristics of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes from Malawian children with severe and uncomplicated malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg 61 :467–472.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 33

    Marsh K, Snow RW, 1997. Host-parasite interaction and morbidity in malaria endemic areas. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 352 :1385–1394.

  • 34

    Nash GB, Cooke BM, Carlson J, Wahlgren M, 1992. Rheological properties of rosettes formed by red blood cells parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum. Br J Haematol 82 :757–763.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 35

    Chotivanich KT, Dondorp AM, White NJ, Peters K, Vreeken J, Kager PA, Udomsangpetch R, 2000. The resistance to physiological shear stresses of the erythrocytic rosettes formed by cells infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 94 :219–226.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 36

    Fry AE, Griffiths MJ, Auburn S, Diakite M, Forton JT, Green A, Richardson A, Wilson J, Jallow M, Sisay-Joof F, Pinder M, Peshu N, Williams TN, Marsh K, Molyneux ME, Taylor TE, Rockett KA, Kwiatkowski DP, 2008. Common variation in the ABO glycosyltransferase is associated with susceptibility to severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Hum Mol Genet 17 :567–576.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 37

    Jallow M, Teo YY, Small KS, Rockett KA, Deloukas P, Clark TG, Kivinen K, Bojang KA, Conway DJ, Pinder M, Sirugo G, Sisay-Joof F, Usen S, Auburn S, Bumpstead SJ, Campino S, Coffey A, Dunham A, Fry AE, Green A, Gwilliam R, Hunt SE, Inouye M, Jeffreys AE, Mendy A, Palotie A, Potter S, Ragoussis J, Rogers J, Rowlands K, Somaskantharajah E, Whittaker P, Widden C, Donnelly P, Howie B, Marchini J, Morris A, Sanjoaquin M, Achidi EA, Agbenyega T, Allen A, Amodu O, Corran P, Djimde A, Dolo A, Doumbo OK, Drakeley C, Dunstan S, Evans J, Farrar J, Fernando D, Hien TT, Horstmann RD, Ibrahim M, Karunaweera N, Kokwaro G, Koram KA, Lemnge M, Makani J, Marsh K, Michon P, Modiano D, Molyneux ME, Mueller I, Parker M, Peshu N, Plowe CV, Puijalon O, Reeder J, Reyburn H, Riley EM, Sakuntabhai A, Singhasivanon P, Sirima S, Tall A, Taylor TE, Thera M, Troye-Blomberg M, Williams TN, Wilson M, Kwiatkowski DP, 2009. Genome-Wide and Fine-Resolution Association Analysis of Malaria in West Africa. Nature Genetics 41 :657–665.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 38

    Carlson J, Wahlgren M, 1992. Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte rosetting is mediated by promiscuous lectin-like interactions. J Exp Med 176 :1311–1317.

  • 39

    Udomsangpetch R, Todd J, Carlson J, Greenwood BM, 1993. The effects of hemoglobin genotype and ABO blood group on the formation of rosettes by Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells. Am J Trop Med Hyg 48 :149–153.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 40

    Chen Q, Heddini A, Barragan A, Fernandez V, Pearce SF, Wahlgren M, 2000. The semiconserved head structure of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 mediates binding to multiple independent host receptors. J Exp Med 192 :1–10.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 41

    Skorokhod A, Schwarzer E, Gremo G, Arese P, 2007. HNE produced by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum generates HNE-protein adducts and decreases erythrocyte deformability. Redox Rep 12 :73–75.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 42

    Barragan A, Spillmann D, Kremsner PG, Wahlgren M, Carlson J, 1999. Plasmodium falciparum: molecular background to strain-specific rosette disruption by glycosaminoglycans and sulfated glycoconjugates. Exp Parasitol 91 :133–143.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 43

    Kaneko Y, Yoshida O, Nakagawa R, Yoshida T, Date M, Ogihara S, Shioya S, Matsuzawa Y, Nagashima N, Irie Y, et al., 1990. Inhibition of HIV-1 infectivity with curdlan sulfate in vitro. Biochem Pharmacol 39 :793–797.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 44

    Havlik I, Looareesuwan S, Vannaphan S, Wilairatana P, Krudsood S, Thuma PE, Kozbor D, Watanabe N, Kaneko Y, 2005. Curdlan sulphate in human severe/cerebral Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 99 :333–340.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1138 1033 160
Full Text Views 698 7 0
PDF Downloads 228 9 0
 
 
 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save