Featured Publications
Babesia BdFE1 esterase is required for the anti-parasitic activity of the ACE inhibitor fosinopril
Vydyam P, Choi J, Gihaz S, Chand M, Gewirtz M, Thekkiniath J, Lonardi S, Gennaro J, Mamoun C. Babesia BdFE1 esterase is required for the anti-parasitic activity of the ACE inhibitor fosinopril. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2023, 299: 105313. PMID: 37797695, PMCID: PMC10663679, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105313.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAnimalsBabesiaEsterasesFosinoprilHumansParasitesProdrugsConceptsAngiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorsACE inhibitor fosinoprilTick-borne illnessConverting Enzyme InhibitorsVector-borne parasitic diseaseClass of drugsNovel drug targetsApicomplexan parasitesMass spectrometry analysisAnti-parasitic activityHeart failureSafe therapyParasite developmentDrug targetsEnzyme inhibitorsParasitic diseasesDrug resistanceTreatment of diseasesHuman babesiosisBabesia parasitesIntraerythrocytic parasitesSuch diseasesDiseaseSpectrometry analysisParasitesThe human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can sense environmental changes and respond by antigenic switching
Schneider V, Visone J, Harris C, Florini F, Hadjimichael E, Zhang X, Gross M, Rhee K, Mamoun C, Kafsack B, Deitsch K. The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can sense environmental changes and respond by antigenic switching. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2302152120. PMID: 37068249, PMCID: PMC10151525, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302152120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene switchingGene expressionHistone methyltransferasesHuman malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparumMalaria parasite Plasmodium falciparumS-adenosylmethionineGene expression patternsMulticopy gene familiesVariant surface proteinsParasite Plasmodium falciparumHuman malaria parasiteIntracellular S-adenosylmethioninePrincipal methyl donorEpigenetic controlGene familyActive genesAntigenic switchingGene transcriptionNutrient availabilityExpression patternsMethylation modificationSAM metabolismGenetic modificationAntigenic variationSurface proteins
2022
Babesia duncani as a Model Organism to Study the Development, Virulence, and Drug Susceptibility of Intraerythrocytic Parasites In Vitro and In Vivo
Pal AC, Renard I, Singh P, Vydyam P, Chiu JE, Pou S, Winter RW, Dodean R, Frueh L, Nilsen AC, Riscoe MK, Doggett JS, Mamoun C. Babesia duncani as a Model Organism to Study the Development, Virulence, and Drug Susceptibility of Intraerythrocytic Parasites In Vitro and In Vivo. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2022, 226: 1267-1275. PMID: 35512141, PMCID: PMC10233494, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac181.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAtovaquoneBabesiaHumansMiceMice, Inbred C3HParasitesProdrugsQuinolonesTicksVirulenceConceptsLethal infectionC3H/HeJ miceMalaria-like illnessB. duncaniMouse genetic backgroundSurvival outcomesHeJ miceSevere diseaseBabesia duncaniMouse modelDifferent mouse genetic backgroundsDrug susceptibilityBabesia microtiHuman babesiosisIntraerythrocytic parasitesUnique pathogenParasite loadMiceSpecies of BabesiaApicomplexa phylumInfectionBabesia parasitesFree merozoitesHuman erythrocytesGenetic background
2021
Cytochrome b Drug Resistance Mutation Decreases Babesia Fitness in the Tick Stages But Not the Mammalian Erythrocytic Cycle
Chiu JE, Renard I, George S, Pal A, Alday PH, Narasimhan S, Riscoe MK, Doggett JS, Mamoun C. Cytochrome b Drug Resistance Mutation Decreases Babesia Fitness in the Tick Stages But Not the Mammalian Erythrocytic Cycle. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2021, 225: 135-145. PMID: 34139755, PMCID: PMC8730496, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab321.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMitochondrial cytochrome bParasite life cycleWild-type alleleTick vectorParasite fitnessCytochrome bMutant parasitesMutant allelesErythrocytic cycleArthropod vectorsNymphal stagesBabesia parasitesMutationsLife cycleFitnessTick stagesResistance mutationsMalaria-like illnessB. microtiAllelesDrug resistance mutationsParasitesHuman babesiosisTicksHost
2020
Anti-PfGARP activates programmed cell death of parasites and reduces severe malaria
Raj DK, Das Mohapatra A, Jnawali A, Zuromski J, Jha A, Cham-Kpu G, Sherman B, Rudlaff RM, Nixon CE, Hilton N, Oleinikov AV, Chesnokov O, Merritt J, Pond-Tor S, Burns L, Jolly G, Ben Mamoun C, Kabyemela E, Muehlenbachs A, Lambert L, Orr-Gonzalez S, Gnädig NF, Fidock DA, Park S, Dvorin JD, Pardi N, Weissman D, Mui BL, Tam YK, Friedman JF, Fried M, Duffy PE, Kurtis JD. Anti-PfGARP activates programmed cell death of parasites and reduces severe malaria. Nature 2020, 582: 104-108. PMID: 32427965, PMCID: PMC7372601, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2220-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAnimalsAntibodies, ProtozoanAntigens, ProtozoanAotidaeApoptosisCaspasesChildCohort StudiesDNA, ProtozoanEnzyme ActivationErythrocytesFemaleHumansIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsKenyaMalaria VaccinesMalaria, FalciparumMaleMiceParasitesPlasmodium falciparumProtozoan ProteinsTanzaniaTrophozoitesVacuolesConceptsTrophozoite-infected erythrocytesSevere malariaParasite antigensLongitudinal cohort studyPlasma of childrenCell deathNon-human primatesCohort studyEffective vaccineTanzanian childrenParasite densityInvasion of hepatocytesStage parasitesMalariaPlasmodium falciparumAntibodiesFalciparumKenyan adolescentsVaccineAntigenErythrocytesDeathChildrenInvasionParasites