Featured Publications
Babesia duncani multi-omics identifies virulence factors and drug targets
Singh P, Lonardi S, Liang Q, Vydyam P, Khabirova E, Fang T, Gihaz S, Thekkiniath J, Munshi M, Abel S, Ciampossin L, Batugedara G, Gupta M, Lu X, Lenz T, Chakravarty S, Cornillot E, Hu Y, Ma W, Gonzalez L, Sánchez S, Estrada K, Sánchez-Flores A, Montero E, Harb O, Le Roch K, Mamoun C. Babesia duncani multi-omics identifies virulence factors and drug targets. Nature Microbiology 2023, 8: 845-859. PMID: 37055610, PMCID: PMC10159843, DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01360-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug targetsVirulence factorsCandidate virulence factorsRNA-seq dataIntraerythrocytic life cycleAttractive drug targetB. duncaniNuclear genomeGenome annotationApicomplexan parasitesApicomplexan pathogensEpigenetic profilesEpigenetic analysisParasite metabolismMalaria-like diseaseHuman erythrocytesLife cycle stagesBabesia speciesGenomeMetabolic requirementsCycle stagesLife cycleBiologySmall moleculesPotent inhibitorRole of a patatin-like phospholipase in Plasmodium falciparum gametogenesis and malaria transmission
Singh P, Alaganan A, More K, Lorthiois A, Thiberge S, Gorgette O, Guillotte Blisnick M, Guglielmini J, Aguilera S, Touqui L, Singh S, Chitnis C. Role of a patatin-like phospholipase in Plasmodium falciparum gametogenesis and malaria transmission. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2019, 116: 17498-17508. PMID: 31413195, PMCID: PMC6717283, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1900266116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFemale gametesPerforin-like proteinBlood-stage growthIngestion of gametocytesProcess of gametogenesisPatatin-like phospholipaseGamete egressDiverse organismsMembrane remodelingIntracellular vesiclesVesicle secretionVesicular dischargeMale gametesOocyst formationPeripheral membraneGametocyte developmentGametogenesisExtensive membraneConditional deletionGametesBlood mealDevelopment of drugsDeletionPotential targetGenes
2022
Epitope profiling of monoclonal antibodies to the immunodominant antigen BmGPI12 of the human pathogen Babesia microti
Chand M, Choi J, Pal A, Singh P, Kumari V, Thekkiniath J, Gagnon J, Timalsina S, Gaur G, Williams S, Ledizet M, Mamoun C. Epitope profiling of monoclonal antibodies to the immunodominant antigen BmGPI12 of the human pathogen Babesia microti. Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology 2022, 12: 1039197. PMID: 36506011, PMCID: PMC9732259, DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1039197.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMonoclonal antibodiesAntigen detection assaysMajor immunogenic determinantMost clinical casesReliable biomarkersAntibody combinationsImmunogenic determinantsIntraerythrocytic life cycleClinical casesUnique epitopesBabesia microtiEpitope profilingHuman babesiosisTick-borne diseasesSignificant riseSerological profilingPlasma samplesAntibodiesSerological characterizationProtozoan parasitePublic healthInfectionAntigenDiseaseMammalian hostsSpecific and Sensitive Diagnosis of Babesia microti Active Infection Using Monoclonal Antibodies to the Immunodominant Antigen BmGPI12
Gagnon J, Timalsina S, Choi JY, Chand M, Singh P, Lamba P, Gaur G, Pal AC, Mootien S, Marcos LA, Mamoun C, Ledizet M. Specific and Sensitive Diagnosis of Babesia microti Active Infection Using Monoclonal Antibodies to the Immunodominant Antigen BmGPI12. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2022, 60: e00925-22. PMID: 36040206, PMCID: PMC9491189, DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00925-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsB. microti infectionActive infectionMonoclonal antibodiesMicroti infectionTime of diagnosisMalaria-like illnessUrgent public health concernAntigen capture assayHost red blood cellsPublic health concernCapture assayEvaluation of clearanceElderly patientsRed blood cellsBlood transfusionDrug treatmentEarly diagnosisPosttreatment samplesBabesia microtiHealth concernInfected humansInfectionDiagnosisBlood cellsHuman babesiosisBabesia 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 ResearchConceptsLethal 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
Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in the Urine of COVID-19 Patients
George S, Pal AC, Gagnon J, Timalsina S, Singh P, Vydyam P, Munshi M, Chiu JE, Renard I, Harden CA, Ott IM, Watkins AE, Vogels CBF, Lu P, Tokuyama M, Venkataraman A, Casanovas-Massana A, Wyllie AL, Rao V, Campbell M, Farhadian SF, Grubaugh ND, Dela Cruz CS, Ko AI, Perez A, Akaho EH, Moledina DG, Testani J, John AR, Ledizet M, Mamoun CB, Team A. Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in the Urine of COVID-19 Patients. Kidney360 2021, 2: 924-936. PMID: 35373072, PMCID: PMC8791366, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0002172021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 spike proteinSARS-CoV-2Spike proteinUrine samplesSARS-CoV-2 infectionYale-New Haven HospitalCOVID-19 patientsAntigen capture assayDetectable viral RNANew Haven HospitalPositive PCR resultsPossible long-term consequencesSpike S1 proteinNP PCRChildren's HospitalNasopharyngeal swabsSARS-CoV-2 spike S1 proteinRenal abnormalitiesLong-term effectsCystatin CLong-term consequencesHospitalUrineViral RNAAlbuminuria
2017
Molecular mechanisms that mediate invasion and egress of malaria parasites from red blood cells
Alaganan A, Singh P, Chitnis C. Molecular mechanisms that mediate invasion and egress of malaria parasites from red blood cells. Current Opinion In Hematology 2017, 24: 208-214. PMID: 28306665, DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000334.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMalaria parasitesMolecular mechanismsPerforin-like proteinComplex life cycleHost cell invasionDiverse host cellsCurrent understandingDevelopment of inhibitorsDifferent life cycle stagesFemale gametesTimely secretionKey effector moleculesRegulated mannerMolecular basisFemale gametocytesVesicular organellesMosquito midgutFemale anopheline mosquitoesProtein ligandsHost cellsLife cycle stagesCell invasionFunctional roleEffector moleculesParasite growth
2016
Plasmodium Merozoite TRAP Family Protein Is Essential for Vacuole Membrane Disruption and Gamete Egress from Erythrocytes
Bargieri D, Thiberge S, Tay C, Carey A, Rantz A, Hischen F, Lorthiois A, Straschil U, Singh P, Singh S, Triglia T, Tsuboi T, Cowman A, Chitnis C, Alano P, Baum J, Pradel G, Lavazec C, Ménard R. Plasmodium Merozoite TRAP Family Protein Is Essential for Vacuole Membrane Disruption and Gamete Egress from Erythrocytes. Cell Host & Microbe 2016, 20: 618-630. PMID: 27832590, PMCID: PMC5104695, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.10.015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFamily proteinsGamete egressParasite motilityCell invasionErythrocyte invasionMembrane disruptionParasitophorous vacuole membraneMalaria parasite PlasmodiumBlood stage formsApicomplexan parasitesVacuole membraneExtracellular environmentParasite PlasmodiumActomyosin motorParasite transmissionTRAP proteinProteinCell egressStage formsInvasionEgressFalciparum parasitesParasitesIntegral roleMotility