The biology of unconventional invasion of Duffy-negative reticulocytes by Plasmodium vivax and its implication in malari
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(2020) 19:299 Golassa et al. Malar J https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03372-9
Open Access
REVIEW
The biology of unconventional invasion of Duffy‑negative reticulocytes by Plasmodium vivax and its implication in malaria epidemiology and public health Lemu Golassa1* , Lucas Amenga‑Etego2, Eugenia Lo3 and Alfred Amambua‑Ngwa4
Abstract Plasmodium vivax has been largely neglected over the past century, despite a widespread recognition of its burden across region where it is endemic. The parasite invades reticulocytes, employing the interaction between Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) and human Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC). However, P. vivax has now been observed in Duffy-negative individuals, presenting a potentially serious public health problem as the majority of African populations are Duffy-negative. Invasion of Duffy-negative reticulocytes is suggested to be through duplication of the PvDBP and a novel protein encoded by P. vivax erythrocyte binding protein (EBP) genes. The emergence and spread of specific P. vivax strains with ability to invade Duffy-negative reticulocytes has, therefore, drawn substantial attention and further complicated the epidemiology and public health implication of vivax malaria. Given the right environment and vectorial capacity for transmission coupled with the parasite’s ability to invade Duffynegative individuals, P. vivax could increase its epidemiological significance in Africa. In this review, authors present accruing knowledge on the paradigm shift in P. vivax invasion of Duffy-negative reticulocytes against the established mechanism of invading only Duffy-positive individuals and offer a perspective on the epidemiological diagnostic and public health implication in Africa. Keywords: Plasmodium vivax, Reticulocyte, Duffy antigens, Receptor, Ligand Background Malaria affects one-third of the world’s population and kills hundreds of thousands across the globe [1]. Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread species of human malaria and more than 3 billion people live in P. vivaxendemic regions [2]. Unlike Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax was believed not to be a major health problem in Africa. However, until recently, P. vivax infections have been widely reported in several African countries and its emergence is not surprising given the presence of a *Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
suitable environment, competent vectors and susceptible human hosts [3]. Plasmodium vivax not only differs from P. falciparum in terms of its epidemiology, but also its biology and evolutionary trajectory. These unique features enable P. vivax to survive under a wide range of climatic and ecological settings with the abilities to adapt to both temperate and tropical climates. Other features, including P. vivax ability to form hypnozoites, a stage of which the parasite can remain quiescent from months to years [4]
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