Malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The greatest burden of the disease is in pregnant women and children under five years of age. Infections with Plasmodium falciparum in humans display a remarkable range of disease severity from asymptomatic to severe disease. The reasons for this are multifactorial and include, parasite virulence factors, transmission intensity and host genetic factors, Pregnant women, especially primigravidae, exhibit elevated susceptibility to P.falciparum infections, commonly associated with premature delivery, increased perinatal mortality and reduced birth weight of the newborn.

A better understanding of how immune responses to the P.falciparum parasite are regulated might help in improving existing tools to protect the individuals against malaria.

Keywords

Plasmodium falciparum malaria, immune regulation, innate-acquired immune responses

Selected publications

Ibitokou, S., Oesterholt, M., Brutus, L., Borgella, S., Agbowai, C., Ezinmegnon, S., Lusingu, J., Schmiegelow, C., Massougbodji, A., Deloron, P., Troye-Blomberg, M., Varani, S., Luty, AJ., & Fievet, N. (2012). Peripheral blood cell signature of Plasmodium falciparum infection during pregnancy. PLos One. 7(12):e49621 

Arama, C., Giusti, P., Boström, S., Dara, V., Traore, B., Dolo, A., Doumbo, O., Varani, S., & Troye-Blomberg, M. (2011). Interethnic differences in antigen-presenting cell activation and TLR responses in Malian children during Plasmodium falciparum malaria. PLoS One. 6(3):e18319

Costa, G., Loizon, S., Guenot, M., Mocan, I., Halary, F., de Saint-Basile, G., PitardV., Déchanet-Merville, J., Moreau, J.F., Troye-Blomberg, M., Mercereau-Puijalon, O., & Behr C. (2011). Control of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic cycle: γδ T cells target the red blood cell-invasive merozoites. Blood. 118(26):6952-62

Israelsson, E., Maiga, B., Kearsley, S., Dolo, A., Homann, M.V., Doumbo, OK., Troye-Blomberg, M., Tornvall, P., & Berzins, K. (2011). Cytokine gene haplotypes with a potential effect on susceptibility to malaria in sympatric ethnic groups in Mali. Infect Genet Evol. 11(7):1608-15 

McCall, M.B., Hopman, J., Daou, M., Maiga, B,. Dara, V,. Ploemen, I., Nganou-Makamdop, K., Niangaly, A,. Tolo, Y., Arama, C,. Bousema, JT., van der Meer, J.W., van der Ven, A.J., Troye-Blomberg, M., Dolo, A., Doumbo, O.K., & Sauerwein. R.W. (2010). Early interferon-gamma response against Plasmodium falciparum correlates with interethnic differences in susceptibility to parasitemia between sympatric Fulani and Dogon in Mali. J Infect Dis. 201(1):142-52

See all publications

(Link to Researcher ID)