Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40670970›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2025

Comparative immunological study of Plasmodium knowlesi infections in humans and macaques: insights into cytokine dynamics.

Mohammad Faruq Abd Rachman Isnadi, Yean Kong Yong, Matthew J Grigg, Symphorosa Sipangkui, Ping-Chin Lee, Nor Afizah Nuin, Angelica Fiona Tan, Paul Molius, Augustine Tuuga, Jum Rafiah Abd Sukor and 3 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Mohammad Faruq Abd Rachman IsnadiDepartment of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Yean Kong Yong *Laboratory Center, Xiamen University Malaysia, 43900, Sepang, Malaysia.
Matthew J Grigg *Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0810, Australia.
Symphorosa SipangkuiSabah Wildlife Department, 88100, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Ping-Chin LeeBiotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Nor Afizah NuinDepartment of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Angelica Fiona TanMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0810, Australia.
Paul MoliusTenom Hospital, 89007, Tenom, Malaysia.
Augustine TuugaSabah Wildlife Department, 88100, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Jum Rafiah Abd SukorSabah Wildlife Department, 88100, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Giri RajahramInfectious Diseases Society, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Sylvia DaimDepartment of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Tock H Chua *Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. chuath@gmail.com.

Funding

Comparative incidence and clinical spectrum of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria, a longitudinal study in Sabah, MalaysiaR01AI116472 · NIAID · INFECTIOUS DISEASE SOCIETY KOTA KINABALU · PI WILLIAM, TIMOTHY · 2015 to 2019
$682k
Emerging zoonotic malaria in Malaysia: strengthening surveillance and evaluating population genetic structure to improve regional risk prediction toolsR01AI160457 · NIAID · INFECTIOUS DISEASE SOCIETY KOTA KINABALU · PI RAJAHRAM, GIRI · 2021 to 2025
$674k
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council 496600, 1037304 and 1045156Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia BP00500420NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI116472NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI160457UMSGreat scheme (GUG0423-2/2019)US National Institutes of Health R01AI116472-03 and 1R01AI160457-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlasmodium knowlesi, a simian malaria parasite endemic to Southeast Asia, is transmitted from macaques to humans via mosquitoes and has seen a surge due to human encroachment into macaque habitats. While the primary host, Macaca fascicularis, can regulate P. knowlesi and alleviate disease symptoms, infected humans face a different scenario. A study was conducted in Sabah, Malaysia to compare the effects of parasite genomic DNA (gDNA) and host (both human and macaques) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release on cytokine profiles in humans and macaques infected with P. knowlesi.

methodsBlood samples from 30 Plasmodium knowlesi-infected individuals and 30 healthy controls, along with serum samples from 35 wild macaques, were analysed using PCR and immunological assays. Nested PCR and real-time PCR were performed on macaque blood samples to confirm mono-infection with P. knowlesi. Parasite genomic DNA (gDNA) levels were quantified via qPCR. Additionally, the concentrations of six cytokines-TNF, IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10-were measured in the samples.

resultsParasitaemia levels, determined through microscopy method, exhibited strong correlations with parasite gDNA. Notably, the infected macaques displayed significantly higher parasite gDNA and mtDNA levels compared to humans. Cytokine analysis unveiled IL-10 dominance in humans, positively associated with parasite gDNA, while macaques showed IL-6 dominance unrelated to parasite gDNA. Despite lower parasite gDNA levels, patients exhibited a higher IL-10/TNF ratio, indicative of disease severity.

conclusionsThese results suggestively highlight variations in immune responses between two distinct hosts in two different phases of infection: human (acute infection) and macaque (presumed chronic infection) hosts. The correlations and interplay between parasite gDNA, host's mtDNA (both human and macaques) and cytokine levels observed in this study further emphasizing the need for further research to comprehensively understand P. knowlesi pathogenesis.

Indexed as

CytokinesMalariaMonkey DiseasesPlasmodium knowlesiAdultAnimalsDNA, MitochondrialDNA, ProtozoanFemaleHumansMacacaMacaca fascicularisMalaysiaMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultCytokinesDNA, MitochondrialDNA, Protozoan

Identifiers

PMID40670970
PMCPMC12269140

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.