A mechanistic model quantifies artemisinin-induced parasite growth retardation in blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum infection

P Cao; N Klonis; S Zaloumis; DS Khoury; D Cromer; MP Davenport; L Tilley; JA Simpson; JM McCaw

Journal article

A mechanistic model quantifies artemisinin-induced parasite growth retardation in blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum infection

P Cao, N Klonis, S Zaloumis, DS Khoury, D Cromer, MP Davenport, L Tilley, JA Simpson, JM McCaw

Journal of Theoretical Biology | ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.07.017

Abstract

Falciparum malaria is a major parasitic disease causing widespread morbidity and mortality globally. Artemisinin derivatives—the most effective and widely-used antimalarials that have helped reduce the burden of malaria by 60% in some areas over the past decade—have recently been found to induce growth retardation of blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum when applied at clinically relevant concentrations. To date, no model has been designed to quantify the growth retardation effect and to predict the influence of this property on in vivo parasite killing. Here we introduce a mechanistic model of parasite growth from the ring to trophozoite stage of the parasite's life cycle, and by modelling the..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers

Pengxing Cao Author

Sophie Zaloumis Author

Leann Tilley Author

Julie Simpson Author

Related Projects (6)

FIGHTING EMERGING ANTIMALARIAL DRUG RESISTANCE

Artemisinin-based antimalarials (ARTs) save hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Unfortunately resistance of P. falciparum to ART is n..

CENTRE OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES MODELLING TO INFORM PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY

Infectious diseases pose a global challenge, with substantial human and economic costs. Mathematical models provide valuable frameworks to a..

INTEGRATION OF BIOSTATISTICS AND MATHEMATICAL MODELLING TO IMPROVE THE CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Improving the control of infectious diseases requires the evaluation of interventions that prevent disease at the population level and succe..

SLOWING THE SPREAD OF MALARIA DRUG RESISTANCE BY EXTENDING THE LIFESPAN OF THE ARTEMISININ DERIVATIVES

Approximately 200 million clinical cases of malaria are treated globally each year. Alarmingly, resistance to the most highly effective anti..

DEVELOPING MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF INFECTION AND TRANSMISSION TO LINK BIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY

Infectious diseases constitute a significant burden on the health of the population. Understanding how best to control them requires a multi..

BIO-METROLOGY AND MODELLING OF A COMPLEX SYSTEM: THE MALARIA PARASITE

Bio-metrology and modelling of a complex system: the malaria parasite: This fellowship project aims to develop a cross-disciplinary program ..

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [grant numbers 1100394, 1060357]; the Centre for Research Excellence ViCBiostat [grant number 1035261]; and the Centre for Research Excellence PRISM2 [grant number 1078068]. James M. McCaw was supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship [grant number FT110100250]. Julie A. Simpson was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Senior Research Fellowship [grant number 1104975]. Leann Tilley was supported by an Australian Research Council Professorial Fellowship [grant number FL150100106]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.