Journal article
Plasma cell-free DNA predicts pediatric cerebral malaria severity
IM Vera, A Kessler, LM Ting, V Harawa, T Keller, D Allen, M Njie, M Moss, M Soko, A Ahmadu, I Kadwala, S Ray, TS Nyirenda, WL Mandala, TE Taylor, SJ Rogerson, KB Seydel, K Kim
Jci Insight | AMER SOC CLINICAL INVESTIGATION INC | Published : 2020
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Prediction of adverse outcomes in cerebral malaria (CM) is difficult. We hypothesized that cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels would facilitate identification of severe and potentially fatal CM cases. METHODS. In this retrospective study, plasma from Malawian children with CM (n = 134), uncomplicated malaria (UM, n = 77), and healthy controls (HC, n = 60) was assayed for cfDNA using a fluorescence assay. Host and parasite cfDNA was measured by quantitative PCR. Immune markers were determined by ELISA, Luminex, or cytometric bead array. RESULTS. Total cfDNA increased with malaria severity (HC versus UM, P < 0.001; HC versus CM, P < 0.0001; UM versus CM, P < 0.0001), was elevated in retin..
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Awarded by Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Funding Acknowledgements
First and foremost, we acknowledge the patients and their families for participation in our study and the Blantyre Malaria Project laboratory staff for sharing facilities and aiding with sample collection/processing. This work was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia project grant APP1061993 (SJR), NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) Einstein-Montefiore CTSA TL1TR001072 (AK), and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (AK).