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Malaria exacerbates experimental mycobacterial infection in vitro and in vivo.
Title | Malaria exacerbates experimental mycobacterial infection in vitro and in vivo. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2010 |
Authors | Hawkes, M, Li, X, Crockett, M, Diassiti, A, W Liles, C, Liu, J, Kain, KC |
Journal | Microbes Infect |
Volume | 12 |
Issue | 11 |
Pagination | 864-74 |
Date Published | 2010 Oct |
ISSN | 1769-714X |
Keywords | Animals, Bacterial Load, Cells, Cultured, Granuloma, Macrophages, Malaria, Falciparum, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Reactive Nitrogen Species, Spleen, Tuberculosis |
Abstract | Tuberculosis (Mtb) and malaria are among the most important infectious causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, causing an estimated 1.5 million and 1 million deaths every year, respectively. Here we demonstrate a biological interaction between malaria and mycobacteria in vitro and in vivo. Murine macrophages co-incubated with Plasmodium falciparum parasitized erythrocytes demonstrated impaired control of intracellular Mtb replication, and reduced production of reactive nitrogen species in response to mycobacteria. Infection of C57BL/6 mice with Plasmodium species exacerbated the course of acute mycobacterial infection (57% increase in peak splenic CFU, p = 0.043 for difference over time course of infection), induced disruption of the structural integrity of established granulomas, and caused reactivation of latent mycobacterial infection (2.6-fold increase in peak splenic CFU, p = 0.016 for difference over time course of reactivation). Malaria pigment deposition within the granulomas of co-infected mice suggested that the influx of dysfunctional hemozoin-laden monocytes into the locus of mycobacterial control may contribute to impaired containment of mycobacteria. Collectively, these results point to malaria-induced dysregulation of innate and adaptive anti-mycobacterial defences, and suggest that the interaction of these globally important pathogens may potentiate Mtb infection and transmission. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.micinf.2010.05.013 |
Alternate Journal | Microbes Infect. |
PubMed ID | 20542132 |