Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease caused by the Babesia parasite, is on the rise in the United States. The disease often presents with flu-like symptoms, but in some people it can progress to a more severe condition. However, despite the increasing importance of babesiosis in public health, there is limited understanding of the biology, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of pathogenicity of the parasite.
Based on research first reported in 2018 by a team of scientists led by Dr. Choukri Ben Mamoun, professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Microbial Etiology, and Pathology at Yale School of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ) won this award. $834,372 grant to further investigate the biology and pathogenesis of Babesia. The ultimate goal is to leverage these discoveries to develop more accurate diagnostic tools, and the scientists hope to use their discoveries to develop effective ways to diagnose babesiosis. Ultimately, we hope to develop a vaccine to prevent babesiosis.
The new NIH-funded study will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Robert Molestina of the American Type Culture Collection and Dr. Fata Kashanchi, director of the Molecular Virology Laboratory at George Mason University. Key members of Ben Mamoun’s lab contributing to this project include Dr. Anasuya Pal; Dr. Pratap Vidyam. Dr. Pallavi Singh. And Meenal Chand.
“This study highlights the power of collaborative science that brings together experts from different fields to advance our understanding of parasitic diseases and their impact on their hosts,” said Ben Mamoun.
Babesia parasites are closely related to Plasmodium species that cause malaria, another vector-borne parasitic infection that is responsible for hundreds of thousands of cases and deaths worldwide. “Both malaria and babesiosis parasites infect human red blood cells and share important biochemical, metabolic and cellular processes essential for intracellular survival,” said Ben Mamoun. said. “The red blood cell environment provides a unique niche for pathogens, allowing them to partially evade the immune system.”
Research in Ben Mamoun’s laboratory has revealed that Babesia parasites are unique among parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa due to their ability to produce vesicles known as Babesia-derived vesicles. These vesicles are released into the cytoplasm of the host cell and eventually enter the host bloodstream, carrying parasite-derived proteins and other parasite molecules that play an important role in the survival of the parasite within the host. I’ll carry it.
“By studying these vesicles, we hope to uncover how they contribute to the parasite’s survival and interaction with its host,” Ben Mamoun said. “The insights gained from this study could pave the way for new treatments not only for Babesia, but also for other potential infectious agents, including Plasmodium. Identifying the proteins associated with these vesicles may provide new therapeutic targets to halt parasite infection and transmission.”
The Division of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Yale School of Medicine is dedicated to comprehensive and innovative patient care, research, and education efforts across a wide range of infectious diseases. For more information, see Infectious Diseases.
