Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite genotypes: a limited variation or new subspecies with major biological consequences?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Plasmodium vivax </it>circumsporozoite variants have been identified in several geographical areas. The real implication of the genetic variation in this region of the <it>P. vivax </it>genome has been questioned for a long time. Although previous studies have observed significant association between VK210 and the Duffy blood group, we present here that evidences of this variation are limited to the CSP central portion.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The phylogenetic analyses were accomplished starting from the amplification of conserved domains of <it>18 SSU RNAr </it>and <it>Cyt B</it>. The antibodies responses against the CSP peptides, MSP-1, AMA-1 and DBP were detected by ELISA, in plasma samples of individuals infected with two <it>P. vivax CS </it>genotypes: VK210 and <it>P. vivax</it>-like.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>These analyses of the two markers demonstrate high similarity among the <it>P. vivax CS </it>genotypes and surprisingly showed diversity equal to zero between VK210 and <it>P. vivax</it>-like, positioning these <it>CS </it>genotypes in the same clade. A high frequency IgG antibody against the N- and C-terminal regions of the <it>P. vivax </it>CSP was found as compared to the immune response to the R- and V- repetitive regions (<it>p </it>= 0.0005, Fisher's Exact test). This difference was more pronounced when the <it>P. vivax</it>-like variant was present in the infection (<it>p </it>= 0.003, Fisher's Exact test). A high frequency of antibody response against MSP-1 and AMA-1 peptides was observed for all <it>P. vivax CS </it>genotypes in comparison to the same frequency for DBP.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This results target that the differences among the <it>P. vivax CS </it>variants are restrict to the central repeated region of the protein, mostly nucleotide variation with important serological consequences.</p

Development of a bone-targeted pH-sensitive liposomal formulation containing doxorubicin: physicochemical characterization, cytotoxicity, and biodistribution evaluation in a mouse model of bone metastasis

Di&ecirc;go dos Santos Ferreira,1,2 Samilla Dornelas Faria,1 S&aacute;via Caldeira de Ara&uacute;jo Lopes,1 Cl&aacute;udia Salviano Teixeira,1 Angelo Malachias,3 Rog&eacute;rio Magalh&atilde;es-Paniago,3 Jos&eacute; Dias de Souza Filho,4 Bruno Luis de Jesus Pinto Oliveira,2 Alexander Ramos Guimar&atilde;es,2 Peter Caravan,2 Lucas Ant&ocirc;nio Miranda Ferreira,1 Ricardo Jos&eacute; Alves,1 M&ocirc;nica Cristina Oliveira1 1Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; 2Athinoula A Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 3Department of Physics, 4Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Background: Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, the treatment of bone tumors remains a major challenge. A possible underlying hypothesis, limitation, and unmet need may be the inability of therapeutics to penetrate into dense bone mineral, which can lead to poor efficacy and high toxicity, due to drug uptake in healthy organs. The development of nanostructured formulations with high affinity for bone could be an interesting approach to overcome these challenges.Purpose: To develop a liposomal formulation with high affinity for hydroxyapatite and the ability to release doxorubicin (DOX) in an acidic environment for future application as a tool for treatment of bone metastases.Materials and methods: Liposomes were prepared by thin-film lipid hydration, followed by extrusion and the sulfate gradient-encapsulation method. Liposomes were characterized by average diameter, &zeta;-potential, encapsulation percentage, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Release studies in buffer (pH 7.4 or 5), plasma, and serum, as well as hydroxyapatite-affinity in vitro analysis were performed. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay against the MDA-MB-231 cell line, and biodistribution was assessed in bone metastasis-bearing animals.Results: Liposomes presented suitable diameter (~170 nm), DOX encapsulation (~2 mg/mL), controlled release, and good plasma and serum stability. The existence of interactions between DOX and the lipid bilayer was proved through differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering. DOX release was faster when the pH was in the range of a tumor than at physiological pH. The bone-targeted formulation showed a strong affinity for hydroxyapatite. The encapsulation of DOX did not interfere in its intrinsic cytotoxicity against the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Biodistribution studies demonstrated high affinity of this formulation for tumors and reduction of uptake in the heart.Conclusion: These results suggest that bone-targeted pH-sensitive liposomes containing DOX can be an interesting strategy for selectively delivering this drug into bone-tumor sites, increasing its activity, and reducing DOX-related toxicity. Keywords: hydroxyapatite-targeted formulations, bisphosphonates, pH-responsive nanostructures, bone-tumor treatmen