This study compares vaccine-induced antibody responses in two mouse strains, finding that BALB/cJ mice develop stronger protective antibodies against Plasmodium due to enhanced B cell maturation and germinal center activity.

bioRxiv · Sep 10, 2021 · PreprintImmunology

Antibody interference by a non-neutralizing antibody abrogates humoral protection against Plasmodium liver stage

K. Vijayan, R. Chandrasekaran, O. T. Trakhimets, S. L. Brown, N. Dambrauskas, M. Zuck, G. R. R. Visweswaran, A. Watson, A. Raappana, S. Carbonetti, L. Kelnhofer-Millevolte, E. K. K. Glennon, R. Postiglione, D. N. Sather, A. Kaushansky

This study shows non-neutralizing antibodies can reduce the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies against Plasmodium CSP, impacting vaccine efficacy in malaria-exposed individuals.

bioRxiv · Sep 15, 2020Immunology

A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies CENPJ as a host regulator of altered microtubule organization during Plasmodium liver infection.

K. Vijayan, N. Arang, L. Wei, R. Morrison, R. Geiger, R. K. Parks, A. J. Lewis, F. D. Mast, A. N. Douglass, H. S. Kain, J. D. Aitchison, J. S. Johnson, A. Aderem, A. Kaushansky

bioRxiv · Aug 31, 2020Cell Biology

Plasmodium secretion induces hepatocyte lysosome exocytosis and promotes parasite entry

K. Vijayan, I. Cestari, F. D. Mast, E. K. K. Glennon, S. M. McDermott, H. S. Kain, A. M. Brokaw, J. D. Aitchison, K. Stuart, A. Kaushansky

This study shows that Plasmodium sporozoites induce hepatocyte lysosome exocytosis through secreted factors, facilitating parasite entry and highlighting parallels with Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

bioRxiv · Apr 25, 2019Cell Biology