Identifying the Components of Acidosis in Patients With Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Using Metabolomics.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Acidosis in severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria is associated with high mortality, yet the pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to determine the nature and source of metabolic acids contributing to acidosis in patients with severe falciparum malaria.

METHODS:

A prospective observational study was conducted to characterize circulating acids in adults with P. falciparum malaria (n = 107) and healthy controls (n = 45) from Bangladesh using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics. Additional in vitro P. falciparum culture studies were performed to determine if parasites release the acids detected in plasma from patients with severe malaria acidosis.

RESULTS:

We identified previously unmeasured plasma acids strongly associated with acidosis in severe malaria. Metabolomic analysis of P. falciparum parasites in vitro showed no evidence that these acids are released by the parasite during its life cycle. Instead, 10 of the plasma acids could be mapped to a gut microbial origin. Patients with malaria had low L-citrulline levels, a plasma marker indicating reduced gut barrier integrity. Longitudinal data showed the clearance of these newly identified acids was delayed in fatal cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data suggest that a compromise in intestinal barrier function may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of life-threatening acidosis in severe falciparum malaria.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION:

NCT02451904.

• Authors: Stije J Leopold, Aniruddha Ghose, Erik L Allman, Hugh W F Kingston, Amir Hossain, Asok Kumar Dutta, Katherine Plewes, Kesinee Chotivanich, Nicholas P J Day, Joel Tarning, Markus Winterberg, Nicholas J White, Manuel Llinás, Arjen M Dondorp
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 219 Issue 11 Pg. 1766-1776 (05 05 2019) ISSN: 1537-6613 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30566600 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Chemical References

• Acids
• Biomarkers

Topics

• Acidosis (complications, metabolism, parasitology)
• Acids (metabolism)
• Adult
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Chromatography, Liquid
• Female
• Humans
• Intestinal Mucosa
• Malaria, Falciparum (complications, metabolism, parasitology)
• Male
• Mass Spectrometry
• Metabolomics
• Middle Aged
• Plasmodium falciparum (physiology)
• Prospective Studies
• Young Adult