Background Plasmodium falciparum malaria is recognized as a major global public health problem. The malaria vaccine was important because the case fatality rate of falciparum malaria was high. Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) is one of the potential vaccine candidates, but the genetic polymorphism of PfCSP raises concerns regarding the efficacy of the vaccine. This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphism of PfCSP and provide data for the improvement of PfCSP-based vaccine (RTS,S malaria vaccine). Methods Blood samples were collected from 287 Chinese migrant workers who were infected with P. falciparum and returning from Africa to Henan Province during 2016–2018. The Pfcsp genes were analysed to estimate the genetic diversity of this parasite. Results The results showed that there were two mutations at the N-terminus of imported Pfcsp in Henan Province, including insertion amino acids (58.71%, 118/201) and A → G (38.81%, 78/201). The number of repeats of tetrapeptide motifs (NANP/NVDP/NPNP/NVDA) in the central repeat region ranged mainly from 39 to 42 (97.51%, 196/201). A total of 14 nonsynonymous amino acid changes were found at the C-terminus. The average nucleotide difference (K) of imported Pfcsp in Henan Province was 5.719, and the haplotype diversity (Hd) was 0.964 ± 0.004. The estimated value of dN-dS was 0.047, indicating that the region may be affected by positive natural selection. The minimum number of recombination events (Rm) of imported Pfcsp in Henan Province was close to that in Africa. The analysis of genetic differentiation showed that there may be moderate differentiation between East Africa and North Africa (Fst = 0.06484), and the levels of differentiation in the other regions were very small (Fst < 0.05). Conclusions The N-terminus of Pfcsp was relatively conserved, and the central repeat region and the Th2R and Th3R regions of the C-terminus were highly polymorphic. The gene polymorphism pattern among Chinese migrant workers returning from Africa to Henan Province was consistent with that in Africa. The geographical pattern of population differentiation and the evidence of natural selection and gene recombination suggested that the effect of polymorphism on the efficacy of PfCSP-based vaccines should be considered.

AbstractRecent epidemiological and preclinical studies have revealed that aspirin possesses antitumor properties; one of the mechanisms results from inhibition of angiogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms of such action remain to be elucidated, in particular, the effect of aspirin on glucose metabolism of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) has not yet been reported. Herein, we demonstrate that glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), a main glucose transporter in ECs, can be down-regulated by aspirin. Exposure to 4-mM aspirin significantly decreased GLUT1 at the mRNA and protein level, resulting in impaired glucose uptake capacity in vascular ECs. In addition, we also showed that exposure to 4-mM aspirin led to an inhibition of intracellular ATP and lactate synthesis in vascular ECs, and a down-regulation of the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 was observed. Taken together, these findings indicate 4-mM aspirin inhibits glucose uptake and glucose metabolism of vascular ECs through down-regulating GLUT1 expression and suggest that GLUT1 has potential to be a target for aspirin in vascular ECs.

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What is already known about this topic? The “1-3-7” approach to malaria surveillance and response was a key measure for malaria elimination in China and was first introduced into the World Health Organization (WHO) as an international guideline for malaria surveillance and response in 2018. What is added by this report? The “1-3-7” approach was well implemented in Henan Province from 2012−2018. Over this study period, a total of 1,294 malaria cases were detected and reported, and all cases were diagnosed and reported within 1 day with 99.23% (1,284/1,294) of cases were investigated within 3 days. In addition, 93.7% (1,212/1,294) of foci were investigated and vector control was implemented within 7 days at all residual non-active foci to prevent further spread. What are the implications for public health practice? The “1-3-7” controlling pattern would be an effective and approachable method for implementation especially in malaria-eliminating countries and regions, but the interval from symptom onset to diagnosis cannot be ignored. Thus, the roles and responsibilities that all actors involved in the health sector must be specified too.

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