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Inactivation of P lasmodium falciparum in whole blood by riboflavin plus irradiation
Author(s) -
El Chaar Mira,
Atwal Sharan,
Freimanis Graham L.,
Dinko Bismarck,
Sutherland Colin J.,
Allain JeanPierre
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/trf.12235
Subject(s) - riboflavin , hemolysis , parasitemia , plasmodium falciparum , parasite hosting , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , malaria , whole blood , blood irradiation therapy , immunology , medicine , biochemistry , pathology , alternative medicine , world wide web , computer science
Background Malaria parasites are frequently transmitted by unscreened blood transfusions in A frica. Pathogen reduction methods in whole blood would thus greatly improve blood safety. We aimed to determine the efficacy of riboflavin plus irradiation for treatment of whole blood infected with P lasmodium falciparum . Study Design and Methods Blood was inoculated with 10 4 or 10 5 parasites/ mL and riboflavin treated with or without ultraviolet ( UV ) irradiation (40‐160 J/ mL red blood cells [ mL RBCs ]). Parasite genome integrity was assessed by quantitative amplification inhibition assays, and P . falciparum viability was monitored in vitro. Results Riboflavin alone did not affect parasite genome integrity or parasite viability. Application of UV after riboflavin treatment disrupted parasite genome integrity, reducing polymerase‐dependent amplification by up to 2 logs (99%). At 80 J/ mL RBCs , riboflavin plus irradiation prevented recovery of viable parasites in vitro for 2 weeks, whereas untreated controls typically recovered to approximately 2% parasitemia after 4 days of in vitro culture. Exposure of blood to 160 J/ mL RBCs was not associated with significant hemolysis. Conclusions Riboflavin plus irradiation treatment of whole blood damages parasite genomes and drastically reduces P . falciparum viability in vitro. In the absence of suitable malaria screening assays, parasite inactivation should be investigated for prevention of transfusion‐transmitted malaria in highly endemic areas.