Biology subjects

Bach, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Bach, F..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Prenatal immune priming to Plasmodium falciparum is characterized by multi-lineage T-cell responses that are influenced by maternal microchimerism and predict malaria outcomes

In malaria endemic settings, the fetus may be exposed to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) antigens leading to prenatal immune primming (PIP). The fetus also acquires a graft of maternal cells in utero, a phenomenon known as maternal microchimerism (MMc). We have previously identified that MMc at birth predicts altered malaria susceptibility in early childhood, and we hypothesized that this association may be mediated via two potential mechanisms. First, the fetus may acquire Pf-specific MMc T-cells that directly respond to postnatal parasitemia. Alternatively, MMc may indirectly influence the quantity or quality of PIP. To investigate this hypothesis, infant cord bloods from 97 Malian primigravidae were screened for MMc using qPCR. A subset of ten cord blood mononuclear cells with variable MMc levels were stimulated with purified Pf merozoite extract and activated T-cells were sorted by flow cytometry for scRNAseq analysis. Transcriptional profile was used to differentiate Pf-responsive versus bystander activated T-cells, and MMc cells were identified using the Cellector algorithm. Among Pf-responsive cells, we identified four key populations: activated CD4 T-cells, ZBTB16+ CD4 T-cells, activated V{delta}1+ {gamma}{delta} T-cells, and cytotoxic V{gamma}9V{delta}2+ {gamma}{delta} T-cells. The minority of sorted cells were of MMc origin; however, there was a strong association between the presence of MMc and the quantity and quality of PIP. MMc+ infants had significantly fewer Pf-responsive T-cells, as well as a shifted distribution of these cells with fewer ZBTB16+ CD4 and cytotoxic V{gamma}9V{delta}2+ {gamma}{delta} T-cells. Clinically, MMc was protective from incident parasitemia and febrile malaria, whereas the frequencies of ZBTB16+ CD4 and activated CD4 T-cells were associated with increased risk. Together, these data demonstrate that MMc influences malaria outcomes through regulation of offspring inflammatory responses to Pf.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

Exposure to P. falciparum and common cold viruses shape vaccine responses in early life

Vaccine immunogenicity is consistently lower in low-income countries than in high-income settings, yet the factors driving this disparity remain incompletely understood. Using multiplexed electrochemiluminescence serology, we measured IgG and IgA responses to Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines and common childhood viral infections in 89 Ugandan infants. We integrated detailed parasitological surveillance and maternal clinical data to examine how P. falciparum infection history, concurrent parasitemia, maternal gravidity, and early-life viral exposures shaped serological profiles. We found that infants mounted robust responses to most EPI vaccines, but critical gaps in protection persisted for diphtheria, measles and rubella. Children born to primigravid mothers had lower antibody levels at 8 weeks of age, independent of placental malaria and only partially explained by maternal age. Contrary to expectation, cumulative P. falciparum exposure was positively associated with antibody concentrations to diphtheria and varicella, and concurrent parasitemia was positively correlated with responses to multiple antigens. Seroconversion to rhinovirus C was associated with higher IgG and IgA levels to several vaccines. Together, these findings suggest that common microbial exposures during infancy, including respiratory viruses and P. falciparum may positively modulate vaccine responsiveness.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

Cytotoxic Vδ2+T cell subsets expand in response to malaria in human tonsil and spleen organoids

Vaccine effectiveness against malaria is dramatically reduced in malaria-exposed compared to malaria-naive populations, potentially due to altered immune responses in secondary lymphoid organs following repeated infection. Newly developed human tonsil and spleen organoids, which replicate key features of B and T cell immunity, provide an exciting opportunity to overcome challenges of other models and to improve our understanding of innate-adaptive interactions in lymphoid tissue. The objectives of this study were to use these organoids to investigate the impact of malaria parasites on 1) cells within lymphoid tissues and 2) responses to a heterologous antigen. When we exposed organoids from malaria-naive donors to Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBC), we observed that iRBC exposure did not disrupt organoid formation and significantly increased V{delta}2+ {gamma}{delta} T cell frequencies in both tonsil and spleen organoids at multiple timepoints. Single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing revealed that iRBC-responsive V{delta}2+ T cells in organoids were clonally expanded and exhibited activated, cytotoxic phenotypes with upregulated expression of granzymes, interferon-stimulated genes, and antigen presentation machinery. TCR repertoire analysis demonstrated that malaria exposure drove clonal expansion of cytotoxic V{delta}2+ T cells, contrasting with the diverse, smaller clones observed in control conditions. To validate these findings, we analyzed tonsils from Ugandan children with asymptomatic malaria infection and found expanded V{delta}2+ T cells with enhanced cytotoxic potential compared to uninfected controls. When we tested whether malaria pre-exposure affected subsequent recall responses to influenza vaccine, malaria pre-exposure or {gamma}{delta} T cell depletion did not significantly alter cellular frequencies or influenza-specific antibody responses in most donors, though modest reductions were observed in some individuals. This work demonstrates the utility of human lymphoid organoids for studying malaria-host interactions and provides novel insights into V{delta}2+ T cell biology, including evidence for antigen-specific clonal expansion and cytotoxic differentiation in response to malaria parasites within secondary lymphoid tissues. Author SummaryMalaria vaccines are significantly less effective in populations with endemic malaria exposure compared to malaria-naive individuals. We used human tonsil and spleen organoids to investigate whether repeated malaria infections alter immune responses in secondary lymphoid organs, potentially contributing to this reduced vaccine efficacy. These organoids create a controlled system that preserves the architecture and cellular interactions of secondary lymphoid tissues. When we exposed organoids to Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells, we observed dramatic expansion of the V{delta}2+ subset of {gamma}{delta} T cells. This finding was particularly noteworthy because V{delta}2+ T cells are not typically considered major participants in immune responses within secondary lymphoid organs. Single-cell analysis revealed that these expanded V{delta}2+ T cells underwent clonal expansion and acquired cytotoxic phenotypes, suggesting antigen-specific responses. Tonsil tissue from Ugandan children with asymptomatic malaria infections showed similar patterns of V{delta}2+ T cell expansion and enhanced cytotoxic potential. Surprisingly, malaria pre-exposure did not affect subsequent recall responses to influenza vaccine in most donors, although this does not discount a possible impact on immune responses to primary vaccination. Our work reveals unexpected roles for {gamma}{delta} T cells in lymphoid tissues during malaria infection and establishes organoids as valuable models for studying host-pathogen interactions.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

CXCR6⁺ CD127- Tr1 Cells Balance Immunity and Persistence in Plasmodium falciparum Infection

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) induces the clonal expansion of antigen-specific type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells with a capacity for long-term memory. Tr1 cells comprise nearly 90% of the Pf blood stage antigen-specific CD4+ T cell pool in children. Though, whether Tr1 cells contribute to protection from malaria remains undetermined. To address this critical gap in knowledge, we first performed scRNAseq on gated cell populations to validate CXCR6+ CD127- as new phenotypic markers to enrich for bona-fide Tr1 cells. Importantly, these Tr1 cells potently suppressed the proliferation of other CD4+ T cells in vitro via IL-10 secretion. Among children living in malaria-endemic Uganda, CXCR6+ CD127- Tr1 cells were the dominant responding subset to Pf-infected red blood cell stimulation in vitro. They also rapidly expanded following malaria and expressed IL-10 and IFNg during infection in vivo. Tr1 abundance correlated with plasma concentrations of granzyme A, IFNg, IL-10, and LAG3, suggesting that these cells act systemically. Higher CXCR6+ CD127- Tr1 cell frequencies correlated with a lower probability of symptoms given parasitemia but were also associated with delayed parasite clearance among untreated, asymptomatic children. These data suggest that Tr1 cells help mediate clinical immunity to malaria but may also facilitate parasite persistence through mechanisms of immune regulation.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2019

Dictyostelium discoideum flotillin homologues are essential for phagocytosis and participate in plasma membrane recycling and lysosome biogenesis

The metazoan flotillins are lipid rafts residents involved in membrane trafficking and recycling of plasma membrane proteins. Dictyostelium discoideum, a social soil amoeba, uses phagocytosis to digest, kill and feed on bacteria. D. discoideum possesses three flotillin-like proteins, termed VacA, VacB and the recently identified VacC. All three vacuolins gradually accumulate on postlysosomes and, like flotillins, are strongly associated with membranes and partly with lipid rafts. Vacuolins are absolutely required for uptake of various particles. Their absence impairs particle recognition possibly because of defective recycling of plasma membrane or cortex-associated proteins. In addition, vacuolins are involved in phagolysosome biogenesis, although this does not impact digestion and killing of a wide range of bacteria. Furthermore, vacuolin knockout affects early recruitment of the WASH complex on phagosomes, suggesting that vacuolins may be involved in the WASH-dependent plasma membrane recycling. Altogether, these results indicate that vacuolins act as the functional homologues of flotillins in D. discoideum.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

PTH decreases in vitro human cartilage regeneration without affecting hypertrophic differentiation

Regenerated cartilage formed after Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation may be of suboptimal quality due to postulated hypertrophic changes. Parathyroid hormone-related peptide, containing the parathyroid hormone sequence (PTHrP 1-34), enhances cartilage growth during development and inhibits hypertrophic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and growth plate chondrocytes. This study aims to determine whether human articular chondrocytes respond correspondingly. Healthy human articular cartilage-derived chondrocytes (n=6 donors) were cultured on type II collagen-coated transwells with/without 0.1 or 1.0 M PTH from day 0, 9, or 21 until the end of culture (day 28). Extracellular matrix production, (pre)hypertrophy and PTH signaling were assessed by RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry for collagen type I, II, X, RUNX2, MMP13, PTHR1 and IHH and by determining glycosaminoglycan production and DNA content. The Bern score assessed cartilage quality by histology. Regardless of the concentration and initiation of supplementation, PTH treatment significantly decreased DNA and glycosaminoglycan content and reduced the Bern score compared with controls. Type I collagen deposition was increased, whereas PTHR1 expression and type II collagen deposition were decreased by PTH supplementation. Expression of the (pre)hypertrophic markers MMP13, RUNX2, IHH and type X collagen were not affected by PTH. In conclusion, PTH supplementation to healthy human articular chondrocytes did not affect hypertrophic differentiation, but negatively influenced cartilage quality, the tissues extracellular matrix and cell content. Although PTH may be an effective inhibitor of hypertrophic differentiation in MSC-based cartilage repair, care may be warranted in applying accessory PTH treatment due to its effects on articular chondrocytes.

cell biology↗