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2022 Abstracts

Mechanisms Underlying Thrombocytopenia in Plasmodium Infection

Presenter: Andelin Beishline
Authors: Andelin Beishline
Faculty Advisor: Tracey Lamb
Institution: University of Utah

Malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells. In 2019, there were 229 million cases and 409,000 deaths caused by malaria, with sub-Saharan Africa carrying 94% of the world’s malaria burden. Thrombocytopenia is a drop in the circulating platelets and is a frequent symptom of malaria. The mechanisms underlying thrombocytopenia in malaria are unknown. While thrombocytopenia itself is not a severe complication in regards to bleeding issues, it is a sign of poor prognosis of malaria. More research is needed to determine the underlying mechanisms of thrombocytopenia. Possible reasons for thrombocytopenia are 1. consumption and 2. lack of production. Here, we use mouse models of malaria to show that platelets are activated in blood-stage Plasmodium infection and adhere to infected red blood cells. We also show that platelets are consumed by infection upon transfer. Additionally, we show that megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, which are the main producers of platelets, decrease in number during infection. The cause of the drop is unknown but may be related to inflammation.