Plasmodium falciparum subverts neutrophil function via host miR-451a loaded extracellular vesicles driving bacterial superinfection susceptibility

Abstract

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) compromise innate immunity, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The immune dysregulation caused by the parasite may lead to bacterial superinfections and increase mortality. We reveal that Pf exploits extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by infected red blood cells (iRBC-EVs) to deliver host-derived miR451a to human neutrophils, impairing their antimicrobial defences. Neutrophil phagocytosis of iRBC-EVs suppresses reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and compromised microbicidal activity against Salmonella typhimurium. Microfluidic assays show that miR451a transfer significantly disrupts neutrophil chemotaxis and swarming upon microbial challenge. Transcriptomic profiling indicates that EVs and miR451a reprogram neutrophil gene expression, notably upregulating ferroptosis-related genes, suggesting a role in further impairing immune responses. We have uncovered a novel mechanism of iRBC-EVs-induced neutrophil immune suppression and provide insights into increased susceptibility to bacterial superinfections in malaria. These findings have implications for therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating bacterial superinfections and sepsis in malaria-endemic regions.