Alexandra Roberts

Alexandra Roberts

Biology, Lehman College, New York, USA

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 April 2023 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JBJohanna Bensalel-Lyampe
Johanna Bensalel-Lyampe
ARAlexandra Roberts
Alexandra Roberts
KHKiara Hernandez
Kiara Hernandez
APAngelica Pina
Angelica Pina
WPWinifred Prempeh
Winifred Prempeh
Julio Gallego-DelgadoJulio Gallego-Delgado
Julio Gallego-Delgado
The impact of malaria-associated acute kidney injury (MAKI), one of the strongest predictors of death in children with severe malaria (SM), has been largely underestimated and research in this area has been neglected. Consequently, a standard experimental mouse model to research this pathology is still lacking. The purpose of this study was to develop an in vivo model that resembles the pathology in MAKI patients. In this study, unilateral nephrectomies were performed on wild-type mice prior to infection with Plasmodium berghei NK65. The removal of one kidney has shown to be an effective approach to replicating the most common findings in humans with MAKI. Infection of nephrectomized mice, compared to their non-nephrectomized counterparts, resulted in the development of kidney injury, evident by histopathological analysis and elevated levels of acute kidney injury (AKI) biomarkers, including urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, serum Cystatin C, and blood urea nitrogen. Establishment of this in vivo model of MAKI is critical to the scientific community, as it can be used to elucidate the molecular pathways implicated in MAKI, delineate the development of the disease, identify biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis, and test potential adjunctive therapies.