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Voorberg-van der Wel A, Zeeman AM, Kocken CHM. Transfection Models to Investigate Plasmodium vivax-Type Dormant Liver Stage Parasites. Pathogens 2023; 12:1070. [PMID: 37764878 PMCID: PMC10534883 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax causes the second highest number of malaria morbidity and mortality cases in humans. Several biological traits of this parasite species, including the formation of dormant stages (hypnozoites) that persist inside the liver for prolonged periods of time, present an obstacle for intervention measures and create a barrier for the elimination of malaria. Research into the biology of hypnozoites requires efficient systems for parasite transmission, liver stage cultivation and genetic modification. However, P. vivax research is hampered by the lack of an in vitro blood stage culture system, rendering it reliant on in vivo-derived, mainly patient, material for transmission and liver stage culture. This has also resulted in limited capability for genetic modification, creating a bottleneck in investigations into the mechanisms underlying the persistence of the parasite inside the liver. This bottleneck can be overcome through optimal use of the closely related and experimentally more amenable nonhuman primate (NHP) parasite, Plasmodium cynomolgi, as a model system. In this review, we discuss the genetic modification tools and liver stage cultivation platforms available for studying P. vivax persistent stages and highlight how their combined use may advance our understanding of hypnozoite biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie Voorberg-van der Wel
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (A.-M.Z.); (C.H.M.K.)
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Plasmodium cynomolgi in humans: current knowledge and future directions of an emerging zoonotic malaria parasite. Infection 2022; 51:623-640. [PMID: 36401673 PMCID: PMC9676733 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01952-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium cynomolgi (Pcy), a simian malaria parasite, is a recent perfect example of emerging zoonotic transfer in human. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the epidemiology of natural Pcy infections in humans, mosquitoes and monkeys, along with its biological, clinical and drug sensitivity patterns. Knowledge gaps and further studies on Pcy in humans are also discussed. This parasite currently seems to be geographically limited in South-East Asia (SEA) with a global prevalence in human ranging from 0 to 1.4%. The Pcy infections were reported in local SEA populations and European travelers, and range from asymptomatic carriage to mild/moderate attacks with no evidence of pathognomonic clinical and laboratory patterns but with Pcy strain-shaped clinical differences. Geographical distribution and competence of suitable mosquito vectors and non-primate hosts, globalization, climate change, and increased intrusion of humans into the habitat of monkeys are key determinants to emergence of Pcy parasites in humans, along with its expansion outside SEA. Sensitization/information campaigns coupled with training and assessment sessions of microscopists and clinicians on Pcy are greatly needed to improve data on the epidemiology and management of human Pcy infection. There is a need for development of sensitive and specific molecular tools for individual diagnosis and epidemiological studies. The development of safe and efficient anti-hypnozoite drugs is the main therapeutic challenge for controlling human relapsing malaria parasites. Experience gained from P. knowlesi malaria, development of integrated measures and strategies—ideally with components related to human, monkeys, mosquito vectors, and environment—could be very helpful to prevent emergence of Pcy malaria in humans through disruption of transmission chain from monkeys to humans and ultimately contain its expansion in SEA and potential outbreaks in a context of malaria elimination.
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Kepple D, Pestana K, Tomida J, Abebe A, Golassa L, Lo E. Alternative Invasion Mechanisms and Host Immune Response to Plasmodium vivax Malaria: Trends and Future Directions. Microorganisms 2020; 9:E15. [PMID: 33374596 PMCID: PMC7822457 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax malaria is a neglected tropical disease, despite being more geographically widespread than any other form of malaria. The documentation of P. vivax infections in different parts of Africa where Duffy-negative individuals are predominant suggested that there are alternative pathways for P. vivax to invade human erythrocytes. Duffy-negative individuals may be just as fit as Duffy-positive individuals and are no longer resistant to P.vivax malaria. In this review, we describe the complexity of P. vivax malaria, characterize pathogenesis and candidate invasion genes of P. vivax, and host immune responses to P. vivax infections. We provide a comprehensive review on parasite ligands in several Plasmodium species that further justify candidate genes in P. vivax. We also summarize previous genomic and transcriptomic studies related to the identification of ligand and receptor proteins in P. vivax erythrocyte invasion. Finally, we identify topics that remain unclear and propose future studies that will greatly contribute to our knowledge of P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kepple
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Kareen Pestana
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Junya Tomida
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Abnet Abebe
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia;
| | - Lemu Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia;
| | - Eugenia Lo
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
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Galinski MR. Functional genomics of simian malaria parasites and host-parasite interactions. Brief Funct Genomics 2020; 18:270-280. [PMID: 31241151 PMCID: PMC6859816 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Two simian malaria parasite species, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium cynomolgi, cause zoonotic infections in Southeast Asia, and they have therefore gained recognition among scientists and public health officials. Notwithstanding, these species and others including Plasmodium coatneyi have served for decades as sources of knowledge on the biology, genetics and evolution of Plasmodium, and the diverse ramifications and outcomes of malaria in their monkey hosts. Experimental analysis of these species can help to fill gaps in knowledge beyond what may be possible studying the human malaria parasites or rodent parasite species. The genome sequences for these simian malaria parasite species were reported during the last decade, and functional genomics research has since been pursued. Here research on the functional genomics analysis involving these species is summarized and their importance is stressed, particularly for understanding host–parasite interactions, and potentially testing novel interventions. Importantly, while Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax can be studied in small New World monkeys, the simian malaria parasites can be studied more effectively in the larger Old World monkey macaque hosts, which are more closely related to humans. In addition to ex vivo analyses, experimental scenarios can include passage through Anopheline mosquito hosts and longitudinal infections in monkeys to study acute and chronic infections, as well as relapses, all in the context of the in vivo host environment. Such experiments provide opportunities for understanding functional genomic elements that govern host–parasite interactions, immunity and pathogenesis in-depth, addressing hypotheses not possible from in vitro cultures or cross-sectional clinical studies with humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Kawai S, Annoura T, Araki T, Shiogama Y, Soma S, Takano JI, Sato MO, Kaneko O, Yasutomi Y, Chigusa Y. Development of an effective alternative model for in vivo hypnozoite-induced relapse infection: A Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) model experimentally infected with Plasmodium cynomolgi. Parasitol Int 2020; 76:102096. [PMID: 32114084 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we demonstrate that the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) can be used as an effective alternative in vivo model for investigating hypnozoite-induced relapsing infection caused by Plasmodium cynomolgi B strain, and that this model is comparable to the rhesus macaque model. Two female Japanese macaques (JM-1 and JM-2; aged 5 years; weighing about 4.0 kg) were used for the experiment. To produce sporozoites in mosquitoes, blood infected with P. cynomolgi B strain was collected from the donor monkey JM-1 and fed to approximately 200 mosquitoes using the standard artificial membrane feeding method. The isolated sporozoites (2 × 105) were intravenously inoculated into the JM-2 monkey, and the blood stage of the parasite was detected on day 8 after the infection. Chloroquine sulfate (CQ) was intramuscularly administered at a dosage of 6.0 mg/kg into the JM-2 monkey for 6 consecutive days from day 12 onward, after which the parasites disappeared from the peripheral blood. The first relapse occurred on day 26, which was treated again with CQ. Then, the second relapse occurred on day 44, which was cured by CQ treatment followed by the administration of primaquine phosphate (PQ) at a dosage of 1.0 mg/kg/day for 15 days. The JM-2 monkey was observed until 69 days after PQ administration, and there was no relapse during the entire follow-up period. We propose that the Japanese macaque model could contribute not only to drug screening for anti-hypnozoite activity, but could also be used as a powerful tool for investigating hypnozoite biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Kawai
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Annoura
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tamasa Araki
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yumiko Shiogama
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Vaccine Research, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shogo Soma
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Vaccine Research, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichiro Takano
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Vaccine Research, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Marcello Otake Sato
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yasutomi
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Vaccine Research, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yuichi Chigusa
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan
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Mohring F, Hart MN, Rawlinson TA, Henrici R, Charleston JA, Diez Benavente E, Patel A, Hall J, Almond N, Campino S, Clark TG, Sutherland CJ, Baker DA, Draper SJ, Moon RW. Rapid and iterative genome editing in the malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi provides new tools for P. vivax research. eLife 2019; 8:45829. [PMID: 31205002 PMCID: PMC6579517 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tackling relapsing Plasmodium vivax and zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi infections is critical to reducing malaria incidence and mortality worldwide. Understanding the biology of these important and related parasites was previously constrained by the lack of robust molecular and genetic approaches. Here, we establish CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in a culture-adapted P. knowlesi strain and define parameters for optimal homology-driven repair. We establish a scalable protocol for the production of repair templates by PCR and demonstrate the flexibility of the system by tagging proteins with distinct cellular localisations. Using iterative rounds of genome-editing we generate a transgenic line expressing P. vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP), a lead vaccine candidate. We demonstrate that PvDBP plays no role in reticulocyte restriction but can alter the macaque/human host cell tropism of P. knowlesi. Critically, antibodies raised against the P. vivax antigen potently inhibit proliferation of this strain, providing an invaluable tool to support vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Mohring
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa Natalie Hart
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ryan Henrici
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - James A Charleston
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Hall
- Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Almond
- Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Susana Campino
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Taane G Clark
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Colin J Sutherland
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J Draper
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert William Moon
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Apicoplast phylogeny reveals the position of Plasmodium vivax basal to the Asian primate malaria parasite clade. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7274. [PMID: 31086239 PMCID: PMC6514274 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43831-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite species, Plasmodium vivax infects not only humans, but also African apes. Human specific P. vivax has evolved from a single ancestor that originated from a parasite of African apes. Although previous studies have proposed phylogenetic trees positioning P. vivax (the common ancestor of human and African ape P. vivax) within the assemblages of Asian primate parasites, its position has not yet been robustly confirmed. We determined nearly complete apicoplast genome sequences from seven Asian primate parasites, Plasmodium cynomolgi (strains Ceylonensis and Berok), P. knowlesi P. fragile, P. fieldi, P. simiovale, P. hylobati, P. inui, and an African primate parasite, P. gonderi, that infects African guenon. Phylogenetic relationships of the Plasmodium species were analyzed using newly and previously determined apicoplast genome sequences. Multigene maximum likelihood analysis of 30 protein coding genes did not position P. vivax within the Asian primate parasite clade but positioned it basal to the clade, after the branching of an African guenon parasite, P. gonderi. The result does not contradict with the emerging notion that P. vivax phylogenetically originated from Africa. The result is also supported by phylogenetic analyses performed using massive nuclear genome data of seven primate Plasmodium species.
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Strict tropism for CD71 +/CD234 + human reticulocytes limits the zoonotic potential of Plasmodium cynomolgi. Blood 2017; 130:1357-1363. [PMID: 28698207 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-02-764787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Two malaria parasites of Southeast Asian macaques, Plasmodium knowlesi and P cynomolgi, can infect humans experimentally. In Malaysia, where both species are common, zoonotic knowlesi malaria has recently become dominant, and cases are recorded throughout the region. By contrast, to date, only a single case of naturally acquired P cynomolgi has been found in humans. In this study, we show that whereas P cynomolgi merozoites invade monkey red blood cells indiscriminately in vitro, in humans, they are restricted to reticulocytes expressing both transferrin receptor 1 (Trf1 or CD71) and the Duffy antigen/chemokine receptor (DARC or CD234). This likely contributes to the paucity of detectable zoonotic cynomolgi malaria. We further describe postinvasion morphologic and rheologic alterations in P cynomolgi-infected human reticulocytes that are strikingly similar to those observed for P vivax These observations stress the value of P cynomolgi as a model in the development of blood stage vaccines against vivax malaria.
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