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Gural N, Mancio-Silva L, Miller AB, Galstian A, Butty VL, Levine SS, Patrapuvich R, Desai SP, Mikolajczak SA, Kappe SHI, Fleming HE, March S, Sattabongkot J, Bhatia SN. In Vitro Culture, Drug Sensitivity, and Transcriptome of Plasmodium Vivax Hypnozoites. Cell Host Microbe 2018; 23:395-406.e4. [PMID: 29478773 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The unique relapsing nature of Plasmodium vivax infection is a major barrier to malaria eradication. Upon infection, dormant liver-stage forms, hypnozoites, linger for weeks to months and then relapse to cause recurrent blood-stage infection. Very little is known about hypnozoite biology; definitive biomarkers are lacking and in vitro platforms that support phenotypic studies are needed. Here, we recapitulate the entire liver stage of P. vivax in vitro, using a multiwell format that incorporates micropatterned primary human hepatocyte co-cultures (MPCCs). MPCCs feature key aspects of P. vivax biology, including establishment of persistent small forms and growing schizonts, merosome release, and subsequent infection of reticulocytes. We find that the small forms exhibit previously described hallmarks of hypnozoites, and we pilot MPCCs as a tool for testing candidate anti-hypnozoite drugs. Finally, we employ a hybrid capture strategy and RNA sequencing to describe the hypnozoite transcriptome and gain insight into its biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nil Gural
- Harvard-MIT Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Liliana Mancio-Silva
- Harvard-MIT Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alex B Miller
- Broad Institute, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Vincent L Butty
- BioMicro Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Stuart S Levine
- BioMicro Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rapatbhorn Patrapuvich
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Heather E Fleming
- Harvard-MIT Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sandra March
- Harvard-MIT Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Broad Institute, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sangeeta N Bhatia
- Harvard-MIT Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Broad Institute, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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2
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Plasmodium vivax liver stage development and hypnozoite persistence in human liver-chimeric mice. Cell Host Microbe 2015; 17:526-35. [PMID: 25800544 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Revised: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax malaria is characterized by periodic relapses of symptomatic blood stage parasite infections likely initiated by activation of dormant liver stage parasites-hypnozoites. The lack of tractable P. vivax animal models constitutes an obstacle in examining P. vivax liver stage infection and drug efficacy. To overcome this obstacle, we have used human liver-chimeric (huHep) FRG KO mice as a model for P. vivax infection. FRG KO huHep mice support P. vivax sporozoite infection, liver stage development, and hypnozoite formation. We show complete P. vivax liver stage development, including maturation into infectious exo-erythrocytic merozoites as well as the formation and persistence of hypnozoites. Prophylaxis or treatment with the antimalarial primaquine can prevent and eliminate liver stage infection, respectively. Thus, P. vivax-infected FRG KO huHep mice are a model to investigate liver stage development and dormancy and may facilitate the discovery of drugs targeting relapsing malaria.
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3
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Roobsoong W, Maher SP, Rachaphaew N, Barnes SJ, Williamson KC, Sattabongkot J, Adams JH. A rapid sensitive, flow cytometry-based method for the detection of Plasmodium vivax-infected blood cells. Malar J 2014; 13:55. [PMID: 24528780 PMCID: PMC3942109 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax preferentially infects Duffy-positive reticulocytes and infections typically have few parasite-infected cells in the peripheral circulation. These features complicate detection and quantification by flow cytometry (FC) using standard nucleic acid-based staining methods. A simple antibody-based FC method was developed for rapid parasite detection along with simultaneous detection of other parasite and erythrocyte markers. Methods Clinical samples were collected from patients diagnosed with P. vivax at a district Malaria Clinic in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. One μL of infected blood was washed, fixed, stained with a Plasmodium pan-specific anti-PfBiP antibody conjugated with Alexa Fluor 660, and analysed by FC. Additional primary conjugated antibodies for stage-specific markers of P. vivax for late trophozoite-early schizonts (MSP1-Alexa Fluor 660), late-stage schizonts (DBP-Alexa Fluor 555), and sexual stages (Pvs16) were used to differentiate intra-erythrocytic developmental stages. Results The percentages of P. vivax-infected cells determined by the FC method and manually by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thick blood smears were positively correlated by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.93843) from 0.001 to 1.00% P. vivax-infected reticulocytes. Conclusions The FC-based method is a simple, robust, and efficient method for detecting P. vivax-infected reticulocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John H Adams
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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The N-terminal segment of Plasmodium falciparum SURFIN4.1 is required for its trafficking to the red blood cell cytosol through the endoplasmic reticulum. Parasitol Int 2013; 62:215-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Revised: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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5
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Ghoneim AM. Trafficking of Plasmodium falciparum chimeric rhoptry protein with Brefeldin A. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2013; 60:75-8. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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6
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A unique phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase is activated by ADP-ribosylation factor in Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Parasitol 2009; 39:645-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2008] [Revised: 11/09/2008] [Accepted: 11/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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7
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Rodriguez LE, Curtidor H, Urquiza M, Cifuentes G, Reyes C, Patarroyo ME. Intimate Molecular Interactions of P. falciparum Merozoite Proteins Involved in Invasion of Red Blood Cells and Their Implications for Vaccine Design. Chem Rev 2008; 108:3656-705. [DOI: 10.1021/cr068407v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hernando Curtidor
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Carrera 50 No. 26-00, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mauricio Urquiza
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Carrera 50 No. 26-00, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gladys Cifuentes
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Carrera 50 No. 26-00, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Claudia Reyes
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Carrera 50 No. 26-00, Bogotá, Colombia
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Struck NS, Herrmann S, Schmuck-Barkmann I, de Souza Dias S, Haase S, Cabrera AL, Treeck M, Bruns C, Langer C, Cowman AF, Marti M, Spielmann T, Gilberger TW. Spatial dissection of the cis- and trans-Golgi compartments in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Microbiol 2008; 67:1320-30. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06125.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Mononeme: a new secretory organelle in Plasmodium falciparum merozoites identified by localization of rhomboid-1 protease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:20043-8. [PMID: 18048320 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0709999104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Compartmentalization of proteins into subcellular organelles in eukaryotic cells is a fundamental mechanism of regulating complex cellular functions. Many proteins of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites involved in invasion are compartmentalized into apical organelles. We have identified a new merozoite organelle that contains P. falciparum rhomboid-1 (PfROM1), a protease that cleaves the transmembrane regions of proteins involved in invasion. By immunoconfocal microscopy, PfROM1 was localized to a single, thread-like structure on one side of the merozoites that appears to be in close proximity to the subpellicular microtubules. PfROM1 was not found associated with micronemes, rhoptries, or dense granules, the three identified secretory organelles of invasion. Release of merozoites from schizonts resulted in the movement of PfROM1 from the lateral asymmetric localization to the merozoite apical pole and the posterior pole. We have named this single thread-like organelle in merozoites, the mononeme.
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Pachebat JA, Kadekoppala M, Grainger M, Dluzewski AR, Gunaratne RS, Scott-Finnigan TJ, Ogun SA, Ling IT, Bannister LH, Taylor HM, Mitchell GH, Holder AA. Extensive proteolytic processing of the malaria parasite merozoite surface protein 7 during biosynthesis and parasite release from erythrocytes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 151:59-69. [PMID: 17097159 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2006] [Revised: 09/15/2006] [Accepted: 10/11/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In Plasmodium falciparum, merozoite surface protein 7 (MSP7) was originally identified as a 22kDa protein on the merozoite surface and associated with the MSP1 complex shed during erythrocyte invasion. MSP7 is synthesised in schizonts as a 351-amino acid precursor that undergoes proteolytic processing. During biosynthesis the MSP1 and MSP7 precursors form a complex that is targeted to the surface of developing merozoites. In the sequential proteolytic processing of MSP7, N- and C-terminal 20 and 33kDa products of primary processing, MSP7(20) and MSP7(33) are formed and MSP7(33) remains bound to full length MSP1. Later in the mature schizont, MSP7(20) disappears from the merozoite surface and on merozoite release MSP7(33) undergoes a secondary cleavage yielding the 22kDa MSP7(22) associated with MSP1. In free merozoites, both MSP7(22) and a further cleaved product, MSP7(19) present only in some parasite lines, were detected; these two derivatives are shed as part of the protein complex with MSP1 fragments during erythrocyte invasion. Primary processing of MSP7 is brefeldin A-sensitive while secondary processing is resistant to both calcium chelators and serine protease inhibitors. Primary processing of MSP7 occurs prior to that of MSP1 in a post-Golgi compartment, whereas the secondary cleavage occurs on the surface of the developing merozoite, possibly at the time of MSP1 primary processing and well before the secondary processing of MSP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Pachebat
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW1 1AA, UK
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Treeck M, Struck NS, Haase S, Langer C, Herrmann S, Healer J, Cowman AF, Gilberger TW. A Conserved Region in the EBL Proteins Is Implicated in Microneme Targeting of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)84113-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Treeck M, Struck NS, Haase S, Langer C, Herrmann S, Healer J, Cowman AF, Gilberger TW. A conserved region in the EBL proteins is implicated in microneme targeting of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:31995-2003. [PMID: 16935855 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m606717200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The proliferation of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum within the human host is dependent upon invasion of erythrocytes. This process is accomplished by the merozoite, a highly specialized form of the parasite. Secretory organelles including micronemes and rhoptries play a pivotal role in the invasion process by storing and releasing parasite proteins. The mechanism of protein sorting to these compartments is unclear. Using a transgenic approach we show that trafficking of the most abundant micronemal proteins (members of the EBL-family: EBA-175, EBA-140/BAEBL, and EBA-181/JSEBL) is independent of their cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains, respectively. To identify the minimal sequence requirements for microneme trafficking, we generated parasites expressing EBA-GFP chimeric proteins and analyzed their distribution within the infected erythrocyte. This revealed that: (i) a conserved cysteine-rich region in the ectodomain is necessary for protein trafficking to the micronemes and (ii) correct sorting is dependent on accurate timing of expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Treeck
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Malaria II, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
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Tonkin CJ, Pearce JA, McFadden GI, Cowman AF. Protein targeting to destinations of the secretory pathway in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Curr Opin Microbiol 2006; 9:381-7. [PMID: 16828333 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2006.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The secretory pathway in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has many unique aspects in terms of protein destinations and trafficking mechanisms. Recently, several exciting insights into protein trafficking within this intracellular parasite have been unveiled: these include signals that are required for targeting of proteins to the red blood cell and the relict plastid (known as the apicoplast); and the elucidation of the pathways of the haemoglobin proteases targeted to the food vacuole. Protein-targeting to the apical organelles in P. falciparum, however, is still not very well understood, but available research offers a tantalising glimpse of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
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Struck NS, de Souza Dias S, Langer C, Marti M, Pearce JA, Cowman AF, Gilberger TW. Re-defining the Golgi complex inPlasmodium falciparumusing the novel Golgi markerPfGRASP. J Cell Sci 2005; 118:5603-13. [PMID: 16306223 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.02673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, relies on a sophisticated protein secretion system for host cell invasion and transformation. Although the parasite displays a secretory pathway similar to those of all eukaryotic organisms, a classical Golgi apparatus has never been described. We identified and characterised the putative Golgi matrix protein PfGRASP, a homologue of the Golgi re-assembly stacking protein (GRASP) family. We show that PfGRASP is expressed as a 70 kDa protein throughout the asexual life cycle of the parasite. We generated PfGRASP-GFP-expressing transgenic parasites and showed that this protein is localised to a single, juxtanuclear compartment in ring-stage parasites. The PfGRASP compartment is distinct from the ER, restricted within the boundaries of the parasite and colocalises with the cis-Golgi marker ERD2. Correct subcellular localisation of this Golgi matrix protein depends on a cross-species conserved functional myristoylation motif and is insensitive to Brefeldin A. Taken together our results define the Golgi apparatus in Plasmodium and depict the morphological organisation of the organelle throughout the asexual life cycle of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S Struck
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Malaria II, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
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15
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Singh N, Preiser P, Rénia L, Balu B, Barnwell J, Blair P, Jarra W, Voza T, Landau I, Adams JH. Conservation and developmental control of alternative splicing in maebl among malaria parasites. J Mol Biol 2004; 343:589-99. [PMID: 15465047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.08.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2004] [Revised: 08/11/2004] [Accepted: 08/13/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Genes of malaria parasites and other unicellular organisms have larger exons with fewer and smaller introns than metaozoans. Such differences in gene structure are perceived to extend to simpler mechanisms for transcriptional control and mRNA processing. Instead, we discovered a surprisingly complex level of post-transcriptional mRNA processing in analysis of maebl transcripts in several Plasmodium species. Mechanisms for internal alternative cis-splicing and exon skipping were active in multiple life cycle stages to change exon structure in the deduced coding sequence (CDS). The major alternatively spliced transcript utilized a less favorable acceptor splice site, which shifted codon triplet usage to a different CDS with a hydrophilic C terminus, changing the canonical type I membrane MAEBL product to a predicted soluble isoform. We found that developmental control of the alternative splicing pattern was distinct from the canonical splicing pattern. Western blot analysis indicated that MAEBL expression was better correlated with the appearance of the canonical ORF1 transcript. Together these data reveal that RNA metabolism in unicellular eukaryotes like Plasmodium is more sophisticated than believed and may have a significant role regulating gene expression in Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 220 Galvin, PO Box 369, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Tonkin CJ, van Dooren GG, Spurck TP, Struck NS, Good RT, Handman E, Cowman AF, McFadden GI. Localization of organellar proteins in Plasmodium falciparum using a novel set of transfection vectors and a new immunofluorescence fixation method. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2004; 137:13-21. [PMID: 15279947 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2004.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 363] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2004] [Accepted: 05/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The apicoplast and mitochondrion of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are important intracellular organelles and targets of several anti-malarial drugs. In recent years, our group and others have begun to piece together the metabolic pathways of these organelles, with a view to understanding their functions and identifying further anti-malarial targets. This has involved localization of putative organellar proteins using fluorescent reporter proteins such as green fluorescent protein (GFP). A major limitation to such an approach is the difficulties associated with using existing plasmids to genetically modify P. falciparum. In this paper, we present a novel series of P. falciparum transfection vectors based around the Gateway recombinatorial cloning system. Our system makes it considerably easier to construct fluorescent reporter fusion proteins, as well as allowing the use of two selectable markers. Using this approach, we localize proteins involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis and the posttranslational processing of apicoplast-encoded proteins to the apicoplast, and a protein putatively involved in the citric acid cycle to the mitochondrion. To confirm the localization of these proteins, we have developed a new immunofluorescence assay (IFA) protocol using antibodies specific to the apicoplast and mitochondrion. In comparison with published IFA methods, we find that ours maintains considerably better structural preservation, while still allowing sufficient antibody binding as well as preserving reporter protein fluorescence. In summary, we present two important new tools that have enabled us to characterize some of the functions of the apicoplast and mitochondrion, and which will be of use to the wider malaria research community in elucidating the localization of other P. falciparum proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Tonkin
- Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
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Preiser P, Rénia L, Singh N, Balu B, Jarra W, Voza T, Kaneko O, Blair P, Torii M, Landau I, Adams JH. Antibodies against MAEBL ligand domains M1 and M2 inhibit sporozoite development in vitro. Infect Immun 2004; 72:3604-8. [PMID: 15155670 PMCID: PMC415718 DOI: 10.1128/iai.72.6.3604-3608.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MAEBL is a type 1 membrane protein that is implicated in the merozoite invasion of erythrocytes and sporozoite invasion of mosquito salivary glands. This apical organelle protein is structurally similar to the ebl erythrocyte binding proteins, such as EBA-175, except that the tandem ligand domains of MAEBL are similar to part of the extracellular domain of apical membrane antigen 1 and not the Duffy binding-like domain. Although midgut and salivary gland sporozoites are morphologically similar, salivary gland sporozoites undergo a period of new gene expression after infecting the salivary glands, display distinct phenotypic differences, and are more infectious for the mammalian host. The objectives of this project were to determine the molecular form of MAEBL in the infectious salivary gland sporozoites and whether the ligand has a role in the sporozoite development to exoerythrocytic stages in hepatocytes. We determined that MAEBL is newly expressed in salivary gland sporozoites and in a form distinct from what is present in the midgut sporozoites or present in erythrocytic stages. Both ligand domains (M1 and M2) were expressed as part of a full-length membrane form of MAEBL in the salivary gland sporozoites in contrast to the other stages that retain only the M2 ligand domain as part of the membrane form of the protein. Antisera developed against the cysteine-rich regions of the extracellular portion of MAEBL inhibited sporozoite development to exoerythrocytic forms in vitro. Together these data indicate that MAEBL has a role in this third developmental stage in the life cycle of the malaria parasite. Thus, MAEBL is another target for pre-erythrocytic-stage vaccine development against malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Preiser
- Division of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
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Ocampo M, Curtidor H, Vera R, Valbuena JJ, Rodríguez LE, Puentes A, López R, García JE, Tovar D, Pacheco P, Navarro MA, Patarroyo ME. MAEBL Plasmodium falciparum protein peptides bind specifically to erythrocytes and inhibit in vitro merozoite invasion. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 315:319-29. [PMID: 14766210 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2004] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
MAEBL is an erythrocyte binding protein located in the rhoptries and on the surface of mature merozoites, being expressed at the beginning of schizogony. The structure of MAEBL originally isolated from rodent malaria parasites suggested a molecule likely to be involved in invasion. We thus became interested in identifying possible MAEBL functional regions. Synthetic peptides spanning the MAEBL sequence were tested in erythrocyte binding assays to identify such possible MAEBL functional regions. Nine high activity binding peptides (HABPs) were identified: two were found in the M1 domain, one was found between the M1 and M2 regions, five in the erythrocyte binding domain (M2), and one in the protein's repeat region. The results showed that peptide binding was saturable; some HABPs inhibited in vitro merozoite invasion and specifically bound to a 33kDa protein on red blood cell membrane. HABPs' possible function in merozoite invasion of erythrocytes is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Ocampo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunologia de Colombia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Avda. Calle 26 No. 50-00, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Srinivasan P, Abraham EG, Ghosh AK, Valenzuela J, Ribeiro JMC, Dimopoulos G, Kafatos FC, Adams JH, Fujioka H, Jacobs-Lorena M. Analysis of the Plasmodium and Anopheles transcriptomes during oocyst differentiation. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:5581-7. [PMID: 14627711 PMCID: PMC4674691 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m307587200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the life cycle of the malaria parasite in its mosquito vector is essential for developing new strategies to combat this disease. Subtractive hybridization cDNA libraries were constructed that are enriched for Plasmodium berghei and Anopheles stephensi genes expressed during oocyst differentiation on the midgut. Sequencing of 1485 random clones led to the identification of 1137 unique expressed sequence tags. Of the 608 expressed sequence tags with data base hits, 320 (53%) had significant matches to the non-redundant protein data base, whereas 288 (47%) with matches only to genomic data bases represent novel Plasmodium and Anopheles genes. Transcription of six novel parasite genes and two previously identified asexual stage genes was up-regulated during oocyst differentiation. In addition, the mRNA for an Anopheles fibrinogen domain gene was induced on day 2 after an infectious blood meal, at the time of ookinete to oocyst differentiation. The subcellular distribution of MAEBL, a sporozoite surface protein, is developmentally regulated from presumed storage organelles in day 15 oocysts to uniform distribution on the surface in day 22 oocysts. This redistribution may reflect a sporozoite maturation program in preparation for salivary gland invasion. Furthermore, apical membrane antigen 1, another parasite surface molecule, is translationally regulated late in sporozoite development, suggesting a role during infection of the vertebrate host. The present results and those of an accompanying report (Abraham, E. G., Islam, S., Srinivasan, P., Ghosh, A. K., Valenzuela, J., Ribeiro, J. M., Kafatos, F. C., Dimopoulos, G., & Jacobs-Lorena, M. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 5573-5580) provide the foundation for studies seeking to understand at the molecular level Plasmodium development and its interactions with the mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Srinivasan
- Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Eappen G. Abraham
- Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Anil K. Ghosh
- Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Jesus Valenzuela
- Medical Entomology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0425
| | - Jose M. C. Ribeiro
- Medical Entomology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0425
| | | | - Fotis C. Kafatos
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg 69117, Germany
| | - John H. Adams
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Hisashi Fujioka
- Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
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20
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Daubenberger CA, Tisdale EJ, Curcic M, Diaz D, Silvie O, Mazier D, Eling W, Bohrmann B, Matile H, Pluschke G. The N'-terminal domain of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of the apicomplexan Plasmodium falciparum mediates GTPase Rab2-dependent recruitment to membranes. Biol Chem 2003; 384:1227-37. [PMID: 12974391 DOI: 10.1515/bc.2003.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Spatial and temporal distribution of the glycolytic enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (pfGAPDH) and aldolase (pfAldolase) of Plasmodium falciparum were investigated using specific mAbs and indirect immunofluorescence analysis (IFA). Both glycolytic enzymes were co-localized during ring and trophozoite stages of both liver and asexual blood stage parasites. During schizogony, pfGAPDH became associated with the periphery of the parasites and eventually accumulated in the apical region of merozoites, while pfAldolase showed no segregation. Subcellular fractionation experiments demonstrated that pfGAPDH was found in both the membrane-containing pellet and the supernatant fraction of parasite lysates. In contrast, pfAldolase was only found in the supernatant fraction. A quantitative binding assay showed that pfGAPDH could be recruited to HeLa cell microsomal membranes in response to mammalian GTPase Rab2, indicating that Rab2-dependent recruitment of cytosolic components to membranes is conserved in evolution. Two overlapping fragments of pfGAPDH (residues 1-192 and 133-337) were evaluated in the microsomal binding assay. We found that the N'-terminal fragment competitively inhibited Rab2-stimulated pfGAPDH recruitment. Thus, the domain mediating the evolutionarily conserved Rab2-dependent membrane recruitment is located in the N'-terminus of GAPDH. Together, these results suggest that pfGAPDH exerts non-glycolytic function(s) in P. falciparum, possibly including a role in vesicular transport and biogenesis of apical organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A Daubenberger
- Molecular Immunology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Socinstr. 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
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21
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Abstract
The complex life cycle of malaria parasites requires significant changes in gene expression as the parasites move from vector to host and back to the vector. Although recognised as an important vaccine and drug target, the liver stage parasite has remained difficult to study. One of the major impediments in identifying parasite gene expression at the liver stage has remained the large number of uninfected hepatocytes relative to the number of infected hepatocytes in the liver after sporozoite inoculation. This article describes several of the approaches that have been utilised to overcome this difficulty in rodent models of malaria. While significant progress has been made to identify genes that are expressed during liver stage parasite development, a great deal more work remains to be done.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Sacci
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Michon P, Stevens JR, Kaneko O, Adams JH. Evolutionary relationships of conserved cysteine-rich motifs in adhesive molecules of malaria parasites. Mol Biol Evol 2002; 19:1128-42. [PMID: 12082132 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a004171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites invade erythrocytes in a process mediated by a series of molecular interactions. Invasion of human erythrocytes by Plasmodium vivax is dependent upon the presence of a single receptor, but P. falciparum, as well as some other species, exhibits the ability to utilize multiple alternative invasion pathways. Conserved cysteine-rich domains play important roles at critical times during this invasion process and at other stages in the life cycle of malaria parasites. Duffy-binding-like (DBL) domains, expressed as a part of the erythrocyte-binding proteins (DBL-EBP), are such essential cysteine-rich ligands that recognize specific host cell surface receptors. DBL-EBP, which are products of the erythrocyte-binding-like (ebl) gene family, act as critical determinants of erythrocyte specificity and are the best-defined ligands from invasive stages of malaria parasites. The ebl genes include the P. falciparum erythrocyte-binding antigen-175 (EBA-175) and P. vivax Duffy-binding protein. DBL domains also mediate cytoadherence as a part of the variant erythrocytic membrane protein-1 (PfEMP-1) antigens expressed from var genes on the surface of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. A paralogue of the ebl family is the malarial ligand MAEBL, which has a chimeric structure where the DBL domain is functionally replaced with a distinct cysteine-rich erythrocyte-binding domain with similarity to the apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) ligand domain. The Plasmodium AMA-1 ligand domain, which encompasses the extracellular cysteine domains 1 and 2 and is well conserved in a Toxoplasma gondii AMA-1, has erythrocyte-binding activity distinct from that of MAEBL. These important families of Plasmodium molecules (DBL-EBP, PfEMP-1, MAEBL, AMA-1) are interrelated through the MAEBL. Because MAEBL and the other ebl products have the characteristics expected of homologous ligands involved in equivalent alternative invasion pathways to each other, we sought to better understand their roles during invasion by determining their relative origins in the Plasmodium genome. An analysis of their multiple cysteine-rich domains permitted a unique insight into the evolutionary development of PLASMODIUM: Our data indicate that maebl, ama-1, and ebl genes have ancient origins which predate Plasmodium speciation. The maebl evolved as a single locus, including its unique chimeric structure, in each Plasmodium species, in parallel with the ama-1 and the ebl genes families. The ancient character of maebl, along with its different expression characteristics suggests that MAEBL is unique and does not play an alternative role in invasion to ebl products such as EBA-175. The multiple P. falciparum ebl paralogues that express DBL domains, which have occurred by duplication and diversification, potentially do provide multiple functionally equivalent ligands to EBA-175 for alternative invasion pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Michon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
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Blair PL, Kappe SHI, Maciel JE, Balu B, Adams JH. Plasmodium falciparum MAEBL is a unique member of the ebl family. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2002; 122:35-44. [PMID: 12076768 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(02)00067-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is one of the deadliest human diseases and efforts to control it have been difficult due to the protozoan parasites' complex biology. Malaria merozoite invasion of erythrocytes is an essential part of blood-stage infections. The invasion process is mediated by numerous parasite molecules, such as EBA-175, a member of the ebl family of erythrocyte binding proteins. We have identified maebl, an ebl paralogue, in Plasmodium falciparum and found it highly conserved with its orthologues in P. yoelii and P. berghei, but distinct from other Plasmodium ebl. Importantly, the putative MAEBL ligand domains are highly conserved and are similar to AMA-1, but not the consensus DBL ligand domains present in all other ebl. In mature merozoites, MAEBL localized with rhoptry proteins (RhopH2, RAP-1), including surface localization with RhopH2, but not microneme proteins (EBA-175, BAEBL). MAEBL appears as proteolytically processed fragments in P. falciparum parasites. The amino cysteine-rich ligand domains were present primarily in culture supernatants, while the carboxyl cysteine-rich domain adjacent to the transmembrane domain was preferentially isolated from Triton X-100 extracted fractions. These data indicate that the primary structure of maebl is highly conserved among Plasmodium species, while its characteristics demonstrate a function unique among the ebl proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L Blair
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA
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24
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Kariu T, Yuda M, Yano K, Chinzei Y. MAEBL is essential for malarial sporozoite infection of the mosquito salivary gland. J Exp Med 2002; 195:1317-23. [PMID: 12021311 PMCID: PMC2193753 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20011876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Malarial sporozoites mature in the oocysts formed in the mosquito midgut wall and then selectively invade the salivary glands, where they wait to be transmitted to the vertebrate host via mosquito bite. Invasion into the salivary gland has been thought to be mediated by specific ligand-receptor interactions, but the molecules involved in these interactions remain unknown. MAEBL is a single transmembrane-like protein that is structurally related to merozoite adhesive proteins. We found MAEBL of the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, to be specifically produced by the sporozoites in the oocyst and localized in their micronemes, which are secretory organelles involved in malarial parasite invasion into the host cell. A targeted disruption experiment of the P. berghei MAEBL gene revealed that it was essential for sporozoite infection of the salivary gland and was involved in the attachment to the salivary gland surface. In contrast, the disruption of the MAEBL gene did not affect sporozoite motility in vitro nor infectivity to the vertebrate host. These results suggest that P. berghei MAEBL is a sporozoite attachment protein that participates in specific binding to and infection of the mosquito salivary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tohru Kariu
- Department of Medical Zoology, Mie University School of Medicine, Edobashi, Tsu, 514-0001, Japan
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25
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Fraser TS, Kappe SH, Narum DL, VanBuskirk KM, Adams JH. Erythrocyte-binding activity of Plasmodium yoelii apical membrane antigen-1 expressed on the surface of transfected COS-7 cells. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2001; 117:49-59. [PMID: 11551631 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(01)00326-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Malaria merozoite surface and apical organellar molecules facilitate invasion into the host erythrocyte. The underlying molecular mechanisms of invasion are poorly understood, and there are few data to delineate roles for individual merozoite proteins. Apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) is a conserved apicomplexan protein present in the apical organelle complex and at times on the surface of Plasmodium and Toxoplasma zoites. AMA-1 domains 1/2 are conserved between Plasmodium and Toxoplasma and have similarity to the defined ligand domains of MAEBL, an erythrocyte-binding protein identified from Plasmodium yoelii. We expressed selected portions of the AMA-1 extracellular domain on the surface of COS-7 cells to assay for erythrocyte-binding activity. The P. yoelii AMA-1 domains 1/2 mediated adhesion to mouse and rat erythrocytes, but not to human erythrocytes. Adhesion to rodent erythrocytes was sensitive to trypsin and chymotrypsin, but not to neuraminidase. Other parts of the AMA-1 ectodomain, including the full-length extracellular domain, mediated significantly less erythrocyte adhesion activity than the contiguous domains 1/2. The results support the role of AMA-1 as an adhesion molecule during merozoite invasion of erythrocytes and identify highly conserved domains 1/2 as the principal ligand of the Plasmodium AMA-1 and possibly the Toxoplasma AMA-1. Identification of the AMA-1 ligand domains involved in interaction between the parasite and host cell should help target the development of new therapies to block growth of the blood-stage malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA
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26
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Adams
- Dept of Biological Sciences, PO Box 369, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA.
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27
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Abstract
The invasion of erythrocytes by malaria parasites is a multi-step process that requires a series of highly specific molecular interactions. Here, the authors review what has been learned about receptor-ligand interactions that mediate erythrocyte invasion. Parasite proteins involved in these interactions are promising candidates for malaria vaccines. Clear understanding of these interactions is important for the rational design of vaccines that attempt to inhibit invasion and prevent malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Chitnis
- Malaria Research Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.
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28
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Michon P, Fraser T, Adams JH. Naturally acquired and vaccine-elicited antibodies block erythrocyte cytoadherence of the Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein. Infect Immun 2000; 68:3164-71. [PMID: 10816459 PMCID: PMC97553 DOI: 10.1128/iai.68.6.3164-3171.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/1999] [Accepted: 03/03/2000] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria merozoites require the presence of specific surface receptors on the red blood cell for invasion. Plasmodium vivax, requires the Duffy blood group antigen as an obligate receptor for invasion. The parasite Duffy binding protein (DBP) is the ligand involved in this process, making the DBP a potential vaccine candidate. A preliminary objective was to study whether people exposed to vivax malaria acquire antibodies that have the ability to block erythrocyte cytoadherence to the PvDBP. In comparison, we studied the immunogenicity of various recombinant DBP vaccines and investigated their potential to induct antifunctional antibodies. In order to do so, recombinant proteins to different regions of the putative ectodomain of the DBP and a DNA vaccine were used to immunize laboratory animals. An in vitro cytoadherence assay was used to investigate the presence of antifunctional antibodies in plasmas from people naturally exposed to vivax malaria, as well as in antisera obtained by animal vaccination. Our results showed that human plasma from populations naturally exposed to vivax malaria, as well as antisera obtained by vaccination using recombinant proteins, a DNA vaccine, and a synthetic peptide to DBP, inhibited in vitro binding of human erythrocytes to the DBP ligand domain (DBP(II)) in correlation to their previously measured antibody titer. Our results provide further evidence for the vaccine potential of this essential parasite adhesion molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Michon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556-0369, USA
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