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Iribarren PA, Di Marzio LA, Berazategui MA, Saura A, Coria L, Cassataro J, Rojas F, Navarro M, Alvarez VE. Depolymerization of SUMO chains induces slender to stumpy differentiation in T. brucei bloodstream parasites. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012166. [PMID: 38635823 PMCID: PMC11060531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei are protozoan parasites that cause sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. Inside the mammalian host, a quorum sensing-like mechanism coordinates its differentiation from a slender replicative form into a quiescent stumpy form, limiting growth and activating metabolic pathways that are beneficial to the parasite in the insect host. The post-translational modification of proteins with the Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) enables dynamic regulation of cellular metabolism. SUMO can be conjugated to its targets as a monomer but can also form oligomeric chains. Here, we have investigated the role of SUMO chains in T. brucei by abolishing the ability of SUMO to polymerize. We have found that parasites able to conjugate only SUMO monomers are primed for differentiation. This was demonstrated for monomorphic lines that are normally unable to produce stumpy forms in response to quorum sensing signaling in mice, and also for pleomorphic cell lines in which stumpy cells were observed at unusually low parasitemia levels. SUMO chain mutants showed a stumpy compatible transcriptional profile and better competence to differentiate into procyclics. Our study indicates that SUMO depolymerization may represent a coordinated signal triggered during stumpy activation program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ana Iribarren
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–IIBIO (UNSAM-CONICET), San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Ayelén Di Marzio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–IIBIO (UNSAM-CONICET), San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Agustina Berazategui
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–IIBIO (UNSAM-CONICET), San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andreu Saura
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Lorena Coria
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–IIBIO (UNSAM-CONICET), San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juliana Cassataro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–IIBIO (UNSAM-CONICET), San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Rojas
- Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel Navarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Vanina Eder Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–IIBIO (UNSAM-CONICET), San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Morrison LJ, Steketee PC, Tettey MD, Matthews KR. Pathogenicity and virulence of African trypanosomes: From laboratory models to clinically relevant hosts. Virulence 2023; 14:2150445. [PMID: 36419235 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2150445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomes are vector-borne protozoa, which cause significant human and animal disease across sub-Saharan Africa, and animal disease across Asia and South America. In humans, infection is caused by variants of Trypanosoma brucei, and is characterized by varying rate of progression to neurological disease, caused by parasites exiting the vasculature and entering the brain. Animal disease is caused by multiple species of trypanosome, primarily T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei. These trypanosomes also infect multiple species of mammalian host, and this complexity of trypanosome and host diversity is reflected in the spectrum of severity of disease in animal trypanosomiasis, ranging from hyperacute infections associated with mortality to long-term chronic infections, and is also a main reason why designing interventions for animal trypanosomiasis is so challenging. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current understanding of trypanosome determinants of infection progression and severity, covering laboratory models of disease, as well as human and livestock disease. We will also highlight gaps in knowledge and capabilities, which represent opportunities to both further our fundamental understanding of how trypanosomes cause disease, as well as facilitating the development of the novel interventions that are so badly needed to reduce the burden of disease caused by these important pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam J Morrison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Pieter C Steketee
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Mabel D Tettey
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Keith R Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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McWilliam KR. Cell-cell communication in African trypanosomes. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001388. [PMID: 37643128 PMCID: PMC10482365 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Years of research have shown us that unicellular organisms do not exist entirely in isolation, but rather that they are capable of an altogether far more sociable way of living. Single cells produce, receive and interpret signals, coordinating and changing their behaviour according to the information received. Although this cell-cell communication has long been considered the norm in the bacterial world, an increasing body of knowledge is demonstrating that single-celled eukaryotic parasites also maintain active social lives. This communication can drive parasite development, facilitate the invasion of new niches and, ultimately, influence infection outcome. In this review, I present the evidence for cell-cell communication during the life cycle of the African trypanosomes, from their mammalian hosts to their insect vectors, and reflect on the many remaining unanswered questions in this fascinating field.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. R. McWilliam
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, King’s Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
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Vimonpatranon S, Roytrakul S, Phaonakrop N, Lekmanee K, Atipimonpat A, Srimark N, Sukapirom K, Chotivanich K, Khowawisetsut L, Pattanapanyasat K. Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Early and Late Stage Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Red Blood Cells Contain Invasion-Associated Proteins. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11144250. [PMID: 35888014 PMCID: PMC9318397 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11144250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In infectious diseases, extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from a pathogen or pathogen-infected cells can transfer pathogen-derived biomolecules, especially proteins, to target cells and consequently regulate these target cells. For example, malaria is an important tropical infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. Previous studies have identified the roles of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cell-derived EVs (Pf-EVs) in the pathogenesis, activation, and modulation of host immune responses. This study investigated the proteomic profiles of Pf-EVs isolated from four P. falciparum strains. We also compared the proteomes of EVs from (i) different EV types (microvesicles and exosomes) and (ii) different parasite growth stages (early- and late-stage). The proteomic analyses revealed that the human proteins carried in the Pf-EVs were specific to the type of Pf-EVs. By contrast, most of the P. falciparum proteins carried in Pf-EVs were common across all types of Pf-EVs. As the proteomics results revealed that Pf-EVs contained invasion-associated proteins, the effect of Pf-EVs on parasite invasion was also investigated. Surprisingly, the attenuation of parasite invasion efficiency was found with the addition of Pf-MVs. Moreover, this effect was markedly increased in culture-adapted isolates compared with laboratory reference strains. Our evidence supports the concept that Pf-EVs play a role in quorum sensing, which leads to parasite growth-density regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinmanus Vimonpatranon
- Graduate Program in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand;
| | - Sittiruk Roytrakul
- Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; (S.R.); (N.P.)
| | - Narumon Phaonakrop
- Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; (S.R.); (N.P.)
| | - Kittima Lekmanee
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Microparticle and Exosome in Diseases, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.L.); (N.S.); (K.S.)
| | - Anyapat Atipimonpat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand;
| | - Narinee Srimark
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Microparticle and Exosome in Diseases, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.L.); (N.S.); (K.S.)
| | - Kasama Sukapirom
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Microparticle and Exosome in Diseases, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.L.); (N.S.); (K.S.)
| | - Kesinee Chotivanich
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Ladawan Khowawisetsut
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
- Correspondence: (L.K.); (K.P.); Tel.: +66-2419-6477 (L.K. & K.P.)
| | - Kovit Pattanapanyasat
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Microparticle and Exosome in Diseases, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.L.); (N.S.); (K.S.)
- Correspondence: (L.K.); (K.P.); Tel.: +66-2419-6477 (L.K. & K.P.)
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