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Anderson DC, Peterson MS, Lapp SA, Galinski MR. Proteomes of plasmodium knowlesi early and late ring-stage parasites and infected host erythrocytes. J Proteomics 2024; 302:105197. [PMID: 38759952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105197] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The emerging malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi threatens the goal of worldwide malaria elimination due to its zoonotic spread in Southeast Asia. After brief ex-vivo culture we used 2D LC/MS/MS to examine the early and late ring stages of infected Macaca mulatta red blood cells harboring P. knowlesi. The M. mulatta clathrin heavy chain and T-cell and macrophage inhibitor ERMAP were overexpressed in the early ring stage; glutaredoxin 3 was overexpressed in the late ring stage; GO term differential enrichments included response to oxidative stress and the cortical cytoskeleton in the early ring stage. P. knowlesi clathrin heavy chain and 60S acidic ribosomal protein P2 were overexpressed in the late ring stage; GO term differential enrichments included vacuoles in the early ring stage, ribosomes and translation in the late ring stage, and Golgi- and COPI-coated vesicles, proteasomes, nucleosomes, vacuoles, ion-, peptide-, protein-, nucleocytoplasmic- and RNA-transport, antioxidant activity and glycolysis in both stages. SIGNIFICANCE: Due to its zoonotic spread, cases of the emerging human pathogen Plasmodium knowlesi in southeast Asia, and particularly in Malaysia, threaten regional and worldwide goals for malaria elimination. Infection by this parasite can be fatal to humans, and can be associated with significant morbidity. Due to zoonotic transmission from large macaque reservoirs that are untreatable by drugs, and outdoor biting mosquito vectors that negate use of preventive measures such as bed nets, its containment remains a challenge. Its biology remains incompletely understood. Thus we examine the expressed proteome of the early and late ex-vivo cultured ring stages, the first intraerythrocyte developmental stages after infection of host rhesus macaque erythrocytes. We used GO term enrichment strategies and differential protein expression to compare early and late ring stages. The early ring stage is characterized by the enrichment of P. knowlesi vacuoles, and overexpression of the M. mulatta clathrin heavy chain, important for clathrin-coated pits and vesicles, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The M. mulatta protein ERMAP was also overexpressed in the early ring stage, suggesting a potential role in early ring stage inhibition of T-cells and macrophages responding to P. knowlesi infection of reticulocytes. This could allow expansion of the host P. knowlesi cellular niche, allowing parasite adaptation to invasion of a wider age range of RBCs than the preferred young RBCs or reticulocytes, resulting in proliferation and increased pathogenesis in infected humans. Other GO terms differentially enriched in the early ring stage include the M. mulatta cortical cytoskeleton and response to oxidative stress. The late ring stage is characterized by overexpression of the P. knowlesi clathrin heavy chain. Combined with late ring stage GO term enrichment of Golgi-associated and coated vesicles, and enrichment of COPI-coated vesicles in both stages, this suggests the importance to P. knowlesi biology of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. P. knowlesi ribosomes and translation were also differentially enriched in the late ring stage. With expression of a variety of heat shock proteins, these results suggest production of folded parasite proteins is increasing by the late ring stage. M. mulatta endocytosis was differentially enriched in the late ring stage, as were clathrin-coated vesicles and endocytic vesicles. This suggests that M. mulatta clathrin-based endocytosis, perhaps in infected reticulocytes rather than mature RBC, may be an important process in the late ring stage. Additional ring stage biology from enriched GO terms includes M. mulatta proteasomes, protein folding and the chaperonin-containing T complex, actin and cortical actin cytoskeletons. P knowlesi biology also includes proteasomes, as well as nucleosomes, antioxidant activity, a variety of transport processes, glycolysis, vacuoles and protein folding. Mature RBCs have lost internal organelles, suggesting infection here may involve immature reticulocytes still retaining organelles. P. knowlesi parasite proteasomes and translational machinery may be ring stage drug targets for known selective inhibitors of these processes in other Plasmodium species. To our knowledge this is the first examination of more than one timepoint within the ring stage. Our results expand knowledge of both host and parasite proteins, pathways and organelles underlying P. knowlesi ring stage biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Anderson
- Biosciences Division, SRI International, Harrisonburg, VA 22802, USA.
| | - Mariko S Peterson
- Emory Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Stacey A Lapp
- Emory Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Mary R Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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2
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Sy Thau N, Nguyen TK, Truong NV, Chu TTH, Na SH, Moon RW, Lau YL, Nyunt MH, Park WS, Chun WJ, Lu F, Lee SK, Han JH, Han ET. Characterization of merozoite-specific thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (MTRAP) in Plasmodium vivax and P. knowlesi parasites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1354880. [PMID: 38465236 PMCID: PMC10920329 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1354880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax, the most widespread human malaria parasite, and P. knowlesi, an emerging Plasmodium that infects humans, are the phylogenetically closest malarial species that infect humans, which may induce cross-species reactivity across most co-endemic areas in Southeast Asia. The thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) family is indispensable for motility and host cell invasion in the growth and development of Plasmodium parasites. The merozoite-specific TRAP (MTRAP), expressed in blood-stage merozoites, is supposed to be essential for human erythrocyte invasion. We aimed to characterize MTRAPs in blood-stage P. vivax and P. knowlesi parasites and ascertain their cross-species immunoreactivity. Recombinant P. vivax and P. knowlesi MTRAPs of full-length ectodomains were expressed in a mammalian expression system. The MTRAP-specific immunoglobulin G, obtained from immune animals, was used in an immunofluorescence assay for subcellular localization and invasion inhibitory activity in blood-stage parasites was determined. The cross-species humoral immune responses were analyzed in the sera of patients with P. vivax or P. knowlesi infections. The MTRAPs of P. vivax (PvMTRAP) and P. knowlesi (PkMTRAP) were localized on the rhoptry body of merozoites in blood-stage parasites. Both anti-PvMTRAP and anti-PkMTRAP antibodies inhibited erythrocyte invasion of blood-stage P. knowlesi parasites. The humoral immune response to PvMTRAP showed high immunogenicity, longevity, and cross-species immunoreactivity with P. knowlesi. MTRAPs are promising candidates for development of vaccines and therapeutics against vivax and knowlesi malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Sy Thau
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Tuyet-Kha Nguyen
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen Van Truong
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Thi-Thanh Hang Chu
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hun Na
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-d, Republic of Korea
| | - Robert W. Moon
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Won-Sun Park
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan-Joo Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Feng Lu
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Seong-Kyun Lee
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
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3
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Alves-Rosa MF, Tayler NM, Dorta D, Coronado LM, Spadafora C. P. falciparum Invasion and Erythrocyte Aging. Cells 2024; 13:334. [PMID: 38391947 PMCID: PMC10887143 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites need to find red blood cells (RBCs) that, on the one hand, expose receptors for the pathogen ligands and, on the other hand, maintain the right geometry to facilitate merozoite attachment and entry into the red blood cell. Both characteristics change with the maturation of erythrocytes. Some Plasmodia prefer younger vs. older erythrocytes. How does the life evolution of the RBC affect the invasion of the parasite? What happens when the RBC ages? In this review, we present what is known up until now.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Carmenza Spadafora
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicio de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama City 0843-01103, Panama; (M.F.A.-R.); (N.M.T.); (D.D.); (L.M.C.)
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4
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Jajosky RP, Wu SC, Jajosky PG, Stowell SR. Plasmodium knowlesi ( Pk) Malaria: A Review & Proposal of Therapeutically Rational Exchange (T-REX) of Pk-Resistant Red Blood Cells. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:478. [PMID: 37888606 PMCID: PMC10610852 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi (Pk) causes zoonotic malaria and is known as the "fifth human malaria parasite". Pk malaria is an emerging threat because infections are increasing and can be fatal. While most infections are in Southeast Asia (SEA), especially Malaysia, travelers frequently visit this region and can present with Pk malaria around the world. So, clinicians need to know (1) patients who present with fever after recent travel to SEA might be infected with Pk and (2) Pk is often misdiagnosed as P. malariae (which typically causes less severe malaria). Here we review the history, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of Pk malaria. Severe disease is most common in adults. Signs and symptoms can include fever, abdominal pain, jaundice, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hyponatremia, hyperparasitemia, and thrombocytopenia. Dengue is one of the diseases to be considered in the differential. Regarding pathophysiologic mechanisms, when Pk parasites invade mature red blood cells (RBCs, i.e., normocytes) and reticulocytes, changes in the red blood cell (RBC) surface can result in life-threatening cytoadherence, sequestration, and reduced RBC deformability. Since molecular mechanisms involving the erythrocytic stage are responsible for onset of severe disease and lethal outcomes, it is biologically plausible that manual exchange transfusion (ET) or automated RBC exchange (RBCX) could be highly beneficial by replacing "sticky" parasitized RBCs with uninfected, deformable, healthy donor RBCs. Here we suggest use of special Pk-resistant donor RBCs to optimize adjunctive manual ET/RBCX for malaria. "Therapeutically-rational exchange transfusion" (T-REX) is proposed in which Pk-resistant RBCs are transfused (instead of disease-promoting RBCs). Because expression of the Duffy antigen on the surface of human RBCs is essential for parasite invasion, T-REX of Duffy-negative RBCs-also known as Fy(a-b-) RBCs-could replace the majority of the patient's circulating normocytes with Pk invasion-resistant RBCs (in a single procedure lasting about 2 h). When sequestered or non-sequestered iRBCs rupture-in a 24 h Pk asexual life cycle-the released merozoites cannot invade Fy(a-b-) RBCs. When Fy(a-b-) RBC units are scarce (e.g., in Malaysia), clinicians can consider the risks and benefits of transfusing plausibly Pk-resistant RBCs, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient (G6PDd) RBCs and Southeast Asian ovalocytes (SAO). Patients typically require a very short recovery time (<1 h) after the procedure. Fy(a-b-) RBCs should have a normal lifespan, while SAO and G6PDd RBCs may have mildly reduced half-lives. Because SAO and G6PDd RBCs come from screened blood donors who are healthy and not anemic, these RBCs have a low-risk for hemolysis and do not need to be removed after the patient recovers from malaria. T-REX could be especially useful if (1) antimalarial medications are not readily available, (2) patients are likely to progress to severe disease, or (3) drug-resistant strains emerge. In conclusion, T-REX is a proposed optimization of manual ET/RBCX that has not yet been utilized but can be considered by physicians to treat Pk malaria patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Philip Jajosky
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 630E New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.-C.W.)
- Biconcavity Inc., Lilburn, GA 30047, USA
| | - Shang-Chuen Wu
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 630E New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.-C.W.)
| | | | - Sean R. Stowell
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 630E New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.-C.W.)
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5
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Chaianantakul N, Sungkapong T, Nikhomkham K, Sanseewong K, Kornsang S. A Novel Nested Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Malaria Diagnosis Using the Hydroxymethyl Dihydropterin Pyrophosphokinase-Dihydropteroate Synthase (hppk-dhps) Gene. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 109:770-777. [PMID: 37696509 PMCID: PMC10551067 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
There are many techniques for malaria diagnosis. Currently, the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on a small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18S rRNA) has been used as a confirmatory method. However, this method is time-consuming, laborious, and costly. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop nested multiplex PCR for Plasmodium species identification using the dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase-dihydropteroate synthase (hppk-dhps) gene. Genus- and species-specific primers for the hppk-dhps gene were designed. The performance of the novel nested multiplex PCR was compared with 18S rRNA nested PCR. A total of 115 blood samples were used in this study, including 84 infected samples and 31 uninfected samples. Analysis of the blood samples by nested multiplex PCR targeting the hppk-dhps gene identified 81 infected cases. The level of agreement between this novel method and 18S rRNA nested PCR was 97.4%. Further, the novel method successfully detected all human malaria parasites except Plasmodium ovale and detected mixed Plasmodium falciparum/Plasmodium vivax infections. The sensitivity and specificity obtained from this novel method were 96.4% and 100%, respectively. The limit of detection of the hppk-dhps nested multiplex PCR for P. falciparum and P. vivax was 500 parasites/µL and 4 parasites/µL, respectively. The lowest parasite gDNA detected by this method was 0.5 ng/µL for P. falciparum and 0.1 ng/µL for P. vivax. These results corroborate that the hppk-dhps gene is a novel amplification target for the detection of human malaria. This novel target PCR-based method is a beneficial approach for malaria diagnosis, as well as species identification and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natpasit Chaianantakul
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Tippawan Sungkapong
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Kanokwan Nikhomkham
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Kansuda Sanseewong
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Sawanya Kornsang
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
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6
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Mee-udorn P, Phiwkaow K, Tinikul R, Sanachai K, Maenpuen S, Rungrotmongkol T. In Silico and In Vitro Potential of FDA-Approved Drugs for Antimalarial Drug Repurposing against Plasmodium Serine Hydroxymethyltransferases. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:35580-35591. [PMID: 37810721 PMCID: PMC10552471 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Malaria has spread in many countries, with a 12% increase in deaths after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Malaria is one of the most concerning diseases in the Greater Mekong subregion, showing increased drug-resistant rates. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), a key enzyme in the deoxythymidylate synthesis pathway, has been identified as a promising antimalarial drug target due to its conserved folate binding pocket. This study used a molecular docking approach to screen 2509 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs against seven Plasmodium SHMT structures. Eight compounds had significantly lower binding energies than the known SHMT inhibitors pyrazolopyran(+)-86, tetrahydrofolate, and antimalarial drugs, ranging from 4 to 10 kcal/mol. Inhibition assays testing the eight compounds against Plasmodium falciparum SHMT (PfSHMT) showed that amphotericin B was a competitive inhibitor of PfSHMT with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 106 ± 1 μM. Therefore, a 500 ns molecular dynamics simulation of PfSHMT/PLS/amphotericin B was performed. The backbone root-mean-square deviation of the protein-ligand complex indicated the high complex stability during simulations, supported by its radius of gyration, hydrogen-bond interactions, and number of atom contacts. The appreciable binding affinity of amphotericin B for PfSHMT was indicated by their solvated interaction energy (-11.15 ± 0.09 kcal/mol) and supported by strong ligand-protein interactions (≥80% occurrences) with its essential residues (i.e., Y78, K151, N262, F266, and V365) predicted by pharmacophore modeling and per-residue decomposition free energy methods. Therefore, our findings identify a promising new PfSHMT inhibitor, albeit with less inhibitory activity, and suggest a core structure that differs from that of previous SHMT inhibitors, thus being a rational approach for novel antimalarial drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pitchayathida Mee-udorn
- Program
in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kochakorn Phiwkaow
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Burapha
University, Chonburi 20131, Thailand
| | - Ruchanok Tinikul
- Department
of Biochemistry and Center for Excellence in Protein and Enzyme Technology,
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kamonpan Sanachai
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Khon
Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Somchart Maenpuen
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Burapha
University, Chonburi 20131, Thailand
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Program
in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Center
of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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7
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Kundu P, Naskar D, McKie SJ, Dass S, Kanjee U, Introini V, Ferreira MU, Cicuta P, Duraisingh M, Deane JE, Rayner JC. The structure of a Plasmodium vivax Tryptophan Rich Antigen domain suggests a lipid binding function for a pan-Plasmodium multi-gene family. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5703. [PMID: 37709739 PMCID: PMC10502043 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40885-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan Rich Antigens (TRAgs) are encoded by a multi-gene family found in all Plasmodium species, but are significantly expanded in P. vivax and closely related parasites. We show that multiple P. vivax TRAgs are expressed on the merozoite surface and that one, PVP01_0000100 binds red blood cells with a strong preference for reticulocytes. Using X-ray crystallography, we solved the structure of the PVP01_0000100 C-terminal tryptophan rich domain, which defines the TRAg family, revealing a three-helical bundle that is conserved across Plasmodium and has structural homology with lipid-binding BAR domains involved in membrane remodelling. Biochemical assays confirm that the PVP01_0000100 C-terminal domain has lipid binding activity with preference for sulfatide, a glycosphingolipid present in the outer leaflet of plasma membranes. Deletion of the putative orthologue in P. knowlesi, PKNH_1300500, impacts invasion in reticulocytes, suggesting a role during this essential process. Together, this work defines an emerging molecular function for the Plasmodium TRAg family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasun Kundu
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Deboki Naskar
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shannon J McKie
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sheena Dass
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Usheer Kanjee
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Viola Introini
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marcelo U Ferreira
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pietro Cicuta
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Manoj Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Janet E Deane
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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8
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Leong YW, Russell B, Malleret B, Rénia L. Erythrocyte tropism of malarial parasites: The reticulocyte appeal. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1022828. [PMID: 36386653 PMCID: PMC9643692 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1022828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythrocytes are formed from the enucleation of erythroblasts in the bone marrow, and as erythrocytes develop from immature reticulocytes into mature normocytes, they undergo extensive cellular changes through their passage in the blood. During the blood stage of the malarial parasite life cycle, the parasite sense and invade susceptible erythrocytes. However, different parasite species display varying erythrocyte tropisms (i.e., preference for either reticulocytes or normocytes). In this review, we explore the erythrocyte tropism of malarial parasites, especially their predilection to invade reticulocytes, as shown from recent studies. We also discuss possible mechanisms mediating erythrocyte tropism and the implications of specific tropisms to disease pathophysiology. Understanding these allows better insight into the role of reticulocytes in malaria and provides opportunities for targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yew Wai Leong
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bruce Russell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Benoit Malleret
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Immunology Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Laurent Rénia
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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9
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Mee-udorn P, Nutho B, Chootrakool R, Maenpuen S, Leartsakulpanich U, Chitnumsub P, Rungrotmongkol T. Structural dynamics and in silico design of pyrazolopyran-based inhibitors against Plasmodium serine hydroxymethyltransferases. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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10
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Barber BE, Grigg MJ, Cooper DJ, van Schalkwyk DA, William T, Rajahram GS, Anstey NM. Clinical management of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2021; 113:45-76. [PMID: 34620385 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The zoonotic parasite Plasmodium knowlesi has emerged as an important cause of human malaria in parts of Southeast Asia. The parasite is indistinguishable by microscopy from the more benign P. malariae, but can result in high parasitaemias with multiorgan failure, and deaths have been reported. Recognition of severe knowlesi malaria, and prompt initiation of effective therapy is therefore essential to prevent adverse outcomes. Here we review all studies reporting treatment of uncomplicated and severe knowlesi malaria. We report that although chloroquine is effective for the treatment of uncomplicated knowlesi malaria, artemisinin combination treatment is associated with faster parasite clearance times and lower rates of anaemia during follow-up, and should be considered the treatment of choice, particularly given the risk of administering chloroquine to drug-resistant P. vivax or P. falciparum misdiagnosed as P. knowlesi malaria in co-endemic areas. For severe knowlesi malaria, intravenous artesunate has been shown to be highly effective and associated with reduced case-fatality rates, and should be commenced without delay. Regular paracetamol may also be considered for patients with severe knowlesi malaria or for those with acute kidney injury, to attenuate the renal damage resulting from haemolysis-induced lipid peroxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget E Barber
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
| | - Matthew J Grigg
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Daniel J Cooper
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Timothy William
- Gleneagles Medical Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Giri S Rajahram
- Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Nicholas M Anstey
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
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Ahmad SJ, Mohamad Zin N, Mazlan NW, Baharum SN, Baba MS, Lau YL. Metabolite profiling of endophytic Streptomyces spp. and its antiplasmodial potential. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10816. [PMID: 33777509 PMCID: PMC7971094 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antiplasmodial drug discovery is significant especially from natural sources such as plant bacteria. This research aimed to determine antiplasmodial metabolites of Streptomyces spp. against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 by using a metabolomics approach. Methods Streptomyces strains' growth curves, namely SUK 12 and SUK 48, were measured and P. falciparum 3D7 IC50 values were calculated. Metabolomics analysis was conducted on both strains' mid-exponential and stationary phase extracts. Results The most successful antiplasmodial activity of SUK 12 and SUK 48 extracts shown to be at the stationary phase with IC50 values of 0.8168 ng/mL and 0.1963 ng/mL, respectively. In contrast, the IC50 value of chloroquine diphosphate (CQ) for antiplasmodial activity was 0.2812 ng/mL. The univariate analysis revealed that 854 metabolites and 14, 44 and three metabolites showed significant differences in terms of strain, fermentation phase, and their interactions. Orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis and S-loading plot putatively identified pavettine, aurantioclavine, and 4-butyldiphenylmethane as significant outliers from the stationary phase of SUK 48. For potential isolation, metabolomics approach may be used as a preliminary approach to rapidly track and identify the presence of antimalarial metabolites before any isolation and purification can be done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Junaidah Ahmad
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.,Center for Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Noraziah Mohamad Zin
- Center for Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Noor Wini Mazlan
- Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | | | - Mohd Shukri Baba
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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12
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de Silva JR, Amir A, Lau YL, Ooi CH, Fong MY. Distribution of the Duffy genotypes in Malaysian Borneo and its relation to Plasmodium knowlesi malaria susceptibility. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222681. [PMID: 31536563 PMCID: PMC6752761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The Duffy blood group plays a key role in Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax invasion into human erythrocytes. The geographical distribution of the Duffy alleles differs between regions with the FY*A allele having high frequencies in many Asian populations, the FY*B allele is found predominately in European populations and the FY*Bes allele found predominantly in African regions. A previous study in Peninsular Malaysia indicated high homogeneity of the dominant FY*A/FY*A genotype. However, the distribution of the Duffy genotypes in Malaysian Borneo is currently unknown. In the present study, the distribution of Duffy blood group genotypes and allelic frequencies among P. knowlesi infected patients as well as healthy individuals in Malaysian Borneo were determined. A total of 79 P. knowlesi patient blood samples and 76 healthy donor samples were genotyped using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASP-PCR). Subsequently a P. knowlesi invasion assay was carried out on FY*AB/ FY*A and FY*A/ FY*A Duffy genotype blood to investigate if either genotype conferred increased susceptibility to P. knowlesi invasion. Our results show almost equal distribution between the homozygous FY*A/FY*A and heterozygous FY*A/FY*B genotypes. This is in stark contrast to the Duffy distribution in Peninsular Malaysia and the surrounding Southeast Asian region which is dominantly FY*A/FY*A. The mean percent invasion of FY*A/FY*A and FY*A/FY*B blood was not significantly different indicating that neither blood group confers increased susceptibility to P. knowlesi invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Ryan de Silva
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Amirah Amir
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Choo-Huck Ooi
- Sarawak State Health Department, Jalan Diplomatik, Off Jalan Bako, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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13
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Ngernna S, Chim-Ong A, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Cui L, Nguitragool W. Efficient synchronization of Plasmodium knowlesi in vitro cultures using guanidine hydrochloride. Malar J 2019; 18:148. [PMID: 31023359 PMCID: PMC6482532 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term in vitro culture of blood stage Plasmodium parasites invariably leads to asynchronous parasite development. The most often used technique to synchronize Plasmodium falciparum culture is sorbitol treatment, which differentially induces osmotic lysis of trophozoite- and schizont-infected red blood cells due to presence of the new permeation pathways in the membranes of these cells. However, sorbitol treatment does not work well when used to synchronize the culture-adapted Plasmodium knowlesi A1-H.1 line. METHODS A number of common solutes were tested in lieu of sorbitol for synchronization of P. knowlesi A1-H.1 ring stage. RESULTS Guanidine hydrochloride was found to selectively lyse trophozoite- and schizont-infected red blood cells, yielding highly synchronous and viable rings. CONCLUSIONS A method for synchronization of P. knowlesi in human red blood cells was developed. Requiring only common laboratory reagents, this method is simple and should be applicable to most laboratory settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutharinee Ngernna
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Anongruk Chim-Ong
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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14
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Plasmodium knowlesi exhibits distinct in vitro drug susceptibility profiles from those of Plasmodium falciparum. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2019; 9:93-99. [PMID: 30831468 PMCID: PMC6403410 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
New antimalarial agents are identified and developed after extensive testing on Plasmodium falciparum parasites that can be grown in vitro. These susceptibility studies are important to inform lead optimisation and support further drug development. Until recently, little was known about the susceptibility of non-falciparum species as these had not been adapted to in vitro culture. The recent culture adaptation of P. knowlesi has therefore offered an opportunity to routinely define the drug susceptibility of this species, which is phylogenetically closer to all other human malarias than is P. falciparum. We compared the in vitro susceptibility of P. knowlesi and P. falciparum to a range of established and novel antimalarial agents under identical assay conditions. We demonstrated that P. knowlesi is significantly less susceptible than P. falciparum to six of the compounds tested; and notably these include three ATP4 inhibitors currently under development as novel antimalarial agents, and one investigational antimalarial, AN13762, which is 67 fold less effective against P. knowlesi. For the other compounds there was a less than two-fold difference in susceptibility between species. We then compared the susceptibility of a recent P. knowlesi isolate, UM01, to that of the well-established, older A1-H.1 clone. This recent isolate showed similar in vitro drug susceptibility to the A1-H.1 clone, supporting the ongoing use of the better characterised clone to further study drug susceptibility. Lastly, we used isobologram analysis to explore the interaction of a selection of drug combinations and showed similar drug interactions across species. The species differences in drug susceptibility reported by us here and previously, support adding in vitro drug screens against P. knowlesi to those using P. falciparum strains to inform new drug discovery and lead optimisation. P. knowlesi >6-fold less susceptible to several ATP4 inhibitors than P. falciparum. P. knowlesi equally susceptible to artemisinins and synthetic endoperoxides. Isobolograms show similar drug interactions for P. knowlesi and P. falciparum. New P. knowlesi isolate (UM01) similarly susceptible to antimalarials as A1-H.1
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15
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Reduced red blood cell deformability in Plasmodium knowlesi malaria. Blood Adv 2019; 2:433-443. [PMID: 29487058 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017013730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi can cause severe and fatal human malaria. However, little is known about the pathogenesis of this disease. In falciparum malaria, reduced red blood cell deformability (RBC-D) contributes to microvascular obstruction and impaired organ perfusion. In P knowlesi infection, impaired microcirculatory flow has been observed in Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaques), unnatural hosts who develop severe and fatal disease. However, RBC-D has not been measured in human infection or in the natural host M fascicularis (long-tailed macaques). Using ektacytometry, we measured RBC-D in adults with severe and non-severe knowlesi and falciparum malaria and in healthy controls. In addition, we used micropipette aspiration to determine the relative stiffness of infected RBCs (iRBCs) and uninfected RBCs (uRBCs) in P knowlesi-infected humans and M fascicularis Ektacytometry demonstrated that RBC-D overall was reduced in human knowlesi malaria in proportion to disease severity, and in severe knowlesi malaria, it was comparable to that of severe falciparum malaria. RBC-D correlated inversely with parasitemia and lactate in knowlesi malaria and HRP2 in falciparum malaria, and it correlated with hemoglobin nadir in knowlesi malaria. Micropipette aspiration confirmed that in humans, P knowlesi infection increased stiffness of both iRBCs and uRBCs, with the latter mostly the result of echinocytosis. In contrast, in the natural host M fascicularis, echinocyte formation was not observed, and the RBC-D of uRBCs was unaffected. In unnatural primate hosts of P knowlesi, including humans, reduced deformability of iRBCs and uRBCs may represent a key pathogenic mechanism leading to microvascular accumulation, impaired organ perfusion, and anemia.
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16
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Muh F, Lee SK, Hoque MR, Han JH, Park JH, Firdaus ER, Moon RW, Lau YL, Han ET. In vitro invasion inhibition assay using antibodies against Plasmodium knowlesi Duffy binding protein alpha and apical membrane antigen protein 1 in human erythrocyte-adapted P. knowlesi A1-H.1 strain. Malar J 2018; 17:272. [PMID: 30049277 PMCID: PMC6062950 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2420-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The rapid process of malaria erythrocyte invasion involves ligand–receptor interactions. Inducing antibodies against specific ligands or receptors that abrogate the
invasion process is a key challenge for blood stage vaccine development. However, few candidates were reported and remain to be validated for the discovery of new vaccine candidates in Plasmodium knowlesi. Methods In order to investigate the efficacy of pre-clinical vaccine candidates in P. knowlesi-infected human cases, this study describes an in vitro invasion inhibition assay, using a P. knowlesi strain adapted to in vitro growth in human erythrocytes, PkA1-H.1. Recombinant proteins of P. knowlesi Duffy binding protein alpha (PkDBPα) and apical membrane antigen 1 (PkAMA1) were produced in Escherichia coli system and rabbit antibodies were generated from immune animals. Results PkDBPα and PkAMA1 recombinant proteins were expressed as insoluble and produced as a functional refolded form for this study. Antibodies against PkDBPα and PkAMA1 specifically recognized recombinant proteins and native parasite proteins in schizont-stage parasites on the merozoite organelles. Single and combination of anti-PkDBPα and anti-PkAMA1 antibodies elicited strong growth inhibitory effects on the parasite in concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, IgG prevalence of PkDBPα and PkAMA1 were observed in 13.0 and 46.7% in human clinical patients, respectively. Conclusion These data provide support for the validation of in vitro growth inhibition assay using antibodies of DBPα and AMA1 in human-adapted P. knowlesi parasite PkA1-H.1 strain. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2420-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fauzi Muh
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Kyun Lee
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohammad Rafiul Hoque
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Park
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Egy Rahman Firdaus
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Robert W Moon
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 24341, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Lyth O, Vizcay-Barrena G, Wright KE, Haase S, Mohring F, Najer A, Henshall IG, Ashdown GW, Bannister LH, Drew DR, Beeson JG, Fleck RA, Moon RW, Wilson DW, Baum J. Cellular dissection of malaria parasite invasion of human erythrocytes using viable Plasmodium knowlesi merozoites. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10165. [PMID: 29976932 PMCID: PMC6033891 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28457-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic parasite causing severe-to-lethal malaria disease in humans, has only recently been adapted to continuous culture with human red blood cells (RBCs). In comparison with the most virulent human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, there are, however, few cellular tools available to study its biology, in particular direct investigation of RBC invasion by blood-stage P. knowlesi merozoites. This leaves our current understanding of biological differences across pathogenic Plasmodium spp. incomplete. Here, we report a robust method for isolating viable and invasive P. knowlesi merozoites to high purity and yield. Using this approach, we present detailed comparative dissection of merozoite invasion (using a variety of microscopy platforms) and direct assessment of kinetic differences between knowlesi and falciparum merozoites. We go on to assess the inhibitory potential of molecules targeting discrete steps of invasion in either species via a quantitative invasion inhibition assay, identifying a class of polysulfonate polymer able to efficiently inhibit invasion in both, providing a foundation for pan-Plasmodium merozoite inhibitor development. Given the close evolutionary relationship between P. knowlesi and P. vivax, the second leading cause of malaria-related morbidity, this study paves the way for inter-specific dissection of invasion by all three major pathogenic malaria species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Lyth
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Gema Vizcay-Barrena
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Katherine E Wright
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Silvia Haase
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Franziska Mohring
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Adrian Najer
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Isabelle G Henshall
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - George W Ashdown
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Lawrence H Bannister
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Damien R Drew
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Central Clinical School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Central Clinical School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Roland A Fleck
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robert W Moon
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. .,Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, UK.
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18
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Singh US, Siwal N, Pande V, Das A. Can Mixed Parasite Infections Thwart Targeted Malaria Elimination Program in India? BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:2847548. [PMID: 28900620 PMCID: PMC5576395 DOI: 10.1155/2017/2847548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
India is highly endemic to malaria with prevalence of all five species of human malaria parasites of Plasmodium genus. India is set for malaria elimination by 2030. Since cases of mixed Plasmodium species infections remain usually undetected but cause huge disease burden, in order to understand the distributional prevalence of both monospecies infections and mixed species infections in India, we collated published data on the differential infection incidences of the five different malaria parasites based on PCR diagnostic assay. About 11% of total cases were due to mixed species infection. Among several interesting observations on both single and mixed parasitic infections, incidences of Plasmodium falciparum monoinfection were found to be significantly higher than P. vivax monoinfection. Also, P. malariae seems to be emerging as a potential malaria threat in India. Putting all the facts together, it appears that the dream of achieving malaria elimination in India will not be completely successful without dealing with mixed species infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upasana Shyamsunder Singh
- Division of Genomic Epidemiology, ICMR-Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, No. 4, Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625002, India
| | - Nisha Siwal
- Division of Genomic Epidemiology, ICMR-Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, No. 4, Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625002, India
| | - Veena Pande
- Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, India
| | - Aparup Das
- Division of Genomic Epidemiology, ICMR-Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, No. 4, Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625002, India
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19
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Lim KL, Amir A, Lau YL, Fong MY. The Duffy binding protein (PkDBPαII) of Plasmodium knowlesi from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo show different binding activity level to human erythrocytes. Malar J 2017; 16:331. [PMID: 28800732 PMCID: PMC5553923 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1984-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi is a major cause of human malaria in Malaysia. This parasite uses the Duffy binding protein (PkDBPαII) to interact with the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) receptor on human and macaque erythrocytes to initiate invasion. Previous studies on P. knowlesi have reported distinct Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo PkDBPαII haplotypes. In the present study, the differential binding activity of these haplotypes with human and macaque (Macaca fascicularis) erythrocytes was investigated. Methods The PkDBPαII of Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo were expressed on the surface of COS-7 cells and tested with human and monkey erythrocytes, with and without anti-Fy6 (anti-Duffy) monoclonal antibody treatment. Binding activity level was determined by counting the number of rosettes formed between the transfected COS-7 cells and the erythrocytes. Results Anti-Fy6 treatment was shown to completely block the binding of human erythrocytes with the transfected COS-7 cells, thus verifying the specific binding of human DARC with PkDBPαII. Interestingly, the PkDBPαII of Peninsular Malaysia displayed a higher binding activity with human erythrocytes when compared with the Malaysian Borneo PkDBPαII haplotype (mean number of rosettes formed = 156.89 ± 6.62 and 46.00 ± 3.57, respectively; P < 0.0001). However, no difference in binding activity level was seen in the binding assay using M. fascicularis erythrocytes. Conclusion This study is the first report of phenotypic difference between PkDBPαII haplotypes. The biological implication of this finding is yet to be determined. Therefore, further studies need to be carried out to determine whether this differential binding level can be associated with severity of knowlesi malaria in human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khai Lone Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Amirah Amir
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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20
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Claessens A, Affara M, Assefa SA, Kwiatkowski DP, Conway DJ. Culture adaptation of malaria parasites selects for convergent loss-of-function mutants. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41303. [PMID: 28117431 PMCID: PMC5259787 DOI: 10.1038/srep41303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cultured human pathogens may differ significantly from source populations. To investigate the genetic basis of laboratory adaptation in malaria parasites, clinical Plasmodium falciparum isolates were sampled from patients and cultured in vitro for up to three months. Genome sequence analysis was performed on multiple culture time point samples from six monoclonal isolates, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants emerging over time were detected. Out of a total of five positively selected SNPs, four represented nonsense mutations resulting in stop codons, three of these in a single ApiAP2 transcription factor gene, and one in SRPK1. To survey further for nonsense mutants associated with culture, genome sequences of eleven long-term laboratory-adapted parasite strains were examined, revealing four independently acquired nonsense mutations in two other ApiAP2 genes, and five in Epac. No mutants of these genes exist in a large database of parasite sequences from uncultured clinical samples. This implicates putative master regulator genes in which multiple independent stop codon mutations have convergently led to culture adaptation, affecting most laboratory lines of P. falciparum. Understanding the adaptive processes should guide development of experimental models, which could include targeted gene disruption to adapt fastidious malaria parasite species to culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Claessens
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Muna Affara
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | | | | | - David J Conway
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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21
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Abstract
The primate malaria Plasmodium knowlesi has a long-standing history as an experimental malaria model. Studies using this model parasite in combination with its various natural and experimental non-human primate hosts have led to important advances in vaccine development and in our understanding of malaria invasion, immunology and parasite-host interactions. The adaptation to long-term in vitro continuous blood stage culture in rhesus monkey, Macaca fascicularis and human red blood cells, as well as the development of various transfection methodologies has resulted in a highly versatile experimental malaria model, further increasing the potential of what was already a very powerful model. The growing evidence that P. knowlesi is an important human zoonosis in South-East Asia has added relevance to former and future studies of this parasite species.
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