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Hieronimus K, Donauer T, Klein J, Hinkel B, Spänle JV, Probst A, Niemeyer J, Kibrom S, Kiefer AM, Schneider L, Husemann B, Bischoff E, Möhring S, Bayer N, Klein D, Engels A, Ziehmer BG, Stieβ J, Moroka P, Schroda M, Deponte M. A Modular Cloning Toolkit for the production of recombinant proteins in Leishmania tarentolae. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2024; 11:128-142. [PMID: 38799406 PMCID: PMC11121976 DOI: 10.15698/mic2024.04.821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Modular Cloning (MoClo) is based on libraries of standardized genetic parts that can be directionally assembled via Golden Gate cloning in one-pot reactions into transcription units and multigene constructs. Here, a team of bachelor students established a MoClo toolkit for the protist Leishmania tarentolae in the frame of the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. Our modular toolkit is based on a domesticated version of a commercial LEXSY expression vector and comprises 34 genetic parts encoding various affinity tags, targeting signals as well as fluorescent and luminescent proteins. We demonstrated the utility of our kit by the successful production of 16 different tagged versions of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in L. tarentolae liquid cultures. While highest yields of secreted recombinant RBD were obtained for GST-tagged fusion proteins 48 h post induction, C-terminal peptide tags were often degraded and resulted in lower yields of secreted RBD. Fusing secreted RBD to a synthetic O-glycosylation SP20 module resulted in an apparent molecular mass shift around 10 kDa. No disadvantage regarding the production of RBD was detected when the three antibiotics of the LEXSY system were omitted during the 48-h induction phase. Furthermore, the successful purification of secreted RBD from the supernatant of L. tarentolae liquid cultures was demonstrated in pilot experiments. In summary, we established a MoClo toolkit and exemplified its application for the production of recombinant proteins in L. tarentolae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Hieronimus
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Tabea Donauer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Jonas Klein
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Bastian Hinkel
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Julia Vanessa Spänle
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Anna Probst
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Justus Niemeyer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Salina Kibrom
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Anna Maria Kiefer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Luzia Schneider
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Britta Husemann
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Eileen Bischoff
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Sophie Möhring
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Nicolas Bayer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Dorothée Klein
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Adrian Engels
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Benjamin Gustav Ziehmer
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Julian Stieβ
- Faculty of Computer Science, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663
Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Pavlo Moroka
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Michael Schroda
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Marcel Deponte
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
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Lypaczewski P, Zhang WW, Matlashewski G. Evidence that a naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphism in the RagC gene of Leishmania donovani contributes to reduced virulence. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009079. [PMID: 33621241 PMCID: PMC7901767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a widespread neglected tropical disease transmitted by infected sand flies resulting in either benign cutaneous infection or fatal visceral disease. Leishmania donovani is the principal species responsible for visceral leishmaniasis, yet an atypical L. donovani has become attenuated in several countries including Sri Lanka and causes cutaneous leishmaniasis. Previous studies have identified 91 genes altered in the atypical cutaneous L. donovani compared to typical visceral disease associated L. donovani including mutations in the RagC and Raptor genes that are part of the eukaryotic conserved TOR pathway and its upstream sensing pathway. In the present study, we investigate whether the RagC R231C mutation present in atypical cutaneous L. donovani introduced into the virulent L. donovani 1S2D chromosome by CRISPR gene editing could affect virulence for survival in visceral organs. Through bioinformatic analysis, we further investigated the presence of sensing pathway components upstream of TOR in L. donovani including RagC complexing proteins, RagA and Raptor. L. donovani 1S2D edited to express mutant RagC R231C were viable in promastigote but had reduced visceral parasitemia in infected BALB/c mice. The RagC R231C mutant retained the ability to interact with RagA and gene knockout experiments revealed that although the RagA gene was essential, the RagC gene was not essential under promastigote culture conditions but was essential for survival in the liver of experimentally infected mice. These results provide evidence that the TOR associated sensing pathway plays a prominent role in L. donovani visceral disease and the RagC R231C mutation contributed to the atypical pathology of cutaneous L. donovani in Sri Lanka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Lypaczewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Wen-Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Zhang WW, Karmakar S, Gannavaram S, Dey R, Lypaczewski P, Ismail N, Siddiqui A, Simonyan V, Oliveira F, Coutinho-Abreu IV, DeSouza-Vieira T, Meneses C, Oristian J, Serafim TD, Musa A, Nakamura R, Saljoughian N, Volpedo G, Satoskar M, Satoskar S, Dagur PK, McCoy JP, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Hamano S, Satoskar AR, Matlashewski G, Nakhasi HL. A second generation leishmanization vaccine with a markerless attenuated Leishmania major strain using CRISPR gene editing. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3461. [PMID: 32651371 PMCID: PMC7351751 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17154-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania protozoa transmitted by infected sand flies. Vaccination through leishmanization with live Leishmania major has been used successfully but is no longer practiced because it resulted in occasional skin lesions. A second generation leishmanization is described here using a CRISPR genome edited L. major strain (LmCen-/-). Notably, LmCen-/- is a genetically engineered centrin gene knock-out mutant strain that is antibiotic resistant marker free and does not have detectable off-target mutations. Mice immunized with LmCen-/- have no visible lesions following challenge with L. major-infected sand flies, while non-immunized animals develop large and progressive lesions with a 2-log fold higher parasite burden. LmCen-/- immunization results in protection and an immune response comparable to leishmanization. LmCen-/- is safe since it is unable to cause disease in immunocompromised mice, induces robust host protection against vector sand fly challenge and because it is marker free, can be advanced to human vaccine trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Subir Karmakar
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Ranadhir Dey
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Patrick Lypaczewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Nevien Ismail
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Abid Siddiqui
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Vahan Simonyan
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Iliano V Coutinho-Abreu
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Thiago DeSouza-Vieira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Claudio Meneses
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - James Oristian
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Tiago D Serafim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Abu Musa
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan and Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Leadership Program, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Risa Nakamura
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan and Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Leadership Program, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Noushin Saljoughian
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Greta Volpedo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Monika Satoskar
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
- Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, 44272, USA
| | - Sanika Satoskar
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
- Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, 44272, USA
| | - Pradeep K Dagur
- National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20852, USA
| | - J Philip McCoy
- National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Shinjiro Hamano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan and Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Leadership Program, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA.
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de Oliveira TA, Silva WD, da Rocha Torres N, Badaró de Moraes JV, Senra RL, de Oliveira Mendes TA, Júnior AS, Bressan GC, Fietto JLR. Application of the LEXSY Leishmania tarentolae system as a recombinant protein expression platform: A review. Process Biochem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2019.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Single-Strand Annealing Plays a Major Role in Double-Strand DNA Break Repair following CRISPR-Cas9 Cleavage in Leishmania. mSphere 2019; 4:4/4/e00408-19. [PMID: 31434745 PMCID: PMC6706467 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00408-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing relies on an efficient double-strand DNA break (DSB) and repair. Contrary to mammalian cells, the protozoan parasite Leishmania lacks the most efficient nonhomologous end-joining pathway and uses microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) and, occasionally, homology-directed repair to repair DSBs. Here, we reveal that Leishmania predominantly uses single-strand annealing (SSA) (>90%) instead of MMEJ (<10%) for DSB repair (DSBR) following CRISPR targeting of the miltefosine transporter gene, resulting in 9-, 18-, 20-, and 29-kb sequence deletions and multiple gene codeletions. Strikingly, when targeting the Leishmania donovani LdBPK_241510 gene, SSA even occurred by using direct repeats 77 kb apart, resulting in the codeletion of 15 Leishmania genes, though with a reduced frequency. These data strongly indicate that DSBR is not efficient in Leishmania, which explains why more than half of DSBs led to cell death and why the CRISPR gene-targeting efficiency is low compared with that in other organisms. Since direct repeat sequences are widely distributed in the Leishmania genome, we predict that many DSBs created by CRISPR are repaired by SSA. It is also revealed that DNA polymerase theta is involved in both MMEJ and SSA in Leishmania Collectively, this study establishes that DSBR mechanisms and their competence in an organism play an important role in determining the outcome and efficacy of CRISPR gene targeting. These observations emphasize the use of donor DNA templates to improve gene editing specificity and efficiency in Leishmania In addition, we developed a novel Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 constitutive expression vector (pLdSaCN) for gene targeting in Leishmania IMPORTANCE Due to differences in double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair mechanisms, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing efficiency can vary greatly in different organisms. In contrast to mammalian cells, the protozoan parasite Leishmania uses microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) and, occasionally, homology-directed repair (HDR) to repair DSBs but lacks the nonhomologous end-joining pathway. Here, we show that Leishmania predominantly uses single-strand annealing (SSA) instead of MMEJ for DSB repairs (DSBR), resulting in large deletions that can include multiple genes. This strongly indicates that the overall DSBR in Leishmania is inefficient and therefore can influence the outcome of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, highlighting the importance of using a donor DNA to improve gene editing fidelity and efficiency in Leishmania.
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Klatt S, Simpson L, Maslov DA, Konthur Z. Leishmania tarentolae: Taxonomic classification and its application as a promising biotechnological expression host. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007424. [PMID: 31344033 PMCID: PMC6657821 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we summarize the current knowledge concerning the eukaryotic protozoan parasite Leishmania tarentolae, with a main focus on its potential for biotechnological applications. We will also discuss the genus, subgenus, and species-level classification of this parasite, its life cycle and geographical distribution, and similarities and differences to human-pathogenic species, as these aspects are relevant for the evaluation of biosafety aspects of L. tarentolae as host for recombinant DNA/protein applications. Studies indicate that strain LEM-125 but not strain TARII/UC of L. tarentolae might also be capable of infecting mammals, at least transiently. This could raise the question of whether the current biosafety level of this strain should be reevaluated. In addition, we will summarize the current state of biotechnological research involving L. tarentolae and explain why this eukaryotic parasite is an advantageous and promising human recombinant protein expression host. This summary includes overall biotechnological applications, insights into its protein expression machinery (especially on glycoprotein and antibody fragment expression), available expression vectors, cell culture conditions, and its potential as an immunotherapy agent for human leishmaniasis treatment. Furthermore, we will highlight useful online tools and, finally, discuss possible future applications such as the humanization of the glycosylation profile of L. tarentolae or the expression of mammalian recombinant proteins in amastigote-like cells of this species or in amastigotes of avirulent human-pathogenic Leishmania species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Klatt
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail: (SK); (ZK)
| | - Larry Simpson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Dmitri A. Maslov
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Zoltán Konthur
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail: (SK); (ZK)
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Diaz-Albiter HM, Regnault C, Alpizar-Sosa EA, McGuinness D, Barrett M, Dillon RJ. Non-invasive visualisation and identification of fluorescent Leishmania tarentolae in infected sand flies. Wellcome Open Res 2018; 3:160. [PMID: 30756095 PMCID: PMC6367660 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14910.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The leishmaniases are neglected diseases that affect some of the most vulnerable populations in the tropical and sub-tropical world. The parasites are transmitted by sand flies and novel strategies to control this neglected vector-borne disease are needed. Blocking transmission by targeting the parasite inside the phlebotomine vector offers potential in this regard. Some experimental approaches can be best performed by longitudinal study of parasites within flies, for which non-destructive methods to identify infected flies and to follow parasite population changes are required. Methods: Lutzomyia longipalpis were reared under standard insectary conditions at the Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology. Flies were artificially infected with L. tarentolae expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP. Parasite counts were carried out 5 days post-infection and the percentage of infected flies and survival of infected females was established up to days 5 post-infection. Whole living females were visualised using an epifluorescence inverted microscope to detect the presence parasites inferred by a localised green fluorescent region in the upper thorax. Confirmation of infection was performed by localised-fluorescence of dissected flies and estimates of the parasite population. Results : Leishmania tarentolae was successfully transfected and expressed GFP in vitro. L. tarentolae-GFP Infected flies showed similar parasite populations when compared to non-transfected parasites ( L. tarentolae-WT). Survival of non-infected females was higher than L. tarentolae-infected groups, (Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test, p<0.05). L. tarentolae-GFP infected females displayed an intense localised fluorescence in the thorax while other specimens from the same infected group did not. Localised fluorescent flies were dissected and showed higher parasite populations compared to those that did not demonstrate high concentrations in this region (t-test, p<0.005). Conclusion : These results demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a safe non-human infectious fluorescent Leishmania-sand fly infection model by allowing non-destructive imaging to signal the establishment of Leishmania infections in living sand flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector M. Diaz-Albiter
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Villahermosa, Tabasco, 86280, Mexico
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Clément Regnault
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | | | - Dagmara McGuinness
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Michael Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Rod J. Dillon
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 4YQ, UK
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Khan AH, Noordin R. Strategies for humanizing glycosylation pathways and producing recombinant glycoproteins in microbial expression systems. Biotechnol Prog 2018; 35:e2752. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Hayat Khan
- Inst. for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800 Penang Malaysia
| | - Rahmah Noordin
- Inst. for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800 Penang Malaysia
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Optimized CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing for Leishmania and Its Use To Target a Multigene Family, Induce Chromosomal Translocation, and Study DNA Break Repair Mechanisms. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00340-16. [PMID: 28124028 PMCID: PMC5244264 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00340-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites cause human leishmaniasis. To accelerate characterization of Leishmania genes for new drug and vaccine development, we optimized and simplified the CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing tool for Leishmania. We show that co-CRISPR targeting of the miltefosine transporter gene and serial transfections of an oligonucleotide donor significantly eased isolation of edited mutants. This cotargeting strategy was efficiently used to delete all 11 members of the A2 virulence gene family. This technical advancement is valuable, since there are many gene clusters and supernumerary chromosomes in the various Leishmania species and isolates. We simplified this CRISPR system by developing a gRNA and Cas9 coexpression vector which could be used to delete genes in various Leishmania species. This CRISPR system could also be used to generate specific chromosomal translocations, which will help in the study of Leishmania gene expression and transcription control. This study also provides new information about double-strand DNA break repair mechanisms in Leishmania. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing has recently been adapted for Leishmania spp. parasites, the causative agents of human leishmaniasis. We have optimized this genome-editing tool by selecting for cells with CRISPR-Cas9 activity through cotargeting the miltefosine transporter gene; mutation of this gene leads to miltefosine resistance. This cotargeting strategy integrated into a triple guide RNA (gRNA) expression vector was used to delete all 11 copies of the A2 multigene family; this was not previously possible with the traditional gene-targeting method. We found that the Leishmania donovani rRNA promoter is more efficient than the U6 promoter in driving gRNA expression, and sequential transfections of the oligonucleotide donor significantly eased the isolation of edited mutants. A gRNA and Cas9 coexpression vector was developed that was functional in all tested Leishmania species, including L. donovani, L. major, and L. mexicana. By simultaneously targeting sites from two different chromosomes, all four types of targeted chromosomal translocations were generated, regardless of the polycistronic transcription direction from the parent chromosomes. It was possible to use this CRISPR system to create a single conserved amino acid substitution (A189G) mutation for both alleles of RAD51, a DNA recombinase involved in homology-directed repair. We found that RAD51 is essential for L. donovani survival based on direct observation of the death of mutants with both RAD51 alleles disrupted, further confirming that this CRISPR system can reveal gene essentiality. Evidence is also provided that microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) plays a major role in double-strand DNA break repair in L. donovani. IMPORTANCELeishmania parasites cause human leishmaniasis. To accelerate characterization of Leishmania genes for new drug and vaccine development, we optimized and simplified the CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing tool for Leishmania. We show that co-CRISPR targeting of the miltefosine transporter gene and serial transfections of an oligonucleotide donor significantly eased isolation of edited mutants. This cotargeting strategy was efficiently used to delete all 11 members of the A2 virulence gene family. This technical advancement is valuable, since there are many gene clusters and supernumerary chromosomes in the various Leishmania species and isolates. We simplified this CRISPR system by developing a gRNA and Cas9 coexpression vector which could be used to delete genes in various Leishmania species. This CRISPR system could also be used to generate specific chromosomal translocations, which will help in the study of Leishmania gene expression and transcription control. This study also provides new information about double-strand DNA break repair mechanisms in Leishmania.
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NASIRI V, DALIMI A, GHAFFARIFAR F, BOLHASSANI A. Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Live L. tarentolae Expressing KMP11-NTGP96-GFP Fusion as a Vaccine Candidate against Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis Caused by L. infantum. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2016; 11:144-158. [PMID: 28096848 PMCID: PMC5236091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of present study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of live recombinant L. tarentolae expressing KMP11-NTGP96-GFP fusion as candidates for live engineered recombinant vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice. METHODS KMP-11 and NT-GP96 genes cloned into the pJET1.2/blunt cloning vector and then into pEGFP-N1 expression vector. The KMP-11, NT-GP96 and GFP fused in pEGFP-N1 and subcloned into Leishmanian pLEXSY-neo vector. Finally this construct was transferred to L. tarentolae by electroporation. Tranfection was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, WESTERN blot, flowcytometry and RT-PCR. Protective efficacy of this construct was evaluated as a vaccine candidate against visceral leishmaniasis. Parasite burden, humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed before and at 4 weeks after challenge. RESULTS KMP- NT-Gp96-GFP Fusion was cloned successfully into pLEXSY -neo vector and this construct successfully transferred to L. tarentolae. Finding indicated that immunization with L. tarentolae tarentolae-KMP11-NTGP96-GFP provides significant protection against visceral leishmaniasis and was able to induce an increased expression of IFN-γ and IgG2a. Following challenge, a reduced parasite load in the spleen of the KMP11-NTGP96-GFP immunized group was detected. CONCLUSION The present study is the first to use a combination of a Leishmania antigen with an immunologic antigen in live recombinant L. tarentolae and results suggest that L. tarentolae-KMP11-NTGP96-GFP could be considered as a potential tool in vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis and this vaccination strategy could provide a potent rout for future vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid NASIRI
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein DALIMI
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh GHAFFARIFAR
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam BOLHASSANI
- Department of Hepatitis & AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Sardar AH, Jardim A, Ghosh AK, Mandal A, Das S, Saini S, Abhishek K, Singh R, Verma S, Kumar A, Das P. Genetic Manipulation of Leishmania donovani to Explore the Involvement of Argininosuccinate Synthase in Oxidative Stress Management. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004308. [PMID: 26939071 PMCID: PMC4777552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) produced by the phagocytic cells are the most common arsenals used to kill the intracellular pathogens. However, Leishmania, an intracellular pathogen, has evolved mechanisms to survive by counterbalancing the toxic oxygen metabolites produced during infection. Polyamines, the major contributor in this anti-oxidant machinery, are largely dependent on the availability of L-arginine in the intracellular milieu. Argininosuccinate synthase (ASS) plays an important role as the rate-limiting step required for converting L-citrulline to argininosuccinate to provide arginine for an assortment of metabolic processes. Leishmania produce an active ASS enzyme, yet it has an incomplete urea cycle as it lacks an argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). There is no evidence for endogenous synthesis of L-arginine in Leishmania, which suggests that these parasites salvage L-arginine from extracellular milieu and makes the biological function of ASS and the production of argininosuccinate in Leishmania unclear. Our previous quantitative proteomic analysis of Leishmania promastigotes treated with sub-lethal doses of ROS, RNS, or a combination of both, led to the identification of several differentially expressed proteins which included ASS. To assess the involvement of ASS in stress management, a mutant cell line with greatly reduced ASS activity was created by a double-targeted gene replacement strategy in L. donovani promastigote. Interestingly, LdASS is encoded by three copies of allele, but Western blot analysis showed the third allele did not appear to express ASS. The free thiol levels in the mutant LdASS-/-/+ cell line were decreased. Furthermore, the cell viability in L-arginine depleted medium was greatly attenuated on exposure to different stress environments and was adversely impacted in its ability to infect mice. These findings suggest that ASS is important for Leishmania donovani to counterbalance the stressed environments encountered during infection and can be targeted for chemotherapeutic purpose to treat visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abul Hasan Sardar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Armando Jardim
- Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ayan Kumar Ghosh
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Abhishek Mandal
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Sushmita Das
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Savita Saini
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Bihar, India
| | - Kumar Abhishek
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Ruby Singh
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Sudha Verma
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, India
- * E-mail:
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Bolhassani A, Shirbaghaee Z, Agi E, Davoudi N. VLP production in Leishmania tarentolae : A novel expression system for purification and assembly of HPV16 L1. Protein Expr Purif 2015; 116:7-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2015.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 08/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Abstract
The prokaryotic CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-Cas9, an RNA-guided endonuclease, has been shown to mediate efficient genome editing in a wide variety of organisms. In the present study, the CRISPR-Cas9 system has been adapted to Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite that causes fatal human visceral leishmaniasis. We introduced the Cas9 nuclease into L. donovani and generated guide RNA (gRNA) expression vectors by using the L. donovani rRNA promoter and the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme. It is demonstrated within that L. donovani mainly used homology-directed repair (HDR) and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) to repair the Cas9 nuclease-created double-strand DNA break (DSB). The nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway appears to be absent in L. donovani. With this CRISPR-Cas9 system, it was possible to generate knockouts without selection by insertion of an oligonucleotide donor with stop codons and 25-nucleotide homology arms into the Cas9 cleavage site. Likewise, we disrupted and precisely tagged endogenous genes by inserting a bleomycin drug selection marker and GFP gene into the Cas9 cleavage site. With the use of Hammerhead and HDV ribozymes, a double-gRNA expression vector that further improved gene-targeting efficiency was developed, and it was used to make precise deletion of the 3-kb miltefosine transporter gene (LdMT). In addition, this study identified a novel single point mutation caused by CRISPR-Cas9 in LdMT (M381T) that led to miltefosine resistance, a concern for the only available oral antileishmanial drug. Together, these results demonstrate that the CRISPR-Cas9 system represents an effective genome engineering tool for L. donovani. Leishmania donovani is the causative agent of fatal visceral leishmaniasis. To understand Leishmania infection and pathogenesis and identify new drug targets for control of leishmaniasis, more-efficient ways to manipulate this parasite genome are required. In this study, we have implemented CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing technology in L. donovani. Both single- and dual-gRNA expression vectors were developed using a strong RNA polymerase I promoter and ribozymes. With this system, it was possible to generate loss-of-function insertion and deletion mutations and introduce drug selection markers and the GFP sequence precisely into the L. donovani genome. These methods greatly improved the ability to manipulate this parasite genome and will help pave the way for high-throughput functional analysis of Leishmania genes. This study further revealed that double-stranded DNA breaks created by CRISPR-Cas9 were repaired by the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) in Leishmania.
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Ghosh AK, Sardar AH, Mandal A, Saini S, Abhishek K, Kumar A, Purkait B, Singh R, Das S, Mukhopadhyay R, Roy S, Das P. Metabolic reconfiguration of the central glucose metabolism: a crucial strategy of Leishmania donovani for its survival during oxidative stress. FASEB J 2015; 29:2081-98. [PMID: 25690656 DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-258624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanism that allows the intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani (Ld) to respond to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is of increasing therapeutic importance because of the continuing resistance toward antileishmanial drugs and for determining the illusive survival strategy of these parasites. A shift in primary carbon metabolism is the fastest response to oxidative stress. A (14)CO2 evolution study, expression of glucose transporters together with consumption assays, indicated a shift in metabolic flux of the parasites from glycolysis toward pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) when exposed to different oxidants in vitro/ex vivo. Changes in gene expression, protein levels, and enzyme activities all pointed to a metabolic reconfiguration of the central glucose metabolism in response to oxidants. Generation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) (∼5-fold) and transaldolase (TAL) (∼4.2-fold) overexpressing Ld cells reaffirmed that lethal doses of ROS were counterbalanced by effective manipulation of NADPH:NADP(+) ratio and stringent maintenance of reduced thiol content. The extent of protein carbonylation and accumulation of lipid peroxidized products were also found to be less in overexpressed cell lines. Interestingly, the LD50 of sodium antimony gluconate (SAG), amphotericin-B (AmB), and miltefosine were significantly high toward overexpressing parasites. Consequently, this study illustrates that Ld strategizes a metabolic reconfiguration for replenishment of NADPH pool to encounter oxidative challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayan K Ghosh
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Abul H Sardar
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Abhishek Mandal
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Savita Saini
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Kumar Abhishek
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Bidyut Purkait
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Ruby Singh
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Sushmita Das
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Rupkatha Mukhopadhyay
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Syamal Roy
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- *Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar, India; Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwarisharif, Patna, Bihar, India; and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
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Secreted recombinant P53 protein from Pichia pastoris is a useful antigen for detection of serum p53: autoantibody in patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma. Mol Biol Rep 2013; 40:3865-72. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-2467-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Klatt S, Rohe M, Alagesan K, Kolarich D, Konthur Z, Hartl D. Production of Glycosylated Soluble Amyloid Precursor Protein Alpha (sAPPalpha) in Leishmania tarentolae. J Proteome Res 2012; 12:396-403. [DOI: 10.1021/pr300693f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Klatt
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195
Berlin, Germany
- Faculty
of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Free University Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Rohe
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Kolarich
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Zoltán Konthur
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195
Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniela Hartl
- Charité, Institute for Medical
Genetics and Human Genetics, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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Role of cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in visceral organ infection by Leishmania donovani. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2012; 12:70-7. [PMID: 23125352 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00263-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The initial 7 steps of the glycolytic pathway from glucose to 3-phosphoglycerate are localized in the glycosomes in Leishmania, including step 6, catalyzed by the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). In L. donovani and L. mexicana, there exists a second GAPDH enzyme present in the cytosol that is absent in L. braziliensis and that has become a pseudogene in L. major. To investigate the role of the cytosolic GAPDH (cGAPDH), an L. donovani cGAPDH-null mutant was generated, and conversely, the functional L. donovani cGAPDH was introduced into L. major and the resulting engineered parasites were characterized. The L. donovani cGAPDH-null mutant was able to proliferate at the same rate as the wild-type parasite in glucose-deficient medium. However, in the presence of glucose, the L. donovani cGAPDH-null mutant consumed less glucose and proliferated more slowly than the wild-type parasite and displayed reduced infectivity in visceral organs of experimentally infected mice. This demonstrates that cGAPDH is functional in L. donovani and is required for survival in visceral organs. Restoration of cGAPDH activity in L. major, in contrast, had an adverse effect on L. major proliferation in glucose-containing medium, providing a possible explanation of why it has evolved into a pseudogene in L. major. This study indicates that there is a difference in glucose metabolism between L. donovani and L. major, and this may represent an important factor in the ability of L. donovani to cause visceral disease.
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Pirdel L, Hosseini AZ, Kazemi B, Rasouli M, Bandehpour M, Soudi S. Cloning and Expression of Leishmania infantum LPG3 Gene by the Lizard Leishmania Expression System. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2012; 4:186-92. [PMID: 23407850 PMCID: PMC3558223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2012] [Accepted: 06/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems have been developed for the production of recombinant proteins. In the present study, we used a new protein expression system based on the Iranian Lizard Leishmania, a trypanosomatid protozoan as a host, for the expression of LPG3 gene from Leishmania infantum (L.infantum). METHODS The LPG3 gene was cloned in the expression cassette for integration into the small subunit of the ribosomal RNA locus of Lizard Leishmania genome by electroporation. Expression of the recombinant LPG3 protein was confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS Western blotting confirmed the expression and production of rLPG3 protein. Immunofluoresence analysis also revealed the staining throughout the cytoplasm of transfected parasites, indicating that the protein has been expressed. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that Leishmania cells can be suggested an expression system for the production of recombinant LPG3 (rLPG3) to further research in vaccine designing against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Pirdel
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Manoochehr Rasouli
- Department of Immunology, Clinical Microbiology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mojgan Bandehpour
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Soudi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Expression of a Leishmania donovani nucleotide sugar transporter in Leishmania major enhances survival in visceral organs. Exp Parasitol 2011; 129:337-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Revised: 09/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Kushnir S, Cirstea IC, Basiliya L, Lupilova N, Breitling R, Alexandrov K. Artificial linear episome-based protein expression system for protozoon Leishmania tarentolae. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2010; 176:69-79. [PMID: 21167214 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2010.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2010] [Revised: 12/01/2010] [Accepted: 12/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The trypanosomatid protozoon Leishmania tarentolae is a well-established model organism for studying causative agents of several tropical diseases that was more recently developed as a host for recombinant protein production. Although several expression architectures based on foreign RNA polymerases have been established for this organism, all of them rely on integration of the expression cassette into the genome. Here, we exploit a new type of expression architecture based on linear elements. These expression vectors were propagated in Escherichia coli as circular plasmids and converted into linear episomes with telomere-like structures prior to transfection of L. tarentolae. Overexpression of recombinant proteins in transgenic organisms exceeding 10% of total cellular protein, one of the highest overexpression levels obtained in a eukaryotic organism for a cytosolic protein. We show that the linear elements are stably propagated in L. tarentolae cells over long periods of time (> 90 generations) without major changes in structure or expression yields. Overexpressing cultures can be obtained without clonal selection of the transfected cells. To establish the utility of the developed system for protein production in a parallelized format, we expressed 37 cytosolic, peripheral, and membrane proteins as fusions with EGFP in L. tarentolae using linear vectors. We detected the expression of 30 of these targets and describe the preparative purification of two arbitrarily selected proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Kushnir
- Department of Chemical Biology Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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Gazdag EM, Cirstea IC, Breitling R, Lukeš J, Blankenfeldt W, Alexandrov K. Purification and crystallization of human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase recombinantly produced in the protozoan Leishmania tarentolae. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010; 66:871-7. [PMID: 20693657 PMCID: PMC2917280 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309110019330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2010] [Accepted: 05/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The rapid and inexpensive production of high-quality eukaryotic proteins in recombinant form still remains a challenge in structural biology. Here, a protein-expression system based on the protozoan Leishmania tarentolae was used to produce human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in recombinant form. Sequential integration of the SOD1 expression cassettes was demonstrated to lead to a linear increase in expression levels to up to 30 mg per litre. Chromatographic purification resulted in 90% pure recombinant protein, with a final yield of 6.5 mg per litre of culture. The protein was crystallized and the structures of two new crystal forms were determined. These results demonstrate the suitability of the L. tarentolae expression system for structural research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emerich Mihai Gazdag
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ion Cristian Cirstea
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Universitätstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Cešké Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Kirill Alexandrov
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Zhang WW, Matlashewski G. Screening Leishmania donovani-specific genes required for visceral infection. Mol Microbiol 2010; 77:505-17. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07230.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Zhang WW, Peacock CS, Matlashewski G. A genomic-based approach combining in vivo selection in mice to identify a novel virulence gene in Leishmania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2008; 2:e248. [PMID: 18545684 PMCID: PMC2398785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2007] [Accepted: 05/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infection with Leishmania results in a broad spectrum of pathologies where L. infantum and L. donovani cause fatal visceral leishmaniasis and L. major causes destructive cutaneous lesions. The identification and characterization of Leishmania virulence genes may define the genetic basis for these different pathologies. Methods and Findings Comparison of the recently completed L. major and L. infantum genomes revealed a relatively small number of genes that are absent or present as pseudogenes in L. major and potentially encode proteins in L. infantum. To investigate the potential role of genetic differences between species in visceral infection, seven genes initially classified as absent in L. major but present in L. infantum were cloned from the closely related L. donovani genome and introduced into L. major. The transgenic L. major expressing the L. donovani genes were then introduced into BALB/c mice to select for parasites with increased virulence in the spleen to determine whether any of the L. donovani genes increased visceral infection levels. During the course of these experiments, one of the selected genes (LinJ32_V3.1040 (Li1040)) was reclassified as also present in the L. major genome. Interestingly, only the Li1040 gene significantly increased visceral infection in the L. major transfectants. The Li1040 gene encodes a protein containing a putative component of an endosomal protein sorting complex involved with protein transport. Conclusions These observations demonstrate that the levels of expression and sequence variations in genes ubiquitously shared between Leishmania species have the potential to significantly influence virulence and tissue tropism. Parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a variety of human diseases that range from destructive skin lesions caused by L. major to visceral infections of the liver and spleen caused by L. donovani that result in death. The Leishmania genes responsible for these different pathologies are not known. In the present study, we used a comparative genome-based approach to introduce and over-express L. donovani genes in L. major to determine whether this results in increased virulence of L. major in visceral organs of infected mice. Through this approach, a novel gene termed Li1040 was identified that is potentially involved in protein transport and was shown to increase pathogenesis in the visceral organs in mice. The Li1040 gene may therefore represent a Leishmania virulence gene that has the potential to regulate the pathology of infection in the mammalian host. These observations help to define how Leishmania causes fatal infections in humans and therefore provide a parasite-specific target for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christopher S. Peacock
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Abdelmoula-Souissi S, Rekik L, Gargouri A, Mokdad-Gargouri R. High-level expression of human tumour suppressor P53 in the methylotrophic yeast: Pichia pastoris. Protein Expr Purif 2007; 54:283-8. [PMID: 17482479 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2007.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2007] [Revised: 03/15/2007] [Accepted: 03/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The human tumour suppressor P53 is a key protein involved in tumour suppression. P53 acts as a "guardian of genome" by regulating many target genes involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair and apoptosis. We report the P53 expression by the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris using the methanol inducible AOX1 promoter. We have produced the rP53 in intracellular form as well as secreted using the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-mating factor prepro-leader sequence in two genetic contexts of Pichia, Mut(s) and Mut(+). The intracellular P53 was successfully produced by Mut(s) (KM71) as well as Mut(+) (X33) strains, however, the secreted form was mainly observed in the Mut(s) strain, despite a higher number of p53 copies integrated in the Mut(+) strain. Interestingly, in Mut(s) phenotype, the medium pH influences markedly the rP53 production since it was higher at pH 7 than 6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Abdelmoula-Souissi
- Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire des Eucaryotes, Centre Biotechnologie de Sfax, route Sidi Mansour, Sfax, Tunisia
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26
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Niculae A, Bayer P, Cirstea I, Bergbrede T, Pietrucha R, Gruen M, Breitling R, Alexandrov K. Isotopic labeling of recombinant proteins expressed in the protozoan host Leishmania tarentolae. Protein Expr Purif 2006; 48:167-72. [PMID: 16740394 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2006.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2005] [Revised: 04/12/2006] [Accepted: 04/18/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Isotope labeling of recombinant proteins is a prerequisite for application of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) for the characterization of the three-dimensional structures and dynamics of proteins. Overexpression of isotopically labeled proteins in bacterial or yeast host organisms has several drawbacks. In this work, we tested whether the recently described eukaryotic protein expression system based on the protozoa Leishmania tarentolae could be used for production of amino acid specific (15)N-labeled recombinant proteins. Using synthetic growth medium we were able to express in L. tarentolae and purify to homogeneity (15)N-valine labeled Enchanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) with the final yield of 5.7 mg/liter of suspension culture. NMR study of isolated EGFP illustrated the success of the labeling procedure allowing identification of all 18 valine residues of the protein in the HSQC spectrum. Our results demonstrate the suitability of the L. tarentolae expression system for production of isotopically labeled proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Niculae
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
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Kushnir S, Gase K, Breitling R, Alexandrov K. Development of an inducible protein expression system based on the protozoan host Leishmania tarentolae. Protein Expr Purif 2005; 42:37-46. [PMID: 15939291 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2005.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2004] [Revised: 02/27/2005] [Accepted: 03/02/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Production of functional eukaryotic proteins in recombinant form is a bottle-neck in various post-genomic applications and in life science in general. At least partially this is due to the problems associated with the use of endogenous RNA polymerase II for high-level transcription of heterologous genes in eukaryotic expression systems. To circumvent these problems we developed a new inducible protein expression system based on the protozoan host Leishmania tarentolae (Trypanosomatidae). We have created a strain of L. tarentolae constitutively co-expressing T7 RNA polymerase and tetracycline repressor. This strain could be stably transformed with the heterologous target gene under control of the T7 promoter/TET operator assembly, which can initiate transcription upon addition of tetracycline to the culture medium. Using this system, we demonstrated that enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) could be overexpressed to a level of ca. 1% of total cellular protein. The developed system was tested for its ability to inducibly co-express multiple genes. Using two copies of the egfp gene integrated at two different genomic sites, we could obtain expression levels reaching 4% of total cellular protein. Further possible improvements and applications of the developed system are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Kushnir
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
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28
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Zhang WW, Matlashewski G. In vivo selection for Leishmania donovani miniexon genes that increase virulence in Leishmania major†. Mol Microbiol 2004; 54:1051-62. [PMID: 15522086 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04327.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Different species of Leishmania are responsible for the diverse pathologies associated with leishmaniasis including Leishmania donovani which results in fatal visceral infection and Leishmania major which causes non-fatal cutaneous infection. In an attempt to identify genotypic differences between these related Old World Leishmania species which contribute to their distinct phenotypic characteristics, we have introduced a L. donovani cosmid library into L. major to select for L. donovani sequences which may increase L. major virulence in BALB/c mice. Through this approach, we have identified a region of the L. donovani genome which increased virulence in both visceral and cutaneous sites and was divergent from the corresponding region of the L. major genome. When these L. donovani sequences were reintroduced into L. major, they enhanced the overall virulence of L. major, increasing its ability to survive in both visceral and cutaneous sites. The region responsible for increased infection levels was determined to be the miniexon gene array derived from chromosome 36 of L. donovani. Pulse field electrophoresis revealed that L. donovani contained miniexon gene sequences in several chromosome locations as opposed to L. major which contains miniexon gene sequences only in chromosome 2. Because of the requirement for miniexon-derived transcripts in maturation of pre-mRNAs in trypanosomatids, this observation suggests that the increased expression of miniexon genes is associated with increased virulence. As the genome sequence for Leishmania becomes available, the in vivo selection procedure described within will be useful to identify additional species-specific sequences responsible for different pathogenic phenotypes associated with Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montreal, Canada H3A 2B4
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29
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Nascimento M, Abourjeily N, Ghosh A, Zhang WW, Matlashewski G. Heterologous expression of a mammalian protein tyrosine phosphatase gene in Leishmania: effect on differentiation. Mol Microbiol 2004; 50:1517-26. [PMID: 14651635 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03811.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania is a protozoan pathogen which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected sandfly. This infection results in a spectrum of diseases throughout the developing world, collectively known as leishmaniasis. During its life cycle, Leishmania differentiates from the promastigote stage in the sandfly vector into the amastigote stage in the mammalian host where it multiplies exclusively in macrophage phagolysosomes. Although differentiation of Leishmania is essential for its survival and pathogenesis in the mammalian host, this process is poorly understood. In higher eukaryotic cells, protein tyrosine phosphorylation plays a central role in cell proliferation, differentiation and overall function. We have therefore investigated the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in Leishmania differentiation by undertaking complementary approaches to mediate protein tyrosine dephosphorylation in vivo. In the present study, L. donovani were engineered to express a mammalian protein tyrosine phosphatase, or were treated with inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases, and the resulting phenotype was examined. Both approaches resulted in a partial differentiation from promastigotes to amastigotes including the expression of the amastigote specific A2 protein, morphological change and increased virulence. These data provide support for the involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in the differentiation of Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Nascimento
- Department of Microbiology of Microbiology and Immunology, 3775 University Street, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2B4
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Zhang WW, Mendez S, Ghosh A, Myler P, Ivens A, Clos J, Sacks DL, Matlashewski G. Comparison of the A2 gene locus in Leishmania donovani and Leishmania major and its control over cutaneous infection. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:35508-15. [PMID: 12829719 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m305030200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In Old World Leishmania infections, Leishmania donovani is responsible for fatal visceral leishmaniasis, and L. major is responsible for non-fatal cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. The genetic differences between these species which govern the pathology or site of infection are not known. We have therefore carried out detailed analysis of the A2 loci in L. major and L. donovani because A2 is expressed in L. donovani but not L. major, and A2 is required for survival in visceral organs by L. donovani. We demonstrate that although L. major contains A2 gene regulatory sequences, the multiple repeats that exist in L. donovani A2 protein coding regions are absent in L. major, and the remaining corresponding A2 sequences appear to represent non-expressed pseudogenes. It was possible to restore amastigote-specific A2 expression to L. major, confirming that A2 regulatory sequences remain functional in L. major. Although L. major is a cutaneous parasite in rodents and humans, restoring A2 expression to L. major inhibited its ability to establish a cutaneous infection in susceptible BALB/c or resistant C57BL6 mice, a phenotype typical of L. donovani. There was no detectable cellular immune response against L. major after cutaneous infection with A2-expressing L. major, suggesting that the lack of growth was not attributable to acquired host resistance but to an A2-mediated suppression of parasite survival in skin macrophages. These observations argue that the lack of A2 expression in L. major contributed to its divergence from L. donovani with respect to the pathology of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
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31
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Breitling R, Klingner S, Callewaert N, Pietrucha R, Geyer A, Ehrlich G, Hartung R, Müller A, Contreras R, Beverley SM, Alexandrov K. Non-pathogenic trypanosomatid protozoa as a platform for protein research and production. Protein Expr Purif 2002; 25:209-18. [PMID: 12135552 DOI: 10.1016/s1046-5928(02)00001-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
All currently existing eukaryotic protein expression systems are based on autonomous life forms. To exploit the potential practical benefits associated with parasitic organisms we have developed a new protein expression system based on Leishmania tarentolae (Trypanosomatidae), a protozoan parasite of lizards. To achieve strong transcription, the genes of interest were integrated into the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Expression levels obtained were up to 30 mg of recombinant protein per liter of suspension culture and increased linearly with the number of integrated gene copies. To assess the system's potential for production of post-translationally modified proteins, we have expressed human erythropoietin in L. tarentolae. The recombinant protein isolated from the culture supernatants was biologically active, natively processed at the N-terminus, and N-glycosylated. The N-glycosylation was exceptionally homogeneous, with a mammalian-type biantennary oligosaccharide and the Man(3)GlcNAc(2) core structure accounting for >90% of the glycans present. L. tarentolae is thus the first described biotechnologically useful unicellular eukaryotic organism producing biantennary fully galactosylated, core-alpha-1,6-fucosylated N-glycans.
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Hatabu T, Matsumoto Y, Kawazu SI, Nakamura Y, Kamio T, Lu HG, Chang KP, Hashiguchi Y, Kano S, Onodera T, Matsumoto Y. The expression system of biologically active canine interleukin-8 in Leishmania promastigotes. Parasitol Int 2002; 51:63-71. [PMID: 11880228 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5769(01)00107-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
It has been reported that Leishmania promastigotes have ability to express foreign genes on drug selectable plasmids. To investigate further abilities of the recently described expression vector, P6.5, in the transfection of Leishmania organisms (Chen D-Q, Kolli BK, Yadava N et al. Episomal expression of specific sense and antisense mRNAs in Leishmania amazonensis: modulation of gp63 levels in promastigotes and their infection of macrophages in vitro. Infect Immun 2000;68:80--86), the constructed expression vector, which contains canine interleukin-8 (cIL-8) coding cDNA, was introduced by electroporation to promastigotes of four species of the genus Leishmania: Leishmania amazonensis, L. equatorensis, L. donovani and L. infantum. Extrachromosomal DNAs and total RNAs from the transfected promastigotes were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase-PCR, respectively, using cIL-8 gene specific primers, and a predicted product of 330 bp was detected. Western blot analysis using a mouse monoclonal antibody raised against cIL-8 demonstrated the successful expression of cIL-8 in the transfectants and culture supernatants. Culture supernatants of the transfected L. amazonensis and L. equatorensis promastigotes showed a high chemotactic activity to both dog and mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These results indicate that Leishmania promastigotes transfected with the expression vector P6.5 containing cIL-8 cDNA are capable of producing biologically active cIL-8. The Leishmania expression system using the P6.5 vector might be a useful alternative for the production of biologically active recombinant cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshimitsu Hatabu
- Department of Molecular Immunology, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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Thomas M, Kalita A, Labrecque S, Pim D, Banks L, Matlashewski G. Two polymorphic variants of wild-type p53 differ biochemically and biologically. Mol Cell Biol 1999; 19:1092-100. [PMID: 9891044 PMCID: PMC116039 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.19.2.1092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 508] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The wild-type p53 protein exhibits a common polymorphism at amino acid 72, resulting in either a proline residue (p53Pro) or an arginine residue (p53Arg) at this position. Despite the difference that this change makes in the primary structure of the protein resulting in a difference in migration during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, no differences in the biochemical or biological characteristics of these wild-type p53 variants have been reported. We have recently shown that p53Arg is significantly more susceptible than p53Pro to the degradation induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 protein. Moreover, this may result in an increased susceptibility to HPV-induced tumors in homozygous p53Arg individuals. In further investigating the characteristics of these p53 variants, we now show that both forms are morphologically wild type and do not differ in their ability to bind to DNA in a sequence-specific manner. However, there are a number of differences between the p53 variants in their abilities to bind components of the transcriptional machinery, to activate transcription, to induce apoptosis, and to repress the transformation of primary cells. These observations may have implications for the development of cancers which harbor wild-type p53 sequences and possibly for the ability of such tumors to respond to therapy, depending on their p53 genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thomas
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, I-34012 Trieste, Italy
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Ghedin E, Charest H, Zhang WW, Debrabant A, Dwyer D, Matlashewski G. Inducible expression of suicide genes in Leishmania donovani amastigotes. J Biol Chem 1998; 273:22997-3003. [PMID: 9722523 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.273.36.22997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
This study tests the feasibility of using the A2 gene regulatory system to create a Leishmania cell line in which attenuation is developmentally regulated when the parasite differentiates from promastigotes to amastigotes. The Leishmania donovani- inducible A2 gene regulatory system was used to differentially express in amastigotes two potential suicide genes: a truncated version of the L. donovani 3'-nucleotidase/nuclease expressed in the cytoplasm and the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. These genes were inserted between A2 noncoding regulatory sequences for up-regulation of expression in amastigotes. The accumulation of toxic products affected L. donovani cell replication and viability both in vitro and in vivo. The inducible expression of toxic gene products represents a valuable tool for the development of safe and effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ghedin
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
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36
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Zhang WW, Matlashewski G. Loss of virulence in Leishmania donovani deficient in an amastigote-specific protein, A2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1997; 94:8807-11. [PMID: 9238059 PMCID: PMC23140 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.94.16.8807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania donovani is the etiologic agent of fatal visceral leishmaniasis in man. During their life cycle, Leishmania exist as flagellated promastigotes within the sandfly vector and as nonflagellated amastigotes in the macrophage phagolysosomal compartment of the mammalian host. The transformation from promastigotes to amastigotes is a critical step for the establishment of infection, and the molecular basis for this transformation is poorly understood. To define the molecular basis for amastigote survival in the mammalian host, we previously identified an amastigote stage-specific gene family termed "A2." In the present study, we have inhibited the expression of A2 mRNA and A2 protein in amastigotes using antisense RNA and show that the resulting A2-deficient amastigotes are severely compromised with respect to virulence in mice. Amastigotes that did survive in the mice had restored A2 protein expression. These data demonstrate that A2 protein is required for L. donovani survival in a mammalian host, and this represents the first identified amastigote-specific virulence factor identified in Leishmania. This study also reveals that it is possible to study gene function in Leishmania through the expression of antisense RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- W W Zhang
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada H9X 3V9
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Zhang WW, Charest H, Ghedin E, Matlashewski G. Identification and overexpression of the A2 amastigote-specific protein in Leishmania donovani. Mol Biochem Parasitol 1996; 78:79-90. [PMID: 8813679 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(96)02612-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania protozoa must adapt rapidly to widely different environments and thus exist as promastigotes in their sandfly host and as amastigotes in their mammalian host. Promastigote differentiation into amastigotes is accompanied by both morphological and biological changes. The molecular mechanisms regulating the differentiation and survival of the different life cycle stages are poorly understood. We have therefore undertaken to identify and characterize amastigote-specific genes and their corresponding products based on the rationale that such products may be involved in the survival in the mammalian host. Previous studies in our laboratory have revealed that the A2 gene family-derived transcripts are abundant in L. donovani amastigotes but are barely detectable in promastigotes. In the present study, we have raised polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against a recombinant A2 protein synthesized in Escherichia coli. These antibodies have been used to identify a family of A2 proteins ranging from 45 kDa to about 100 kDa which are specifically detected in L. donovani cells when they are cultured in 37 degrees C, and pH 4.5 (conditions which mimic the macrophage phagolysosome) but not in promastigotes cultured at 26 degrees C and pH 7.4. A2 protein therefore represents a unique amastigote-specific protein marker for L. donovani. It is also demonstrated that it was possible to overexpress the A2 protein specifically in amastigote-like cells using a plasmid construct containing the A2 coding and non-coding sequences. These advances set the foundation for defining the biological function of the A2 protein and other genes when specifically expressed in amastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- W W Zhang
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
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