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Tagoe DNA, Ribeiro E Silva A, Drozda AA, Coppens I, Coleman BI, Gubbels MJ. Toxoplasma FER1 is a versatile and dynamic mediator of differential microneme trafficking and microneme exocytosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21819. [PMID: 39294204 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72628-0] [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: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a polarized cell concentrating several secretory organelles at the apical pole. The secretory micronemes come in two sub-populations differentiated by dependence on Rab5A/C in their biogenesis. Calcium-dependent exocytosis of micronemes occurs at the very apical tip and is critical for parasite egress from its host cell, adhesion and invasion of the next cell. Ferlins represent a protein family with roles in exocytosis containing multiple Ca2+-sensing C2 domains. We determined that T. gondii's ferlin 1 (FER1) localized dynamically to the parasite's secretory pathway. FER1 function was dissected by dominant negative overexpression strategies. We demonstrated that FER1 traffics microneme organelles along the following trajectories: (1) Along the cortex to the apical end; (2) To the apical tip for fusion with the plasma membrane; (3) Differential microneme sub-population traffic, and that FER1 could putatively be responsible for microneme protein trafficking. (4) From the trans-Golgi-endosomal network to the subpellicular cortex; (5) Retrograde transport allowing microneme recycling from mother to daughter. Finally, FER1 overexpression triggers a microneme exocytosis burst, supporting the notion that the radially organized micronemes at the apical tip comprise a readily-releasable microneme pool. In summary, FER1 is pivotal for dynamic microneme trafficking, acts differently on the two microneme subpopulations, and acts on the plasma membrane fusion step during microneme exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N A Tagoe
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
- CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc., Burlington, MA, USA
| | | | - Allison A Drozda
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
- KromaTiD, Longmont, CO, USA
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Bradley I Coleman
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
- Flagship Pioneering, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marc-Jan Gubbels
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA.
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Haase R, Puthenpurackal A, Maco B, Guérin A, Soldati-Favre D. γ-tubulin complex controls the nucleation of tubulin-based structures in Apicomplexa. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar121. [PMID: 39046777 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e24-03-0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites rely on tubulin structures throughout their cell and life cycles, particularly in the polymerization of spindle microtubules to separate the replicated nucleus into daughter cells. Additionally, tubulin structures, including conoid and subpellicular microtubules, provide the necessary rigidity and structure for dissemination and host cell invasion. However, it is unclear whether these tubulin structures are nucleated via a highly conserved γ-tubulin complex or through a specific process unique to apicomplexans. This study demonstrates that Toxoplasma γ-tubulin is responsible for nucleating spindle microtubules, akin to higher eukaryotes, facilitating nucleus division in newly formed parasites. Interestingly, γ-tubulin colocalizes with nascent conoid and subpellicular microtubules during division, potentially nucleating these structures as well. Loss of γ-tubulin results in significant morphological defects due to impaired nucleus scission and the loss of conoid and subpellicular microtubule nucleation, crucial for parasite shape and rigidity. Additionally, the nucleation process of tubulin structures involves a concerted action of γ-tubulin and Gamma Tubulin Complex proteins (GCPs), recapitulating the localization and phenotype of γ-tubulin. This study also introduces new molecular markers for cytoskeletal structures and applies iterative expansion microscopy to reveal microtubule-based architecture in Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites, further demonstrating the conserved localization and probable function of γ-tubulin in Cryptosporidium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romuald Haase
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1221 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Annet Puthenpurackal
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1221 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1221 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Amandine Guérin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1221 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1221 Geneva 4, Switzerland
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3
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Ma ZY, Wu XJ, Li C, Gao J, Kou YJ, Wang M, Zhu XQ, Zheng XN. Functional Characterization of 11 Tentative Microneme Proteins in Type I RH Strain of Toxoplasma gondii Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2543. [PMID: 39272328 PMCID: PMC11394663 DOI: 10.3390/ani14172543] [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: 08/02/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a pathogenic apicomplexan parasite, infects approximately one third of the world's population and poses a serious threat to global public health. Microneme proteins (MICs) secreted by the microneme, an apical secretory organelle of T. gondii, play important roles in the invasion, motility, and intracellular survival of T. gondii. In this study, we selected 11 genes of interest (GOIs) of T. gondii, tentative MICs predicted to be localized in micronemes, and we used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to construct epitope tagging strains and gene knockout strains to explore the localization and function of these 11 tentative MICs. Immunofluorescence assay showed that nine tentative MICs (TGME49_243930, TGME49_200270, TGME49_273320, TGME49_287040, TGME49_261710, TGME49_205680, TGME49_304490, TGME49_245485, and TGME49_224620) were localized or partially localized in the microneme, consistent with the prediction. However, TGME49_272380 and TGME49_243790 showed different localizations from the prediction, being localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and the dense granule, respectively. Further functional characterization of the 11 RHΔGOI strains revealed that deletion of these 11 GOIs had no significant effect on plaque formation, intracellular replication, egress, invasion ability, and virulence of T. gondii. Although these 11 GOIs are not essential genes for the growth and virulence of tachyzoites of type I RH strain, they may have potential roles in other developmental stages or other genotypes of T. gondii. Thus, further research should be performed to explore the possible role of the nine mics and the other two GOIs in other life cycle stages and other genotypes of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Ya Ma
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Wu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Chuan Li
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jin Gao
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Yong-Jie Kou
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
| | - Xiao-Nan Zheng
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
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4
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Ben Chaabene R, Martinez M, Bonavoglia A, Maco B, Chang YW, Lentini G, Soldati-Favre D. Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry discharge factor 3 is essential for invasion and microtubule-associated vesicle biogenesis. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002745. [PMID: 39137211 PMCID: PMC11343613 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhoptries are specialized secretory organelles conserved across the Apicomplexa phylum, essential for host cell invasion and critical for subverting of host cellular and immune functions. They contain proteins and membranous materials injected directly into the host cells, participating in parasitophorous vacuole formation. Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites harbor 8 to 12 rhoptries, 2 of which are docked to an apical vesicle (AV), a central element associated with a rhoptry secretory apparatus prior to injection into the host cell. This parasite is also equipped with 5 to 6 microtubule-associated vesicles, presumably serving as AV replenishment for iterative rhoptry discharge. Here, we characterized a rhoptry protein, rhoptry discharge factor 3 (RDF3), crucial for rhoptry discharge and invasion. RDF3 enters the secretory pathway, localizing near the AV and associated with the rhoptry bulb. Upon invasion, RDF3 dynamically delocalizes, suggesting a critical role at the time of rhoptry discharge. Cryo-electron tomography analysis of RDF3-depleted parasites reveals irregularity in microtubule-associated vesicles morphology, presumably impacting on their preparedness to function as an AV. Our findings suggest that RDF3 is priming the microtubule-associated vesicles for rhoptry discharge by a mechanism distinct from the rhoptry secretory apparatus contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouaa Ben Chaabene
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthew Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alessandro Bonavoglia
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Institute of Structural Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Gaëlle Lentini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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5
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Tell I Puig A, Soldati-Favre D. Roles of the tubulin-based cytoskeleton in the Toxoplasma gondii apical complex. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:401-415. [PMID: 38531711 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Microtubules (MTs) play a vital role as key components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. The phylum Apicomplexa comprises eukaryotic unicellular parasitic organisms defined by the presence of an apical complex which consists of specialized secretory organelles and tubulin-based cytoskeletal elements. One apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is an omnipresent opportunistic pathogen with significant medical and veterinary implications. To ensure successful infection and widespread dissemination, T. gondii heavily relies on the tubulin structures present in the apical complex. Recent advances in high-resolution imaging, coupled with reverse genetics, have offered deeper insights into the composition, functionality, and dynamics of these tubulin-based structures. The apicomplexan tubulins differ from those of their mammalian hosts, endowing them with unique attributes and susceptibility to specific classes of inhibitory compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Tell I Puig
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Jennison C, Armstrong JM, Dankwa DA, Hertoghs N, Kumar S, Abatiyow BA, Naung M, Minkah NK, Swearingen KE, Moritz R, Barry AE, Kappe SHI, Vaughan AM. Plasmodium GPI-anchored micronemal antigen is essential for parasite transmission through the mosquito host. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:394-412. [PMID: 37314965 PMCID: PMC11076100 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites, the eukaryotic pathogens that cause malaria, feature three distinct invasive forms tailored to the host environment they must navigate and invade for life cycle progression. One conserved feature of these invasive forms is the micronemes, apically oriented secretory organelles involved in egress, motility, adhesion, and invasion. Here we investigate the role of GPI-anchored micronemal antigen (GAMA), which shows a micronemal localization in all zoite forms of the rodent-infecting species Plasmodium berghei. ∆GAMA parasites are severely defective for invasion of the mosquito midgut. Once formed, oocysts develop normally, however, sporozoites are unable to egress and exhibit defective motility. Epitope-tagging of GAMA revealed tight temporal expression late during sporogony and showed that GAMA is shed during sporozoite gliding motility in a similar manner to circumsporozoite protein. Complementation of P. berghei knockout parasites with full-length P. falciparum GAMA partially restored infectivity to mosquitoes, indicating conservation of function across Plasmodium species. A suite of parasites with GAMA expressed under the promoters of CTRP, CAP380, and TRAP, further confirmed the involvement of GAMA in midgut infection, motility, and vertebrate infection. These data show GAMA's involvement in sporozoite motility, egress, and invasion, implicating GAMA as a regulator of microneme function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Jennison
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Janna M. Armstrong
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Dorender A. Dankwa
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Nina Hertoghs
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Biley A. Abatiyow
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Myo Naung
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Victoria, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Carlton, Australia
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Nana K. Minkah
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Kristian E. Swearingen
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria, Geelong, Australia
| | - Robert Moritz
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria, Geelong, Australia
| | - Alyssa E. Barry
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
- Institute for Systems Biology, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
- Burnet Institute, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Ashley M. Vaughan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
- Burnet Institute, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
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Shan Z, Song X, Yang X, Xue Y, Wu Y, Wang X, Liu J, Liu Q. Calreticulin (CALR) promotes ionophore-induced microneme secretion in Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:139. [PMID: 38381180 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08162-9] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The flow of calcium ions (Ca2+) is involved in numerous vital activities of Toxoplasma gondii. Calreticulin is a type of Ca2+-binding protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that is involved in Ca2+ signaling pathway regulation, Ca2+ storage, and protein folding. In this work, the calreticulin (CALR), a protein predicted to possess a conserved domain of calreticulin in T. gondii, was characterized. The CALR localized in the ER. Using reverse genetics, we discovered that CALR is not necessary for the lytic cycle, including invasion and replication. However, depletion of CALR affected microneme secretion triggered by A23187, which is a Ca2+ ionophore used to increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. Furthermore, we discovered that CALR influences Ca2+ release. Transcriptomic comparison between Δcalr and Δku80 parasites showed that 226 genes in the Δcalr parasites were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05). The cellular biological functions of the downregulated genes were mainly involved in calmodulin-dependent protein kinase pathways. Furthermore, in the absence of CALR, tachyzoites were still able to cause acute infection in mice. These results imply that by influencing ER Ca2+ release content, CALR may further impair the ionophore-induced secretion of the parasite. However, this protein is not required for the completion of the parasite's lytic cycle or for the acute virulence of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhili Shan
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xingju Song
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Xu Yang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yangfei Xue
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yayun Wu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Xianmei Wang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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8
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Wang D, Jiang P, Wu X, Zhang Y, Wang C, Li M, Liu M, Yin J, Zhu G. Requirement of microtubules for secretion of a micronemal protein CpTSP4 in the invasive stage of the apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum. mBio 2024; 15:e0315823. [PMID: 38265238 PMCID: PMC10865969 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03158-23] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum is a global contributor to infantile diarrheal diseases and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised or weakened individuals. Like other apicomplexans, it possesses several specialized secretory organelles, including micronemes, rhoptry, and dense granules. However, the understanding of cryptosporidial micronemal composition and secretory pathway remains limited. Here, we report a new micronemal protein in C. parvum, namely, thrombospondin (TSP)-repeat domain-containing protein-4 (CpTSP4), providing insights into these ambiguities. Immunostaining and enzyme-linked assays show that CpTSP4 is prestored in the micronemes of unexcysted sporozoites but secreted during sporozoite excystation, gliding, and invasion. In excysted sporozoites, CpTSP4 is also distributed on the two central microtubules unique to Cryptosporidium. The secretion and microtubular distribution could be completely blocked by the selective kinesin-5 inhibitors SB-743921 and SB-715992, resulting in the accumulation of CpTSP4 in micronemes. These support the kinesin-dependent microtubular trafficking of CpTSP4 for secretion. We also localize γ-tubulin, consistent with kinesin-dependent anterograde trafficking. Additionally, recombinant CpTSP4 displays nanomolar binding affinity to the host cell surface, for which heparin acts as one of the host ligands. A novel heparin-binding motif is identified and validated biochemically for its contribution to the adhesive property of CpTSP4 by peptide competition assays and site-directed mutagenesis. These findings shed light on the mechanisms of intracellular trafficking and secretion of a cryptosporidial micronemal protein and the interaction of a TSP-family protein with host cells.IMPORTANCECryptosporidium parvum is a globally distributed apicomplexan parasite infecting humans and/or animals. Like other apicomplexans, it possesses specialized secretory organelles in the zoites, in which micronemes discharge molecules to facilitate the movement and invasion of zoites. Although past and recent studies have identified several proteins in cryptosporidial micronemes, our understanding of the composition, secretory pathways, and domain-ligand interactions of micronemal proteins remains limited. This study identifies a new micronemal protein, namely, CpTSP4, that is discharged during excystation, gliding, and invasion of C. parvum sporozoites. The CpTSP4 secretion depends on the intracellular trafficking on the two Cryptosporidium-unique microtubes that could be blocked by kinesin-5/Eg5 inhibitors. Additionally, a novel heparin-binding motif is identified and biochemically validated, which contributes to the nanomolar binding affinity of CpTSP4 to host cells. These findings indicate that kinesin-dependent microtubular trafficking is critical to CpTSP4 secretion, and heparin/heparan sulfate is one of the ligands for this micronemal protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Peng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaodong Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mingxiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jigang Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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9
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Chelaghma S, Ke H, Barylyuk K, Krueger T, Koreny L, Waller RF. Apical annuli are specialised sites of post-invasion secretion of dense granules in Toxoplasma. eLife 2024; 13:e94201. [PMID: 38270431 PMCID: PMC10857790 DOI: 10.7554/elife.94201] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are ubiquitous intracellular parasites of animals. These parasites use a programmed sequence of secretory events to find, invade, and then re-engineer their host cells to enable parasite growth and proliferation. The secretory organelles micronemes and rhoptries mediate the first steps of invasion. Both secrete their contents through the apical complex which provides an apical opening in the parasite's elaborate inner membrane complex (IMC) - an extensive subpellicular system of flattened membrane cisternae and proteinaceous meshwork that otherwise limits access of the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane for material exchange with the cell exterior. After invasion, a second secretion programme drives host cell remodelling and occurs from dense granules. The site(s) of dense granule exocytosis, however, has been unknown. In Toxoplasma gondii, small subapical annular structures that are embedded in the IMC have been observed, but the role or significance of these apical annuli to plasma membrane function has also been unknown. Here, we determined that integral membrane proteins of the plasma membrane occur specifically at these apical annular sites, that these proteins include SNARE proteins, and that the apical annuli are sites of vesicle fusion and exocytosis. Specifically, we show that dense granules require these structures for the secretion of their cargo proteins. When secretion is perturbed at the apical annuli, parasite growth is strongly impaired. The apical annuli, therefore, represent a second type of IMC-embedded structure to the apical complex that is specialised for protein secretion, and reveal that in Toxoplasma there is a physical separation of the processes of pre- and post-invasion secretion that mediate host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Chelaghma
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Huiling Ke
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Thomas Krueger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Ludek Koreny
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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10
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Xia J, Yang Y, Chen X, Song K, Ma G, Yang Y, Yao C, Du A. An apicoplast-localized deubiquitinase contributes to the cell growth and apicoplast homeostasis of Toxoplasma gondii. Vet Res 2024; 55:10. [PMID: 38233899 PMCID: PMC10795397 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01261-y] [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: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is among the most important parasites worldwide. The apicoplast is a unique organelle shared by all Apicomplexan protozoa. Increasing lines of evidence suggest that the apicoplast possesses its own ubiquitination system. Deubiquitination is a crucial step executed by deubiquitinase (DUB) during protein ubiquitination. While multiple components of ubiquitination have been identified in T. gondii, the deubiquitinases involved remain unknown. The aim of the current study was to delineate the localization of TgOTU7 and elucidate its functions. TgOTU7 was specifically localized at the apicoplast, and its expression was largely regulated during the cell cycle. Additionally, TgOTU7 efficiently breaks down ubiquitin chains, exhibits linkage-nonspecific deubiquitinating activity and is critical for the lytic cycle and apicoplast biogenesis, similar to the transcription of the apicoplast genome and the nuclear genes encoding apicoplast-targeted proteins. Taken together, the results indicate that the newly described deubiquitinase TgOTU7 specifically localizes to the apicoplast and affects the cell growth and apicoplast homeostasis of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yimin Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xueqiu Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kaiyue Song
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guangxu Ma
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
| | - Aifang Du
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
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11
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Rinkenberger N, Rosenberg A, Radke JB, Bhushan J, Tomita T, Weiss LM, Sibley LD. Susceptibility of Toxoplasma gondii to autophagy in human cells relies on multiple interacting parasite loci. mBio 2024; 15:e0259523. [PMID: 38095418 PMCID: PMC10790690 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02595-23] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Autophagy is a process used by cells to recycle organelles and macromolecules and to eliminate intracellular pathogens. Previous studies have shown that some stains of Toxoplasma gondii are resistant to autophagy-dependent growth restriction, while others are highly susceptible. Although it is known that autophagy-mediated control requires activation by interferon gamma, the basis for why parasite strains differ in their susceptibility is unknown. Our findings indicate that susceptibility involves at least five unlinked parasite genes on different chromosomes, including several secretory proteins targeted to the parasite-containing vacuole and exposed to the host cell cytosol. Our findings reveal that susceptibility to autophagy-mediated growth restriction relies on differential recognition of parasite proteins exposed at the host-pathogen interface, thus identifying a new mechanism for cell-autonomous control of intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Rinkenberger
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alex Rosenberg
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Joshua B. Radke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jaya Bhushan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tadakimi Tomita
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Louis M. Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - L. David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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12
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Dos Santos Pacheco N, Tell I Puig A, Guérin A, Martinez M, Maco B, Tosetti N, Delgado-Betancourt E, Lunghi M, Striepen B, Chang YW, Soldati-Favre D. Sustained rhoptry docking and discharge requires Toxoplasma gondii intraconoidal microtubule-associated proteins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:379. [PMID: 38191574 PMCID: PMC10774369 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44631-y] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In Apicomplexa, rhoptry discharge is essential for invasion and involves an apical vesicle (AV) docking one or two rhoptries to a macromolecular secretory apparatus. Toxoplasma gondii is armed with 10-12 rhoptries and 5-6 microtubule-associated vesicles (MVs) presumably for iterative rhoptry discharge. Here, we have addressed the localization and functional significance of two intraconoidal microtubule (ICMT)-associated proteins instrumental for invasion. Mechanistically, depletion of ICMAP2 leads to a dissociation of the ICMTs, their detachment from the conoid and dispersion of MVs and rhoptries. ICMAP3 exists in two isoforms that contribute to the control of the ICMTs length and the docking of the two rhoptries at the AV, respectively. This study illuminates the central role ICMTs play in scaffolding the discharge of multiple rhoptries. This process is instrumental for virulence in the mouse model of infection and in addition promotes sterile protection against T. gondii via the release of key effectors inducing immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Dos Santos Pacheco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Albert Tell I Puig
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Amandine Guérin
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Matthew Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolò Tosetti
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Estefanía Delgado-Betancourt
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute of Structural Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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13
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Liffner B, Cepeda Diaz AK, Blauwkamp J, Anaguano D, Frolich S, Muralidharan V, Wilson DW, Dvorin JD, Absalon S. Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy. eLife 2023; 12:RP88088. [PMID: 38108809 PMCID: PMC10727503 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites exhibit tremendous diversity in much of their fundamental cell biology, but study of these organisms using light microscopy is often hindered by their small size. Ultrastructural expansion microscopy (U-ExM) is a microscopy preparation method that physically expands the sample by ~4.5×. Here, we apply U-ExM to the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum during the asexual blood stage of its lifecycle to understand how this parasite is organized in three dimensions. Using a combination of dye-conjugated reagents and immunostaining, we have cataloged 13 different P. falciparum structures or organelles across the intraerythrocytic development of this parasite and made multiple observations about fundamental parasite cell biology. We describe that the outer centriolar plaque and its associated proteins anchor the nucleus to the parasite plasma membrane during mitosis. Furthermore, the rhoptries, Golgi, basal complex, and inner membrane complex, which form around this anchoring site while nuclei are still dividing, are concurrently segregated and maintain an association to the outer centriolar plaque until the start of segmentation. We also show that the mitochondrion and apicoplast undergo sequential fission events while maintaining an association with the outer centriolar plaque during cytokinesis. Collectively, this study represents the most detailed ultrastructural analysis of P. falciparum during its intraerythrocytic development to date and sheds light on multiple poorly understood aspects of its organelle biogenesis and fundamental cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Liffner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Ana Karla Cepeda Diaz
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s HospitalBostonUnited States
| | - James Blauwkamp
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - David Anaguano
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of GeorgiaAthensUnited States
- Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of GeorgiaAthensUnited States
| | - Sonja Frolich
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of AdelaideAdelaideAustralia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of AdelaideAdelaideAustralia
| | - Vasant Muralidharan
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of GeorgiaAthensUnited States
- Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of GeorgiaAthensUnited States
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of AdelaideAdelaideAustralia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of AdelaideAdelaideAustralia
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial RoadMelbourneAustralia
| | - Jeffrey D Dvorin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s HospitalBostonUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Sabrina Absalon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
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14
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Valleau D, Sidik SM, Godoy LC, Acevedo‐Sánchez Y, Pasaje CFA, Huynh M, Carruthers VB, Niles JC, Lourido S. A conserved complex of microneme proteins mediates rhoptry discharge in Toxoplasma. EMBO J 2023; 42:e113155. [PMID: 37886905 PMCID: PMC10690463 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022113155] [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: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites discharge specialized organelles called rhoptries upon host cell contact to mediate invasion. The events that drive rhoptry discharge are poorly understood, yet essential to sustain the apicomplexan parasitic life cycle. Rhoptry discharge appears to depend on proteins secreted from another set of organelles called micronemes, which vary in function from allowing host cell binding to facilitation of gliding motility. Here we examine the function of the microneme protein CLAMP, which we previously found to be necessary for Toxoplasma gondii host cell invasion, and demonstrate its essential role in rhoptry discharge. CLAMP forms a distinct complex with two other microneme proteins, the invasion-associated SPATR, and a previously uncharacterized protein we name CLAMP-linked invasion protein (CLIP). CLAMP deficiency does not impact parasite adhesion or microneme protein secretion; however, knockdown of any member of the CLAMP complex affects rhoptry discharge. Phylogenetic analysis suggests orthologs of the essential complex components, CLAMP and CLIP, are ubiquitous across apicomplexans. SPATR appears to act as an accessory factor in Toxoplasma, but despite incomplete conservation is also essential for invasion during Plasmodium falciparum blood stages. Together, our results reveal a new protein complex that mediates rhoptry discharge following host-cell contact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luiz C Godoy
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMAUSA
| | | | | | - My‐Hang Huynh
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Vern B Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Sebastian Lourido
- Whitehead InstituteCambridgeMAUSA
- Biology DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMAUSA
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15
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Valigurová A, Diakin A, Seifertová M, Vaškovicová N, Kováčiková M, Paskerova GG. Dispersal and invasive stages of Urospora eugregarines (Apicomplexa) from brown bodies of a polychaete host. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 201:107997. [PMID: 37774965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Urosporid eugregarines (Apicomplexa: Urosporidae) are unicellular eukaryotic parasites inhabiting the coelom or the intestine of marine invertebrates such as annelids, molluscs, nemerteans, and echinoderms. Despite the availability of published morphological and phylogenetical analyses of coelomic gregarines, their long-term survival in the host body cavity and dispersal routes into the marine environment remain unclear. Here, we focus on Urospora gametocysts and oocysts with sporozoites, which were found viable inside the so-called brown bodies floating in the body cavity of the polychaete Travisia forbesii. Brown bodies form as a result of host defence where coelomocytes encapsulate dead host cells and foreign objects including potential pathogens. We hypothesise the long-term persistence of Urospora eugregarines in brown bodies through evasion of the host immunity and outline possible pathways for their egress into the marine environment, applicable as dispersal routes for other parasites as well. Unique features revealed by detailed ultrastructural analysis of detected eugregarine stages include asynchronous sporogony, a massive sporozoite secretion apparatus, as well as the presence of free (possibly autoinfective) sporozoites within the gametocyst. The assignment to the genus Urospora and the complete identity with U. ovalis and U. travisiae were confirmed by analysing 18S rDNA sequences obtained from isolated gametocysts. The 18S rDNA phylogeny confirmed the affiliation of Urosporidae to Lecudinoidea and the grouping of all Urospora sequences with Difficilina from nemerteans and environmental sequences from the Artic region. We also enriched the Apicomplexa set by partial 28S rDNA sequences of two Urospora species enabling more complex phylogenetic analyses prospectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Valigurová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Andrei Diakin
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mária Seifertová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Naděžda Vaškovicová
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Magdaléna Kováčiková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gita G Paskerova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya emb. 7/9, St Petersburg 199034, Russian Federation
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16
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Cruz-Bustos T, Dolezal M, Feix AS, Ruttkowski B, Hummel K, Razzazi-Fazeli E, Joachim A. Unravelling the sexual developmental biology of Cystoisospora suis, a model for comparative coccidian parasite studies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1271731. [PMID: 37953800 PMCID: PMC10635411 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1271731] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The apicomplexan parasite Cystoisospora suis has global significance as an enteropathogen of suckling piglets. Its intricate life cycle entails a transition from an asexual phase to sexual development, ultimately leading to the formation of transmissible oocysts. Methods To advance our understanding of the parasite's cellular development, we complemented previous transcriptome studies by delving into the proteome profiles at five distinct time points of in vitro cultivation through LC/MS-MS analysis. Results A total of 1,324 proteins were identified in the in vitro developmental stages of C. suis, and 1,082 proteins were identified as significantly differentially expressed. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD045050. We performed BLAST, GO enrichment, and KEGG pathway analyses on the up- and downregulated proteins to elucidate correlated events in the C. suis life cycle. Our analyses revealed intriguing metabolic patterns in macromolecule metabolism, DNA- and RNA-related processes, proteins associated with sexual stages, and those involved in cell invasion, reflecting the adaptation of sexual stages to a nutrient-poor and potentially stressful extracellular environment, with a focus on enzymes involved in metabolism and energy production. Discussion These findings have important implications for understanding the developmental biology of C. suis as well as other, related coccidian parasites, such as Eimeria spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. They also support the role of C. suis as a new model for the comparative biology of coccidian tissue cyst stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cruz-Bustos
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marlies Dolezal
- Platform for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Sophia Feix
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bärbel Ruttkowski
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Hummel
- VetCore Facility (Proteomics), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ebrahim Razzazi-Fazeli
- VetCore Facility (Proteomics), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anja Joachim
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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17
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Liffner B, Cepeda Diaz AK, Blauwkamp J, Anaguano D, Frölich S, Muralidharan V, Wilson DW, Dvorin J, Absalon S. Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.22.533773. [PMID: 36993606 PMCID: PMC10055389 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.22.533773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites exhibit tremendous diversity in much of their fundamental cell biology, but study of these organisms using light microscopy is often hindered by their small size. Ultrastructural expansion microscopy (U-ExM) is a microscopy preparation method that physically expands the sample ~4.5x. Here, we apply U-ExM to the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum during the asexual blood stage of its lifecycle to understand how this parasite is organized in three-dimensions. Using a combination of dye-conjugated reagents and immunostaining, we have catalogued 13 different P. falciparum structures or organelles across the intraerythrocytic development of this parasite and made multiple observations about fundamental parasite cell biology. We describe that the outer centriolar plaque and its associated proteins anchor the nucleus to the parasite plasma membrane during mitosis. Furthermore, the rhoptries, Golgi, basal complex, and inner membrane complex, which form around this anchoring site while nuclei are still dividing, are concurrently segregated and maintain an association to the outer centriolar plaque until the start of segmentation. We also show that the mitochondrion and apicoplast undergo sequential fission events while maintaining an association with the outer centriolar plaque during cytokinesis. Collectively, this study represents the most detailed ultrastructural analysis of P. falciparum during its intraerythrocytic development to date, and sheds light on multiple poorly understood aspects of its organelle biogenesis and fundamental cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Liffner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ana Karla Cepeda Diaz
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA, USA
| | - James Blauwkamp
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David Anaguano
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sonja Frölich
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Vasant Muralidharan
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Danny W. Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Dvorin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sabrina Absalon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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18
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Dubois DJ, Chehade S, Marq JB, Venugopal K, Maco B, Puig ATI, Soldati-Favre D, Marion S. Toxoplasma gondii HOOK-FTS-HIP Complex is Critical for Secretory Organelle Discharge during Motility, Invasion, and Egress. mBio 2023:e0045823. [PMID: 37093045 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00458-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the Apicomplexa phylum possess specialized secretory organelles that discharge, apically and in a timely regulated manner, key factors implicated in parasite motility, host cell invasion, egress and subversion of host cellular functions. The mechanisms regulating trafficking and apical docking of these secretory organelles are only partially elucidated. Here, we characterized two conserved endosomal trafficking regulators known to promote vesicle transport and/or fusion, HOOK and Fused Toes (FTS), in the context of organelle discharge in Toxoplasma gondii. TgHOOK and TgFTS form a complex with a coccidian-specific partner, named HOOK interacting partner (HIP). TgHOOK displays an apically enriched vesicular pattern and concentrates at the parasite apical tip where it colocalizes with TgFTS and TgHIP. Functional investigations revealed that TgHOOK is dispensable but fitness conferring. The protein regulates the apical positioning and secretion of micronemes and contributes to egress, motility, host cell attachment, and invasion. Conditional depletion of TgFTS or TgHIP impacted on the same processes but led to more severe phenotypes. This study provides evidence of endosomal trafficking regulators involved in the apical exocytosis of micronemes and possibly as a consequence or directly on the discharge of the rhoptries. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii affects between 30 and 80% of the human population, poses a life-threatening risk to immunocompromised individuals, and is a cause of abortion and birth defects following congenital transmission. T. gondii belongs to the phylum of Apicomplexa characterized by a set of unique apical secretory organelles called the micronemes and rhoptries. Upon host cell recognition, this obligatory intracellular parasite secretes specific effectors contained in micronemes and rhoptries to promote parasite invasion of host cells and subsequent persistence. Here, we identified novel T. gondii endosomal trafficking regulators and demonstrated that they regulate microneme organelle apical positioning and exocytosis, thereby strongly contributing to host cell invasion and parasite virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Dubois
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylia Chehade
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Marq
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kannan Venugopal
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Albert Tell I Puig
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Marion
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
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19
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Koreny L, Mercado-Saavedra BN, Klinger CM, Barylyuk K, Butterworth S, Hirst J, Rivera-Cuevas Y, Zaccai NR, Holzer VJC, Klingl A, Dacks JB, Carruthers VB, Robinson MS, Gras S, Waller RF. Stable endocytic structures navigate the complex pellicle of apicomplexan parasites. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2167. [PMID: 37061511 PMCID: PMC10105704 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37431-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites have immense impacts on humanity, but their basic cellular processes are often poorly understood. Where endocytosis occurs in these cells, how conserved this process is with other eukaryotes, and what the functions of endocytosis are across this phylum are major unanswered questions. Using the apicomplexan model Toxoplasma, we identified the molecular composition and behavior of unusual, fixed endocytic structures. Here, stable complexes of endocytic proteins differ markedly from the dynamic assembly/disassembly of these machineries in other eukaryotes. We identify that these endocytic structures correspond to the 'micropore' that has been observed throughout the Apicomplexa. Moreover, conserved molecular adaptation of this structure is seen in apicomplexans including the kelch-domain protein K13 that is central to malarial drug-resistance. We determine that a dominant function of endocytosis in Toxoplasma is plasma membrane homeostasis, rather than parasite nutrition, and that these specialized endocytic structures originated early in infrakingdom Alveolata likely in response to the complex cell pellicle that defines this medically and ecologically important ancient eukaryotic lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludek Koreny
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | | | - Christen M Klinger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | | | - Simon Butterworth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Jennifer Hirst
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Yolanda Rivera-Cuevas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Nathan R Zaccai
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Victoria J C Holzer
- Plant Development, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152, Germany
| | - Andreas Klingl
- Plant Development, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152, Germany
| | - Joel B Dacks
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Vern B Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Margaret S Robinson
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Simon Gras
- Experimental Parasitology, Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152, Germany.
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.
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20
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Guérin A, Strelau KM, Barylyuk K, Wallbank BA, Berry L, Crook OM, Lilley KS, Waller RF, Striepen B. Cryptosporidium uses multiple distinct secretory organelles to interact with and modify its host cell. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:650-664.e6. [PMID: 36958336 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of diarrheal disease in children and an important contributor to early childhood mortality. The parasite invades and extensively remodels intestinal epithelial cells, building an elaborate interface structure. How this occurs at the molecular level and the contributing parasite factors are largely unknown. Here, we generated a whole-cell spatial proteome of the Cryptosporidium sporozoite and used genetic and cell biological experimentation to discover the Cryptosporidium-secreted effector proteome. These findings reveal multiple organelles, including an original secretory organelle, and generate numerous compartment markers by tagging native gene loci. We show that secreted proteins are delivered to the parasite-host interface, where they assemble into different structures including a ring that anchors the parasite into its unique epicellular niche. Cryptosporidium thus uses a complex set of secretion systems during and following invasion that act in concert to subjugate its host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Guérin
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Katherine M Strelau
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Bethan A Wallbank
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Laurence Berry
- LPHI, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier 34095, France
| | - Oliver M Crook
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Kathryn S Lilley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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21
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Capelli-Peixoto J, Saelao P, Johnson WC, Kappmeyer L, Reif KE, Masterson HE, Taus NS, Suarez CE, Brayton KA, Ueti MW. Comparison of high throughput RNA sequences between Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis revealed consistent differential gene expression that is required for the Babesia life cycle in the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1093338. [PMID: 36601308 PMCID: PMC9806345 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1093338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis caused by Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis is an economically important disease that affects cattle worldwide. Both B. bigemina and B. bovis are transovarially transmitted by Rhipicephalus ticks. However, little is known regarding parasite gene expression during infection of the tick vector or mammalian host, which has limited the development of effective control strategies to alleviate the losses to the cattle industry. To understand Babesia gene regulation during tick and mammalian host infection, we performed high throughput RNA-sequencing using samples collected from calves and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks infected with B. bigemina. We evaluated gene expression between B. bigemina blood-stages and kinetes and compared them with previous B. bovis RNA-seq data. The results revealed similar patterns of gene regulation between these two tick-borne transovarially transmitted Babesia parasites. Like B. bovis, the transcription of several B. bigemina genes in kinetes exceeded a 1,000-fold change while a few of these genes had a >20,000-fold increase. To identify genes that may have important roles in B. bigemina and B. bovis transovarial transmission, we searched for genes upregulated in B. bigemina kinetes in the genomic datasets of B. bovis and non-transovarially transmitted parasites, Theileria spp. and Babesia microti. Using this approach, we identify genes that may be potential markers for transovarial transmission by B. bigemina and B. bovis. The findings presented herein demonstrate common Babesia genes linked to infection of the vector or mammalian host and may contribute to elucidating strategies used by the parasite to complete their life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaina Capelli-Peixoto
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States,*Correspondence: Janaina Capelli-Peixoto,
| | - Perot Saelao
- Veterinary Pest Genetic Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, United States
| | | | - Lowell Kappmeyer
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Kathryn E. Reif
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Hayley E. Masterson
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Naomi S. Taus
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States,Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States,Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Kelly A. Brayton
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States,Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States
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22
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Haase R, Dos Santos Pacheco N, Soldati-Favre D. Nanoscale imaging of the conoid and functional dissection of its dynamics in Apicomplexa. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 70:102226. [PMID: 36332501 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Apicomplexa phylum are unified by an apical complex tailored for motility and host cell invasion. It includes regulated secretory organelles and a conoid attached to the apical polar ring (APR) from which subpellicular microtubules emerge. In coccidia, the conoid is composed of a cone of spiraling tubulin fibers, two preconoidal rings, and two intraconoidal microtubules. The conoid extrudes through the APR in motile parasites. Recent advances in proteomics, cryo-electron tomography, super-resolution, and expansion microscopy provide a more comprehensive view of the spatial and temporal resolution of proteins belonging to the conoid subcomponents. In combination with the phenotyping of targeted mutants, the biogenesis, turnover, dynamics, and function of the conoid begin to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romuald Haase
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Dos Santos Pacheco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
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23
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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Lee SH, Kang HJ, Yoon KW, Ahmed MA, Quan FS. Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Expressing Plasmodium berghei Apical Membrane Antigen 1 or Microneme Protein Enhances Protection against P. berghei Infection in Mice. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:350. [PMID: 36355892 PMCID: PMC9698705 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVV) are effective antigen delivery vectors and are researched widely as vaccine platforms against numerous diseases. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is one of the candidate antigens for malaria vaccines but rising concerns regarding its genetic diversity and polymorphism have necessitated the need to search for an alternative antigen. Here, we compare the efficacies of the rVV vaccines expressing either AMA1 or microneme protein (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei in mice. Mice (BALB/c) were immunized with either rVV-AMA1 or rVV-MIC and subsequently challenge-infected with P. berghei. Compared to the control group, both antigens elicited elevated levels of parasite-specific antibody responses. Immunization with either one of the two vaccines induced high levels of T cells and germinal center B cell responses. Interestingly, rVV-MIC immunization elicited higher levels of cellular immune response compared to rVV-AMA1 immunization, and significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine productions were observed from the former vaccine. While differences in parasitemia and bodyweight changes were negligible between rVV-AMA1 and rVV-MIC immunization groups, prolonged survival was observed for the latter of the two. Based on these results, our findings suggest that the rVV expressing the P. berghei MIC could be a vaccine-candidate antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Md Atique Ahmed
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
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24
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Roumégous C, Abou Hammoud A, Fuster D, Dupuy JW, Blancard C, Salin B, Robinson DR, Renesto P, Tardieux I, Frénal K. Identification of new components of the basal pole of Toxoplasma gondii provides novel insights into its molecular organization and functions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1010038. [PMID: 36310866 PMCID: PMC9613666 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite is a singled-cell obligate intracellular parasite responsible for the acute phase of toxoplasmosis. This polarized cell exhibits an apical complex, a hallmark of the phylum Apicomplexa, essential for motility, invasion, and egress from the host cell. Located on the opposite end of the cell is the basal complex, an elaborated cytoskeletal structure that also plays critical roles in the lytic cycle of the parasite, being involved in motility, cell division, constriction and cytokinesis, as well as intravacuolar cell-cell communication. Nevertheless, only a few proteins of this structure have been described and functionally assessed. In this study, we used spatial proteomics to identify new basal complex components (BCC), and in situ imaging, including ultrastructure expansion microscopy, to position them. We thus confirmed the localization of nine BCCs out of the 12 selected candidates and assigned them to different sub-compartments of the basal complex, including two new domains located above the basal ring and below the posterior cup. Their functional investigation revealed that none of these BCCs are essential for parasite growth in vitro. However, one BCC is critical for constricting of the basal complex, likely through direct interaction with the class VI myosin heavy chain J (MyoJ), and for gliding motility. Four other BCCs, including a phosphatase and a guanylate-binding protein, are involved in the formation and/or maintenance of the intravacuolar parasite connection, which is required for the rosette organization and synchronicity of cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Roumégous
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Aya Abou Hammoud
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Damien Fuster
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Corinne Blancard
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institut de Biochimie et Génétique Cellulaires, UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Bénédicte Salin
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institut de Biochimie et Génétique Cellulaires, UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Derrick R. Robinson
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Patricia Renesto
- IAB, Team Biomechanics of Host-Apicomplexa Parasite, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Tardieux
- IAB, Team Biomechanics of Host-Apicomplexa Parasite, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Karine Frénal
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
- *Correspondence: Karine Frénal,
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25
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Dos Santos Pacheco N, Brusini L, Haase R, Tosetti N, Maco B, Brochet M, Vadas O, Soldati-Favre D. Conoid extrusion regulates glideosome assembly to control motility and invasion in Apicomplexa. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1777-1790. [DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01212-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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26
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Segev-Zarko LA, Dahlberg PD, Sun SY, Pelt DM, Kim CY, Egan ES, Sethian JA, Chiu W, Boothroyd JC. Cryo-electron tomography with mixed-scale dense neural networks reveals key steps in deployment of Toxoplasma invasion machinery. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac183. [PMID: 36329726 PMCID: PMC9615128 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Host cell invasion by intracellular, eukaryotic parasites within the phylum Apicomplexa is a remarkable and active process involving the coordinated action of apical organelles and other structures. To date, capturing how these structures interact during invasion has been difficult to observe in detail. Here, we used cryogenic electron tomography to image the apical complex of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites under conditions that mimic resting parasites and those primed to invade through stimulation with calcium ionophore. Through the application of mixed-scale dense networks for image processing, we developed a highly efficient pipeline for annotation of tomograms, enabling us to identify and extract densities of relevant subcellular organelles and accurately analyze features in 3-D. The results reveal a dramatic change in the shape of the anteriorly located apical vesicle upon its apparent fusion with a rhoptry that occurs only in the stimulated parasites. We also present information indicating that this vesicle originates from the vesicles that parallel the intraconoidal microtubules and that the latter two structures are linked by a novel tether. We show that a rosette structure previously proposed to be involved in rhoptry secretion is associated with apical vesicles beyond just the most anterior one. This result, suggesting multiple vesicles are primed to enable rhoptry secretion, may shed light on the mechanisms Toxoplasma employs to enable repeated invasion attempts. Using the same approach, we examine Plasmodium falciparum merozoites and show that they too possess an apical vesicle just beneath a rosette, demonstrating evolutionary conservation of this overall subcellular organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-av Segev-Zarko
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter D Dahlberg
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stella Y Sun
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Daniël M Pelt
- Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, Leiden University, Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chi Yong Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Department of Pediatrics––Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Egan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Department of Pediatrics––Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - James A Sethian
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA,Center for Advanced Mathematics for Energy Research Application (CAMERA), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Wah Chiu
- To whom correspondence should be addressed:
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27
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Martinez M, Chen WD, Cova MM, Molnár P, Mageswaran SK, Guérin A, John ARO, Lebrun M, Chang YW. Rhoptry secretion system structure and priming in Plasmodium falciparum revealed using in situ cryo-electron tomography. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1230-1238. [PMID: 35817892 PMCID: PMC7613239 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites secrete contents of the rhoptries, club-shaped organelles in the apical region, into host cells to permit their invasion and establishment of infection. The rhoptry secretory apparatus (RSA), which is critical for rhoptry secretion, was recently discovered in Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium. It is unknown whether a similar molecular machinery exists in the malaria parasite Plasmodium. In this study, we use in situ cryo-electron tomography to investigate the rhoptry secretion system in P. falciparum merozoites. We identify the presence of an RSA at the cell apex and a morphologically distinct apical vesicle docking the tips of the two rhoptries to the RSA. We also discover two additional rhoptry organizations that lack the apical vesicle. Using subtomogram averaging, we reveal different conformations of the RSA structure corresponding to different rhoptry organizations. Our results highlight previously unknown steps in the process of rhoptry secretion and indicate a regulatory role for the conserved apical vesicle in host invasion by apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William David Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Petra Molnár
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shrawan Kumar Mageswaran
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amandine Guérin
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Audrey R Odom John
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- LPHI, UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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28
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Burrell A, Marugan-Hernandez V, Wheeler R, Moreira-Leite F, Ferguson DJP, Tomley FM, Vaughan S. Cellular electron tomography of the apical complex in the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria tenella shows a highly organised gateway for regulated secretion. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010666. [PMID: 35816515 PMCID: PMC9302750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The apical complex of apicomplexan parasites is essential for host cell invasion and intracellular survival and as the site of regulated exocytosis from specialised secretory organelles called rhoptries and micronemes. Despite its importance, there are few data on the three-dimensional organisation and quantification of these organelles within the apical complex or how they are trafficked to this specialised region of plasma membrane for exocytosis. In coccidian apicomplexans there is an additional tubulin-containing hollow barrel structure, the conoid, which provides a structural gateway for this specialised apical secretion. Using a combination of cellular electron tomography and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) we have reconstructed the entire apical end of Eimeria tenella sporozoites; we report a detailed dissection of the three- dimensional organisation of the conoid and show there is high curvature of the tubulin-containing fibres that might be linked to the unusual comma-shaped arrangement of protofilaments. We quantified the number and location of rhoptries and micronemes within cells and show a highly organised gateway for trafficking and docking of rhoptries, micronemes and microtubule-associated vesicles within the conoid around a set of intra-conoidal microtubules. Finally, we provide ultrastructural evidence for fusion of rhoptries directly through the parasite plasma membrane early in infection and the presence of a pore in the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, providing a structural explanation for how rhoptry proteins may be trafficked between the parasite and the host cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana Burrell
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, United Kingdom
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Richard Wheeler
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Flavia Moreira-Leite
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David J. P. Ferguson
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona M. Tomley
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (FMT); (SV)
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (FMT); (SV)
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29
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Possenti A, Di Cristina M, Nicastro C, Lunghi M, Messina V, Piro F, Tramontana L, Cherchi S, Falchi M, Bertuccini L, Spano F. Functional Characterization of the Thrombospondin-Related Paralogous Proteins Rhoptry Discharge Factors 1 and 2 Unveils Phenotypic Plasticity in Toxoplasma gondii Rhoptry Exocytosis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:899243. [PMID: 35756016 PMCID: PMC9218915 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.899243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To gain access to the intracellular cytoplasmic niche essential for their growth and replication, apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii rely on the timely secretion of two types of apical organelles named micronemes and rhoptries. Rhoptry proteins are key to host cell invasion and remodeling, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the tight control of rhoptry discharge are poorly understood. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of two novel T. gondii thrombospondin-related proteins implicated in rhoptry exocytosis. The two proteins, already annotated as MIC15 and MIC14, were renamed rhoptry discharge factor 1 (RDF1) and rhoptry discharge factor 2 (RDF2) and found to be exclusive of the Coccidia class of apicomplexan parasites. Furthermore, they were shown to have a paralogous relationship and share a C-terminal transmembrane domain followed by a short cytoplasmic tail. Immunofluorescence analysis of T. gondii tachyzoites revealed that RDF1 presents a diffuse punctate localization not reminiscent of any know subcellular compartment, whereas RDF2 was not detected. Using a conditional knockdown approach, we demonstrated that RDF1 loss caused a marked growth defect. The lack of the protein did not affect parasite gliding motility, host cell attachment, replication and egress, whereas invasion was dramatically reduced. Notably, while RDF1 depletion did not result in altered microneme exocytosis, rhoptry discharge was found to be heavily impaired. Interestingly, rhoptry secretion was reversed by spontaneous upregulation of the RDF2 gene in knockdown parasites grown under constant RDF1 repression. Collectively, our results identify RDF1 and RDF2 as additional key players in the pathway controlling rhoptry discharge. Furthermore, this study unveils a new example of compensatory mechanism contributing to phenotypic plasticity in T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Possenti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Manlio Di Cristina
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Nicastro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Valeria Messina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Piro
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tramontana
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Cherchi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Falchi
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Furio Spano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Cova MM, Lamarque MH, Lebrun M. How Apicomplexa Parasites Secrete and Build Their Invasion Machinery. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:619-640. [PMID: 35671531 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041320-021425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexa are obligatory intracellular parasites that sense and actively invade host cells. Invasion is a conserved process that relies on the timely and spatially controlled exocytosis of unique specialized secretory organelles termed micronemes and rhoptries. Microneme exocytosis starts first and likely controls the intricate mechanism of rhoptry secretion. To assemble the invasion machinery, micronemal proteins-associated with the surface of the parasite-interact and form complexes with rhoptry proteins, which in turn are targeted into the host cell. This review covers the molecular advances regarding microneme and rhoptry exocytosis and focuses on how the proteins discharged from these two compartments work in synergy to drive a successful invasion event. Particular emphasis is given to the structure and molecular components of the rhoptry secretion apparatus, and to the current conceptual framework of rhoptry exocytosis that may constitute an unconventional eukaryotic secretory machinery closely related to the one described in ciliates. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 76 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Mendonça Cova
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interactions (LPHI), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France;
| | - Mauld H Lamarque
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interactions (LPHI), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France;
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interactions (LPHI), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France;
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Kuppannan A, Jiang YY, Maier W, Liu C, Lang CF, Cheng CY, Field MC, Zhao M, Zoltner M, Turkewitz AP. A novel membrane complex is required for docking and regulated exocytosis of lysosome-related organelles in Tetrahymena thermophila. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010194. [PMID: 35587496 PMCID: PMC9159632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, lysosome-related organelles called mucocysts accumulate at the cell periphery where they secrete their contents in response to extracellular events, a phenomenon called regulated exocytosis. The molecular bases underlying regulated exocytosis have been extensively described in animals but it is not clear whether similar mechanisms exist in ciliates or their sister lineage, the Apicomplexan parasites, which together belong to the ecologically and medically important superphylum Alveolata. Beginning with a T. thermophila mutant in mucocyst exocytosis, we used a forward genetic approach to uncover MDL1 (Mucocyst Discharge with a LamG domain), a novel gene that is essential for regulated exocytosis of mucocysts. Mdl1p is a 40 kDa membrane glycoprotein that localizes to mucocysts, and specifically to a tip domain that contacts the plasma membrane when the mucocyst is docked. This sub-localization of Mdl1p, which occurs prior to docking, underscores a functional asymmetry in mucocysts that is strikingly similar to that of highly polarized secretory organelles in other Alveolates. A mis-sense mutation in the LamG domain results in mucocysts that dock but only undergo inefficient exocytosis. In contrast, complete knockout of MDL1 largely prevents mucocyst docking itself. Mdl1p is physically associated with 9 other proteins, all of them novel and largely restricted to Alveolates, and sedimentation analysis supports the idea that they form a large complex. Analysis of three other members of this putative complex, called MDD (for Mucocyst Docking and Discharge), shows that they also localize to mucocysts. Negative staining of purified MDD complexes revealed distinct particles with a central channel. Our results uncover a novel macromolecular complex whose subunits are conserved within alveolates but not in other lineages, that is essential for regulated exocytosis in T. thermophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarthi Kuppannan
- Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United State of America
| | - Yu-Yang Jiang
- Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United State of America
| | - Wolfgang Maier
- Bio3/Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology and ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chang Liu
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Charles F. Lang
- Committee on Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Chao-Yin Cheng
- Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United State of America
| | - Mark C. Field
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Minglei Zhao
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Martin Zoltner
- Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Aaron P. Turkewitz
- Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United State of America
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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Yoon KW, Lee DH, Lee SH, Moon EK, Quan FS. Influenza virus-like particle vaccine containing both apical membrane antigen 1 and microneme-associated antigen proteins of Plasmodium berghei confers protection in mice. BMC Immunol 2022; 23:21. [PMID: 35468726 PMCID: PMC9040335 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-022-00494-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and microneme-associated antigen (MIC) of Plasmodium parasites are important factors involved in host cell invasion. Methods In this study, influenza VLP vaccines containing both codon-optimized AMA1 and MIC were generated and the vaccine efficacy was evaluated in mice. Results VLPs vaccine immunization elicited higher levels of parasite-specific IgG and IgG2a antibody responses in sera. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and germinal center B cells in blood, inguinal lymph nodes (ILN) and spleen were found to be significantly increased. Importantly, VLPs vaccination significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α, decreased parasitemia in blood, resulting in lower body weight loss and longer survival time compared to control. Conclusion These results indicated that VLPs containing P. berghei AMA1 and MIC could be a candidate for malaria blood-stage vaccine design. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12865-022-00494-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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The transcriptome from asexual to sexual in vitro development of Cystoisospora suis (Apicomplexa: Coccidia). Sci Rep 2022; 12:5972. [PMID: 35396557 PMCID: PMC8993856 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09714-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Cystoisospora suis is an enteropathogen of suckling piglets with woldwide distribution. As with all coccidian parasites, its lifecycle is characterized by asexual multiplication followed by sexual development with two morphologically distinct cell types that presumably fuse to form a zygote from which the oocyst arises. However, knowledge of the sexual development of C. suis is still limited. To complement previous in vitro studies, we analysed transcriptional profiles at three different time points of development (corresponding to asexual, immature and mature sexual stages) in vitro via RNASeq. Overall, transcription of genes encoding proteins with important roles in gametes biology, oocyst wall biosynthesis, DNA replication and axonema formation as well as proteins with important roles in merozoite biology was identified. A homologue of an oocyst wall tyrosine rich protein of Toxoplasma gondii was expressed in macrogametes and oocysts of C. suis. We evaluated inhibition of sexual development in a host-free culture for C. suis by antiserum specific to this protein to evaluate whether it could be exploited as a candidate for control strategies against C. suis. Based on these data, targets can be defined for future strategies to interrupt parasite transmission during sexual development.
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Bisio H, Krishnan A, Marq JB, Soldati-Favre D. Toxoplasma gondii phosphatidylserine flippase complex ATP2B-CDC50.4 critically participates in microneme exocytosis. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010438. [PMID: 35325010 PMCID: PMC8982854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulated microneme secretion governs motility, host cell invasion and egress in the obligate intracellular apicomplexans. Intracellular calcium oscillations and phospholipid dynamics critically regulate microneme exocytosis. Despite its importance for the lytic cycle of these parasites, molecular mechanistic details about exocytosis are still missing. Some members of the P4-ATPases act as flippases, changing the phospholipid distribution by translocation from the outer to the inner leaflet of the membrane. Here, the localization and function of the repertoire of P4-ATPases was investigated across the lytic cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. Of relevance, ATP2B and the non-catalytic subunit cell division control protein 50.4 (CDC50.4) form a stable heterocomplex at the parasite plasma membrane, essential for microneme exocytosis. This complex is responsible for flipping phosphatidylserine, which presumably acts as a lipid mediator for organelle fusion with the plasma membrane. Overall, this study points toward the importance of phosphatidylserine asymmetric distribution at the plasma membrane for microneme exocytosis. Biological membranes display diverse functions, including membrane fusion, which are conferred by a defined composition and organization of proteins and lipids. Apicomplexan parasites possess specialized secretory organelles (micronemes), implicated in motility, invasion and egress from host cells. Microneme exocytosis is already known to depend on phosphatidic acid for its fusion with the plasma membrane. Here we identify a type P4-ATPase and its CDC50 chaperone (ATP2B-CDC50.4) that act as a flippase and contribute to the enrichment of phosphatidylserine (PS) in the inner leaflet of the parasite plasma membrane. The disruption of PS asymmetric distribution at the plasma membrane impacts microneme exocytosis. Overall, our results shed light on the importance of membrane homeostasis and lipid composition in controlling microneme secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Bisio
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Baptiste Marq
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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35
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Cryo-ET of Toxoplasma parasites gives subnanometer insight into tubulin-based structures. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2111661119. [PMID: 35121661 PMCID: PMC8832990 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2111661119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tubulin polymers are essential for a variety of cellular functions. Using cryo-ET, we reveal the 3D organization of the apical complex in Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular eukaryote with tubulin-based structures, including an apical “conoid” involved in host cell invasion. Our development of an advanced subtomogram averaging protocol for filamentous structures enabled us to accurately assign tubulins in cellular context. At the subnanometer resolution achieved, tubulins were confirmed to assemble into two major forms: canonical subpellicular microtubules (SPMTs) and noncanonical conoid fibrils (CFs). The data further revealed associated proteins in both structures, a dominant orientation of SPMTs, and a unique patterning of the CFs. This work demonstrates an approach that can be used to determine cellular filamentous structures at multiscale resolutions. Tubulin is a conserved protein that polymerizes into different forms of filamentous structures in Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa. Two key tubulin-containing cytoskeletal components are subpellicular microtubules (SPMTs) and conoid fibrils (CFs). The SPMTs help maintain shape and gliding motility, while the CFs are implicated in invasion. Here, we use cryogenic electron tomography to determine the molecular structures of the SPMTs and CFs in vitrified intact and detergent-extracted parasites. Subvolume densities from detergent-extracted parasites yielded averaged density maps at subnanometer resolutions, and these were related back to their architecture in situ. An intralumenal spiral lines the interior of the 13-protofilament SPMTs, revealing a preferred orientation of these microtubules relative to the parasite’s long axis. Each CF is composed of nine tubulin protofilaments that display a comma-shaped cross-section, plus additional associated components. Conoid protrusion, a crucial step in invasion, is associated with an altered pitch of each CF. The use of basic building blocks of protofilaments and different accessory proteins in one organism illustrates the versatility of tubulin to form two distinct types of assemblies, SPMTs and CFs.
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protist infecting a wide group of warm-blooded animals, ranging from birds to humans. While this infection is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it can also lead to severe ocular or neurological outcomes in immunocompromised individuals or in developing fetuses. This obligate intracellular parasite has the ability to infect a considerable range of nucleated cells and can propagate in the intermediate host. Yet, under the pressure of the immune system it transforms into an encysted persistent form residing primarily in the brain and muscle tissues. Encysted parasites, which are resistant to current medication, may reactivate and give rise to an acute infection. The clinical outcome of toxoplasmosis depends on a complex balance between the host immune response and parasite virulence factors. Susceptibility to the disease is thus determined by both parasite strains and host species. Recent advances on our understanding of host cell-parasite interactions and parasite virulence have brought new insights into the pathophysiology of T. gondii infection and are summarized here.
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37
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Ma X, Liu B, Gong Z, Qu Z, Cai J. Phosphoproteomic Comparison of Four Eimeria tenella Life Cycle Stages. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212110. [PMID: 34829991 PMCID: PMC8624187 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification (PTM) involved in diverse cellular functions. It is the most prevalent PTM in both Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, but its status in Eimeria tenella has not been reported. Herein, we performed a comprehensive, quantitative phosphoproteomic profile analysis of four stages of the E. tenella life cycle: unsporulated oocysts (USO), partially sporulated (7 h) oocysts (SO7h), sporulated oocysts (SO), and sporozoites (S). A total of 15,247 phosphorylation sites on 9514 phosphopeptides corresponding to 2897 phosphoproteins were identified across the four stages. In addition, 456, 479, and 198 differentially expressed phosphoproteins (DEPPs) were identified in the comparisons SO7h vs. USO, SO vs. SO7h, and S vs. SO, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of DEPPs suggested that they were involved in diverse functions. For SO7h vs. USO, DEPPs were mainly involved in cell division, actin cytoskeleton organization, positive regulation of transport, and pyruvate metabolism. For SO vs. SO7h, they were related to the peptide metabolic process, translation, and RNA transport. DEPPs in the S vs. SO comparison were associated with the tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, positive regulation of ATPase activity, and calcium ion binding. Time course sequencing data analysis (TCseq) identified six clusters with similar expression change characteristics related to carbohydrate metabolism, cytoskeleton organization, and calcium ion transport, demonstrating different regulatory profiles across the life cycle of E. tenella. The results revealed significant changes in the abundance of phosphoproteins during E. tenella development. The findings shed light on the key roles of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the E. tenella life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Baohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (J.C.); Tel.: +86-(931)-834-2580 (B.L.); +86-(931)-834-2489 (J.C.)
| | - Zhenxing Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zigang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jianping Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (J.C.); Tel.: +86-(931)-834-2580 (B.L.); +86-(931)-834-2489 (J.C.)
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Chaiyawong N, Ishizaki T, Hakimi H, Asada M, Yahata K, Kaneko O. Distinct effects on the secretion of MTRAP and AMA1 in Plasmodium yoelii following deletion of acylated pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein. Parasitol Int 2021; 86:102479. [PMID: 34628068 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium, the causative agents of malaria, are obligate intracellular organisms. In humans, pathogenesis is caused by the blood stage parasite, which multiplies within erythrocytes, thus erythrocyte invasion is an essential developmental step. Merozoite form parasites released into the blood stream coordinately secrets a panel of proteins from the microneme secretory organelles for gliding motility, establishment of a tight junction with a target naive erythrocyte, and subsequent internalization. A protein identified in Toxoplasma gondii facilitates microneme fusion with the plasma membrane for exocytosis; namely, acylated pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein (APH). To obtain insight into the differential microneme discharge by malaria parasites, in this study we analyzed the consequences of APH deletion in the rodent malaria model, Plasmodium yoelii, using a DiCre-based inducible knockout method. We found that APH deletion resulted in a reduction in parasite asexual growth and erythrocyte invasion, with some parasites retaining the ability to invade and grow without APH. APH deletion impaired the secretion of microneme proteins, MTRAP and AMA1, and upon contact with erythrocytes the secretion of MTRAP, but not AMA1, was observed. APH-deleted merozoites were able to attach to and deform erythrocytes, consistent with the observed MTRAP secretion. Tight junctions were formed, but echinocytosis after merozoite internalization into erythrocytes was significantly reduced, consistent with the observed absence of AMA1 secretion. Together with our observation that APH largely colocalized with MTRAP, but less with AMA1, we propose that APH is directly involved in MTRAP secretion; whereas any role of APH in AMA1 secretion is indirect in Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nattawat Chaiyawong
- Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ishizaki
- Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden.
| | - Hassan Hakimi
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Masahito Asada
- Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-0834, Japan.
| | - Kazuhide Yahata
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
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Nano DNA Vaccine Encoding Toxoplasma gondii Histone Deacetylase SIR2 Enhanced Protective Immunity in Mice. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101582. [PMID: 34683874 PMCID: PMC8538992 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogen of toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is a zoonotic protozoon that can affect the health of warm-blooded animals including humans. Up to now, an effective vaccine with completely protection is still inaccessible. In this study, the DNA vaccine encoding T. gondii histone deacetylase SIR2 (pVAX1-SIR2) was constructed. To enhance the efficacy, chitosan and poly (d, l-lactic-co-glycolic)-acid (PLGA) were employed to design nanospheres loaded with the DNA vaccine, denoted as pVAX1-SIR2/CS and pVAX1-SIR2/PLGA nanospheres. The pVAX1-SIR2 plasmids were transfected into HEK 293-T cells, and the expression was evaluated by a laser scanning confocal microscopy. Then, the immune protections of pVAX1-SIR2 plasmid, pVAX1-SIR2/CS nanospheres, and pVAX1-SIR2/PLGA nanospheres were evaluated in a laboratory animal model. The in vivo findings indicated that pVAX1-SIR2/CS and pVAX1-SIR2/PLGA nanospheres could generate a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response, as indicated by the regulated production of antibodies and cytokines, the enhanced maturation and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression of dendritic cells (DCs), the induced splenocyte proliferation, and the increased percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, this enhanced immunity could obviously reduce the parasite burden in immunized animals through a lethal dose of T. gondii RH strain challenge. All these results propose that pVAX1-SIR2 plasmids entrapped in chitosan or PLGA nanospheres could be the promising vaccines against acute T. gondii infections and deserve further investigations.
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40
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Zhao N, Ming S, Sun L, Wang B, Li H, Zhang X, Zhao X. Identification and Characterization of Eimeria tenella Microneme Protein (EtMIC8). Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0022821. [PMID: 34479414 PMCID: PMC8562341 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00228-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microneme proteins (MICs) of Eimeria tenella play key roles in motility, migration, attachment, and invasion processes. More than 20 apicomplexan parasite's MICs have been identified, with nine Eimeria MICs being reported. In this study, a novel E. tenella MIC was identified, and its gene structural features, developmental expression levels, localization, role in adhesion and invasion, and immunogenicity were studied. The results showed that the open reading frame was 1,650 bp, encoding 550 amino acids. It contains a signal sequence, a transmembrane region, four low-complexity boxes, and five epidermal growth factor-like domains (EGF). Subcellular localization revealed its distribution on the membrane surface of the parasite. These characteristics are consistent with the common features of MICs and are named EtMIC8. Anti-EtMIC8 antibodies recognized a specific binding of about 100 kDa in E. tenella, which was twice as large as the prokaryotic expression (about 50 kDa), suggesting that MIC8 may exist naturally as a dimer. EtMIC8 was expressed at higher levels in sporozoites (3.08-fold) and merozoites (2.1-fold) than in sporulated oocysts. The attachment assays using a yeast surface display of MIC8 and its different domains showed that the adherence rates of EtMIC8 to host cells were significantly higher than those of the control (3.17-fold), which was the full contribution of EGF, but neither was alone. Anti-EtMIC8 antibodies significantly reduced the invasion rate of sporozoites into host cells compared to those of the control (P < 0.01). Recombinant EtMIC8-EGF peptides could provide moderate protective efficacy (anticoccidial index [ACI]: 169.7), induce humoral responses, and upregulate CD3+CD8+ lymphocyte cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shuzhen Ming
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bingxiang Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
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Marugan-Hernandez V, Sanchez-Arsuaga G, Vaughan S, Burrell A, Tomley FM. Do All Coccidia Follow the Same Trafficking Rules? Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11090909. [PMID: 34575057 PMCID: PMC8465013 DOI: 10.3390/life11090909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Coccidia are a subclass of the Apicomplexa and include several genera of protozoan parasites that cause important diseases in humans and animals, with Toxoplasma gondii becoming the ‘model organism’ for research into the coccidian molecular and cellular processes. The amenability to the cultivation of T. gondii tachyzoites and the wide availability of molecular tools for this parasite have revealed many mechanisms related to their cellular trafficking and roles of parasite secretory organelles, which are critical in parasite-host interaction. Nevertheless, the extrapolation of the T. gondii mechanisms described in tachyzoites to other coccidian parasites should be done carefully. In this review, we considered published data from Eimeria parasites, a coccidian genus comprising thousands of species whose infections have important consequences in livestock and poultry. These studies suggest that the Coccidia possess both shared and diversified mechanisms of protein trafficking and secretion potentially linked to their lifecycles. Whereas trafficking and secretion appear to be well conversed prior to and during host-cell invasion, important differences emerge once endogenous development commences. Therefore, further studies to validate the mechanisms described in T. gondii tachyzoites should be performed across a broader range of coccidians (including T. gondii sporozoites). In addition, further genus-specific research regarding important disease-causing Coccidia is needed to unveil the individual molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis related to their specific lifecycles and hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Marugan-Hernandez
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms AL9 7TA, UK; (G.S.-A.); (F.M.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)-17-0766-9445
| | - Gonzalo Sanchez-Arsuaga
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms AL9 7TA, UK; (G.S.-A.); (F.M.T.)
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK;
| | - Alana Burrell
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK;
| | - Fiona M. Tomley
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms AL9 7TA, UK; (G.S.-A.); (F.M.T.)
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42
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Yu Z, Cao W, Gao X, Aleem MT, Liu J, Luo J, Yan R, Xu L, Song X, Li X. With Chitosan and PLGA as the Delivery Vehicle, Toxoplasma gondii Oxidoreductase-Based DNA Vaccines Decrease Parasite Burdens in Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:726615. [PMID: 34512659 PMCID: PMC8430031 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.726615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular parasitic protozoan that can cause serious public health problems. However, there is no effectively preventive or therapeutic strategy available for human and animals. In the present study, we developed a DNA vaccine encoding T. gondii oxidoreductase from short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family (TgSDRO-pVAX1) and then entrapped in chitosan and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) to improve the efficacy. When encapsulated in chitosan (TgSDRO-pVAX1/CS nanospheres) and PLGA (TgSDRO-pVAX1/PLGA nanospheres), adequate plasmids were loaded and released stably. Before animal immunizations, the DNA vaccine was transfected into HEK 293-T cells and examined by western blotting and laser confocal microscopy. Th1/Th2 cellular and humoral immunity was induced in immunized mice, accompanied by modulated secretion of antibodies and cytokines, promoted the maturation and MHC expression of dendritic cells, and enhanced the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Immunization with TgSDRO-pVAX1/CS and TgSDRO-pVAX1/PLGA nanospheres conferred significant immunity with lower parasite burden in the mice model of acute toxoplasmosis. Furthermore, our results also lent credit to the idea that TgSDRO-pVAX1/CS and TgSDRO-pVAX1/PLGA nanospheres are substitutes for each other. In general, the current study proposed that TgSDRO-pVAX1 with chitosan or PLGA as the delivery vehicle is a promising vaccine candidate against acute toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqing Yu
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wandi Cao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuchen Gao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Muhammad Tahir Aleem
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ruofeng Yan
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lixin Xu
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaokai Song
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangrui Li
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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43
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Mageswaran SK, Guérin A, Theveny LM, Chen WD, Martinez M, Lebrun M, Striepen B, Chang YW. In situ ultrastructures of two evolutionarily distant apicomplexan rhoptry secretion systems. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4983. [PMID: 34404783 PMCID: PMC8371170 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25309-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa cause important diseases including malaria, cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis. These intracellular pathogens inject the contents of an essential organelle, the rhoptry, into host cells to facilitate invasion and infection. However, the structure and mechanism of this eukaryotic secretion system remain elusive. Here, using cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging, we report the conserved architecture of the rhoptry secretion system in the invasive stages of two evolutionarily distant apicomplexans, Cryptosporidium parvum and Toxoplasma gondii. In both species, we identify helical filaments, which appear to shape and compartmentalize the rhoptries, and an apical vesicle (AV), which facilitates docking of the rhoptry tip at the parasite's apical region with the help of an elaborate ultrastructure named the rhoptry secretory apparatus (RSA); the RSA anchors the AV at the parasite plasma membrane. Depletion of T. gondii Nd9, a protein required for rhoptry secretion, disrupts the RSA ultrastructure and AV-anchoring. Moreover, T. gondii contains a line of AV-like vesicles, which interact with a pair of microtubules and accumulate towards the AV, leading to a working model for AV-reloading and discharging of multiple rhoptries. Together, our analyses provide an ultrastructural framework to understand how these important parasites deliver effectors into host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrawan Kumar Mageswaran
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amandine Guérin
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Liam M Theveny
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William David Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Matthew Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- LPHI, UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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44
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Wiser MF. Unique Endomembrane Systems and Virulence in Pathogenic Protozoa. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080822. [PMID: 34440567 PMCID: PMC8401336 DOI: 10.3390/life11080822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Virulence in pathogenic protozoa is often tied to secretory processes such as the expression of adhesins on parasite surfaces or the secretion of proteases to assisted in tissue invasion and other proteins to avoid the immune system. This review is a broad overview of the endomembrane systems of pathogenic protozoa with a focus on Giardia, Trichomonas, Entamoeba, kinetoplastids, and apicomplexans. The focus is on unique features of these protozoa and how these features relate to virulence. In general, the basic elements of the endocytic and exocytic pathways are present in all protozoa. Some of these elements, especially the endosomal compartments, have been repurposed by the various species and quite often the repurposing is associated with virulence. The Apicomplexa exhibit the most unique endomembrane systems. This includes unique secretory organelles that play a central role in interactions between parasite and host and are involved in the invasion of host cells. Furthermore, as intracellular parasites, the apicomplexans extensively modify their host cells through the secretion of proteins and other material into the host cell. This includes a unique targeting motif for proteins destined for the host cell. Most notable among the apicomplexans is the malaria parasite, which extensively modifies and exports numerous proteins into the host erythrocyte. These modifications of the host erythrocyte include the formation of unique membranes and structures in the host erythrocyte cytoplasm and on the erythrocyte membrane. The transport of parasite proteins to the host erythrocyte involves several unique mechanisms and components, as well as the generation of compartments within the erythrocyte that participate in extraparasite trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Wiser
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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45
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Bäck N, Mains RE, Eipper BA. PAM: diverse roles in neuroendocrine cells, cardiomyocytes, and green algae. FEBS J 2021; 289:4470-4496. [PMID: 34089560 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of the ways in which peptides are used for communication in the nervous and endocrine systems began with the identification of oxytocin, vasopressin, and insulin, each of which is stored in electron-dense granules, ready for release in response to an appropriate stimulus. For each of these peptides, entry of its newly synthesized precursor into the ER lumen is followed by transport through the secretory pathway, exposing the precursor to a sequence of environments and enzymes that produce the bioactive products stored in mature granules. A final step in the biosynthesis of many peptides is C-terminal amidation by peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), an ascorbate- and copper-dependent membrane enzyme that enters secretory granules along with its soluble substrates. Biochemical and cell biological studies elucidated the highly conserved mechanism for amidated peptide production and raised many questions about PAM trafficking and the effects of PAM on cytoskeletal organization and gene expression. Phylogenetic studies and the discovery of active PAM in the ciliary membranes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green alga lacking secretory granules, suggested that a PAM-like enzyme was present in the last eukaryotic common ancestor. While the catalytic features of human and C. reinhardtii PAM are strikingly similar, the trafficking of PAM in C. reinhardtii and neuroendocrine cells and secretion of its amidated products differ. A comparison of PAM function in neuroendocrine cells, atrial myocytes, and C. reinhardtii reveals multiple ways in which altered trafficking allows PAM to accomplish different tasks in different species and cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Bäck
- Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Richard E Mains
- Department of Neuroscience, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Betty A Eipper
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
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46
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Loubens M, Vincensini L, Fernandes P, Briquet S, Marinach C, Silvie O. Plasmodium sporozoites on the move: Switching from cell traversal to productive invasion of hepatocytes. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:870-881. [PMID: 33191548 PMCID: PMC8247013 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Plasmodium, the etiological agent of malaria, are transmitted through the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, which deposit sporozoites into the host skin. Sporozoites migrate through the dermis, enter the bloodstream, and rapidly traffic to the liver. They cross the liver sinusoidal barrier and traverse several hepatocytes before switching to productive invasion of a final one for replication inside a parasitophorous vacuole. Cell traversal and productive invasion are functionally independent processes that require proteins secreted from specialized secretory organelles known as micronemes. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how sporozoites traverse through cells and productively invade hepatocytes, and discuss the role of environmental sensing in switching from a migratory to an invasive state. We propose that timely controlled secretion of distinct microneme subsets could play a key role in successful migration and infection of hepatocytes. A better understanding of these essential biological features of the Plasmodium sporozoite may contribute to the development of new strategies to fight against the very first and asymptomatic stage of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Loubens
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Laetitia Vincensini
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Priyanka Fernandes
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Sylvie Briquet
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Carine Marinach
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
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Liffner B, Balbin JM, Wichers JS, Gilberger TW, Wilson DW. The Ins and Outs of Plasmodium Rhoptries, Focusing on the Cytosolic Side. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:638-650. [PMID: 33941492 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Plasmodium cause human and animal malaria, leading to significant health and economic impacts. A key aspect of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium parasites is the invasion of the parasite into its host cell, which is mediated by secretory organelles. The largest of these organelles, the rhoptry, undergoes rapid and profound physiological changes when it secretes its contents during merozoite and sporozoite invasion of the host erythrocyte and hepatocyte, respectively. Here we discuss recent advancements in our understanding of the dynamic rhoptry biology during the parasite's invasive stages, with a focus on the roles of cytosolically exposed rhoptry-interacting proteins (C-RIPs). We explore potential similarities between the molecular mechanisms driving merozoite and sporozoite rhoptry function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Liffner
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia
| | - Juan Miguel Balbin
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia
| | - Jan Stephan Wichers
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, 22607, Hamburg, Germany; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tim-Wolf Gilberger
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, 22607, Hamburg, Germany; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Biology Department, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia; Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, Victoria, Australia.
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48
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Ben Chaabene R, Lentini G, Soldati-Favre D. Biogenesis and discharge of the rhoptries: Key organelles for entry and hijack of host cells by the Apicomplexa. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:453-465. [PMID: 33368727 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rhoptries are specialized secretory organelles found in the Apicomplexa phylum, playing a central role in the establishment of parasitism. The rhoptry content includes membranous as well as proteinaceous materials that are discharged into the host cell in a regulated fashion during parasite entry. A set of rhoptry neck proteins form a RON complex that critically participates in the moving junction formation during invasion. Some of the rhoptry bulb proteins are associated with the membranous materials and contribute to the formation of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane while others are targeted into the host cell including the nucleus to subvert cellular functions. Here, we review the recent studies on Toxoplasma and Plasmodium parasites that shed light on the key steps leading to rhoptry biogenesis, trafficking, and discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouaa Ben Chaabene
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gaëlle Lentini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Tagoe DNA, Drozda AA, Falco JA, Bechtel TJ, Weerapana E, Gubbels MJ. Ferlins and TgDOC2 in Toxoplasma Microneme, Rhoptry and Dense Granule Secretion. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:217. [PMID: 33803212 PMCID: PMC7999867 DOI: 10.3390/life11030217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The host cell invasion process of apicomplexan parasites like Toxoplasma gondii is facilitated by sequential exocytosis of the microneme, rhoptry and dense granule organelles. Exocytosis is facilitated by a double C2 domain (DOC2) protein family. This class of C2 domains is derived from an ancestral calcium (Ca2+) binding archetype, although this feature is optional in extant C2 domains. DOC2 domains provide combinatorial power to the C2 domain, which is further enhanced in ferlins that harbor 5-7 C2 domains. Ca2+ conditionally engages the C2 domain with lipids, membranes, and/or proteins to facilitating vesicular trafficking and membrane fusion. The widely conserved T. gondii ferlins 1 (FER1) and 2 (FER2) are responsible for microneme and rhoptry exocytosis, respectively, whereas an unconventional TgDOC2 is essential for microneme exocytosis. The general role of ferlins in endolysosmal pathways is consistent with the repurposed apicomplexan endosomal pathways in lineage specific secretory organelles. Ferlins can facilitate membrane fusion without SNAREs, again pertinent to the Apicomplexa. How temporal raises in Ca2+ combined with spatiotemporally available membrane lipids and post-translational modifications mesh to facilitate sequential exocytosis events is discussed. In addition, new data on cross-talk between secretion events together with the identification of a new microneme protein, MIC21, is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N. A. Tagoe
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA; (D.N.A.T.); (A.A.D.)
| | - Allison A. Drozda
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA; (D.N.A.T.); (A.A.D.)
| | - Julia A. Falco
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA; (J.A.F.); (T.J.B.); (E.W.)
| | - Tyler J. Bechtel
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA; (J.A.F.); (T.J.B.); (E.W.)
| | - Eranthie Weerapana
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA; (J.A.F.); (T.J.B.); (E.W.)
| | - Marc-Jan Gubbels
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA; (D.N.A.T.); (A.A.D.)
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50
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Wang X, Tang D, Wang F, Jin G, Wang L, Liu Q, Liu J. Microneme Protein 6 Is Involved in Invasion and Egress by Neospora caninum. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020201. [PMID: 33668497 PMCID: PMC7918358 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neospora caninum, is the etiological agent of neosporosis, an infection that causes abortions in cattle and nervous system dysfunction in dogs. Invasion and egress are the key steps of the pathogenesis of N. caninum infection. Microneme proteins (MICs) play important roles in the recognition, adhesion, and invasion of host cells in other apicomplexan parasites. However, some MICs and their functions in N. caninum infection have rarely been reported. METHODS The homologous recombination strategy was used to investigate the function of MIC6 in N. caninum infection. RESULTS ΔNcMIC6 showed a smaller plaque size and weakened capacities of invasion and egress than Nc1. Transcription levels of the egress-related genes CDPK1, PLP1, and AMA1 of ΔNcMIC6 were downregulated. Due to the lack of NcMIC6, virulence of the pathogen in the infected mouse was weakened. The subcellular localization of NcMIC1 and NcMIC4 in ΔNcMIC6, however, did not change. Nevertheless, the transcription levels of MIC1 and MIC4 in ΔNcMIC6 were downregulated, and the expression and secretion of MIC1 and MIC4 in ΔNcMIC6 were reduced compared with that in Nc1. Furthermore, the absence of NcMIC6 weakened the virulence in mice and lower parasite load detected in mice brains. CONCLUSIONS NcMIC6 is involved in host cell invasion and egress in N. caninum and may work synergistically with other MICs to regulate the virulence of the pathogen. These data lay a foundation for further research into the function and application of NcMIC6.
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