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Zmarlak NM, Lavazec C, Brito-Fravallo E, Genève C, Aliprandini E, Aguirre-Botero MC, Vernick KD, Mitri C. The Anopheles leucine-rich repeat protein APL1C is a pathogen binding factor recognizing Plasmodium ookinetes and sporozoites. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012008. [PMID: 38354186 PMCID: PMC10898737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012008] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins are commonly involved in innate immunity of animals and plants, including for pattern recognition of pathogen-derived elicitors. The Anopheles secreted LRR proteins APL1C and LRIM1 are required for malaria ookinete killing in conjunction with the complement-like TEP1 protein. However, the mechanism of parasite immune recognition by the mosquito remains unclear, although it is known that TEP1 lacks inherent binding specificity. Here, we find that APL1C and LRIM1 bind specifically to Plasmodium berghei ookinetes, even after depletion of TEP1 transcript and protein, consistent with a role for the LRR proteins in pathogen recognition. Moreover, APL1C does not bind to ookinetes of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, and is not required for killing of this parasite, which correlates LRR binding specificity and immune protection. Most of the live P. berghei ookinetes that migrated into the extracellular space exposed to mosquito hemolymph, and almost all dead ookinetes, are bound by APL1C, thus associating LRR protein binding with parasite killing. We also find that APL1C binds to the surface of P. berghei sporozoites released from oocysts into the mosquito hemocoel and forms a potent barrier limiting salivary gland invasion and mosquito infectivity. Pathogen binding by APL1C provides the first functional explanation for the long-known requirement of APL1C for P. berghei ookinete killing in the mosquito midgut. We propose that secreted mosquito LRR proteins are required for pathogen discrimination and orientation of immune effector activity, potentially as functional counterparts of the immunoglobulin-based receptors used by vertebrates for antigen recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Marta Zmarlak
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR2000, Unit of Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
- Graduate School of Life Sciences ED515, Sorbonne Universities, UPMC Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Lavazec
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Emma Brito-Fravallo
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR2000, Unit of Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
| | - Corinne Genève
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR2000, Unit of Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
| | - Eduardo Aliprandini
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
| | - Manuela Camille Aguirre-Botero
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
| | - Kenneth D. Vernick
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR2000, Unit of Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
- Graduate School of Life Sciences ED515, Sorbonne Universities, UPMC Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Christian Mitri
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR2000, Unit of Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
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Shortt E, Hackett CG, Stadler RV, Kent RS, Herneisen AL, Ward GE, Lourido S. CDPK2A and CDPK1 form a signaling module upstream of Toxoplasma motility. mBio 2023; 14:e0135823. [PMID: 37610220 PMCID: PMC10653799 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01358-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE This work uncovers interactions between various signaling pathways that govern Toxoplasma gondii egress. Specifically, we compare the function of three canonical calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) using chemical-genetic and conditional-depletion approaches. We describe the function of a previously uncharacterized CDPK, CDPK2A, in the Toxoplasma lytic cycle, demonstrating that it contributes to parasite fitness through regulation of microneme discharge, gliding motility, and egress from infected host cells. Comparison of analog-sensitive kinase alleles and conditionally depleted alleles uncovered epistasis between CDPK2A and CDPK1, implying a partial functional redundancy. Understanding the topology of signaling pathways underlying key events in the parasite life cycle can aid in efforts targeting kinases for anti-parasitic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Shortt
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Rachel V. Stadler
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Robyn S. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Alice L. Herneisen
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Biology Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gary E. Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Sebastian Lourido
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Biology Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
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4
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Formaglio P, Wosniack ME, Tromer RM, Polli JG, Matos YB, Zhong H, Raposo EP, da Luz MGE, Amino R. Plasmodium sporozoite search strategy to locate hotspots of blood vessel invasion. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2965. [PMID: 37221182 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38706-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites actively migrate in the dermis and enter blood vessels to infect the liver. Despite their importance for malaria infection, little is known about these cutaneous processes. We combine intravital imaging in a rodent malaria model and statistical methods to unveil the parasite strategy to reach the bloodstream. We determine that sporozoites display a high-motility mode with a superdiffusive Lévy-like pattern known to optimize the location of scarce targets. When encountering blood vessels, sporozoites frequently switch to a subdiffusive low-motility behavior associated with probing for intravasation hotspots, marked by the presence of pericytes. Hence, sporozoites present anomalous diffusive motility, alternating between superdiffusive tissue exploration and subdiffusive local vessel exploitation, thus optimizing the sequential tasks of seeking blood vessels and pericyte-associated sites of privileged intravasation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Formaglio
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit, 75015, Paris, France
| | | | - Raphael M Tromer
- Departamento de Física Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59078- 970, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Jaderson G Polli
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 81531-980, Curitiba-PR, Brazil
| | - Yuri B Matos
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 81531-980, Curitiba-PR, Brazil
| | - Hang Zhong
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Ernesto P Raposo
- Laboratório de Física Teórica e Computacional, Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil
| | - Marcos G E da Luz
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 81531-980, Curitiba-PR, Brazil.
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit, 75015, Paris, France.
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Nardella F, Dobrescu I, Hassan H, Rodrigues F, Thiberge S, Mancio-Silva L, Tafit A, Jallet C, Cadet-Daniel V, Goussin S, Lorthiois A, Menon Y, Molinier N, Pechalrieu D, Long C, Sautel F, Matondo M, Duchateau M, Médard G, Witkowski B, Scherf A, Halby L, Arimondo PB. Hemisynthetic alkaloids derived from trilobine are antimalarials with sustained activity in multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. iScience 2023; 26:105940. [PMID: 36718363 PMCID: PMC9883252 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria eradication requires the development of new drugs to combat drug-resistant parasites. We identified bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Cocculus hirsutus that are active against Plasmodium falciparum blood stages. Synthesis of a library of 94 hemi-synthetic derivatives allowed to identify compound 84 that kills multi-drug resistant clinical isolates in the nanomolar range (median IC50 ranging from 35 to 88 nM). Chemical optimization led to compound 125 with significantly improved preclinical properties. 125 delays the onset of parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei infected mice and inhibits P. falciparum transmission stages in vitro (culture assays), and in vivo using membrane feeding assay in the Anopheles stephensi vector. Compound 125 also impairs P. falciparum development in sporozoite-infected hepatocytes, in the low micromolar range. Finally, by chemical pull-down strategy, we characterized the parasite interactome with trilobine derivatives, identifying protein partners belonging to metabolic pathways that are not targeted by the actual antimalarial drugs or implicated in drug-resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Nardella
- Biology of Host-Parasite Interaction, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS EMR 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Irina Dobrescu
- Biology of Host-Parasite Interaction, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS EMR 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Haitham Hassan
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Fabien Rodrigues
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sabine Thiberge
- Biology of Host-Parasite Interaction, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS EMR 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France,Center for Production and Infection of Anopheles (CEPIA), Center for Animal Resources and Research, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Liliana Mancio-Silva
- Biology of Host-Parasite Interaction, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS EMR 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Ambre Tafit
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Corinne Jallet
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Véronique Cadet-Daniel
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Goussin
- Center for Production and Infection of Anopheles (CEPIA), Center for Animal Resources and Research, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Audrey Lorthiois
- Center for Production and Infection of Anopheles (CEPIA), Center for Animal Resources and Research, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Yoann Menon
- USR CNRS-Pierre Fabre No. 3388 ETaC, Centre de Recherche et Développement Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - Nicolas Molinier
- USR CNRS-Pierre Fabre No. 3388 ETaC, Centre de Recherche et Développement Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - Dany Pechalrieu
- USR CNRS-Pierre Fabre No. 3388 ETaC, Centre de Recherche et Développement Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - Christophe Long
- USR CNRS-Pierre Fabre No. 3388 ETaC, Centre de Recherche et Développement Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - François Sautel
- USR CNRS-Pierre Fabre No. 3388 ETaC, Centre de Recherche et Développement Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - Mariette Matondo
- Proteomics Platform, Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS USR 2000, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Magalie Duchateau
- Proteomics Platform, Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS USR 2000, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Médard
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, TUM School of Life Sciences, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Artur Scherf
- Biology of Host-Parasite Interaction, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS EMR 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France,Corresponding author
| | - Ludovic Halby
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Paola B. Arimondo
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France,USR CNRS-Pierre Fabre No. 3388 ETaC, Centre de Recherche et Développement Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France,Corresponding author
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Abstract
Human malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites, remains one of the most important global public health problems, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 240 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually as of 2020 (World malaria report 2021). Our understanding of the biology of these parasites is critical for development of effective therapeutics and prophylactics, including both antimalarials and vaccines. Plasmodium is a protozoan organism that is intracellular for most of its life cycle. However, to complete its complex life cycle and to allow for both amplification and transmission, the parasite must egress out of the host cell in a highly regulated manner. This review discusses the major pathways and proteins involved in the egress events during the Plasmodium life cycle-merozoite and gametocyte egress out of red blood cells, sporozoite egress out of the oocyst, and merozoite egress out of the hepatocyte. The similarities, as well as the differences, between the various egress pathways of the parasite highlight both novel cell biology and potential therapeutic targets to arrest its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Dvorin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine; and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
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7
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CDC50 Orthologues in Plasmodium falciparum Have Distinct Roles in Merozoite Egress and Trophozoite Maturation. mBio 2022; 13:e0163522. [PMID: 35862778 PMCID: PMC9426505 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01635-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In model organisms, type IV ATPases (P4-ATPases) require cell division control protein 50 (CDC50) chaperones for their phospholipid flipping activity. In the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, guanylyl cyclase alpha (GCα) is an integral membrane protein that is essential for release (egress) of merozoites from their host erythrocytes. GCα is unusual in that it contains both a C-terminal cyclase domain and an N-terminal P4-ATPase domain of unknown function. We sought to investigate whether any of the three CDC50 orthologues (termed A, B, and C) encoded by P. falciparum are required for GCα function. Using gene tagging and conditional gene disruption, we demonstrate that CDC50B and CDC50C but not CDC50A are expressed in the clinically important asexual blood stages and that CDC50B is a binding partner of GCα whereas CDC50C is the binding partner of another putative P4-ATPase, phospholipid-transporting ATPase 2 (ATP2). Our findings indicate that CDC50B has no essential role for intraerythrocytic parasite maturation but modulates the rate of parasite egress by interacting with GCα for optimal cGMP synthesis. In contrast, CDC50C is essential for blood stage trophozoite maturation. Additionally, we find that the CDC50C-ATP2 complex may influence parasite endocytosis of host cell hemoglobin and consequently hemozoin formation.
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8
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Yoshikawa Y, Kimura S, Soga A, Sugiyama M, Ueno A, Kondo H, Zhu Z, Ochiai K, Nakayama K, Hakozaki J, Kusakisako K, Haraguchi A, Kitano T, Orino K, Fukumoto S, Ikadai H. Plasmodium berghei Brca2 is required for normal development and differentiation in mice and mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:244. [PMID: 35804459 PMCID: PMC9270840 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05357-w] [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: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a major global parasitic disease caused by species of the genus Plasmodium. Zygotes of Plasmodium spp. undergo meiosis and develop into tetraploid ookinetes, which differentiate into oocysts that undergo sporogony. Homologous recombination (HR) occurs during meiosis and introduces genetic variation. However, the mechanisms of HR in Plasmodium are unclear. In humans, the recombinases DNA repair protein Rad51 homolog 1 (Rad51) and DNA meiotic recombinase 1 (Dmc1) are required for HR and are regulated by breast cancer susceptibility protein 2 (BRCA2). Most eukaryotes harbor BRCA2 homologs. Nevertheless, these have not been reported for Plasmodium. METHODS A Brca2 candidate was salvaged from a database to identify Brca2 homologs in Plasmodium. To confirm that the candidate protein was Brca2, interaction activity between Plasmodium berghei (Pb) Brca2 (PbBrca2) and Rad51 (PbRad51) was investigated using a mammalian two-hybrid assay. To elucidate the functions of PbBrca2, PbBrca2 was knocked out and parasite proliferation and differentiation were assessed in mice and mosquitoes. Transmission electron microscopy was used to identify sporogony. RESULTS The candidate protein was conserved among Plasmodium species, and it was indicated that it harbors critical BRCA2 domains including BRC repeats, tower, and oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding-fold domains. The P. berghei BRC repeats interacted with PbRad51. Hence, the candidate was considered a Brca2 homolog. PbBrca2 knockout parasites were associated with reduced parasitemia with increased ring stage and decreased trophozoite stage counts, gametocytemia, female gametocyte ratio, oocyst number, and ookinete development in both mice and mosquitoes. Nevertheless, the morphology of the blood stages in mice and the ookinete stage was comparable to those of the wild type parasites. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that sporogony never progressed in Brca2-knockout parasites. CONCLUSIONS Brca2 is implicated in nearly all Plasmodium life cycle stages, and especially in sporogony. PbBrca2 contributes to HR during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunaga Yoshikawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan.
| | - Shunta Kimura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Akira Soga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Makoto Sugiyama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Aki Ueno
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kondo
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Zida Zhu
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ochiai
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakayama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Jun Hakozaki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Kodai Kusakisako
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Asako Haraguchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Taisuke Kitano
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Koichi Orino
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Hiromi Ikadai
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
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9
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Kehrer J, Formaglio P, Muthinja JM, Weber S, Baltissen D, Lance C, Ripp J, Grech J, Meissner M, Funaya C, Amino R, Frischknecht F. Plasmodium
sporozoite disintegration during skin passage limits malaria parasite transmission. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54719. [PMID: 35403820 PMCID: PMC9253755 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202254719] [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: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During transmission of malaria‐causing parasites from mosquitoes to mammals, Plasmodium sporozoites migrate rapidly in the skin to search for a blood vessel. The high migratory speed and narrow passages taken by the parasites suggest considerable strain on the sporozoites to maintain their shape. Here, we show that the membrane‐associated protein, concavin, is important for the maintenance of the Plasmodium sporozoite shape inside salivary glands of mosquitoes and during migration in the skin. Concavin‐GFP localizes at the cytoplasmic periphery and concavin(−) sporozoites progressively round up upon entry of salivary glands. Rounded concavin(−) sporozoites fail to pass through the narrow salivary ducts and are rarely ejected by mosquitoes, while normally shaped concavin(−) sporozoites are transmitted. Strikingly, motile concavin(−) sporozoites disintegrate while migrating through the skin leading to parasite arrest or death and decreased transmission efficiency. Collectively, we suggest that concavin contributes to cell shape maintenance by riveting the plasma membrane to the subtending inner membrane complex. Interfering with cell shape maintenance pathways might hence provide a new strategy to prevent a malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
- Infectious Diseases Imaging Platform Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Pauline Formaglio
- Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Julianne Mendi Muthinja
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Sebastian Weber
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
| | - Danny Baltissen
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Christopher Lance
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Johanna Ripp
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Janessa Grech
- Experimental Parasitology Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Markus Meissner
- Experimental Parasitology Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Charlotta Funaya
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
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10
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Wang M, Tang T, Li R, Huang Z, Ling D, Zheng L, Ding Y, Liu T, Xu W, Zhu F, Min H, Boonhok R, Mao F, Zhu J, Li X, Jiang L, Li J. Drug Repurposing of Quisinostat to Discover Novel Plasmodium falciparum HDAC1 Inhibitors with Enhanced Triple-Stage Antimalarial Activity and Improved Safety. J Med Chem 2022; 65:4156-4181. [PMID: 35175762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Our previous work found that the clinical histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor quisinostat exhibited a significant antimalarial effect but with severe toxicity. In this work, 35 novel derivatives were designed and synthesized based on quisinostat as the lead compound, and their in vitro antimalarial activities and cytotoxicities were systematically evaluated. Among them, JX35 showed potent inhibition against both wild-type and multidrug-resistant parasite strains and displayed a significant in vivo killing effect against all life cycles of parasites, including the blood stage, liver stage, and gametocyte stage, indicating its potential for the simultaneous treatment, chemoprevention, and blockage of malaria transmission. Compared with quisinostat, JX35 exhibited stronger antimalarial efficacy, more adequate safety, and good pharmacokinetic properties. Additionally, mechanistic studies via molecular docking studies, induced PfHDAC1/2 knockdown assays, and PfHDAC1 enzyme inhibition assays jointly indicated that the antimalarial target of JX35 was PfHDAC1. In summary, we discovered the promising candidate PfHDAC1 inhibitor JX35, which showed stronger triple-stage antimalarial effects and lower toxicity than quisinostat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Tongke Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
| | - Ruoxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zhenghui Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dazheng Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lulu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Taiping Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Hui Min
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Rachasak Boonhok
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Fei Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiaokang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.,College of Pharmacy and Chemistry, Dali University, 5 Xue Ren Road, Dali 671000, China.,Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
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11
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Matsuo-Dapaah J, Lee MSJ, Ishii KJ, Tainaka K, Coban C. Using a new three-dimensional CUBIC tissue-clearing method to examine the brain during experimental cerebral malaria. Int Immunol 2021; 33:587-594. [PMID: 34455438 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxab060] [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: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a life-threatening complication of the malaria disease caused by Plasmodium falciparum infection and is responsible for the death of half a million people annually. The molecular pathogenesis underlying CM in humans is not completely understood, although sequestration of infected erythrocytes in cerebral microvessels is thought to play a major role. In contrast, experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) models in mice have been thought to be distinct from human CM, and are mainly caused by inflammatory mediators. Here, to understand the spatial distribution and the potential sequestration of parasites in the whole-brain microvessels during a mouse model of ECM, we utilized the new tissue-clearing method CUBIC (Clear, Unobstructed, Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis) with light-sheet fluorescent microscopy (LSFM), and reconstructed images in three dimensions (3D). We demonstrated significantly greater accumulation of Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbANKA) parasites in the olfactory bulb (OB) of mice, compared with the other parts of the brain, including the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and brainstem. Furthermore, we show that PbANKA parasites preferentially accumulate in the brainstem when the OB is surgically removed. This study therefore not only highlights a successful application of CUBIC tissue-clearing technology to visualize the whole brain and its microvessels during ECM, but it also shows CUBIC's future potential for visualizing pathological events in the whole ECM brain at the cellular level, an achievement that would greatly advance our understanding of human cerebral malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Matsuo-Dapaah
- Division of Malaria Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michelle Sue Jann Lee
- Division of Malaria Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken J Ishii
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Vaccine Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,International Vaccine Design Center, Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Tainaka
- Department of System Pathology for Neurological Disorders, Center for Bioresources, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.,Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Osaka, Japan
| | - Cevayir Coban
- Division of Malaria Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,International Vaccine Design Center, Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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12
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Sharma M, Choudhury H, Roy R, Michaels SA, Ojo KK, Bansal A. CDPKs: The critical decoders of calcium signal at various stages of malaria parasite development. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:5092-5107. [PMID: 34589185 PMCID: PMC8453137 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.08.054] [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: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium ions are used as important signals during various physiological processes. In malaria parasites, Plasmodium spp., calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) have acquired the unique ability to sense and transduce calcium signals at various critical steps during the lifecycle, either through phosphorylation of downstream substrates or mediating formation of high molecular weight protein complexes. Calcium signaling cascades establish important crosstalk events with signaling pathways mediated by other secondary messengers such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). CDPKs play critical roles at various important physiological steps during parasite development in vertebrates and mosquitoes. They are also important for transmission of the parasite between the two hosts. Combined with the fact that CDPKs are not present in humans, they continue to be pursued as important targets for development of anti-malarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Sharma
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Himashree Choudhury
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rajarshi Roy
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Samantha A. Michaels
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
| | - Abhisheka Bansal
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
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13
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de Oliveira LS, Alborghetti MR, Carneiro RG, Bastos IMD, Amino R, Grellier P, Charneau S. Calcium in the Backstage of Malaria Parasite Biology. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:708834. [PMID: 34395314 PMCID: PMC8355824 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.708834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The calcium ion (Ca2+) is a ubiquitous second messenger involved in key biological processes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In Plasmodium species, Ca2+ signaling plays a central role in the parasite life cycle. It has been associated with parasite development, fertilization, locomotion, and host cell infection. Despite the lack of a canonical inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor gene in the Plasmodium genome, pharmacological evidence indicates that inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate triggers Ca2+ mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum. Other structures such as acidocalcisomes, food vacuole and mitochondria are proposed to act as supplementary intracellular Ca2+ reservoirs. Several Ca2+-binding proteins (CaBPs) trigger downstream signaling. Other proteins with no EF-hand motifs, but apparently involved with CaBPs, are depicted as playing an important role in the erythrocyte invasion and egress. It is also proposed that a cross-talk among kinases, which are not members of the family of Ca2+-dependent protein kinases, such as protein kinases G, A and B, play additional roles mediated indirectly by Ca2+ regulation. This statement may be extended for proteins directly related to invasion or egress, such as SUB1, ERC, IMC1I, IMC1g, GAP45 and EBA175. In this review, we update our understanding of aspects of Ca2+-mediated signaling correlated to the developmental stages of the malaria parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Silva de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Équipe Parasites et Protistes Libres, Paris, France
| | - Marcos Rodrigo Alborghetti
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Renata Garcia Carneiro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Izabela Marques Dourado Bastos
- Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Interaction, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unité Infection et Immunité Paludéennes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Grellier
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Équipe Parasites et Protistes Libres, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
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14
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Nakayama K, Kimura Y, Kitahara Y, Soga A, Haraguchi A, Hakozaki J, Sugiyama M, Kusakisako K, Fukumoto S, Ikadai H. Role of Plasmodium berghei ookinete surface and oocyst capsule protein, a novel oocyst capsule-associated protein, in ookinete motility. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:373. [PMID: 34289894 PMCID: PMC8296654 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04868-2] [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: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium sp., which causes malaria, must first develop in mosquitoes before being transmitted. Upon ingesting infected blood, gametes form in the mosquito lumen, followed by fertilization and differentiation of the resulting zygotes into motile ookinetes. Within 24 h of blood ingestion, these ookinetes traverse mosquito epithelial cells and lodge below the midgut basal lamina, where they differentiate into sessile oocysts that are protected by a capsule. METHODS We identified an ookinete surface and oocyst capsule protein (OSCP) that is involved in ookinete motility as well as oocyst capsule formation. RESULTS We found that knockout of OSCP in parasite decreases ookinete gliding motility and gradually reduces the number of oocysts. On day 15 after blood ingestion, the oocyst wall was significantly thinner. Moreover, adding anti-OSCP antibodies decreased the gliding speed of wild-type ookinetes in vitro. Adding anti-OSCP antibodies to an infected blood meal also resulted in decreased oocyst formation. CONCLUSION These findings may be useful for the development of a transmission-blocking tool for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Nakayama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Yuta Kimura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Yu Kitahara
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Akira Soga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Asako Haraguchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Jun Hakozaki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Makoto Sugiyama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Kodai Kusakisako
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Hiromi Ikadai
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan.
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15
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Nardella F, Halby L, Dobrescu I, Viluma J, Bon C, Claes A, Cadet-Daniel V, Tafit A, Roesch C, Hammam E, Erdmann D, Mairet-Khedim M, Peronet R, Mecheri S, Witkowski B, Scherf A, Arimondo PB. Procainamide-SAHA Fused Inhibitors of hHDAC6 Tackle Multidrug-Resistant Malaria Parasites. J Med Chem 2021; 64:10403-10417. [PMID: 34185525 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic post-translational modifications are essential for human malaria parasite survival and progression through its life cycle. Here, we present new functionalized suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) derivatives that chemically combine the pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor procainamide. A three- or four-step chemical synthesis was designed starting from cheap raw materials. Compared to the single drugs, the combined molecules showed a superior activity in Plasmodium and a potent inhibition against human HDAC6, exerting no cytotoxicity in human cell lines. These new compounds are fully active in multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum Cambodian isolates. They target transmission of the parasite by inducing irreversible morphological changes in gametocytes and inhibiting exflagellation. The compounds are slow-acting and have an additive antimalarial effect in combination with fast-acting epidrugs and dihydroartemisinin. The lead compound decreases parasitemia in mice in a severe malaria model. Taken together, this novel fused molecule offers an affordable alternative to current failing antimalarial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Nardella
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ludovic Halby
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Irina Dobrescu
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Johanna Viluma
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Corentin Bon
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France.,Ecole Doctorale MTCI ED563, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75270, France
| | - Aurélie Claes
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Véronique Cadet-Daniel
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ambre Tafit
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Camille Roesch
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Elie Hammam
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Diane Erdmann
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France.,Ecole Doctorale MTCI ED563, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75270, France
| | - Melissa Mairet-Khedim
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Roger Peronet
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Salah Mecheri
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Artur Scherf
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Paola B Arimondo
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
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16
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PSOP1, putative secreted ookinete protein 1, is localized to the micronemes of Plasmodium yoelii and P. berghei ookinetes. Parasitol Int 2021; 84:102407. [PMID: 34147682 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria in mammalian hosts and are transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Activated gametocytes in the mosquito midgut egress from erythrocytes followed by fertilization and zygote formation. Zygotes differentiate into motile invasive ookinetes, which penetrate the midgut epithelium before forming oocysts beneath the basal lamina. Ookinete development and traversal across the mosquito midgut wall are major bottlenecks in the parasite life cycle. In ookinetes, surface proteins and proteins stored in apical organelles have been shown to be involved in parasite-host interactions. A group of ookinete proteins that are predicted to have such functions are named PSOPs (putative secreted ookinete protein). PSOP1 is possibly involved in migration through the midgut wall, and here its subcellular localization was examined in ookinetes by immunoelectron microscopy. PSOP1 localizes to the micronemes of Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium berghei ookinetes, indicating that it is stored and possibly apically secreted during ookinete penetration through the mosquito midgut wall.
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17
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Soga A, Shirozu T, Fukumoto S. Glyoxalase pathway is required for normal liver-stage proliferation of Plasmodium berghei. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 549:61-66. [PMID: 33667710 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The glyoxalase system is a ubiquitous detoxification pathway of methylglyoxal, a cytotoxic byproduct of glycolysis. Actively proliferating cells, such as cancer cells, depend on their energy metabolism for glycolysis. Therefore, the glyoxalase system has been evaluated as a target of anticancer drugs. The malaria sporozoite, which is the infective stage of the malaria parasite, actively proliferates and produces thousands of merozoites within 2-3 days in hepatocytes. This is the first step of infection in mammalian hosts. The glyoxalase system appears to play an important role in this active proliferation stage of the malaria parasite in hepatocytes. In this study, we aimed to dissect the role of the glyoxalase system in malaria parasite proliferation in hepatocytes to examine its potential as a target of malaria prevention using a reverse genetics approach. The malaria parasite possesses a glyoxalase system, comprised of glyoxalases and GloI-like protein, in the cytosol and apicoplast. We generated cytosolic glyoxalase II (cgloII) knockout, apicoplast targeted glyoxalase gloII (tgloII) knockout, and cgloII and tgloII double-knockout parasites and performed their phenotypic analysis. We did not observe any defects in the cgloII or tgloII knockout parasites. In contrast, we observed approximately 90% inhibition of the liver-stage proliferation of cgloII and tgloII double-knockout parasites in vivo. These findings suggest that although the glyoxalase system is dispensable, it plays an important role in parasite proliferation in hepatocytes. Additionally, the results indicate a complementary relationship between the cytosolic and apicoplast glyoxalase pathways. We expect that the parasite utilizes a system similar to that observed in cancer cells to enable its rapid proliferation in hepatocytes; this process could be targeted in the development of novel strategies to prevent malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Soga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shirozu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
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18
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Ruberto AA, Bourke C, Merienne N, Obadia T, Amino R, Mueller I. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals developmental heterogeneity among Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4127. [PMID: 33619283 PMCID: PMC7900125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82914-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the malaria-causing parasite's life cycle, Plasmodium sporozoites must travel from the midgut of a mosquito to the salivary glands before they can infect a mammalian host. However, only a fraction of sporozoites complete the journey. Since salivary gland invasion is required for transmission of sporozoites, insights at the molecular level can contribute to strategies for malaria prevention. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing provide an opportunity to assess sporozoite heterogeneity at a resolution unattainable by bulk RNA sequencing methods. In this study, we use a droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing workflow to analyze the transcriptomes of over 8000 Plasmodium berghei sporozoites derived from the midguts and salivary glands of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. The detection of known marker genes confirms the successful capture and sequencing of samples composed of a mixed population of sporozoites. Using data integration, clustering, and trajectory analyses, we reveal differences in gene expression profiles of individual sporozoites, and identify both annotated and unannotated markers associated with sporozoite development. Our work highlights the utility of a high-throughput workflow for the transcriptomic profiling of Plasmodium sporozoites, and provides new insights into gene usage during the parasite's development in the mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony A Ruberto
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
| | - Caitlin Bourke
- Division of Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicolas Merienne
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Obadia
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique - Département Biologie Computationnelle, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
- Division of Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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19
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Fabbri C, Trindade AO, Andrade FS, Souza MFD, Ríos-Velásquez CM, Lacerda MVGD, Monteiro WM, Costa FTM, Amino R, Lopes SCP. Transmission-blocking compound candidates against Plasmodium vivax using P. berghei as an initial screening. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2021; 116:e200513. [PMID: 33566952 PMCID: PMC7874845 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different strategies for improvement of malaria control and elimination are based on the blockage of malaria parasite transmission to the mosquito vector. These strategies include the drugs that target the plasmodial sexual stages in humans and the early developmental stages inside mosquitoes. OBJECTIVES Here we tested Malaria Box compounds in order to evaluate their activity against male and female gametocytes in Plasmodium berghei, mosquito infection in P. vivax and ookinete formation in both species. METHODS/FINDINGS The membrane feeding assay and the development of ookinetes by a 24 h ex vivo culture and the ookinete yield per 1000 erythrocytes were used to test transmission-blocking potential of the Malaria Box compounds in P. vivax. For P. berghei we used flow cytometry to evaluate male and female gametocyte time course and fluorescence microscopy to check the ookinete development. The two species used in this study showed similar results concerning the compounds’ activity against gametocytes and ookinetes, which were different from those in P. falciparum. In addition, from the eight Malaria Box compounds tested in both species, compounds MMV665830, MMV665878 and MMV665941 were selected as a hit compounds due the high inhibition observed. CONCLUSION Our results showed that P. berghei is suitable as an initial screening system to test compounds against P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Fabbri
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Centro Universitário Fametro, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Alexandre Oliveira Trindade
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Francy's Sayara Andrade
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Macejane Ferreira de Souza
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | | | - Marcus Vinicius Guimarães de Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Institut Pasteur, Unit of Malaria Infection and Immunity, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, Île-de-France, France
| | - Stefanie Costa Pinto Lopes
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Manaus, AM, Brasil
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20
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Li R, Ling D, Tang T, Huang Z, Wang M, Ding Y, Liu T, Wei H, Xu W, Mao F, Zhu J, Li X, Jiang L, Li J. Discovery of Novel Plasmodium falciparum HDAC1 Inhibitors with Dual-Stage Antimalarial Potency and Improved Safety Based on the Clinical Anticancer Drug Candidate Quisinostat. J Med Chem 2021; 64:2254-2271. [PMID: 33541085 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we identified the clinical anticancer drug candidate quisinostat as a novel and potent antimalarial lead compound. To further enhance the antimalarial effect and improve safety, 31 novel spirocyclic hydroxamic acid derivatives were synthesized based on the structure of quisinostat, and their antimalarial activities and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Among them, compound 11 displayed broad potency in vitro against several multiresistant malarial parasites, especially two artemisinin-resistant clinical isolates. Moreover, 11 could eliminate both liver and erythrocytic parasites in vivo, kill all morphological erythrocytic parasites with specific potency against schizonts, and show acceptable metabolic stability and pharmacokinetic properties. Western blot analysis, PfHDAC gene knockdown, and enzymatic inhibition experiments collectively confirmed that PfHDAC1 was the target of 11. In summary, 11 is a structurally novel PfHDAC1 inhibitor with the potential to prevent and cure malaria, overcome multidrug resistance, and provide a prospective prototype for antimalarial drug research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Dazheng Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Tongke Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
| | - Zhenghui Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Manjiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Taiping Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hanwen Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Fei Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiaokang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.,College of Pharmacy and Chemistry, Dali University, 5 Xue Ren Road, Dali 671000, China.,Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
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21
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Ghartey-Kwansah G, Yin Q, Li Z, Gumpper K, Sun Y, Yang R, Wang D, Jones O, Zhou X, Wang L, Bryant J, Ma J, Boampong JN, Xu X. Calcium-dependent Protein Kinases in Malaria Parasite Development and Infection. Cell Transplant 2021; 29:963689719884888. [PMID: 32180432 PMCID: PMC7444236 DOI: 10.1177/0963689719884888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites have challenged researchers for nearly a century. A major challenge to developing efficient treatments and vaccines is the parasite's ability to change its cellular and molecular makeup to develop intracellular and extracellular niches in its hosts. Ca2+ signaling is an important messenger for the egress of the malaria parasite from the infected erythrocyte, gametogenesis, ookinete motility in the mosquito, and sporozoite invasion of mammalian hepatocytes. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) have crucial functions in calcium signaling at various stages of the parasite's life cycle; this therefore makes them attractive drug targets against malaria. Here, we summarize the functions of the various CDPK isoforms in relation to the malaria life cycle by emphasizing the molecular mechanism of developmental progression within host tissues. We also discuss the current development of anti-malarial drugs, such as how specific bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) for parasite CDPKs have been shown to reduce infection in Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Plasmodium falciparum. Our suggested combinations of BKIs, artemisinin derivatives with peroxide bridge, and inhibitors on the Ca(2+)-ATPase PfATP6 as a potential target should be inspected further as a treatment against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Ghartey-Kwansah
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.,Authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Qinan Yin
- Clinical Center of National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Zhongguang Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,Authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Kristyn Gumpper
- Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,Authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Yuting Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China
| | - Rong Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China
| | - Dan Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China
| | - Odell Jones
- University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Animal Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Liyang Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Bryant
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jianjie Ma
- Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Johnson Nyarko Boampong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Xuehong Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China
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22
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Scarpelli PH, Pecenin MF, Garcia CRS. Intracellular Ca 2+ Signaling in Protozoan Parasites: An Overview with a Focus on Mitochondria. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22010469. [PMID: 33466510 PMCID: PMC7796463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ signaling has been involved in controling critical cellular functions such as activation of proteases, cell death, and cell cycle control. The endoplasmatic reticulum plays a significant role in Ca2+ storage inside the cell, but mitochondria have long been recognized as a fundamental Ca2+ pool. Protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Trypanosoma cruzi display a Ca2+ signaling toolkit with similarities to higher eukaryotes, including the participation of mitochondria in Ca2+-dependent signaling events. This review summarizes the most recent knowledge in mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling in protozoan parasites, focusing on the mechanism involved in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by pathogenic protists.
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23
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Huang Z, Li R, Tang T, Ling D, Wang M, Xu D, Sun M, Zheng L, Zhu F, Min H, Boonhok R, Ding Y, Wen Y, Chen Y, Li X, Chen Y, Liu T, Han J, Miao J, Fang Q, Cao Y, Tang Y, Cui J, Xu W, Cui L, Zhu J, Wong G, Li J, Jiang L. A novel multistage antiplasmodial inhibitor targeting Plasmodium falciparum histone deacetylase 1. Cell Discov 2020; 6:93. [PMID: 33311461 PMCID: PMC7733455 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-020-00215-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although artemisinin combination therapies have succeeded in reducing the global burden of malaria, multidrug resistance of the deadliest malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is emerging worldwide. Innovative antimalarial drugs that kill all life-cycle stages of malaria parasites are urgently needed. Here, we report the discovery of the compound JX21108 with broad antiplasmodial activity against multiple life-cycle stages of malaria parasites. JX21108 was developed from chemical optimization of quisinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor. We identified P. falciparum histone deacetylase 1 (PfHDAC1), an epigenetic regulator essential for parasite growth and invasion, as a molecular target of JX21108. PfHDAC1 knockdown leads to the downregulation of essential parasite genes, which is highly consistent with the transcriptomic changes induced by JX21108 treatment. Collectively, our data support that PfHDAC1 is a potential drug target for overcoming multidrug resistance and that JX21108 treats malaria and blocks parasite transmission simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghui Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Ruoxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Tongke Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Dazheng Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Manjiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Dandan Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, and Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, China
| | - Maoxin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lulu Zheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Hui Min
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Rachasak Boonhok
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yuhao Wen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yicong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaokang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China
| | - Taiping Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jiping Han
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jun Miao
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Qiang Fang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, and Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, China
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China
| | - Yun Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jie Cui
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Gary Wong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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24
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Development of novel anti-malarial from structurally diverse library of molecules, targeting plant-like CDPK1, a multistage growth regulator of P. falciparum. Biochem J 2020; 477:1951-1970. [PMID: 32401306 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Upon Plasmodium falciparum merozoites exposure to low [K+] environment in blood plasma, there is escalation of cytosolic [Ca2+] which activates Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinase 1 (CDPK1), a signaling hub of intra-erythrocytic proliferative stages of parasite. Given its high abundance and multidimensional attributes in parasite life-cycle, this is a lucrative target for designing antimalarials. Towards this, we have virtually screened MyriaScreenII diversity collection of 10,000 drug-like molecules, which resulted in 18 compounds complementing ATP-binding pocket of CDPK1. In vitro screening for toxicity in mammalian cells revealed that these compounds are non-toxic in nature. Furthermore, SPR analysis demonstrated differential binding affinity of these compounds towards recombinantly purified CDPK1 protein. Selection of lead compound 1 was performed by evaluating their inhibitory effects on phosphorylation and ATP binding activities of CDPK1. Furthermore, in vitro biophysical evaluations by ITC and FS revealed that binding of compound 1 is driven by formation of energetically favorable non-covalent interactions, with different binding constants in presence and absence of Ca2+, and TSA authenticated stability of compound 1 bound CDPK1 complex. Finally, compound 1 strongly inhibited intra-erythrocytic growth of P. falciparum in vitro. Conceivably, we propose a novel CDPK1-selective inhibitor, step towards developing pan-CDPK kinase inhibitors, prerequisite for cross-stage anti-malarial protection.
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25
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Dong H, Wu C, Luo C, Wei M, Qu S, Wang S. Overexpression of MdCPK1a gene, a calcium dependent protein kinase in apple, increase tobacco cold tolerance via scavenging ROS accumulation. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242139. [PMID: 33211731 PMCID: PMC7676694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are important calcium receptors, which play a crucial part in the process of sensing and decoding intracellular calcium signals during plant development and adaptation to various environmental stresses. In this study, a CDPK gene MdCPK1a, was isolated from apple (Malus×domestica) which contains 1701bp nucleotide and encodes a protein of 566 amino acid residues, and contains the conserved domain of CDPKs. The transient expression and western blot experiment showed that MdCPK1a protein was localized in the nucleus and cell plasma membrane. Ectopic expression of MdCPK1a in Nicotiana benthamiana increased the resistance of the tobacco plants to salt and cold stresses. The mechanism of MdCPK1a regulating cold resistance was further investigated. The overexpressed MdCPK1a tobacco plants had higher survival rates and longer root length than wild type (WT) plants under cold stress, and the electrolyte leakages (EL), the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were lower, and accordingly, antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were higher, suggesting the transgenic plants suffered less chilling injury than WT plants. Moreover, the transcript levels of ROS-scavenging and stress-related genes were higher in the transgenic plants than those in WT plants whether under normal conditions or cold stress. The above results suggest that the improvement of cold tolerance in MdCPK1a-overexpressed plants was due to scavenging ROS accumulation and modulating the expression of stress-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Dong
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao Wu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Changguo Luo
- Guizhou Fruit Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Science, Guiyang, China
| | - Menghan Wei
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shenchun Qu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sanhong Wang
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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26
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Moolman C, van der Sluis R, Beteck RM, Legoabe LJ. An Update on Development of Small-Molecule Plasmodial Kinase Inhibitors. Molecules 2020; 25:E5182. [PMID: 33171706 PMCID: PMC7664427 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria control relies heavily on the small number of existing antimalarial drugs. However, recurring antimalarial drug resistance necessitates the continual generation of new antimalarial drugs with novel modes of action. In order to shift the focus from only controlling this disease towards elimination and eradication, next-generation antimalarial agents need to address the gaps in the malaria drug arsenal. This includes developing drugs for chemoprotection, treating severe malaria and blocking transmission. Plasmodial kinases are promising targets for next-generation antimalarial drug development as they mediate critical cellular processes and some are active across multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle. This review gives an update on the progress made thus far with regards to plasmodial kinase small-molecule inhibitor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantalle Moolman
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
| | - Rencia van der Sluis
- Focus Area for Human Metabolomics, Biochemistry, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa;
| | - Richard M. Beteck
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
| | - Lesetja J. Legoabe
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
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27
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Recio-Tótoro B, Condé R, Claudio-Piedras F, Lanz-Mendoza H. Affinity purification of Plasmodium ookinetes from in vitro cultures using extracellular matrix gel. Parasitol Int 2020; 80:102242. [PMID: 33152548 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Malaria transmission depends on the parasites' successful invasion of the mosquito. This is achieved by the ookinete, a motile zygote that forms in the blood bolus after the mosquito takes an infectious blood meal. The ookinete invades the midgut epithelium and strongly attaches to the basal lamina, differentiating into an oocyst that produces the vertebrate-invasive sporozoites. Despite their importance, the ookinete and the oocyst are the least studied stages of the parasite. Much of what we know about the ookinete comes from in vitro experiments, which are hindered by the concomitant contamination with blood cells and other parasite stages. Although methods to purify them exist, they vary in terms of yield, costs, and difficulty to perform. A method for ookinete purification taking advantage of their adhesive properties was herein developed. The method consists of covering any culture-suitable surface with extracellular matrix gel, after which the ookinete culture is incubated on the gel to allow for ookinete attachment. The contaminant cells are then simply washed away. This procedure results in purer and less stressed ookinete preparations, which, by the nature of the method, are ready for oocyst production. Furthermore, it allows for micro-purifications using only 1 μl of blood, opening the possibility to make axenic ookinete cultures without sacrificing mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benito Recio-Tótoro
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Renaud Condé
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Fabiola Claudio-Piedras
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Humberto Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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Abstract
Malaria is one of the most impacting public health problems in tropical and subtropical areas of the globe, with approximately 200 million cases worldwide annually. In the absence of an effective vaccine, rapid treatment is vital for effective malaria control. However, parasite resistance to currently available drugs underscores the urgent need for identifying new antimalarial therapies with new mechanisms of action. Among potential drug targets for developing new antimalarial candidates, protein kinases are attractive. These enzymes catalyze the phosphorylation of several proteins, thereby regulating a variety of cellular processes and playing crucial roles in the development of all stages of the malaria parasite life cycle. Moreover, the large phylogenetic distance between Plasmodium species and its human host is reflected in marked differences in structure and function of malaria protein kinases between the homologs of both species, indicating that selectivity can be attained. In this review, we describe the functions of the different types of Plasmodium kinases and highlight the main recent advances in the discovery of kinase inhibitors as potential new antimalarial drug candidates.
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29
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Govindasamy K, Bhanot P. Overlapping and distinct roles of CDPK family members in the pre-erythrocytic stages of the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008131. [PMID: 32866196 PMCID: PMC7485973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasion of hepatocytes by Plasmodium sporozoites initiates the pre-erythrocytic step of a malaria infection. Subsequent development of the parasite within hepatocytes and exit from them is essential for starting the disease-causing erythrocytic cycle. Identification of signaling pathways that operate in pre-erythrocytic stages provides insight into a critical step of infection and potential targets for chemoprotection from malaria. We demonstrate that P. berghei homologs of Calcium Dependent Protein Kinase 1 (CDPK1), CDPK4 and CDPK5 play overlapping but distinct roles in sporozoite invasion and parasite egress from hepatocytes. All three kinases are expressed in sporozoites. All three are required for optimal motility of sporozoites and consequently their invasion of hepatocytes. Increased cGMP can compensate for the functional loss of CDPK1 and CDPK5 during sporozoite invasion but cannot overcome loss of CDPK4. CDPK1 and CDPK5 expression is downregulated after sporozoite invasion. CDPK5 reappears in a subset of late stage liver stages and is present in all merosomes. Chemical inhibition of CDPK4 and depletion of CDPK5 in liver stages implicate these kinases in the formation and/or release of merosomes from mature liver stages. Furthermore, depletion of CDPK5 in merosomes significantly delays initiation of the erythrocytic cycle without affecting infectivity of hepatic merozoites. These data suggest that CDPK5 may be required for the rupture of merosomes. Our work provides evidence that sporozoite invasion requires CDPK1 and CDPK5, and suggests that CDPK5 participates in the release of hepatic merozoites. The malaria-parasite Plasmodium begins its mammalian cycle by infecting hepatocytes in the liver. A single parasite differentiates into tens of thousands of hepatic merozoites which exit the host cell in vesicles called merosomes. Hepatic merozoites initiate the first round of erythrocytic infection that eventually causes disease. We show that optimal invasion of liver cells by Plasmodium requires the action of three closely-related parasite kinases, CDPK1, 4 and 5. Loss of any of the three enzymes in the parasite significantly reduces infection of liver cells. Furthermore, CDPK5 is likely required for release of hepatic merozoites from merosomes and therefore for initiation of the erythrocytic cycle. A better understanding of how these kinases function could lead to drugs that prevent malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavitha Govindasamy
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Purnima Bhanot
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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Improvement of CRISPR/Cas9 system by transfecting Cas9-expressing Plasmodium berghei with linear donor template. Commun Biol 2020; 3:426. [PMID: 32759952 PMCID: PMC7406498 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01138-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites and is a major public health concern. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a promising technology, but still has technical problems, such as low efficiency and unexpected recombination. Here, we solved these problems by transfecting Cas9-expressing parasites with linear donor templates. The use of a linear donor template prevented unexpected recombination; in addition, constitutive expression of Cas9 enabled immediate cleavage of the target locus after transfection, allowing efficient integration of the donor template. Furthermore, due to the absence of the cNHEJ pathway, there were no off-target mutations in the resultant parasites. In addition, this developed method could be applied for multiple genetic modifications on different chromosomes and for large-scale chromosomal deletion in the subtelomeric region. Because of its robustness, high efficiency, and versatile applicability, we hope this method will be standard in the post-genomic era of Plasmodium species.
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31
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Ruiz JL, Gómez-Díaz E. The second life of Plasmodium in the mosquito host: gene regulation on the move. Brief Funct Genomics 2020; 18:313-357. [PMID: 31058281 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites face dynamically changing environments and strong selective constraints within human and mosquito hosts. To survive such hostile and shifting conditions, Plasmodium switches transcriptional programs during development and has evolved mechanisms to adjust its phenotype through heterogeneous patterns of gene expression. In vitro studies on culture-adapted isolates have served to set the link between chromatin structure and functional gene expression. Yet, experimental evidence is limited to certain stages of the parasite in the vertebrate, i.e. blood, while the precise mechanisms underlying the dynamic regulatory landscapes during development and in the adaptation to within-host conditions remain poorly understood. In this review, we discuss available data on transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in Plasmodium mosquito stages in the context of sporogonic development and phenotypic variation, including both bet-hedging and environmentally triggered direct transcriptional responses. With this, we advocate the mosquito offers an in vivo biological model to investigate the regulatory networks, transcription factors and chromatin-modifying enzymes and their modes of interaction with regulatory sequences, which might be responsible for the plasticity of the Plasmodium genome that dictates stage- and cell type-specific blueprints of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Ruiz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Elena Gómez-Díaz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
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32
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Nardella F, Halby L, Hammam E, Erdmann D, Cadet-Daniel V, Peronet R, Ménard D, Witkowski B, Mecheri S, Scherf A, Arimondo PB. DNA Methylation Bisubstrate Inhibitors Are Fast-Acting Drugs Active against Artemisinin-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum Parasites. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2020; 6:16-21. [PMID: 31989022 PMCID: PMC6978834 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is the deadliest parasitic disease affecting over 200 million people worldwide. The increasing number of treatment failures due to multi-drug-resistant parasites in South-East Asia hinders the efforts for elimination. It is thus urgent to develop new antimalarials to contain these resistant parasites. Based on a previous report showing the presence of DNA methylation in Plasmodium, we generated new types of DNA methylation inhibitors against malaria parasites. The quinoline-quinazoline-based inhibitors kill parasites, including artemisinin-resistant field isolates adapted to culture, in the low nanomolar range. The compounds target all stages of the asexual cycle, including early rings, during a 6 h treatment period; they reduce DNA methylation in the parasite and show in vivo activity at 10 mg/kg. These potent inhibitors are a new starting point to develop fast-acting antimalarials that could be used in combination with artemisinins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Nardella
- Unité
Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département
de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut
Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ludovic Halby
- Epigenetic
Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Elie Hammam
- Unité
Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département
de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut
Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
- Ecole
Doctorale Complexité du Vivant ED515, Sorbonne Universités, Paris 6, Paris 75005, France
| | - Diane Erdmann
- Epigenetic
Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
- Ecole
Doctorale MTCI ED563, Université
de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75006, France
| | - Véronique Cadet-Daniel
- Epigenetic
Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Roger Peronet
- Unité
Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département
de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut
Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Didier Ménard
- Unité
Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département
de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut
Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
- Malaria
Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute
in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria
Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute
in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Salah Mecheri
- Unité
Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département
de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut
Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Artur Scherf
- Unité
Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département
de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut
Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
- E-mail:
| | - Paola B. Arimondo
- Epigenetic
Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
- E-mail:
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33
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Soga A, Shirozu T, Ko-Ketsu M, Fukumoto S. Improvement of an in vitro drug selection method for generating transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasites. Malar J 2019; 18:215. [PMID: 31238932 PMCID: PMC6593524 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2851-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reverse genetics approaches have become powerful tools to dissect the biology of malaria parasites. In a previous study, development of an in vitro drug selection method for generating transgenic parasite of Plasmodium berghei was reported. Using this method, two novel and independent selection markers using the P. berghei heat shock protein 70 promoter was previously established. While the approach permits the easy and flexible genetic manipulation of P. berghei, shortcomings include a low variety in promoter options to drive marker gene expression and increased complexity of the selection procedure. In this study, addressing these issues was attempted. Methods To secure a variety of promoters, the use of a P. berghei elongation factor-1α promoter for marker gene expression was attempted. To simplify the procedure of in vitro selection, the establishment of a two cell-cycle culture method and its application for drug selection were attempted. Results The P. berghei elongation factor-1α (pbef-1α) promoter, which is commonly used to drive marker gene expression, was successfully applied as an alternative promoter model for marker gene expression, using the parasite’s codon-optimized marker sequence. To simplify the in vitro selection method, a two cell-cycle culture method in which the merozoite was released by filtration of the culture containing matured schizont-infected erythrocytes was also developed and successfully applied for drug selection. Conclusion The pbef-1α promoter was successfully applied in an in vitro selection system. The in vitro selection procedure also could be simplified for practical use using a two cell-cycle culture method. These improvements provide a more versatile platform for the genetic manipulation of P. berghei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Soga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shirozu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Mami Ko-Ketsu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
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Mura M, Ruffié C, Combredet C, Aliprandini E, Formaglio P, Chitnis CE, Amino R, Tangy F. Recombinant measles vaccine expressing malaria antigens induces long-term memory and protection in mice. NPJ Vaccines 2019; 4:12. [PMID: 30820355 PMCID: PMC6393439 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-019-0106-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the RTS,S malaria vaccine, which showed only partial protection with short-term memory, there is strong support to develop second-generation malaria vaccines that yield higher efficacy with longer duration. The use of replicating viral vectors to deliver subunit vaccines is of great interest due to their capacity to induce efficient cellular immune responses and long-term memory. The measles vaccine virus offers an efficient and safe live viral vector that could easily be implemented in the field. Here, we produced recombinant measles viruses (rMV) expressing malaria “gold standard” circumsporozoïte antigen (CS) of Plasmodium berghei (Pb) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) to test proof of concept of this delivery strategy. Immunization with rMV expressing PbCS or PfCS induced high antibody responses in mice that did not decrease for at least 22 weeks post-prime, as well as rapid development of cellular immune responses. The observed long-term memory response is key for development of second-generation malaria vaccines. Sterile protection was achieved in 33% of immunized mice, as usually observed with the CS antigen, and all other immunized animals were clinically protected from severe and lethal Pb ANKA-induced cerebral malaria. Further rMV-vectored malaria vaccine candidates expressing additional pre-erythrocytic and blood-stage antigens in combination with rMV expressing PfCS may provide a path to development of next generation malaria vaccines with higher efficacy. Following the limited success of the RTS,S recombinant malaria vaccine there is a pressing need for second generation malaria vaccines. Frédéric Tangy and colleagues at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, generate novel vaccines based on recombinant measles virus (rMV) expressing the major circumsporozoite antigen CS from either Plasmodium berghei (rMV-CSPb) or P. falciparum (rMV-CSPf). rMV is a strong vector candidate because of its widespread use, safety profile and efficacy. Mice permissive to rMV infection show rapid and durable (at least 22 weeks) CS antibody responses as well as activation of cell-mediated immunity and type 1 helper responses following vaccination with rMV-CSPb or rMV-CSPf. rMV-CSPb vaccination protects mice from lethal challenge with Pb sporozoites, and in a subset of mice leads to sterile immunity. The rMV vector offers the potential of incorporating further antigens from other Plasmodium infection stages and thereby enhancement of vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Mura
- 1Viral Genomics and Vaccination, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France.,2Anti-infectious Biotherapies and Immunity, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 1 place du Général Valérie André, BP73 Brétigny-sur-Orge Cedex, France
| | - Claude Ruffié
- 1Viral Genomics and Vaccination, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Chantal Combredet
- 1Viral Genomics and Vaccination, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Eduardo Aliprandini
- 3Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Pauline Formaglio
- 3Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Chetan E Chitnis
- 4Malaria Parasite Biology and Vaccines, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Rogerio Amino
- 3Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Tangy
- 1Viral Genomics and Vaccination, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
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Tosetti N, Dos Santos Pacheco N, Soldati-Favre D, Jacot D. Three F-actin assembly centers regulate organelle inheritance, cell-cell communication and motility in Toxoplasma gondii. eLife 2019; 8:e42669. [PMID: 30753127 PMCID: PMC6372287 DOI: 10.7554/elife.42669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii possesses a limited set of actin-regulatory proteins and relies on only three formins (FRMs) to nucleate and polymerize actin. We combined filamentous actin (F-actin) chromobodies with gene disruption to assign specific populations of actin filaments to individual formins. FRM2 localizes to the apical juxtanuclear region and participates in apicoplast inheritance. Restricted to the residual body, FRM3 maintains the intravacuolar cell-cell communication. Conoidal FRM1 initiates a flux of F-actin crucial for motility, invasion and egress. This flux depends on myosins A and H and is controlled by phosphorylation via PKG (protein kinase G) and CDPK1 (calcium-dependent protein kinase 1) and by methylation via AKMT (apical lysine methyltransferase). This flux is independent of microneme secretion and persists in the absence of the glideosome-associated connector (GAC). This study offers a coherent model of the key players controlling actin polymerization, stressing the importance of well-timed post-translational modifications to power parasite motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Tosetti
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMUUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
| | | | | | - Damien Jacot
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMUUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
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Aliprandini E, Tavares J, Panatieri RH, Thiberge S, Yamamoto MM, Silvie O, Ishino T, Yuda M, Dartevelle S, Traincard F, Boscardin SB, Amino R. Cytotoxic anti-circumsporozoite antibodies target malaria sporozoites in the host skin. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:1224-1233. [PMID: 30349082 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0254-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the major surface protein of malaria sporozoites (SPZs), the motile and invasive parasite stage inoculated in the host skin by infected mosquitoes. Antibodies against the central CSP repeats of different plasmodial species are known to block SPZ infectivity1-5, but the precise mechanism by which these effectors operate is not completely understood. Here, using a rodent Plasmodium yoelii malaria model, we show that sterile protection mediated by anti-P. yoelii CSP humoral immunity depends on the parasite inoculation into the host skin, where antibodies inhibit motility and kill P. yoelii SPZs via a characteristic 'dotty death' phenotype. Passive transfer of an anti-repeat monoclonal antibody (mAb) recapitulates the skin inoculation-dependent protection, in a complement- and Fc receptor γ-independent manner. This purified mAb also decreases motility and, notably, induces the dotty death of P. yoelii SPZs in vitro. Cytotoxicity is species-transcendent since cognate anti-CSP repeat mAbs also kill Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum SPZs. mAb cytotoxicity requires the actomyosin motor-dependent translocation and stripping of the protective CSP surface coat, rendering the parasite membrane susceptible to the SPZ pore-forming-like protein secreted to wound and traverse the host cell membrane6. The loss of SPZ fitness caused by anti-P. yoelii CSP repeat antibodies is thus a dynamic process initiated in the host skin where SPZs either stop moving7, or migrate and traverse cells to progress through the host tissues7-9 at the eventual expense of their own life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joana Tavares
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Hoffmann Panatieri
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sabine Thiberge
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre de Production et d'Infection des Anophèles, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Marcio Massao Yamamoto
- Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI, Paris, France
| | - Tomoko Ishino
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Ehime University, Ehime, Japan
| | - Masao Yuda
- Department of Medical Zoology, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Sylvie Dartevelle
- Plateforme d'Ingénierie des Anticorps, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Silvia Beatriz Boscardin
- Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
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Epistasis studies reveal redundancy among calcium-dependent protein kinases in motility and invasion of malaria parasites. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4248. [PMID: 30315162 PMCID: PMC6185908 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06733-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In malaria parasites, evolution of parasitism has been linked to functional optimisation. Despite this optimisation, most members of a calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) family show genetic redundancy during erythrocytic proliferation. To identify relationships between phospho-signalling pathways, we here screen 294 genetic interactions among protein kinases in Plasmodium berghei. This reveals a synthetic negative interaction between a hypomorphic allele of the protein kinase G (PKG) and CDPK4 to control erythrocyte invasion which is conserved in P. falciparum. CDPK4 becomes critical when PKG-dependent calcium signals are attenuated to phosphorylate proteins important for the stability of the inner membrane complex, which serves as an anchor for the acto-myosin motor required for motility and invasion. Finally, we show that multiple kinases functionally complement CDPK4 during erythrocytic proliferation and transmission to the mosquito. This study reveals how CDPKs are wired within a stage-transcending signalling network to control motility and host cell invasion in malaria parasites. Despite functional optimisation during evolution of parasitism, most members of a calcium dependent protein kinase (CDPK) family show genetic redundancy in Plasmodium. Here, the authors screen 294 genetic interactions among protein kinases in Plasmodium and show how some CDPKs functionally interact to control motility and host cell invasion.
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38
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Gao H, Yang Z, Wang X, Qian P, Hong R, Chen X, Su XZ, Cui H, Yuan J. ISP1-Anchored Polarization of GCβ/CDC50A Complex Initiates Malaria Ookinete Gliding Motility. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2763-2776.e6. [PMID: 30146157 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.06.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ookinete gliding motility is essential for penetration of the mosquito midgut wall and transmission of malaria parasites. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling has been implicated in ookinete gliding. However, the upstream mechanism of how the parasites activate cGMP signaling and thus initiate ookinete gliding remains unknown. Using real-time imaging to visualize Plasmodium yoelii guanylate cyclase β (GCβ), we show that cytoplasmic GCβ translocates and polarizes to the parasite plasma membrane at "ookinete extrados site" (OES) during zygote-to-ookinete differentiation. The polarization of enzymatic active GCβ at OES initiates gliding of matured ookinete. Both the P4-ATPase-like domain and guanylate cyclase domain are required for GCβ polarization and ookinete gliding. CDC50A, a co-factor of P4-ATPase, binds to and stabilizes GCβ during ookinete development. Screening of inner membrane complex proteins identifies ISP1 as a key molecule that anchors GCβ/CDC50A complex at the OES of mature ookinetes. This study defines a spatial-temporal mechanism for the initiation of ookinete gliding, where GCβ polarization likely elevates local cGMP levels and activates cGMP-dependent protein kinase signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Pengge Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Renjie Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huiting Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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39
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Qian P, Wang X, Yang Z, Li Z, Gao H, Su XZ, Cui H, Yuan J. A Cas9 transgenic Plasmodium yoelii parasite for efficient gene editing. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 222:21-28. [PMID: 29684399 PMCID: PMC11002757 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 has applied as an efficient gene-editing method in malaria parasite Plasmodium. However, the size (4.2 kb) of the commonly used Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) limits its utility for genome editing in the parasites only introduced with cas9 plasmid. To establish the endogenous and constitutive expression of Cas9 protein in the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii, we replaced the coding region of an endogenous gene sera1 with the intact SpCas9 coding sequence using the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing method, generating the cas9-knockin parasite (PyCas9ki) of the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii. The resulted PyCas9ki parasite displays normal progression during the whole life cycle and possesses the Cas9 protein expression in asexual blood stage. By introducing the plasmid (pYCs) containing only sgRNA and homologous template elements, we successfully achieved both deletion and tagging modifications for different endogenous genes in the genome of PyCas9ki parasite. This cas9-knockin PyCas9ki parasite provides a new platform facilitating gene functions study in the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengge Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenkui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Han Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States
| | - Huiting Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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40
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Soga A, Ko‐ketsu M, Fukumoto S. Development of a
bsd
‐blasticidin selection system in
Plasmodium berghei. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:1847-1855. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Akira Soga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Japan
| | - Mami Ko‐ketsu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Japan
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41
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Yeoh LM, Goodman CD, Mollard V, McFadden GI, Ralph SA. Comparative transcriptomics of female and male gametocytes in Plasmodium berghei and the evolution of sex in alveolates. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:734. [PMID: 28923023 PMCID: PMC5604118 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4100-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical symptoms of malaria are caused by the asexual replication of Plasmodium parasites in the blood of the vertebrate host. To spread to new hosts, however, the malaria parasite must differentiate into sexual forms, termed gametocytes, which are ingested by a mosquito vector. Sexual differentiation produces either female or male gametocytes, and involves significant morphological and biochemical changes. These transformations prepare gametocytes for the rapid progression to gamete formation and fertilisation, which occur within 20 min of ingestion. Here we present the transcriptomes of asexual, female, and male gametocytes in P. berghei, and a comprehensive statistically-based differential-expression analysis of the transcriptional changes that underpin this sexual differentiation. RESULTS RNA-seq analysis revealed numerous differences in the transcriptomes of female and male gametocytes compared to asexual stages. Overall, there is net downregulation of transcripts in gametocytes compared to asexual stages, with this trend more marked in female gametocytes. Our analysis identified transcriptional changes in previously-characterised gametocyte-specific pathways, which validated our approach. We also detected many previously-unreported female- and male-specific pathways and genes. Transcriptional biases in stage and gender were then used to investigate sex-specificity and sexual dimorphism of Plasmodium in an evolutionary context. Sex-related gene expression is well conserved between Plasmodium species, but relatively poorly conserved in related organisms outside this genus. This pattern of conservation is most evident in genes necessary for both male and female gametocyte formation. However, this trend is less pronounced for male-specific genes, which are more highly conserved outside the genus than genes specific to female development. CONCLUSIONS We characterised the transcriptional changes that are integral to the development of the female and male sexual forms of Plasmodium. These differential-expression patterns provide a vital insight into understanding the gender-specific characteristics of this essential stage that is the primary target for treatments that block parasite transmission. Our results also offer insight into the evolution of sex genes through Alveolata, and suggest that many Plasmodium sex genes evolved within the genus. We further hypothesise that male gametocytes co-opted pre-existing cellular machinery in their evolutionary history, whereas female gametocytes evolved more through the development of novel, parasite-specific pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee M Yeoh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.,School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
| | - Stuart A Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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42
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Soga A, Bando H, Ko-Ketsu M, Masuda-Suganuma H, Kawazu SI, Fukumoto S. High efficacy in vitro selection procedure for generating transgenic parasites of Plasmodium berghei using an antibiotic toxic to rodent hosts. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28638105 PMCID: PMC5479828 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04244-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei is one of the main rodent malaria models. A shortcoming of this model parasite is its low flexibility in genetic manipulation. As this parasite cannot be continuously propagated in cell cultures, in vivo drug selection procedures are necessary to isolate genetic mutants. Drugs harmful to rodents therefore cannot be used for drug selection, which restricts the range of genetic manipulation. In this study, we addressed this problem by establishing a novel in vitro culture drug selection method, which we used in combination with other established methods to successfully isolate genetically manipulated parasites. The target mutants were enriched to the desired level within two weeks. We show that our system can also be used for sequential genetic manipulation of parasites carrying the traditionally used selection markers, demonstrate the procedure’s versatility, and show its use in isolating specific genetically manipulated parasites. This novel in vitro selection method increases the number of available selection markers, allowing more extensive genetic manipulation in malaria parasite research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Soga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Hironori Bando
- Department of immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Disease, Osaka University, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mami Ko-Ketsu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Hirono Masuda-Suganuma
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Kawazu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
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43
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McCoy JM, Stewart RJ, Uboldi AD, Li D, Schröder J, Scott NE, Papenfuss AT, Lehane AM, Foster LJ, Tonkin CJ. A forward genetic screen identifies a negative regulator of rapid Ca 2+-dependent cell egress (MS1) in the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:7662-7674. [PMID: 28258212 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.775114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, like all apicomplexan parasites, uses Ca2+ signaling pathways to activate gliding motility to power tissue dissemination and host cell invasion and egress. A group of "plant-like" Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) transduces cytosolic Ca2+ flux into enzymatic activity, but how they function is poorly understood. To investigate how Ca2+ signaling activates egress through CDPKs, we performed a forward genetic screen to isolate gain-of-function mutants from an egress-deficient cdpk3 knockout strain. We recovered mutants that regained the ability to egress from host cells that harbored mutations in the gene Suppressor of Ca2+-dependent Egress 1 (SCE1). Global phosphoproteomic analysis showed that SCE1 deletion restored many Δcdpk3-dependent phosphorylation events to near wild-type levels. We also show that CDPK3-dependent SCE1 phosphorylation is required to relieve its suppressive activity to potentiate egress. In summary, our work has uncovered a novel component and suppressor of Ca2+-dependent cell egress during Toxoplasma lytic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M McCoy
- From the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,the Departments of Medical Biology.,Computing and Information Systems,University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Stewart
- From the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,the Departments of Medical Biology.,Computing and Information Systems,University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Alessandro D Uboldi
- From the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,the Departments of Medical Biology.,Computing and Information Systems,University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Dongdi Li
- the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Jan Schröder
- From the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,the Departments of Medical Biology.,the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Victoria 3000, Australia, and
| | - Nicollas E Scott
- the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Anthony T Papenfuss
- From the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,the Departments of Medical Biology.,the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Victoria 3000, Australia, and
| | - Adele M Lehane
- the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Leonard J Foster
- the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- From the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia, .,the Departments of Medical Biology
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44
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Zhang C, Gao H, Yang Z, Jiang Y, Li Z, Wang X, Xiao B, Su XZ, Cui H, Yuan J. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated sequential editing of genes critical for ookinete motility in Plasmodium yoelii. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 212:1-8. [PMID: 28034675 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 has been successfully adapted for gene editing in malaria parasites including Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium yoelii. However, the reported methods were limited to editing one gene at a time. In practice, it is often desired to modify multiple genetic loci in a parasite genome. Here we describe a CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing method that allows successive modification of more than one gene in the genome of P. yoelii using an improved single-vector system (pYCm) we developed previously. Drug resistant genes encoding human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) and a yeast bifunctional protein (yFCU), with cytosine deaminase (CD) and uridyl phosphoribosyl transferase (UPRT) activities in the plasmid, allowed sequential positive (pyrimethamine, Pyr) and negative (5-fluorocytosine, 5FC) selections and generation of transgenic parasites free of the episomal plasmid after genetic modification. Using this system, we were able to efficiently tag a gene of interest (Pyp28) and subsequently disrupted two genes (Pyctrp and Pycdpk3) that are individually critical for ookinete motility. Disruption of the genes either eliminated (Pyctrp) or greatly reduced (Pycdpk3) ookinete forward motility in matrigel in vitro and completely blocked oocyst development in mosquito midgut. The method will greatly facilitate studies of parasite gene function, development, and disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Han Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenkui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Bo Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huiting Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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45
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Jaijyan DK, Verma PK, Singh AP. A novel FIKK kinase regulates the development of mosquito and liver stages of the malaria. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39285. [PMID: 27995998 PMCID: PMC5172157 DOI: 10.1038/srep39285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is the most important post-translational event in the regulation of various essential signaling pathways in a cell. Here, we show the functional characterization of a FIKK family protein kinase of the rodent malaria parasite (PbMLFK), which is expressed only in mosquito and liver stages and contains two functional C-terminal PEXEL motifs. We demonstrate that this protein plays a role in mosquito and liver stages of parasite growth. The oocysts of PbMLFK-deficient parasites produced 4-fold fewer sporozoites. In the liver of infected mice, PbMLFK-deficient parasites grew 100-fold less than did wild type parasites. We also show that the C-terminal domain of this protein has a functional serine-threonine kinase and that its activity was inhibited by a known PKA inhibitor. Transcriptome analysis of infected host cells suggests that in absence of this protein expression of the 288 host mRNAs are perturbed which are primarily associated with the immune system, cell cycle and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dabbu Kumar Jaijyan
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - Praveen Kumar Verma
- Plant Immunity Laboratory, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - Agam Prasad Singh
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110067, India
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46
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Wang Z, Huang B, Dong H, Zhao Q, Zhu S, Xia W, Xu S, Xie Y, Cui X, Tang M, Men Q, Yang Z, Li C, Zhu X, Han H. Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of a Novel Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase 4 from Eimeria tenella. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168132. [PMID: 27977727 PMCID: PMC5158193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Eimeria tenella is an obligate intracellular parasite that actively invades cecal epithelial cells of chickens. The basis of cell invasion is not completely understood, but some key molecules of host cell invasion have been discovered. This paper investigated the characteristics of calcium-dependent protein kinase 4 (EtCDPK4), a critical molecule in E. tenella invasion of host cells. A full-length EtCDPK4 cDNA was identified from E. tenella using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. EtCDPK4 had an open reading frame of 1803 bp encoding a protein of 600 amino acids. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were used to explore differences in EtCDPK4 transcription and translation in four developmental stages of E. tenella. EtCDPK4 was expressed at higher levels in sporozoites, but translation was higher in second-generation merozoites. In vitro invasion inhibition assays explored whether EtCDPK4 was involved in invasion of DF-1 cells by E. tenella sporozoites. Polyclonal antibodies against recombinant EtCDPK4 (rEtCDPK4) inhibited parasite invasion, decreasing it by approximately 52%. Indirect immunofluorescence assays explored EtCDPK4 distribution during parasite development after E. tenella sporozoite invasion of DF-1 cells in vitro. The results showed that EtCDPK4 might be important in sporozoite invasion and development. To analyze EtCDPK4 functional domains according to the structural characteristics of EtCDPK4 and study the kinase activity of rEtCDPK4, an in vitro phosphorylation system was established. We verified that rEtCDPK4 was a protein kinase that was completely dependent on Ca2+ for enzyme activity. Specific inhibitors of rEtCDPK4 activity were screened by kinase activity in vitro. Some specific inhibitors were applied to assays of DF-1 cell invasion by E. tenella sporozoites to confirm that the inhibitors functioned in vitro. W-7, H-7, H-89, and myristoylated peptide inhibited DF-1 invasion by E. tenella sporozoites. The experimental results showed that EtCDPK4 may be involved in E. tenella invasion of chicken cecal epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwen Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Bing Huang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, PR China
| | - Hui Dong
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Qiping Zhao
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shunhai Zhu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Weili Xia
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shuaibin Xu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yuxiang Xie
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiaoxia Cui
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Min Tang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Qifei Men
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Zhiyuang Yang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Cong Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xuelong Zhu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Hongyu Han
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China
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47
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Bennink S, Kiesow MJ, Pradel G. The development of malaria parasites in the mosquito midgut. Cell Microbiol 2016; 18:905-18. [PMID: 27111866 PMCID: PMC5089571 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mosquito midgut stages of malaria parasites are crucial for establishing an infection in the insect vector and to thus ensure further spread of the pathogen. Parasite development in the midgut starts with the activation of the intraerythrocytic gametocytes immediately after take-up and ends with traversal of the midgut epithelium by the invasive ookinetes less than 24 h later. During this time period, the plasmodia undergo two processes of stage conversion, from gametocytes to gametes and from zygotes to ookinetes, both accompanied by dramatic morphological changes. Further, gamete formation requires parasite egress from the enveloping erythrocytes, rendering them vulnerable to the aggressive factors of the insect gut, like components of the human blood meal. The mosquito midgut stages of malaria parasites are unprecedented objects to study a variety of cell biological aspects, including signal perception, cell conversion, parasite/host co-adaptation and immune evasion. This review highlights recent insights into the molecules involved in gametocyte activation and gamete formation as well as in zygote-to-ookinete conversion and ookinete midgut exit; it further discusses factors that can harm the extracellular midgut stages as well as the measures of the parasites to protect themselves from any damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Bennink
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Meike J Kiesow
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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48
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Chakraborty A. Emerging drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum: A review of well-characterized drug targets for novel antimalarial chemotherapy. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(16)61090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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49
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Mac-Daniel L, Buckwalter MR, Gueirard P, Ménard R. Myeloid Cell Isolation from Mouse Skin and Draining Lymph Node Following Intradermal Immunization with Live Attenuated Plasmodium Sporozoites. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27286053 DOI: 10.3791/53796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria infection begins when the sporozoite stage of Plasmodium is inoculated into the skin of a mammalian host through a mosquito bite. The highly motile parasite not only reaches the liver to invade hepatocytes and transform into erythrocyte-infective form. It also migrates into the skin and to the proximal lymph node draining the injection site, where it can be recognized and degraded by resident and/or recruited myeloid cells. Intravital imaging reported the early recruitment of brightly fluorescent Lys-GFP positive leukocytes in the skin and the interactions between sporozoites and CD11c(+) cells in the draining lymph node. We present here an efficient procedure to recover, identify and enumerate the myeloid cell subsets that are recruited to the mouse skin and draining lymph node following intradermal injection of immunizing doses of sporozoites in a murine model. Phenotypic characterization using multi-parametric flow cytometry provides a reliable assay to assess early dynamic cellular changes during inflammatory response to Plasmodium infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Robert Ménard
- Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Institut Pasteur;
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Carvalho TG, Morahan B, John von Freyend S, Boeuf P, Grau G, Garcia-Bustos J, Doerig C. The ins and outs of phosphosignalling in Plasmodium: Parasite regulation and host cell manipulation. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 208:2-15. [PMID: 27211241 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Signal transduction and kinomics have been rapidly expanding areas of investigation within the malaria research field. Here, we provide an overview of phosphosignalling pathways that operate in all stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. We review signalling pathways in the parasite itself, in the cells it invades, and in other cells of the vertebrate host with which it interacts. We also discuss the potential of these pathways as novel targets for antimalarial intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Gil Carvalho
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Belinda Morahan
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Simona John von Freyend
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Philippe Boeuf
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Georges Grau
- Vascular Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Jose Garcia-Bustos
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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