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Amanzougaghene N, Tajeri S, Franetich JF, Ashraf K, Soulard V, Bigeard P, Guindo CO, Bouillier C, Lemaitre J, Relouzat F, Legrand R, Kocken CHM, Zeeman AM, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Yang Z, Snounou G, Mazier D. Azithromycin disrupts apicoplast biogenesis in replicating and dormant liver stages of the relapsing malaria parasites Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium cynomolgi. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107112. [PMID: 38367843 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The control and elimination of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax is hampered by the threat of relapsed infection resulting from the activation of dormant hepatic hypnozoites. Currently, only the 8-aminoquinolines, primaquine and tafenoquine, have been approved for the elimination of hypnozoites, although their use is hampered by potential toxicity. Therefore, an alternative radical curative drug that safely eliminates hypnozoites is a pressing need. This study assessed the potential hypnozoiticidal activity of the antibiotic azithromycin, which is thought to exert antimalarial activity by inhibiting prokaryote-like ribosomal translation within the apicoplast, an indispensable organelle. The results show that azithromycin inhibited apicoplast development during liver-stage schizogony in P. vivax and Plasmodium cynomolgi, leading to impaired parasite maturation. More importantly, this study found that azithromycin is likely to impair the hypnozoite's apicoplast, resulting in the loss of this organelle. Subsequently, using a recently developed long-term hepatocyte culture system, this study found that this loss likely induces a delay in the hypnozoite activation rate, and that those parasites that do proceed to schizogony display liver-stage arrest prior to differentiating into hepatic merozoites, thus potentially preventing relapse. Overall, this work provides evidence for the potential use of azithromycin for the radical cure of relapsing malaria, and identifies apicoplast functions as potential drug targets in quiescent hypnozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Amanzougaghene
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Immunologie des maladies virales, auto-immunes, hématologiques et bactériennes (IMVA-HB/IDMIT/UMR1184), Fontenay-aux-Roses and Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Shahin Tajeri
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Franetich
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Kutub Ashraf
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Soulard
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Bigeard
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Cheick Oumar Guindo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Camille Bouillier
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Immunologie des maladies virales, auto-immunes, hématologiques et bactériennes (IMVA-HB/IDMIT/UMR1184), Fontenay-aux-Roses and Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Julien Lemaitre
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Immunologie des maladies virales, auto-immunes, hématologiques et bactériennes (IMVA-HB/IDMIT/UMR1184), Fontenay-aux-Roses and Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Francis Relouzat
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Immunologie des maladies virales, auto-immunes, hématologiques et bactériennes (IMVA-HB/IDMIT/UMR1184), Fontenay-aux-Roses and Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Roger Legrand
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Immunologie des maladies virales, auto-immunes, hématologiques et bactériennes (IMVA-HB/IDMIT/UMR1184), Fontenay-aux-Roses and Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Clemens H M Kocken
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie Zeeman
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Zhaoqing Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Chenggong New Town, Kunming, Yunnan Province,China
| | - Georges Snounou
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Immunologie des maladies virales, auto-immunes, hématologiques et bactériennes (IMVA-HB/IDMIT/UMR1184), Fontenay-aux-Roses and Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
| | - Dominique Mazier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France.
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2
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da Silva CV, Velikkakam T, de Oliveira ECM, Silveira ACA, de Lima Júnior JP, Uombe NPI, da Silva PHR, Borges BC. Cellular dormancy: A widespread phenomenon that perpetuates infectious diseases. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2300389. [PMID: 38064123 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Under adverse environmental conditions, microorganisms are able to enter a state of cellular dormancy which consists of cell cycle arrest and interruption of multiplication. This process ensures their perpetuation in the infected host organism and enables the spread of disease. Throughout biological evolution, dormancy allowed microorganisms to persist in a harsh niche until favorable conditions for their reactivation were re-established. Here, we propose to discuss the dormancy of bacteria and protozoa pathogens focusing on the potential mechanisms and components associated with dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio V da Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Teresiama Velikkakam
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Elida C M de Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Anna C A Silveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Joed P de Lima Júnior
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Nelsa P I Uombe
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Paulo H R da Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Bruna C Borges
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
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3
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Desale H, Herrera C, Dumonteil E. Trypanosoma cruzi amastigote transcriptome analysis reveals heterogenous populations with replicating and dormant parasites. Microbes Infect 2024; 26:105240. [PMID: 37866547 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite causing Chagas disease, with a complex life cycle involving different stages in insect vectors and mammalian hosts. Amastigotes are an intracellular form that replicates in the cytoplasm of host cells, and recent studies suggested that dormant forms may be contributing to parasite persistence, suggesting cellular heterogeneity among amastigotes. We investigated here if a transcriptomic approach could identify some heterogeneity in intracellular amastigotes and identify a dormant population. We used gene expression data derived from bulk RNA-sequencing of T. cruzi infection of human fibroblasts for deconvolution using CDSeq, which allows to simultaneously estimate amastigote cell-type proportions and cell-type-specific expression profiles. Six amastigote subpopulations were identified, confirming intracellular amastigotes heterogeneity, and one population presented characteristics of non-replicative dormant parasites, based on replication markers and TcRAD51 expression. Transcriptomic approaches appear to be powerful to understand T. cruzi cell differentiation and expansion of these studies could provide further insight on the role different cell types in parasite persistence and Chagas disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Desale
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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4
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Glennon EK, Wei L, Roobsoong W, Primavera VI, Tongogara T, Yee CB, Sattabongkot J, Kaushansky A. Host kinase regulation of Plasmodium vivax dormant and replicating liver stages. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.13.566868. [PMID: 38014051 PMCID: PMC10680662 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.13.566868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Upon transmission to the liver, Plasmodium vivax parasites form replicating schizonts, which continue to initiate blood-stage infection, or dormant hypnozoites that reactivate weeks to months after initial infection. P. vivax phenotypes in the field vary significantly, including the ratio of schizonts to hypnozoites formed and the frequency and timing of relapse. Evidence suggests that both parasite genetics and environmental factors underly this heterogeneity. We previously demonstrated that data on the effect of a panel of kinase inhibitors with overlapping targets on Plasmodium liver stage infection, in combination with a computational approach called kinase regression (KiR), can be used to uncover novel host regulators of infection. Here, we applied KiR to evaluate the extent to which P. vivax liver-stage parasites are susceptible to changes in host kinase activity. We identified a role for a subset of host kinases in regulating schizont and hypnozoite infection and schizont size and characterized overlap as well as variability in host phosphosignaling dependencies between parasite forms and across multiple patient isolates. Striking, our data point to variability in host dependencies across P. vivax isolates, suggesting one possible origin of the heterogeneity observed across P. vivax in the field.
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Rodríguez-Hernández D, Vijayan K, Zigweid R, Fenwick MK, Sankaran B, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Glennon EKK, Myler PJ, Sunnerhagen P, Staker BL, Kaushansky A, Grøtli M. Identification of potent and selective N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors of Plasmodium vivax liver stage hypnozoites and schizonts. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5408. [PMID: 37669940 PMCID: PMC10480161 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41119-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Drugs targeting multiple stages of the Plasmodium vivax life cycle are needed to reduce the health and economic burdens caused by malaria worldwide. N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) is an essential eukaryotic enzyme and a validated drug target for combating malaria. However, previous PvNMT inhibitors have failed due to their low selectivity over human NMTs. Herein, we apply a structure-guided hybridization approach combining chemical moieties of previously reported NMT inhibitors to develop the next generation of PvNMT inhibitors. A high-resolution crystal structure of PvNMT bound to a representative selective hybrid compound reveals a unique binding site architecture that includes a selective conformation of a key tyrosine residue. The hybridized compounds significantly decrease P. falciparum blood-stage parasite load and consistently exhibit dose-dependent inhibition of P. vivax liver stage schizonts and hypnozoites. Our data demonstrate that hybridized NMT inhibitors can be multistage antimalarials, targeting dormant and developing forms of liver and blood stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rodríguez-Hernández
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg; S-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allegaten 41, NO-5007, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kamalakannan Vijayan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Rachael Zigweid
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Michael K Fenwick
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, Advanced Light Source; Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Elizabeth K K Glennon
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Peter J Myler
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Per Sunnerhagen
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg; S-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bart L Staker
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Morten Grøtli
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg; S-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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6
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Voorberg-van der Wel A, Zeeman AM, Kocken CHM. Transfection Models to Investigate Plasmodium vivax-Type Dormant Liver Stage Parasites. Pathogens 2023; 12:1070. [PMID: 37764878 PMCID: PMC10534883 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax causes the second highest number of malaria morbidity and mortality cases in humans. Several biological traits of this parasite species, including the formation of dormant stages (hypnozoites) that persist inside the liver for prolonged periods of time, present an obstacle for intervention measures and create a barrier for the elimination of malaria. Research into the biology of hypnozoites requires efficient systems for parasite transmission, liver stage cultivation and genetic modification. However, P. vivax research is hampered by the lack of an in vitro blood stage culture system, rendering it reliant on in vivo-derived, mainly patient, material for transmission and liver stage culture. This has also resulted in limited capability for genetic modification, creating a bottleneck in investigations into the mechanisms underlying the persistence of the parasite inside the liver. This bottleneck can be overcome through optimal use of the closely related and experimentally more amenable nonhuman primate (NHP) parasite, Plasmodium cynomolgi, as a model system. In this review, we discuss the genetic modification tools and liver stage cultivation platforms available for studying P. vivax persistent stages and highlight how their combined use may advance our understanding of hypnozoite biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie Voorberg-van der Wel
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (A.-M.Z.); (C.H.M.K.)
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7
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Lahree A, Mello-Vieira J, Mota MM. The nutrient games - Plasmodium metabolism during hepatic development. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:445-460. [PMID: 37061442 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a febrile illness caused by species of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium and is characterized by recursive infections of erythrocytes, leading to clinical symptoms and pathology. In mammals, Plasmodium parasites undergo a compulsory intrahepatic development stage before infecting erythrocytes. Liver-stage parasites have a metabolic configuration to facilitate the replication of several thousand daughter parasites. Their metabolism is of interest to identify cellular pathways essential for liver infection, to kill the parasite before onset of the disease. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on nutrient acquisition and biosynthesis by liver-stage parasites mostly generated in murine malaria models, gaps in knowledge, and challenges to create a holistic view of the development and deficiencies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparajita Lahree
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - João Mello-Vieira
- Institute of Biochemistry II, School of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Maria M Mota
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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8
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Zanghi G, Patel H, Camargo N, Smith JL, Bae Y, Flannery EL, Chuenchob V, Fishbaugher ME, Mikolajczak SA, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Hayes K, Vaughan AM, Kappe SHI. Global gene expression of human malaria parasite liver stages throughout intrahepatocytic development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.05.522945. [PMID: 36711670 PMCID: PMC9881933 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.05.522945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is causing the greatest malaria burden, yet the liver stages (LS) of this most important parasite species have remained poorly studied. Here, we used a human liver-chimeric mouse model in combination with a novel fluorescent PfNF54 parasite line (PfNF54cspGFP) to isolate PfLS-infected hepatocytes and generate transcriptomes that cover the major LS developmental phases in human hepatocytes. RNA-seq analysis of early Pf LS trophozoites two days after infection, revealed a central role of translational regulation in the transformation of the extracellular invasive sporozoite into intracellular LS. The developmental time course gene expression analysis indicated that fatty acid biosynthesis, isoprenoid biosynthesis and iron metabolism are sustaining LS development along with amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis. Countering oxidative stress appears to play an important role during intrahepatic LS development. Furthermore, we observed expression of the variant PfEMP1 antigen-encoding var genes, and we confirmed expression of PfEMP1 protein during LS development. Transcriptome comparison of the late Pf liver stage schizonts with P. vivax (Pv) late liver stages revealed highly conserved gene expression profiles among orthologous genes. A notable difference however was the expression of genes regulating sexual stage commitment. While Pv schizonts expressed markers of sexual commitment, the Pf LS parasites were not sexually committed and showed expression of gametocytogenesis repression factors. Our results provide the first comprehensive gene expression profile of the human malaria parasite Pf LS isolated during in vivo intrahepatocytic development. This data will inform biological studies and the search for effective intervention strategies that can prevent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gigliola Zanghi
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Hardik Patel
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Nelly Camargo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jenny L. Smith
- Research Scientific Computing, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Yeji Bae
- Research Scientific Computing, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Erika L. Flannery
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, United State
| | - Vorada Chuenchob
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, United State
| | - Matthew E. Fishbaugher
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, United State
| | - Sebastian A Mikolajczak
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, United State
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kiera Hayes
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ashley M. Vaughan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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9
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Mitchell G, Roma G, Voorberg-van der Wel A, Beibel M, Zeeman AM, Schuierer S, Torres L, Flannery EL, Kocken CHM, Mikolajczak SA, Diagana TT. Transcriptional profiling of hepatocytes infected with the replicative form of the malaria parasite Plasmodium cynomolgi. Malar J 2022; 21:393. [PMID: 36564750 PMCID: PMC9789591 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04411-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The zoonotic simian parasite Plasmodium cynomolgi develops into replicating schizonts and dormant hypnozoites during the infection of hepatocytes and is used as a model organism to study relapsing malaria. The transcriptional profiling of P. cynomolgi liver stages was previously reported and revealed many important biological features of the parasite but left out the host response to malaria infection. METHODS Previously published RNA sequencing data were used to quantify the expression of host genes in rhesus macaque hepatocytes infected with P. cynomolgi in comparison to either cells from uninfected samples or uninfected bystander cells. RESULTS Although the dataset could not be used to resolve the transcriptional profile of hypnozoite-infected hepatocytes, it provided a snapshot of the host response to liver stage schizonts at 9-10 day post-infection and identified specific host pathways that are modulated during the exo-erythrocytic stage of P. cynomolgi. CONCLUSIONS This study constitutes a valuable resource characterizing the hepatocyte response to P. cynomolgi infection and provides a framework to build on future research that aims at understanding hepatocyte-parasite interactions during relapsing malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Mitchell
- grid.418424.f0000 0004 0439 2056Open Innovation at Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA USA
| | - Guglielmo Roma
- grid.419481.10000 0001 1515 9979Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Annemarie Voorberg-van der Wel
- grid.11184.3d0000 0004 0625 2495Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Beibel
- grid.419481.10000 0001 1515 9979Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Marie Zeeman
- grid.11184.3d0000 0004 0625 2495Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Schuierer
- grid.419481.10000 0001 1515 9979Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Torres
- grid.418424.f0000 0004 0439 2056Open Innovation at Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA USA
| | - Erika L. Flannery
- grid.418424.f0000 0004 0439 2056Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA USA
| | - Clemens H. M. Kocken
- grid.11184.3d0000 0004 0625 2495Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian A. Mikolajczak
- grid.418424.f0000 0004 0439 2056Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA USA
| | - Thierry T. Diagana
- grid.418424.f0000 0004 0439 2056Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA USA
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10
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Keroack CD, Duraisingh MT. Molecular mechanisms of cellular quiescence in apicomplexan parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 70:102223. [PMID: 36274498 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Quiescence is a reversible nonproliferative cellular state that allows organisms to persist through unfavorable conditions. Quiescence can be stimulated by a wide range of external or intrinsic factors. Cells undergo a coordinated molecular program to enter and exit from the quiescent state, which is governed by signaling, transcriptional and translational changes, epigenetic mechanisms, metabolic switches, and changes in cellular architecture. These mechanisms have been extensively studied in model organisms, and a growing number of studies have identified conserved mechanisms in apicomplexan parasites. Quiescence in the context of a parasitic infection has significant clinical impact: quiescent forms may underlie treatment failures, relapsing infections, and stress tolerance. Here, we review the latest understanding of quiescence in apicomplexa, synthesizing these studies to highlight conserved mechanisms, and identifying technologies to assist in further characterization of quiescence. Understanding conserved mechanisms of quiescence in apicomplexans will provide avenues for transmission prevention and radical cure of infections.
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11
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Gualdrón-López M, Díaz-Varela M, Zanghi G, Aparici-Herraiz I, Steel RW, Schäfer C, Cuscó P, Chuenchob V, Kangwangransan N, Billman ZP, Olsen TM, González JR, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Murphy SC, Mikolajczak SA, Borràs E, Sabidó E, Fernandez-Becerra C, Flannery EL, Kappe SH, del Portillo HA. Mass Spectrometry Identification of Biomarkers in Extracellular Vesicles From Plasmodium vivax Liver Hypnozoite Infections. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100406. [PMID: 36030044 PMCID: PMC9520272 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100406] [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: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Latent liver stages termed hypnozoites cause relapsing Plasmodium vivax malaria infection and represent a major obstacle in the goal of malaria elimination. Hypnozoites are clinically undetectable, and presently, there are no biomarkers of this persistent parasite reservoir in the human liver. Here, we have identified parasite and human proteins associated with extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from in vivo infections exclusively containing hypnozoites. We used P. vivax-infected human liver-chimeric (huHEP) FRG KO mice treated with the schizonticidal experimental drug MMV048 as hypnozoite infection model. Immunofluorescence-based quantification of P. vivax liver forms showed that MMV048 removed schizonts from chimeric mice livers. Proteomic analysis of EVs derived from FRG huHEP mice showed that human EV cargo from infected FRG huHEP mice contain inflammation markers associated with active schizont replication and identified 66 P. vivax proteins. To identify hypnozoite-specific proteins associated with EVs, we mined the proteome data from MMV048-treated mice and performed an analysis involving intragroup and intergroup comparisons across all experimental conditions followed by a peptide compatibility analysis with predicted spectra to warrant robust identification. Only one protein fulfilled this stringent top-down selection, a putative filamin domain-containing protein. This study sets the stage to unveil biological features of human liver infections and identify biomarkers of hypnozoite infection associated with EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Gualdrón-López
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain,IGTP, Institute for Health Sciences Trias I Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Díaz-Varela
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain,IGTP, Institute for Health Sciences Trias I Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gigliola Zanghi
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Iris Aparici-Herraiz
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain,IGTP, Institute for Health Sciences Trias I Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ryan W.J. Steel
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Carola Schäfer
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Pol Cuscó
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vorada Chuenchob
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Niwat Kangwangransan
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Zachary P. Billman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tayla M. Olsen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Juan R. González
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- MVRU, Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Sean C. Murphy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sebastian A. Mikolajczak
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eva Borràs
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Sabidó
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Fernandez-Becerra
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain,IGTP, Institute for Health Sciences Trias I Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Erika L. Flannery
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stefan H.I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hernando A. del Portillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain,IGTP, Institute for Health Sciences Trias I Pujol, Barcelona, Spain,ICREA, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain,For correspondence: Hernando A. del Portillo
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12
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Flannery EL, Kangwanrangsan N, Chuenchob V, Roobsoong W, Fishbaugher M, Zhou K, Billman ZP, Martinson T, Olsen TM, Schäfer C, Campo B, Murphy SC, Mikolajczak SA, Kappe SH, Sattabongkot J. Plasmodium vivax latent liver infection is characterized by persistent hypnozoites, hypnozoite-derived schizonts, and time-dependent efficacy of primaquine. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:427-440. [PMID: 36092359 PMCID: PMC9418049 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is a malaria-causing pathogen that establishes a dormant form in the liver (the hypnozoite), which can activate weeks, months, or years after the primary infection to cause a relapse, characterized by secondary blood-stage infection. These asymptomatic and undetectable latent liver infections present a significant obstacle to the goal of global malaria eradication. We use a human liver-chimeric mouse model (FRG huHep) to study P. vivax hypnozoite latency and activation in an in vivo model system. Functional activation of hypnozoites and formation of secondary schizonts is demonstrated by first eliminating primary liver schizonts using a schizont-specific antimalarial tool compound, and then measuring recurrence of secondary liver schizonts in the tissue and an increase in parasite RNA within the liver. We also reveal that, while primaquine does not immediately eliminate hypnozoites from the liver, it arrests developing schizonts and prevents activation of hypnozoites, consistent with its clinical activity in humans. Our findings demonstrate that the FRG huHep model can be used to study the biology of P. vivax infection and latency and assess the activity of anti-relapse drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika L. Flannery
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Corresponding author Erika L. Flannery, Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Niwat Kangwanrangsan
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Vorada Chuenchob
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Matthew Fishbaugher
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Kevin Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Zachary P. Billman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Thomas Martinson
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Tayla M. Olsen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Carola Schäfer
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sean C. Murphy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Sebastian A. Mikolajczak
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H.I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Corresponding author Stefan H.I. Kappe, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Corresponding author Jetsumon Sattabongkot, Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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13
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Abstract
"The Primate Malarias" book has been a uniquely important resource for multiple generations of scientists, since its debut in 1971, and remains pertinent to the present day. Indeed, nonhuman primates (NHPs) have been instrumental for major breakthroughs in basic and pre-clinical research on malaria for over 50 years. Research involving NHPs have provided critical insights and data that have been essential for malaria research on many parasite species, drugs, vaccines, pathogenesis, and transmission, leading to improved clinical care and advancing research goals for malaria control, elimination, and eradication. Whilst most malaria scientists over the decades have been studying Plasmodium falciparum, with NHP infections, in clinical studies with humans, or using in vitro culture or rodent model systems, others have been dedicated to advancing research on Plasmodium vivax, as well as on phylogenetically related simian species, including Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium coatneyi, and Plasmodium knowlesi. In-depth study of these four phylogenetically related species over the years has spawned the design of NHP longitudinal infection strategies for gathering information about ongoing infections, which can be related to human infections. These Plasmodium-NHP infection model systems are reviewed here, with emphasis on modern systems biological approaches to studying longitudinal infections, pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccines. Recent discoveries capitalizing on NHP longitudinal infections include an advanced understanding of chronic infections, relapses, anaemia, and immune memory. With quickly emerging new technological advances, more in-depth research and mechanistic discoveries can be anticipated on these and additional critical topics, including hypnozoite biology, antigenic variation, gametocyte transmission, bone marrow dysfunction, and loss of uninfected RBCs. New strategies and insights published by the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC) are recapped here along with a vision that stresses the importance of educating future experts well trained in utilizing NHP infection model systems for the pursuit of innovative, effective interventions against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center (Yerkes National Primate Research Center), Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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14
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Christiansen C, Maus D, Hoppenz E, Murillo-León M, Hoffmann T, Scholz J, Melerowicz F, Steinfeldt T, Seeber F, Blume M. In vitro maturation of Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites in human myotubes and their metabolomic characterization. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1168. [PMID: 35246532 PMCID: PMC8897399 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28730-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii forms bradyzoite-containing tissue cysts that cause chronic and drug-tolerant infections. However, current in vitro models do not allow long-term culture of these cysts to maturity. Here, we developed a human myotube-based in vitro culture model of functionally mature tissue cysts that are orally infectious to mice and tolerate exposure to a range of antibiotics and temperature stresses. Metabolomic characterization of purified cysts reveals global changes that comprise increased levels of amino acids and decreased abundance of nucleobase- and tricarboxylic acid cycle-associated metabolites. In contrast to fast replicating tachyzoite forms of T. gondii these tissue cysts tolerate exposure to the aconitase inhibitor sodium fluoroacetate. Direct access to persistent stages of T. gondii under defined cell culture conditions will be essential for the dissection of functionally important host-parasite interactions and drug evasion mechanisms. It will also facilitate the identification of new strategies for therapeutic intervention. Bradyzoites are a quiescent form of Toxoplasma gondii enclosed in cysts during chronic infections. Here, Christiansen et al. develop a human myotube-based in vitro culture model of cysts that are infectious to mice and characterize their metabolism in comparison to fast replicating tachyzoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Christiansen
- NG2: Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Deborah Maus
- NG2: Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ellen Hoppenz
- NG2: Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mateo Murillo-León
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Hoffmann
- ZBS 4: Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 4, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Scholz
- NG2: Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Melerowicz
- NG2: Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Steinfeldt
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Frank Seeber
- FG 16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Blume
- NG2: Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
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15
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Zanghi G, Vaughan AM. Plasmodium vivax pre-erythrocytic stages and the latent hypnozoite. Parasitol Int 2021; 85:102447. [PMID: 34474178 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread malaria parasite on the planet. This is largely because after mosquito transmission, P. vivax sporozoites can invade hepatocytes and form latent liver stages known as hypnozoites. These persistent liver stages can activate weeks, months or even years after an infected individual suffers a primary clinical infection. Activation then leads to replication and liver stage schizont maturation that ultimately cause relapse of blood stage infection, disease, and onward transmission. Thus, the latent hypnozoite can lie in wait during times when onward transmission is unlikely due to conditions that do not favor the mosquito. For example, in temperate climates where mosquito prevalence is only seasonal. Furthermore, the elimination of hypnozoites is challenging since the hypnozoite reservoir is currently undetectable and not killed by most antimalarial drugs. Here, we review our current knowledge of the pre-erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite - the sporozoite and liver stages, including the elusive and enigmatic hypnozoite. We focus on our understanding of sporozoite biology, the novel animal models that are available to study the hypnozoite and hypnozoite activation and the ongoing efforts to understand the biological makeup of the hypnozoite that allow for its persistence in the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley M Vaughan
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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16
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Schäfer C, Zanghi G, Vaughan AM, Kappe SHI. Plasmodium vivax Latent Liver Stage Infection and Relapse: Biological Insights and New Experimental Tools. Annu Rev Microbiol 2021; 75:87-106. [PMID: 34196569 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032421-061155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread human malaria parasite, in part because it can form latent liver stages known as hypnozoites after transmission by female anopheline mosquitoes to human hosts. These persistent stages can activate weeks, months, or even years after the primary clinical infection; replicate; and initiate relapses of blood stage infection, which causes disease and recurring transmission. Eliminating hypnozoites is a substantial obstacle for malaria treatment and eradication since the hypnozoite reservoir is undetectable and unaffected by most antimalarial drugs. Importantly, in some parts of the globe where P. vivax malaria is endemic, as many as 90% of P. vivax blood stage infections are thought to be relapses rather than primary infections, rendering the hypnozoite a major driver of P. vivax epidemiology. Here, we review the biology of the hypnozoite and recent discoveries concerning this enigmatic parasite stage. We discuss treatment and prevention challenges, novel animal models to study hypnozoites and relapse, and hypotheses related to hypnozoite formation and activation. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Schäfer
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA; , , ,
| | - Gigliola Zanghi
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA; , , ,
| | - Ashley M Vaughan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA; , , , .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA; , , , .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA.,Deparment of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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17
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der Wel AVV, Hofman SO, Kocken CHM. Isolation of GFP-expressing Malarial Hypnozoites by Flow Cytometry Cell Sorting. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4006. [PMID: 34124306 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypnozoites are dormant liver-stage parasites unique to relapsing malarial species, including the important human pathogen Plasmodium vivax, and pose a barrier to the elimination of malaria. Little is known regarding the biology of these stages, largely due to their inaccessible location. Hypnozoites can be cultured in vitro but these cultures always consist of a mixture of hepatocytes, developing forms, and hypnozoites. Here, using a GFP-expressing line of the hypnozoite model parasite Plasmodium cynomolgi, we describe a protocol for the FACS-based isolation of malarial hypnozoites. The purified hypnozoites can be used for a range of '-omics' studies to dissect the biology of this cryptic stage of the malarial life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam O Hofman
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens H M Kocken
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
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18
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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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19
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Pasini EM, Kocken CHM. Parasite-Host Interaction and Pathophysiology Studies of the Human Relapsing Malarias Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale Infections in Non-Human Primates. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:614122. [PMID: 33680982 PMCID: PMC7925837 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.614122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a serious health concern across the globe. Historically neglected, non-Falciparum human malarias were put back on the agenda by a paradigm shift in the fight against malaria from malaria control to malaria eradication. Here, we review the modeling of the relapsing parasites Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) and Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale) in non-human primates with a specific focus on the contribution of these models to our current understanding of the factors that govern parasite-host interactions in P. vivax and P. ovale parasite biology and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica M Pasini
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Clemens H M Kocken
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswijk, Netherlands
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20
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Voorberg-van der Wel A, Kocken CHM, Zeeman AM. Modeling Relapsing Malaria: Emerging Technologies to Study Parasite-Host Interactions in the Liver. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:606033. [PMID: 33585277 PMCID: PMC7878928 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.606033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies of liver stage malaria parasite-host interactions have provided exciting new insights on the cross-talk between parasite and its mammalian (predominantly rodent) host. We review the latest state of the art and and zoom in on new technologies that will provide the tools necessary to investigate host-parasite interactions of relapsing parasites. Interactions between hypnozoites and hepatocytes are particularly interesting because the parasite can remain in a quiescent state for prolonged periods of time and triggers for reactivation have not been irrefutably identified. If we learn more about the cross-talk between hypnozoite and host we may be able to identify factors that encourage waking up these dormant parasite reservoirs and help to achieve the total eradication of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clemens H M Kocken
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie Zeeman
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswijk, Netherlands
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21
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Briquet S, Marinach C, Silvie O, Vaquero C. Preparing for Transmission: Gene Regulation in Plasmodium Sporozoites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:618430. [PMID: 33585284 PMCID: PMC7878544 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.618430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites are transmitted to mammals by anopheline mosquitoes and first infect the liver, where they transform into replicative exoerythrocytic forms, which subsequently release thousands of merozoites that invade erythrocytes and initiate the malaria disease. In some species, sporozoites can transform into dormant hypnozoites in the liver, which cause malaria relapses upon reactivation. Transmission from the insect vector to a mammalian host is a critical step of the parasite life cycle, and requires tightly regulated gene expression. Sporozoites are formed inside oocysts in the mosquito midgut and become fully infectious after colonization of the insect salivary glands, where they remain quiescent until transmission. Parasite maturation into infectious sporozoites is associated with reprogramming of the sporozoite transcriptome and proteome, which depends on multiple layers of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. An emerging scheme is that gene expression in Plasmodium sporozoites is controlled by alternating waves of transcription activity and translational repression, which shape the parasite RNA and protein repertoires for successful transition from the mosquito vector to the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Briquet
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Carine Marinach
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Vaquero
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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22
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Merrick CJ. Hypnozoites in Plasmodium: Do Parasites Parallel Plants? Trends Parasitol 2020; 37:273-282. [PMID: 33257270 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.11.001] [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: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The phenomenon of relapsing malaria has been recognised for centuries. It is caused in humans by the parasite species Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale, which can arrest growth at an early, asymptomatic stage as hypnozoites inside liver cells. These dormant parasites can remain quiescent for months or years, then reactivate causing symptomatic malaria. The dynamics of hypnozoite dormancy and reactivation are well documented but the molecular basis remains a complete mystery. Here, I observe that the process has striking parallels with plant vernalisation, whereby plants remain dormant through the winter before flowering in spring. Vernalisation is thoroughly studied in several plant species and its mechanisms are known in exquisite detail. Vernalisation may thus provide a useful framework for interrogating hypnozoite biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Merrick
- Department of Pathology, Cambridge University, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK.
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23
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Peatey C, Chen N, Gresty K, Anderson K, Pickering P, Watts R, Gatton ML, McCarthy J, Cheng Q. Dormant Plasmodium falciparum Parasites in Human Infections Following Artesunate Therapy. J Infect Dis 2020; 223:1631-1638. [PMID: 32901248 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa562] [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: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemisinin monotherapy of Plasmodium falciparum infection is frequently ineffective due to recrudescence. Artemisinin-induced dormancy, shown in vitro and in animal models, provides a plausible explanation. To date, direct evidence of artemisinin-induced dormancy in humans is lacking. METHODS Blood samples were collected from Plasmodium falciparum 3D7- or K13-infected participants before and 48-72 hours after single-dose artesunate (AS) treatment. Parasite morphology, molecular signature of dormancy, capability and dynamics of seeding in vitro cultures, and genetic mutations in the K13 gene were investigated. RESULTS Dormant parasites were observed in post-AS blood samples of 3D7- and K13-infected participants. The molecular signature of dormancy, an up-regulation of acetyl CoA carboxylase, was detected in 3D7 and K13 samples post-AS, but not in pre-AS samples. Posttreatment samples successfully seeded in vitro cultures, with a significant delay in time to reach 2% parasitemia compared to pretreatment samples. CONCLUSIONS This study provides strong evidence for the presence of artemisinin-induced dormant parasites in P. falciparum infections. These parasites are a likely reservoir for recrudescent infection following artemisinin monotherapy and artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). Combination regimens that target dormant parasites or remain at therapeutic levels for a sufficient time to kill recovering parasites will likely improve efficacy of ACTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Peatey
- Drug Resistance and Diagnostics, Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nanhua Chen
- Drug Resistance and Diagnostics, Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karryn Gresty
- Drug Resistance and Diagnostics, Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ADFMIDI laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen Anderson
- Drug Resistance and Diagnostics, Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ADFMIDI laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Pickering
- Drug Resistance and Diagnostics, Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rebecca Watts
- Clinical Tropical Medicine, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michelle L Gatton
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James McCarthy
- Clinical Tropical Medicine, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Qin Cheng
- Drug Resistance and Diagnostics, Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ADFMIDI laboratory, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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24
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Dembele L, Gupta DK, Dutta B, Chua ACY, Sze SK, Bifani P. Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Simian Primary Hepatocytes Reveals Candidate Molecular Markers for Permissiveness to Relapsing Malaria Plasmodium cynomolgi. Proteomics 2020; 19:e1900021. [PMID: 31444903 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201900021] [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: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A major obstacle impeding malaria research is the lack of an in vitro system capable of supporting infection through the entire liver stage cycle of the parasite, including that of the dormant forms known as hypnozoites. Primary hepatocytes lose their liver specific functions in long-term in vitro culture. The malaria parasite Plasmodium initiates infection in hepatocyte. This corresponds to the first step of clinically silent infection and development of malaria parasite Plasmodium in the liver. Thus, the liver stage is an ideal target for development of novel antimalarial interventions and vaccines. However, drug discovery against Plasmodium liver stage is severely hampered by the poor understanding of host-parasite interactions during the liver stage infection and development. In this study, tandem mass tag labeling based quantitative proteomic analysis is performed in simian primary hepatocytes cultured in three different systems of susceptibility to Plasmodium infection. The results display potential candidate molecular markers, including asialoglycoprotein receptor, apolipoproteins, squalene synthase, and scavenger receptor B1 (SR-BI) that facilitate productive infection and full development in relapsing Plasmodium species. The identification of these candidate proteins required for constructive infection and development of hepatic malaria liver stages paves the way to explore them as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Dembele
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01 Chromos, Singapore, 138670.,Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), MRTC-DEAP-Faculty of Pharmacy, Point G, P.O. Box: 1805, Bamako, Mali
| | - Devendra Kumar Gupta
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01 Chromos, Singapore, 138670.,Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 5300 Chiron way, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Bamaprasad Dutta
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551
| | - Adeline C Y Chua
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01 Chromos, Singapore, 138670.,Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Singapore, 138648
| | - Siu Kwan Sze
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551
| | - Pablo Bifani
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01 Chromos, Singapore, 138670.,Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Singapore, 138648.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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25
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Voorberg-van der Wel A, Zeeman AM, Nieuwenhuis IG, van der Werff NM, Klooster EJ, Klop O, Vermaat LC, Kocken CHM. Dual-Luciferase-Based Fast and Sensitive Detection of Malaria Hypnozoites for the Discovery of Antirelapse Compounds. Anal Chem 2020; 92:6667-6675. [PMID: 32267675 PMCID: PMC7203758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to eradicate Plasmodium vivax malaria are hampered by the presence of hypnozoites, persisting stages in the liver that can reactivate after prolonged periods of time enabling further transmission and causing renewed disease. Large-scale drug screening is needed to identify compounds with antihypnozoite activity, but current platforms rely on time-consuming high-content fluorescence imaging as read-out, limiting assay throughput. We here report an ultrafast and sensitive dual-luciferase-based method to differentiate hypnozoites from liver stage schizonts using a transgenic P. cynomolgi parasite line that contains Nanoluc driven by the constitutive hsp70 promoter, as well as firefly luciferase driven by the schizont-specific lisp2 promoter. The transgenic parasite line showed similar fitness and drug sensitivity profiles of selected compounds to wild type. We demonstrate robust bioluminescence-based detection of hypnozoites in 96-well and 384-well plate formats, setting the stage for implementation in large scale drug screens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne-Marie Zeeman
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Ivonne G. Nieuwenhuis
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole M. van der Werff
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Els J. Klooster
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Onny Klop
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Lars C. Vermaat
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens H. M. Kocken
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
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26
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Posfai D, Maher SP, Roesch C, Vantaux A, Sylvester K, Péneau J, Popovici J, Kyle DE, Witkowski B, Derbyshire ER. Plasmodium vivax Liver and Blood Stages Recruit the Druggable Host Membrane Channel Aquaporin-3. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:719-727.e5. [PMID: 32330444 PMCID: PMC7303948 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax infects hepatocytes to form schizonts that cause blood infection, or dormant hypnozoites that can persist for months in the liver before leading to relapsing blood infections. The molecular processes that drive P. vivax schizont and hypnozoite survival remain largely unknown, but they likely involve a rich network of host-pathogen interactions, including those occurring at the host-parasite interface, the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). Using a recently developed P. vivax liver-stage model system we demonstrate that host aquaporin-3 (AQP3) localizes to the PVM of schizonts and hypnozoites within 5 days after invasion. This recruitment is also observed in P. vivax-infected reticulocytes. Chemical treatment with the AQP3 inhibitor auphen reduces P. vivax liver hypnozoite and schizont burden, and inhibits P. vivax asexual blood-stage growth. These findings reveal a role for AQP3 in P. vivax liver and blood stages and suggest that the protein may be targeted for therapeutic treatment. Host aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is recruited to P. vivax hypnozoites and schizonts The AQP3 inhibitor auphen inhibits P. vivax hypnozoites and schizonts Host AQP3 is recruited to P. vivax-infected erythrocytes derived from patient samples Auphen inhibits blood stages of clinical P. vivax isolates
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Posfai
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Steven P Maher
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 D.W. Brooks Dr, ste 370, Athens, GE 30602, USA
| | - Camille Roesch
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Amélie Vantaux
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Kayla Sylvester
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Julie Péneau
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Jean Popovici
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 D.W. Brooks Dr, ste 370, Athens, GE 30602, USA
| | - Benoît Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia.
| | - Emily R Derbyshire
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Chemistry Department, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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27
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Galinski MR. Functional genomics of simian malaria parasites and host-parasite interactions. Brief Funct Genomics 2020; 18:270-280. [PMID: 31241151 PMCID: PMC6859816 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Two simian malaria parasite species, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium cynomolgi, cause zoonotic infections in Southeast Asia, and they have therefore gained recognition among scientists and public health officials. Notwithstanding, these species and others including Plasmodium coatneyi have served for decades as sources of knowledge on the biology, genetics and evolution of Plasmodium, and the diverse ramifications and outcomes of malaria in their monkey hosts. Experimental analysis of these species can help to fill gaps in knowledge beyond what may be possible studying the human malaria parasites or rodent parasite species. The genome sequences for these simian malaria parasite species were reported during the last decade, and functional genomics research has since been pursued. Here research on the functional genomics analysis involving these species is summarized and their importance is stressed, particularly for understanding host–parasite interactions, and potentially testing novel interventions. Importantly, while Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax can be studied in small New World monkeys, the simian malaria parasites can be studied more effectively in the larger Old World monkey macaque hosts, which are more closely related to humans. In addition to ex vivo analyses, experimental scenarios can include passage through Anopheline mosquito hosts and longitudinal infections in monkeys to study acute and chronic infections, as well as relapses, all in the context of the in vivo host environment. Such experiments provide opportunities for understanding functional genomic elements that govern host–parasite interactions, immunity and pathogenesis in-depth, addressing hypotheses not possible from in vitro cultures or cross-sectional clinical studies with humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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28
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Abstract
There is a pressing need for compounds with broad-spectrum activity against malaria parasites at various life cycle stages to achieve malaria elimination. However, this goal cannot be accomplished without targeting the tenacious dormant liver-stage hypnozoite that causes multiple relapses after the first episode of illness. In the search for the magic bullet to radically cure Plasmodium vivax malaria, tafenoquine outperformed other candidate drugs and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018. Tafenoquine is an 8-aminoquinoline that inhibits multiple life stages of various Plasmodium species. Additionally, its much longer half-life allows for single-dose treatment, which will improve the compliance rate. Despite its approval and the long-time use of other 8-aminoquinolines, the mechanisms behind tafenoquine's activity and adverse effects are still largely unknown. In this Perspective, we discuss the plausible underlying mechanisms of tafenoquine's antiparasitic activity and highlight its role as a cellular stressor. We also discuss potential drug combinations and the development of next-generation 8-aminoquinolines to further improve the therapeutic index of tafenoquine for malaria treatment and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Yi Lu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Emily R Derbyshire
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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29
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Abstract
The LS of Plasmodium infection is an asymptomatic yet necessary stage for producing blood-infective parasites, the causative agents of malaria. Blocking the liver stage of the life cycle can prevent clinical malaria, but relatively less is known about the parasite’s biology at this stage. Using the rodent model P. berghei, we investigated whole-transcriptome changes occurring as early as 2 hpi of hepatocytes. The transcriptional profiles of early time points (2, 4, 12, and 18 hpi) have not been accessible before due to the technical challenges associated with liver-stage infections. Our data now provide insights into these early parasite fluxes that may facilitate establishment of infection, transformation, and replication in the liver. The apicomplexan parasites Plasmodium spp. are the causative agents of malaria, a disease that poses a significant global health burden. Plasmodium spp. initiate infection of the human host by transforming and replicating within hepatocytes. This liver stage (LS) is poorly understood compared to other Plasmodium life stages, which has hindered our ability to target these parasites for disease prevention. We conducted an extensive transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis throughout the Plasmodium berghei LS, covering as early as 2 h postinfection (hpi) and extending to 48 hpi. Our data revealed that hundreds of genes are differentially expressed at 2 hpi and that multiple genes shown to be important for later infection are upregulated as early as 12 hpi. Using hierarchical clustering along with coexpression analysis, we identified clusters functionally enriched for important liver-stage processes such as interactions with the host cell and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, some of these clusters were highly correlated to the expression of ApiAP2 transcription factors, while showing enrichment of mostly uncharacterized DNA binding motifs. This finding indicates potential LS targets for these transcription factors, while also hinting at alternative uncharacterized DNA binding motifs and transcription factors during this stage. Our work presents a window into the previously undescribed transcriptome of Plasmodium upon host hepatocyte infection to enable a comprehensive view of the parasite’s LS. These findings also provide a blueprint for future studies that extend hypotheses concerning LS gene function in P. berghei to human-infective Plasmodium parasites.
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30
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Gupta D, Diagana T. In vitro Cultivation and Visualization of Malaria Liver Stages in Primary Simian Hepatocytes. Bio Protoc 2020; 10:e3722. [DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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31
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Mellin R, Boddey JA. Organoids for Liver Stage Malaria Research. Trends Parasitol 2019; 36:158-169. [PMID: 31848118 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria and are maintained between Anopheles mosquitoes and mammalian hosts in a complex life cycle. Malaria parasites occupy tissue niches that can be difficult to access, and models to study them can be challenging to recapitulate experimentally, particularly for Plasmodium species that infect humans. 2D culture models provide extremely beneficial tools to investigate Plasmodium biology but they have limitations. More complex 3D structural networks, such as organoids, have unveiled new avenues for developing more physiological tissue models, and their application to malaria research offers great promise. Here, we review current models for studying Plasmodium infection with a key focus on the obligate pre-erythrocytic stage that culminates in blood infection, causing malaria, and discuss how organoids should fulfil an important and unmet need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan Mellin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Justin A Boddey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia.
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32
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Barrett MP, Kyle DE, Sibley LD, Radke JB, Tarleton RL. Protozoan persister-like cells and drug treatment failure. Nat Rev Microbiol 2019; 17:607-620. [PMID: 31444481 PMCID: PMC7024564 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial treatment failure threatens our ability to control infections. In addition to antimicrobial resistance, treatment failures are increasingly understood to derive from cells that survive drug treatment without selection of genetically heritable mutations. Parasitic protozoa, such as Plasmodium species that cause malaria, Toxoplasma gondii and kinetoplastid protozoa, including Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp., cause millions of deaths globally. These organisms can evolve drug resistance and they also exhibit phenotypic diversity, including the formation of quiescent or dormant forms that contribute to the establishment of long-term infections that are refractory to drug treatment, which we refer to as 'persister-like cells'. In this Review, we discuss protozoan persister-like cells that have been linked to persistent infections and discuss their impact on therapeutic outcomes following drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - L David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joshua B Radke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rick L Tarleton
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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