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Baakdah F, Georges E. Epitope specific antibodies to N- and C cytoplasmic domains of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) differentiate native and post-translationally modified variant. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 669:54-60. [PMID: 37267860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (or PfCRT) were shown to be causative of decreased sensitivity to diverse quinoline-based antimalarials. In this report we describe the identification of a post-translational variant of PfCRT using highly characterized antibodies raised against its N- and C-terminal cytoplasmic domains (e.g., 58 and 26 amino acids, respectively). Western blot analyses of P. falciparum protein extracts with anti N-PfCRT antiserum revealed two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 52 kDa and 42 kDa, relative to the calculated molecular mass of PfCRT of 48.7 kDa. The 52 kDa polypeptide was detectable with anti C-PfCRT antiserum, only after alkaline phosphatase treatment of P. falciparum extracts. Detailed epitope mapping of anti N- and C-PfCRT antisera revealed epitopes covering two previously identified phosphorylation sites, Ser411 and Thr416, whereby substitution of these residues with Asp amino acid, to mimic phosphorylated residues, dramatically inhibited anti C-PfCRT binding. Consistently, alkaline phosphatase treatment of P. falciparum extract unmasked the binding of anti C-PfCRT to the 52 kDa polypeptide, suggesting that the 52 kDa but not 42 kDa polypeptide is phosphorylated at its C-terminal Ser411 and Thr416. Interestingly, Pfcrt expressed in HEK-293F human kidney cells showed the same reactive polypeptides with anti N- and C-PfCRT antisera, consistent with PfCRT origin of the two polypeptides (e.g., 42 kDa and 52 kDa), but lacking PfCRT phosphorylation at its C-terminal. Immunohistochemical staining of late trophozoite-infected erythrocytes with anti N-or C-PfCRT antisera showed both polypeptides are localized to the parasite's digestive vacuole. Moreover, both polypeptides are detected in chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant strains of P. falciparum. This is the first report describing a post-translationally modified variant of PfCRT. The physiologic role of the 52 kDa phosphorylated PfCRT in P. falciparum remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Baakdah
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue (Montreal), Quebec, Canada
| | - Elias Georges
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue (Montreal), Quebec, Canada.
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Abdalal SA, Yukich J, Andrinopoulos K, Alghanmi M, Wakid MH, Zawawi A, Harakeh S, Altwaim SA, Gattan H, Baakdah F, Gaddoury MA, Niyazi HA, Mokhtar JA, Alruhaili MH, Alsaady I, Alhabbab R, Alfaleh M, Hashem AM, Alahmadey ZZ, Keating J. Livelihood activities, human mobility, and risk of malaria infection in elimination settings: a case-control study. Malar J 2023; 22:53. [PMID: 36782234 PMCID: PMC9926773 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04470-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Livelihood activities and human movements participate in the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases and influence malaria risk in elimination settings. In Saudi Arabia, where malaria transmission intensity varies geographically, it is vital to understand the components driving transmission within specific areas. In addition, shared social, behavioural, and occupational characteristics within communities may provoke the risk of malaria infection. This study aims to understand the relationship between human mobility, livelihood activities, and the risk of malaria infection in the border region of Jazan to facilitate further strategic malaria interventions. In addition, the study will complement and reinforce the existing efforts to eliminate malaria on the Saudi and Yemen border by providing a deeper understanding of human movement and livelihood activities. METHODS An unmatched case-control study was conducted. A total of 261 participants were recruited for the study, including 81 cases of confirmed malaria through rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy and 180 controls in the Baish Governorate in Jazan Provinces, Saudi Arabia. Individuals who received malaria tests were interviewed regarding their livelihood activities and recent movement (travel history). A questionnaire was administered, and the data was captured electronically. STATA software version 16 was used to analyse the data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine if engaging in agricultural activities such as farming and animal husbandry, recent travel history outside of the home village within the last 30 days and participating in spiritual gatherings were related to malaria infection status. RESULTS A logistical regression model was used to investigate components associated with malaria infection. After adjusting several confounding factors, individuals who reported travelling away from their home village in the last 30 days OR 11.5 (95% CI 4.43-29.9), and those who attended a seasonal night spiritual gathering OR 3.04 (95% CI 1.10-8.42), involved in animal husbandry OR 2.52 (95% CI 1.10-5.82), and identified as male OR 4.57 (95% CI 1.43-14.7), were more likely to test positive for malaria infection. CONCLUSION Human movement and livelihood activities, especially at nighttime, should be considered malaria risk factors in malaria elimination settings, mainly when the targeted area is limited to a confined borderland area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaymaa A. Abdalal
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joshua Yukich
- grid.265219.b0000 0001 2217 8588School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA USA
| | - Katherine Andrinopoulos
- grid.265219.b0000 0001 2217 8588School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA USA
| | - Maimonah Alghanmi
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed H. Wakid
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayat Zawawi
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Steve Harakeh
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah A. Altwaim
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hattan Gattan
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fadi Baakdah
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud A. Gaddoury
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hatoon A. Niyazi
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawahir A. Mokhtar
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed H. Alruhaili
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Isra Alsaady
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rowa Alhabbab
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Alfaleh
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M. Hashem
- grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,grid.412125.10000 0001 0619 1117Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ziab Zakey Alahmadey
- grid.415696.90000 0004 0573 9824Microbiology and Serology Departments, Al-Ansar Hospital, Ministry of Health, Medina, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joseph Keating
- grid.265219.b0000 0001 2217 8588School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA USA
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Baakdah F, Georges E. Epitope-specific IgG pools identify PfCRT monomer and homodimer polypeptides that are differentially phosphorylated at Ser 411 in Plasmodium falciparum. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 557:261-266. [PMID: 33894412 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) is a phospho-protein with three identified phosphorylation sites (Ser33, Ser411 and Thr416) at its cytosolic N- and C-termini. In this study, we report on the characterization of PfCRT anti-serum and show the presence of three epitope-specific immunoglobulin (IgG) pools (i.e., IgG-P1, P2, and P3), each recognizing a different epitope in PfCRT cytoplasmic C-terminal. IgG-P2 bound the heptapeptide sequence (408NEDSEGE414), including Ser411. The effect of Ser411 phosphorylation on the binding specificity of IgG-P2 was confirmed using heptapeptides and full-length PfCRT with substitutions of Ser411 with aspartic acid (phospho-serine mimic) and alanine residues. Moreover, using purified IgG-P2, we show the presence of PfCRT homodimer that has un-phosphorylated Ser411 and migrates with an apparent molecular mass of 90 kDa on SDS-PAGE. In addition, parasite lysates showed PfCRT to be more phosphorylated at Ser411 in CQ-sensitive (3D7) than CQ-resistant (Dd2-H) strains of P. falciparum. Taken together, the findings of this study suggest a role for Ser411 phosphorylation in PfCRT structure-function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Baakdah
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada
| | - Elias Georges
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada.
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Guerra ED, Baakdah F, Gourgas O, Tam M, Stevenson MM, Georges E, Bohle DS, Cerruti M. Inorganic ions on hemozoin surface provide a glimpse into Plasmodium biology. J Inorg Biochem 2019; 200:110808. [PMID: 31487576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.110808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In malaria, Plasmodium parasites produce hemozoin (Hz) as a route to detoxify free heme released from the catabolism of hemoglobin. Hz isolated from the parasites is encapsulated in an organic layer constituted by parasite and host components. This organic coating may play a role in Hz formation and in the immunomodulatory properties attributed to Hz, and they may influence the mode of action of antimalarials that block Hz formation. In this work, we analyze the organic layer adhered to Hz, and find Na, Cl, Si, Ca and P present, in addition to organic material. Our results suggest that Na, Cl, and P adsorb during Hz release from the red blood cells, while Si and Ca derive from components present during Hz biomineralization within the digestive vacuole of the parasite. Overall, we show that inorganic elements associated with Hz surface provide insights into the biological functions of Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Danae Guerra
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Fadi Baakdah
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Ophélie Gourgas
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Mifong Tam
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Mary M Stevenson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Elias Georges
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - D Scott Bohle
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Marta Cerruti
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B2, Canada.
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Abstract
Despite global efforts aimed at its elimination, malaria is still a significant health concern in many countries across the world. The disease is caused by blood-borne parasites, Plasmodium species, and is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes and presents with generic febrile symptoms that are challenging to diagnose clinically. To adequately tackle this issue, an effective detection method is required for screening potential malaria patients for infection. To this day, the gold standard for malaria detection remains basic light microscopy of Giemsa-stained patient blood smears to first enable detection and manual counting to determine the parasite density by a microscopist. While effective at detecting parasites, this method requires both significant time and skilled personnel. As an alternate approach, we propose a new malaria detection method that we call third-harmonic generation image scanning cytometry (THGISC) based on the combination of third-harmonic generation imaging, high-speed motorized scanning, and automated software processing. Third-harmonic generation (THG) is a nonlinear optical process in which the frequency of incident photons is tripled within the sample material. We have previously demonstrated that hemozoin, a metabolic byproduct of the malaria parasite, presents a significant THG signal. We now present a practical approach that uses the selectivity of this contrast mechanism to perform label-free image scanning cytometry of patient blood smears for automated malaria detection. In this work, we applied this technique to lab-cultured parasites and parasites in whole blood obtained from malaria patients. We also compared its effectiveness to parasite counts obtained by classical methods. The ability to easily and rapidly determine parasitemia by THG offers potential not only for the easy confirmation of malaria diagnoses following symptoms, but also the tracking of treatment progress in existing patients, potentially allowing physicians to adjust medication and dosage for each individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Kazarine
- Department of Chemistry , McGill University , 801 Sherbrooke Street West , Montreal , Quebec H3A 0B8 , Canada
| | - Fadi Baakdah
- Institute of Parasitology , McGill University , Sainte Anne de Bellevue , Quebec H9X 3 V9 , Canada
| | - Angelica A Gopal
- Department of Chemistry , McGill University , 801 Sherbrooke Street West , Montreal , Quebec H3A 0B8 , Canada
| | - Wellington Oyibo
- ANDI Centre of Excellence for Malaria Diagnosis, College of Medicine , University of Lagos , Idi-Araba, Lagos 100254 , Nigeria
| | - Elias Georges
- Institute of Parasitology , McGill University , Sainte Anne de Bellevue , Quebec H9X 3 V9 , Canada
| | - Paul W Wiseman
- Department of Chemistry , McGill University , 801 Sherbrooke Street West , Montreal , Quebec H3A 0B8 , Canada.,Department of Physics , McGill University , 3600 University Street , Montreal , Quebec H3A 2T8 , Canada
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