A Biotinylated cpFIT-PNA Platform for the Facile Detection of Drug Resistance to Artemisinin in Plasmodium falciparum

The evolution of drug resistance to many antimalarial drugs in the lethal strain of malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) has been a great concern over the past 50 years. Among these drugs, artemisinin has become less effective for treating malaria. Indeed, several P. falciparum variants have become resistant to this drug, as elucidated by specific mutations in the pfK13 gene. This study presents the development of a diagnostic kit for the detection of a common point mutation in the pfK13 gene of P. falciparum, namely, the C580Y point mutation. FIT-PNAs (forced-intercalation peptide nucleic acid) are DNA mimics that serve as RNA sensors that fluoresce upon hybridization to their complementary RNA. Herein, FIT-PNAs were designed to sense the C580Y single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and were conjugated to biotin in order to bind these molecules to streptavidin-coated plates. Initial studies with synthetic RNA were conducted to optimize the sensing system. In addition, cyclopentane-modified PNA monomers (cpPNAs) were introduced to improve FIT-PNA sensing. Lastly, total RNA was isolated from red blood cells infected with P. falciparum (WT strain - NF54-WT or mutant strain - NF54-C580Y). Streptavidin plates loaded with either FIT-PNA or cpFIT-PNA were incubated with the total RNA. A significant difference in fluorescence for mutant vs WT total RNA was found only for the cpFIT-PNA probe. In summary, this study paves the way for a simple diagnostic kit for monitoring artemisinin drug resistance that may be easily adapted to malaria endemic regions.

Correction: Cyclopentane FIT-PNAs: bright RNA sensors

Correction for 'Cyclopentane FIT-PNAs: bright RNA sensors' by Odelia Tepper et al., Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 540-543, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CC07400D.

FIT-PNAs as RNA-Sensing Probes for Drug-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum

Detecting RNA at single-nucleotide resolution is a formidable task. Plasmodium falciparum is the deadliest form of malaria in humans and has shown to gain resistance to essentially all antimalarial drugs including artemisinin and chloroquine. Some of these drug resistances are associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Forced-intercalation peptide nucleic acids (FIT-PNAs) are DNA mimics that are designed as RNA-sensing molecules that fluoresce upon hybridization to their complementary (RNA) targets. We have previously designed and synthesized FIT-PNAs that target the C580Y SNP in the K13 gene of P. falciparum. In addition, we have now prepared FIT-PNAs that target the K76T SNP in the CRT gene of P. falciparum. Both SNPs are common ones associated with artemisinin and chloroquine drug resistance, respectively. Our FIT-PNAs are conjugated to a simple cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) that consists of eight d-lysines (dK₈), which renders these FIT-PNAs cell-permeable to infected red blood cells (iRBCs). Herein, we demonstrate that FIT-PNAs clearly discriminate between wild-type (WT) strains (NF54-WT: artemisinin-sensitive or chloroquine-sensitive) and mutant strains (NF54-C580Y: artemisinin-resistant or Dd2: chloroquine-resistant) of P. falciparum parasites. Simple incubation of FIT-PNAs with live blood-stage parasites results in a substantial difference in fluorescence as corroborated by FACS analysis and confocal microscopy. We foresee FIT-PNAs as molecular probes that will provide a fast, simple, and cheap means for the assessment of drug resistance in malaria─a tool that would be highly desirable for the optimal choice of antimalarial treatment in endemic countries.

Cyclopentane FIT-PNAs: bright RNA sensors

Cyclopentane modified FIT-PNA (cpFIT-PNA) probes are reported as highly emissive RNA sensors with the highest reported brightness for FIT-PNAs. Compared to FIT-PNAs, cpFIT-PNAs have improved mismatch discrimination for several pyrimidine-pyrimidine single nucleotide variants (SNVs).

Red-emitting FIT-PNAs: "On site" detection of RNA biomarkers in fresh human cancer tissues

To date, there are limited approaches for the direct and rapid visualization (on site) of tumor tissues for pathological assessment and for aiding cytoreductive surgery. Herein, we have designed FIT-PNAs (forced-intercalation-peptide nucleic acids) to detect two RNA cancer biomarkers. Firstly, a lncRNA (long noncoding RNA) termed CCAT1, has been shown as an oncogenic lncRNA over-expressed in a variety of cancers. The latter, an mRNA termed KRT20, has been shown to be over-expressed in metastases originating from colorectal cancer (CRC). To these FIT-PNAs, we have introduced the bis-quinoline (BisQ) cyanine dye that emits light in the red region (605-610 nm) of the visible spectrum. Most strikingly, spraying fresh human tissue taken from patients during cytoreductive surgery for peritoneal metastasis of colon cancer with an aqueous solution of CCAT1 FIT-PNA results in bright fluorescence in a matter of minutes. In fresh healthy tissue (from bariatric surgeries), no appreciable fluorescence is detected. In addition, a non-targeted FIT-PNA shows no fluorescent signal after spraying this FIT-PNA on fresh tumor tissue emphasizing the specificity of these molecular sensors. This study is the first to show on-site direct and immediate visualization of an RNA cancer biomarker on fresh human cancer tissues by topical application (spraying) of a molecular sensor.

Vascular endothelial growth factor(165) gene transfer augments circulating endothelial progenitor cells in human subjects

Preclinical studies in animal models and early results of clinical trials in patients suggest that intramuscular injection of naked plasmid DNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can promote neovascularization of ischemic tissues. Such neovascularization has been attributed exclusively to sprout formation of endothelial cells derived from preexisting vessels. We investigated the hypothesis that VEGF gene transfer may also augment the population of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). In patients with critical limb ischemia receiving VEGF gene transfer, gene expression was documented by a transient increase in plasma levels of VEGF. A culture assay documented a significant increase in EPCs (219%, P<0.001), whereas patients who received an empty vector had no change in circulating EPCs, as was the case for volunteers who received saline injections (VEGF versus empty vector, P<0.001; VEGF versus saline, P<0.005). Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis disclosed an overall increase of up to 30-fold in endothelial lineage markers KDR (VEGF receptor-2), VE-cadherin, CD34, alpha(v)beta(3), and E-selectin after VEGF gene transfer. Constitutive overexpression of VEGF in patients with limb ischemia augments the population of circulating EPCs. These findings support the notion that neovascularization of human ischemic tissues after angiogenic growth factor therapy is not limited to angiogenesis but involves circulating endothelial precursors that may home to ischemic foci and differentiate in situ through a process of vasculogenesis.