Optimized plasmid loading of human erythrocytes for Plasmodium falciparum DNA transfections

In vitro modification of Plasmodium falciparum genes is the cornerstone of basic and translational malaria research. Achieved through DNA transfection, these modifications may entail altering protein sequence or abundance. Such experiments are critical for defining the molecular mechanisms of key parasite phenotypes and for validation of drug and vaccine targets. Despite its importance, successful transfection remains difficult and is a resource-intensive, rate-limiting step in P. falciparum research. Here, we report that inefficient loading of plasmid into erythrocytes limits transfection efficacy with commonly used electroporation methods. As these methods also require expensive instrumentation and consumables that are not broadly available, we explored a simpler method based on plasmid loading through hypotonic lysis and resealing of erythrocytes. We used parasite expression of a sensitive NanoLuc reporter for rapid evaluation and optimization of each step. Hypotonic buffer composition, resealing buffer volume and composition, and subsequent incubation affected plasmid retention and successful transfection. While ATP was critical for erythrocyte resealing, addition of Ca++ or glutathione did not improve transfection efficiency, with increasing Ca++ concentrations proving detrimental to outcomes. Compared with either the standard electroporation method or a previously reported hypotonic loading protocol, the optimized method yields greater plasmid loading and higher expression of the NanoLuc reporter 48 h after transfection. It also produced significantly faster outgrowth of parasites in transfections utilizing either episomal expression or CRISPR-Cas9 mediated integration. This new method produces higher P. falciparum transfection efficiency, reduces resource requirements and should accelerate molecular studies of malaria drug and vaccine targets.

Progressive heterogeneity of enlarged and irregularly shaped apicoplasts in P. falciparum persister blood stages after drug treatment

Morphological modifications and shifts in organelle relationships are hallmarks of dormancy in eukaryotic cells. Communications between altered mitochondria and nuclei are associated with metabolic quiescence of cancer cells that can survive chemotherapy. In plants, changes in the pathways between nuclei, mitochondria, and chloroplasts are associated with cold stress and bud dormancy. Plasmodium falciparum parasites, the deadliest agent of malaria in humans, contain a chloroplast-like organelle (apicoplast) derived from an ancient photosynthetic symbiont. Antimalarial treatments can fail because a small fraction of the blood stage parasites enter dormancy and recrudesce after drug exposure. Altered mitochondrial-nuclear interactions in these persisters have been described for P. falciparum, but interactions of the apicoplast remained to be characterized. In the present study, we examined the apicoplasts of dormant persisters obtained after exposure to dihydroartemisinin (a first-line antimalarial drug) followed by sorbitol treatment, or after exposure to sorbitol treatment alone. As previously observed, the mitochondrion of persisters was consistently enlarged and in close association with the nucleus. In contrast, the apicoplast varied from compact and oblate, like those of active ring stage parasites, to enlarged and irregularly shaped. Enlarged apicoplasts became more prevalent later in dormancy, but regular size apicoplasts subsequently predominated when actively replicating parasites recrudesced. All three organelles, nucleus, mitochondrion, and apicoplast, became closer during dormancy. Understanding their relationships in erythrocytic-stage persisters may lead to new strategies to prevent recrudescences and protect the future of malaria chemotherapy.

Dysfunction of CD169+ macrophages and blockage of erythrocyte maturation as a mechanism of anemia in Plasmodium yoelii infection

Plasmodium parasites cause malaria with disease outcomes ranging from mild illness to deadly complications such as severe malarial anemia (SMA), pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, and cerebral malaria. In young children, SMA often requires blood transfusion and is a major cause of hospitalization. Malaria parasite infection leads to the destruction of infected and noninfected erythrocytes as well as dyserythropoiesis; however, the mechanism of dyserythropoiesis accompanied by splenomegaly is not completely understood. Using Plasmodium yoelii yoelii 17XNL as a model, we show that both a defect in erythroblastic island (EBI) macrophages in supporting red blood cell (RBC) maturation and the destruction of reticulocytes/RBCs by the parasites contribute to SMA and splenomegaly. After malaria parasite infection, the destruction of both infected and noninfected RBCs stimulates extramedullary erythropoiesis in mice. The continuous decline of RBCs stimulates active erythropoiesis and drives the expansion of EBIs in the spleen, contributing to splenomegaly. Phagocytosis of malaria parasites by macrophages in the bone marrow and spleen may alter their functional properties and abilities to support erythropoiesis, including reduced expression of the adherence molecule CD169 and inability to support erythroblast differentiation, particularly RBC maturation in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, macrophage dysfunction is a key mechanism contributing to SMA. Mitigating and/or alleviating the inhibition of RBC maturation may provide a treatment strategy for SMA.

Retina and retinal pigment epithelial cell autoantibodies are produced during murine coronavirus retinopathy

The murine coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), JHM strain, induces a biphasic retinal disease in adult BALB/c mice. In the early phase of the disease, day 1 to 7, a retinal vasculitis is noted and is associated with the presence of virus particles. In the late phase of the disease, day 10 to 140, a retinal degeneration is observed and is associated with the absence of both virus particles and inflammatory cells. We show that the retinal degenerative process is also associated with the presence of antiretinal autoantibodies. In total, 22 of 23 sera collected from 10 to 70 days after JHM virus inoculation contained antiretinal autoantibodies. These autoantibodies are not found in sera from normal or mock-injected mice. Antibodies to retinal tissue were identified as two distinct patterns of immunoperoxidase staining on frozen sections of normal rat eyes, retinal autoantibodies and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) autoantibodies. The antiretinal autoantibodies first appeared as IgM class antibodies that shifted to IgG class autoantibodies. The anti-RPE cell autoantibodies were predominantly of the IgG class. Sera that were positive for these autoantibodies did not stain with liver or kidney sections but 2 of 3 did react with rat brain sections. A second mouse strain, CD-1, was also evaluated because these animals respond to JHM virus inoculation by developing only the early phase of this disease, i.e. vasculitis. On day 10 postinoculation, the retina architecture has a normal appearance. In these mice, which are free of a retinal degeneration, antiretinal autoantibodies are not produced. However, just as is noted in the BALB/c mice, antivirus neutralizing antibodies are produced in the infected CD-1 mice. These findings suggest a role for autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of murine coronavirus induced retinal degeneration. This study establishes an animal model for the study of humoral autoimmune responses in human retinal degenerations.

Retina and retinal pigment epithelial cell autoantibodies are produced during murine coronavirus retinopathy

The murine coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), JHM strain, induces a biphasic retinal disease in adult BALB/c mice. In the early phase of the disease, day 1 to 7, a retinal vasculitis is noted and is associated with the presence of virus particles. In the late phase of the disease, day 10 to 140, a retinal degeneration is observed and is associated with the absence of both virus particles and inflammatory cells. We show that the retinal degenerative process is also associated with the presence of antiretinal autoantibodies. In total, 22 of 23 sera collected from 10 to 70 days after JHM virus inoculation contained antiretinal autoantibodies. These autoantibodies are not found in sera from normal or mock-injected mice. Antibodies to retinal tissue were identified as two distinct patterns of immunoperoxidase staining on frozen sections of normal rat eyes, retinal autoantibodies and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) autoantibodies. The antiretinal autoantibodies first appeared as IgM class antibodies that shifted to IgG class autoantibodies. The anti-RPE cell autoantibodies were predominantly of the IgG class. Sera that were positive for these autoantibodies did not stain with liver or kidney sections but 2 of 3 did react with rat brain sections. A second mouse strain, CD-1, was also evaluated because these animals respond to JHM virus inoculation by developing only the early phase of this disease, i.e. vasculitis. On day 10 postinoculation, the retina architecture has a normal appearance. In these mice, which are free of a retinal degeneration, antiretinal autoantibodies are not produced. However, just as is noted in the BALB/c mice, antivirus neutralizing antibodies are produced in the infected CD-1 mice. These findings suggest a role for autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of murine coronavirus induced retinal degeneration. This study establishes an animal model for the study of humoral autoimmune responses in human retinal degenerations.

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against the retinal pigment epithelial cell

The retinal pigment epithelium consists of a unicellular layer of neuroepithelial cells that are essential for the maintenance of normal function of the neural retina. In order to evaluate more critically this cell in health and disease, we prepared monoclonal antibodies against human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Balb/c mice were immunized with human RPE cells. Spleen cells were fused with myeloma cells and resultant hybridomas were selected for antibody production. Supernatants were assayed by immunoperoxidase on frozen sections of human eye tissues. Two hybrids were cloned and ascites were generated in mice. These IgG antibodies react only with RPE cells and show no cross-reactivity with other cells in the eye or with human brain, kidney, skin, salivary glands, lymphocytes or monocytes. These antibodies recognize cell surface molecules that are highly conserved since they can be found in man, monkey, rat, cow, chicken and frog. SDS gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis showed that one of the antibodies reacted with a 42,000 MW polypeptide. Evaluation of the developing rat retina revealed that the epitopes are not detected at birth, are weakly present at day 6 and are highly recognized by day 9. These immunoglobulins will allow us to evaluate RPE cells in disease (proliferation, migration) and to probe the bioregulatory functions (phagocytosis, vitamin A transport) of these cells.