1
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Dias BKM, Mohanty A, Garcia CRS. Melatonin as a Circadian Marker for Plasmodium Rhythms. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7815. [PMID: 39063057 PMCID: PMC11277106 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147815] [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: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium, a digenetic parasite, requires a host and a vector for its life cycle completion. Most Plasmodium species display circadian rhythmicity during their intraerythrocytic cycle within the host, aiding in immune evasion. This rhythmicity, however, diminishes in in vitro cultures, highlighting the importance of host-derived signals for synchronizing the parasite's asexual cycle. Studies indicate a species-specific internal clock in Plasmodium, dependent on these host signals. Melatonin, a hormone the pineal gland produces under circadian regulation, impacts various physiological functions and is extensively reviewed as the primary circadian marker affecting parasite rhythms. Research suggests that melatonin facilitates synchronization through the PLC-IP3 signaling pathway, activating phospholipase C, which triggers intracellular calcium release and gene expression modulation. This evidence strongly supports the role of melatonin as a key circadian marker for parasite synchronization, presenting new possibilities for targeting the melatonin pathway when developing novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Célia R. S. Garcia
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (B.K.M.D.); (A.M.)
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2
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Carvalho Cabral P, Weinerman J, Olivier M, Cermakian N. Time of day and circadian disruption influence host response and parasite growth in a mouse model of cerebral malaria. iScience 2024; 27:109684. [PMID: 38680656 PMCID: PMC11053314 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109684] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a disease caused by infection with parasite Plasmodium spp. We studied the circadian regulation of host responses to the parasite, in a mouse model of cerebral malaria. The course of the disease was markedly affected by time of infection, with decreased parasitemia and increased inflammation upon infection in the middle of the night. At this time, there were fewer reticulocytes, which are target cells of the parasites. We next investigated the effects of desynchronization of host clocks on the infection: after 10 weeks of recurrent jet lags, mice showed decreased parasite growth and lack of parasite load rhythmicity, paralleled by a loss of glucose rhythm. Accordingly, disrupting host metabolic rhythms impacted parasite load rhythmicity. In summary, our findings of a circadian modulation of malaria parasite growth and infection shed light on aspects of the disease relevant to human malaria and could contribute to new therapeutic or prophylactic measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Carvalho Cabral
- Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Joelle Weinerman
- Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Martin Olivier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Nicolas Cermakian
- Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
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3
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Ribeiro Franco PI, do Carmo Neto JR, Guerra RO, Ferreira da Silva PE, Braga YLL, Nunes Celes MR, de Menezes LB, Miguel MP, Machado JR. Melatonin: A look at protozoal and helminths. Biochimie 2024; 219:96-109. [PMID: 37541568 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.07.021] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin is a pleiotropic neurohormone found in different animal, plant, and microorganism species. It is a product resulting from tryptophan metabolism in the pineal gland and is widely known for its ability to synchronize the circadian rhythm to antitumor functions in different types of cancers. The molecular mechanisms responsible for its immunomodulatory, antioxidant and cytoprotective effects involve binding to high-affinity G protein-coupled receptors and interactions with intracellular targets that modulate signal transduction pathways. In vitro and in vivo studies have reported the therapeutic potential of melatonin in different infectious and parasitic diseases. In this review, the protective and pathophysiological roles of melatonin in fighting protozoan and helminth infections and the possible mechanisms involved against these stressors will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Igor Ribeiro Franco
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
| | - José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Escola de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Elias Ferreira da Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Yarlla Loyane Lira Braga
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Mara Rúbia Nunes Celes
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Liliana Borges de Menezes
- Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Setor de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Marina Pacheco Miguel
- Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Setor de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Juliana Reis Machado
- Departamento de Patologia, Genética e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
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4
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Gupta S, Saini M, Joshi N, Shafi S, Najmi AK, Singh S. Antimalarial and Plasmodium falciparum serpentine receptor 12 targeting effect of FDA approved purinergic receptor antagonist. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:9462-9475. [PMID: 36351236 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2142298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum responsible for all clinical manifestations of malaria are regulated by array of signalling cascades that represent attractive targets for antimalarial therapy. G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are druggable targets in the treatment of various pathological conditions, however, there is limited understanding about the role of GPCRs in malaria pathogenesis. In Plasmodium, serpentine receptors (PfSR1, PfSR10, PfSR12 and PfSR25) with GPCR-like membrane topology have been reported with the finite knowledge about their potential as antimalarial targets. We analyzed the localization of these receptors in malaria parasite by immunofluorescence assays. All four receptors were expressed in blood stages with PfSR12 expressing more in late intraerythrocytic stages. Further, we evaluated the druggability of PfSR12 using FDA-approved P2Y purinergic receptor antagonist, Prasugrel and its active metabolite R138727, which is proposed to be specific towards PfSR12. Interestingly, biophysical analysis indicated strong binding between PfSR12 and R138727 as compared to the prodrug Prasugrel. This binding interaction was further confirmed by thermal shift assay. Treatment of parasite with Prasugrel and R138727 resulted in growth inhibition of P. falciparum indicating an important role of purinergic signalling and PfSR12 in parasite survival. Next, progression studies indicated the inhibitory effect of Prasugrel begins in late erythrocyte stages corroborating with PfSR12 expression at these stages. Furthermore, Prasugrel also blocked in vivo growth of malaria parasite in a mouse experimental model. This study indicates the presence of P2Y type of purinergic signalling in growth and development of malaria parasite and suggests PfSR12, putative purinergic receptor druggability through Prasugrel.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonal Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Monika Saini
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, India
| | - Nishant Joshi
- Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, India
| | - Sadat Shafi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India
| | - Abul Kalam Najmi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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5
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Rankawat S, Kundal K, Chakraborty S, Kumar R, Ray S. A comprehensive rhythmicity analysis of host proteins and immune factors involved in malaria pathogenesis to decipher the importance of host circadian clock in malaria. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1210299. [PMID: 37638001 PMCID: PMC10449258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1210299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Circadian rhythms broadly impact human health by regulating our daily physiological and metabolic processes. The circadian clocks substantially regulate our immune responses and susceptibility to infections. Malaria parasites have intrinsic molecular oscillations and coordinate their infection cycle with host rhythms. Considering the cyclical nature of malaria, a clear understanding of the circadian regulations in malaria pathogenesis and host responses is of immense importance. Methods We have thoroughly investigated the transcript level rhythmic patterns in blood proteins altered in falciparum and vivax malaria and malaria-related immune factors in mice, baboons, and humans by analyzing datasets from published literature and comprehensive databases. Using the Metascape and DAVID platforms, we analyzed Gene Ontology terms and physiological pathways associated with the rhythmic malaria-associated host immune factors. Results We observed that almost 50% of the malaria-associated host immune factors are rhythmic in mice and humans. Overlapping rhythmic genes identified in mice, baboons, and humans, exhibited enrichment (Q < 0.05, fold-enrichment > 5) of multiple physiological pathways essential for host immune and defense response, including cytokine production, leukocyte activation, cellular defense, and response, regulation of kinase activity, B-cell receptor signaling pathway, and cellular response to cytokine stimulus. Conclusions Our analysis indicates a robust circadian regulation on multiple interconnected host response pathways and immunological networks in malaria, evident from numerous rhythmic genes involved in those pathways. Host immune rhythms play a vital role in the temporal regulation of host-parasite interactions and defense machinery in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sandipan Ray
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
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6
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Kobayashi Y, Komatsuya K, Imamura S, Nozaki T, Watanabe YI, Sato S, Dodd AN, Kita K, Tanaka K. Coordination of apicoplast transcription in a malaria parasite by internal and host cues. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2214765120. [PMID: 37406097 PMCID: PMC10334805 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214765120] [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: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a nonphotosynthetic plastid called the apicoplast, which contains its own genome. Regulatory mechanisms for apicoplast gene expression remain poorly understood, despite this organelle being crucial for the parasite life cycle. Here, we identify a nuclear-encoded apicoplast RNA polymerase σ subunit (sigma factor) which, along with the α subunit, appears to mediate apicoplast transcript accumulation. This has a periodicity reminiscent of parasite circadian or developmental control. Expression of the apicoplast subunit gene, apSig, together with apicoplast transcripts, increased in the presence of the blood circadian signaling hormone melatonin. Our data suggest that the host circadian rhythm is integrated with intrinsic parasite cues to coordinate apicoplast genome transcription. This evolutionarily conserved regulatory system might be a future target for malaria treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kobayashi
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama226-8503, Japan
| | - Keisuke Komatsuya
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
- Laboratory of Biomembrane, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo156-8506, Japan
| | - Sousuke Imamura
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama226-8503, Japan
- Space Environment and Energy Laboratories, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Tokyo180-8585, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
| | - Yoh-ichi Watanabe
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
| | - Shigeharu Sato
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama226-8503, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah88400, Malaysia
- Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah88400, Malaysia
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki852-8523, Japan
| | - Antony N. Dodd
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, NorwichNR4 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki852-8523, Japan
- Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki852-8523, Japan
| | - Kan Tanaka
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama226-8503, Japan
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7
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Santos BMD, Przyborski JM, Garcia CRS. Changes in K + Concentration as a Signaling Mechanism in the Apicomplexa Parasites Plasmodium and Toxoplasma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087276. [PMID: 37108438 PMCID: PMC10138558 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During their life cycle, apicomplexan parasites pass through different microenvironments and encounter a range of ion concentrations. The discovery that the GPCR-like SR25 in Plasmodium falciparum is activated by a shift in potassium concentration indicates that the parasite can take advantage of its development by sensing different ionic concentrations in the external milieu. This pathway involves the activation of phospholipase C and an increase in cytosolic calcium. In the present report, we summarize the information available in the literature regarding the role of potassium ions during parasite development. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms that allow the parasite to cope with ionic potassium changes contributes to our knowledge about the cell cycle of Plasmodium spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedito M Dos Santos
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Jude M Przyborski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus-Liebig University, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus-Liebig University, 35390 Gießen, Germany
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Huang H, Mehta A, Kalmanovich J, Anand A, Bejarano MC, Garg T, Khan N, Tonpouwo GK, Shkodina AD, Bardhan M. Immunological and inflammatory effects of infectious diseases in circadian rhythm disruption and future therapeutic directions. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:3739-3753. [PMID: 36656437 PMCID: PMC9851103 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08276-w] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circadian rhythm is characterised by daily variations in biological activity to align with the light and dark cycle. These diurnal variations, in turn, influence physiological functions such as blood pressure, temperature, and sleep-wake cycle. Though it is well established that the circadian pathway is linked to pro-inflammatory responses and circulating immune cells, its association with infectious diseases is widely unknown. OBJECTIVE This comprehensive review aims to describe the association between circadian rhythm and host immune response to various kinds of infection. METHODS We conducted a literature search in databases Pubmed/Medline and Science direct. Our paper includes a comprehensive analysis of findings from articles in English which was related to our hypothesis. FINDINGS Molecular clocks determine circadian rhythm disruption in response to infection, influencing the host's response toward infection. Moreover, there is a complex interplay with intrinsic oscillators of pathogens and the influence of specific infectious processes on the CLOCK: BMAL1 pathway. Such mechanisms vary for bacterial and viral infections, both well studied in the literature. However, less is known about the association of parasitic infections and fungal pathogens with circadian rhythm modulation. CONCLUSION It is shown that bidirectional relationships exist between circadian rhythm disruption and infectious process, which contains interplay between the host's and pathogens' circadian oscillator, immune response, and the influence of specific infectious. Further studies exploring the modulations of circadian rhythm and immunity can offer novel explanations of different susceptibilities to infection and can lead to therapeutic avenues in circadian immune modulation of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Huang
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aashna Mehta
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032 Hungary
| | | | - Ayush Anand
- B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
| | - Maria Chilo Bejarano
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Humana, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Tulika Garg
- Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | - Nida Khan
- Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Gauvain Kankeu Tonpouwo
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lubumbashi, Plaine Tshombé, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Mainak Bardhan
- ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, India
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9
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Krombauer GC, Guedes KDS, Banfi FF, Nunes RR, Fonseca ALD, Siqueira EPD, Bellei JCB, Scopel KKG, Varotti FDP, Sanchez BAM. In vitro and in silico assessment of new beta amino ketones with antiplasmodial activity. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022; 55:e0590. [PMID: 36169491 PMCID: PMC9549944 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0590-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on the current need for new drugs against malaria, our study evaluated eight beta amino ketones in silico and in vitro for potential antimalarial activity. METHODS Using the Brazilian Malaria Molecular Targets (BraMMT) and OCTOPUS® software programs, the pattern of interactions of beta-amino ketones was described against different proteins of P. falciparum and screened to evaluate their physicochemical properties. The in vitro antiplasmodial activities of the compounds were evaluated using a SYBR Green-based assay. In parallel, in vitro cytotoxic data were obtained using the MTT assay. RESULTS Among the eight compounds, compound 1 was the most active and selective against P. falciparum (IC50 = 0.98 µM; SI > 60). Six targets were identified in BraMMT that interact with compounds exhibiting a stronger binding energy than the crystallographic ligand: P. falciparum triophosphate phosphoglycolate complex (1LYX), P. falciparum reductase (2OK8), PfPK7 (2PML), P. falciparum glutaredoxin (4N0Z), PfATP6, and PfHT. CONCLUSIONS The physicochemical properties of compound 1 were compatible with the set of criteria established by the Lipinski rule and demonstrated its potential as a drug prototype for antiplasmodial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Camila Krombauer
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
| | - Karla de Sena Guedes
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
| | - Felipe Fingir Banfi
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
| | - Renata Rachide Nunes
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Campus Centro Oeste, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Biológica (NQBio), Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Amanda Luisa da Fonseca
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Campus Centro Oeste, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Biológica (NQBio), Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Jéssica Côrrea Bezerra Bellei
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Centro de Pesquisas em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Kézia Katiani Gorza Scopel
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Centro de Pesquisas em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Fernando de Pilla Varotti
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Campus Centro Oeste, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Biológica (NQBio), Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Bruno Antônio Marinho Sanchez
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
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10
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Mallaupoma LRC, Dias BKDM, Singh MK, Honorio RI, Nakabashi M, Kisukuri CDM, Paixão MW, Garcia CRS. Decoding the Role of Melatonin Structure on Plasmodium falciparum Human Malaria Parasites Synchronization Using 2-Sulfenylindoles Derivatives. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050638. [PMID: 35625565 PMCID: PMC9138683 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin acts to synchronize the parasite’s intraerythrocytic cycle by triggering the phospholipase C-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (PLC-IP3) signaling cascade. Compounds with an indole scaffold impair in vitro proliferation of blood-stage malaria parasites, indicating that this class of compounds is potentially emerging antiplasmodial drugs. Therefore, we aimed to study the role of the alkyl and aryl thiol moieties of 14 synthetic indole compounds against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Four compounds (3, 26, 18, 21) inhibited the growth of P. falciparum (3D7) by 50% at concentrations below 20 µM. A set of 2-sulfenylindoles also showed activity against Dd2 parasites. Our data suggest that Dd2 parasites are more susceptible to compounds 20 and 28 than 3D7 parasites. These data show that 2-sulfenylindoles are promising antimalarials against chloroquine-resistant parasite strains. We also evaluated the effects of the 14 compounds on the parasitemia of the 3D7 strain and their ability to interfere with the effect of 100 nM melatonin on the parasitemia of the 3D7 strain. Our results showed that compounds 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16, 17, and 20 slightly increased the effect of melatonin by increasing parasitemia by 8–20% compared with that of melatonin-only-treated 3D7 parasites. Moreover, we found that melatonin modulates the expression of kinase-related signaling components giving additional evidence to investigate inhibitors that can block melatonin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenna Rosanie Cordero Mallaupoma
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (B.K.d.M.D.); (M.K.S.); (R.I.H.); (M.N.)
| | - Bárbara Karina de Menezes Dias
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (B.K.d.M.D.); (M.K.S.); (R.I.H.); (M.N.)
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Maneesh Kumar Singh
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (B.K.d.M.D.); (M.K.S.); (R.I.H.); (M.N.)
| | - Rute Isabel Honorio
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (B.K.d.M.D.); (M.K.S.); (R.I.H.); (M.N.)
| | - Myna Nakabashi
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (B.K.d.M.D.); (M.K.S.); (R.I.H.); (M.N.)
| | - Camila de Menezes Kisukuri
- Centro de Excelência para Pesquisa em Química Sustentável (CERSusChem), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil; (C.d.M.K.); (M.W.P.)
| | - Márcio Weber Paixão
- Centro de Excelência para Pesquisa em Química Sustentável (CERSusChem), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil; (C.d.M.K.); (M.W.P.)
| | - Celia R. S. Garcia
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (B.K.d.M.D.); (M.K.S.); (R.I.H.); (M.N.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Parreira KS, Scarpelli P, Rezende Lima W, Garcia RS. Contribution of Transcriptome to Elucidate the Biology of Plasmodium spp. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:169-187. [PMID: 35021974 DOI: 10.2174/1568026622666220111140803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In the present review, we discuss some of the new technologies that have been applied to elucidate how Plasmodium spp escape from the immune system and subvert the host physiology to orchestrate the regulation of its biological pathways. Our manuscript describes how techniques such as microarray approaches, RNA-Seq and single-cell RNA sequencing have contributed to the discovery of transcripts and changed the concept of gene expression regulation in closely related malaria parasite species. Moreover, the text highlights the contributions of high-throughput RNA sequencing for the current knowledge of malaria parasite biology, physiology, vaccine target and the revelation of new players in parasite signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Scarpelli
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wânia Rezende Lima
- Departamento de Medicina, Instituto de Biotecnologia-Universidade Federal de Catalão
| | - R S Garcia
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
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12
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Borges-Pereira L, Dias BKM, Singh MK, Garcia CRS. Malaria parasites and circadian rhythm: New insights into an old puzzle. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2021; 2:100017. [PMID: 34841309 PMCID: PMC8610328 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2020.100017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Discuss molecular components for the coordination of circadian rhythm of malaria parasites inside the vertebrate host. Synthetic indole compounds show antimalarial activity in vitro against P.falciparum 3D7. Plasmodium falciparum synchronizes in cell culture upon melatonin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bárbara K M Dias
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Parasitology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maneesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Celia R S Garcia
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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13
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Pereira PHS, Garcia CRS. Evidence of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCR) in the Parasitic Protozoa Plasmodium falciparum-Sensing the Host Environment and Coupling within Its Molecular Signaling Toolkit. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12381. [PMID: 34830263 PMCID: PMC8620569 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout evolution, the need for single-celled organisms to associate and form a single cluster of cells has had several evolutionary advantages. In complex, multicellular organisms, each tissue or organ has a specialty and function that make life together possible, and the organism as a whole needs to act in balance and adapt to changes in the environment. Sensory organs are essential for connecting external stimuli into a biological response, through the senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. The G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are responsible for many of these senses and therefore play a key role in the perception of the cells' external environment, enabling interaction and coordinated development between each cell of a multicellular organism. The malaria-causing protozoan parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has a complex life cycle that is extremely dependent on a finely regulated cellular signaling machinery. In this review, we summarize strong evidence and the main candidates of GPCRs in protozoan parasites. Interestingly, one of these GPCRs is a sensor for K+ shift in Plasmodium falciparum, PfSR25. Studying this family of proteins in P. falciparum could have a significant impact, both on understanding the history of the evolution of GPCRs and on finding new targets for antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Celia R. S. Garcia
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil;
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Sharma M, Choudhury H, Roy R, Michaels SA, Ojo KK, Bansal A. CDPKs: The critical decoders of calcium signal at various stages of malaria parasite development. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:5092-5107. [PMID: 34589185 PMCID: PMC8453137 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.08.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium ions are used as important signals during various physiological processes. In malaria parasites, Plasmodium spp., calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) have acquired the unique ability to sense and transduce calcium signals at various critical steps during the lifecycle, either through phosphorylation of downstream substrates or mediating formation of high molecular weight protein complexes. Calcium signaling cascades establish important crosstalk events with signaling pathways mediated by other secondary messengers such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). CDPKs play critical roles at various important physiological steps during parasite development in vertebrates and mosquitoes. They are also important for transmission of the parasite between the two hosts. Combined with the fact that CDPKs are not present in humans, they continue to be pursued as important targets for development of anti-malarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Sharma
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Himashree Choudhury
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rajarshi Roy
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Samantha A. Michaels
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
| | - Abhisheka Bansal
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
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15
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Dos Santos BM, Pereira PH, Garcia CR. Molecular basis of synchronous replication of malaria parasites in the blood stage. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:210-215. [PMID: 34428626 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The search for host factors that leads to malaria parasite synchronization has been the focus of several laboratories. The host hormone melatonin synchronizes Plasmodium falciparum in culture by increasing the number of mature parasite stages through a PLC-IP3 activation. Melatonin signaling is linked to crosstalk between Ca2+-cAMP that results in PKA activation. Two other kinases, PfPK7 and PfeIK1, and the nuclear protein PfMORC that lacks melatonin sensitivity in the inducible knock-down parasites are also identified as part of the hormone-signal transduction pathways. Melatonin also modulates P. falciparum mitochondrial fission genes FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2 in a stage-specific manner. How these multiple molecular mechanisms are orchestrated to lead to parasite synchronization is a fascinating and opened biological question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedito M Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Antimalarial Discovery, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Hs Pereira
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Antimalarial Discovery, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célia Rs Garcia
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Antimalarial Discovery, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
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16
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de Oliveira LS, Alborghetti MR, Carneiro RG, Bastos IMD, Amino R, Grellier P, Charneau S. Calcium in the Backstage of Malaria Parasite Biology. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:708834. [PMID: 34395314 PMCID: PMC8355824 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.708834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The calcium ion (Ca2+) is a ubiquitous second messenger involved in key biological processes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In Plasmodium species, Ca2+ signaling plays a central role in the parasite life cycle. It has been associated with parasite development, fertilization, locomotion, and host cell infection. Despite the lack of a canonical inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor gene in the Plasmodium genome, pharmacological evidence indicates that inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate triggers Ca2+ mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum. Other structures such as acidocalcisomes, food vacuole and mitochondria are proposed to act as supplementary intracellular Ca2+ reservoirs. Several Ca2+-binding proteins (CaBPs) trigger downstream signaling. Other proteins with no EF-hand motifs, but apparently involved with CaBPs, are depicted as playing an important role in the erythrocyte invasion and egress. It is also proposed that a cross-talk among kinases, which are not members of the family of Ca2+-dependent protein kinases, such as protein kinases G, A and B, play additional roles mediated indirectly by Ca2+ regulation. This statement may be extended for proteins directly related to invasion or egress, such as SUB1, ERC, IMC1I, IMC1g, GAP45 and EBA175. In this review, we update our understanding of aspects of Ca2+-mediated signaling correlated to the developmental stages of the malaria parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Silva de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Équipe Parasites et Protistes Libres, Paris, France
| | - Marcos Rodrigo Alborghetti
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Renata Garcia Carneiro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Izabela Marques Dourado Bastos
- Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Interaction, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unité Infection et Immunité Paludéennes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Grellier
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Équipe Parasites et Protistes Libres, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
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Pereira PHS, Borges-Pereira L, Garcia CRS. Evidences of G Coupled-Protein Receptor (GPCR) Signaling in the human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum for Sensing its Microenvironment and the Role of Purinergic Signaling in Malaria Parasites. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 21:171-180. [PMID: 32851963 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200826122716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The nucleotides were discovered in the early 19th century and a few years later, the role of such molecules in energy metabolism and cell survival was postulated. In 1972, a pioneer work by Burnstock and colleagues suggested that ATP could also work as a neurotransmitter, which was known as the "purinergic hypothesis". The idea of ATP working as a signaling molecule faced initial resistance until the discovery of the receptors for ATP and other nucleotides, called purinergic receptors. Among the purinergic receptors, the P2Y family is of great importance because it comprises of G proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are widespread among different organisms. These receptors work in the cells' ability to sense the external environment, which involves: to sense a dangerous situation or detect a pheromone through smell; the taste of food that should not be eaten; response to hormones that alter metabolism according to the body's need; or even transform light into an electrical stimulus to generate vision. Advances in understanding the mechanism of action of GPCRs shed light on increasingly promising treatments for diseases that have hitherto remained incurable, or the possibility of abolishing side effects from therapies widely used today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H S Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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O'Donnell AJ, Reece SE. Ecology of asynchronous asexual replication: the intraerythrocytic development cycle of Plasmodium berghei is resistant to host rhythms. Malar J 2021; 20:105. [PMID: 33608011 PMCID: PMC7893937 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03643-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Daily periodicity in the diverse activities of parasites occurs across a broad taxonomic range. The rhythms exhibited by parasites are thought to be adaptations that allow parasites to cope with, or exploit, the consequences of host activities that follow daily rhythms. Malaria parasites (Plasmodium) are well-known for their synchronized cycles of replication within host red blood cells. Whilst most species of Plasmodium appear sensitive to the timing of the daily rhythms of hosts, and even vectors, some species present no detectable rhythms in blood-stage replication. Why the intraerythrocytic development cycle (IDC) of, for example Plasmodium chabaudi, is governed by host rhythms, yet seems completely independent of host rhythms in Plasmodium berghei, another rodent malaria species, is mysterious. METHODS This study reports a series of five experiments probing the relationships between the asynchronous IDC schedule of P. berghei and the rhythms of hosts and vectors by manipulating host time-of-day, photoperiod and feeding rhythms. RESULTS The results reveal that: (i) a lack coordination between host and parasite rhythms does not impose appreciable fitness costs on P. berghei; (ii) the IDC schedule of P. berghei is impervious to host rhythms, including altered photoperiod and host-feeding-related rhythms; (iii) there is weak evidence for daily rhythms in the density and activities of transmission stages; but (iv), these rhythms have little consequence for successful transmission to mosquitoes. CONCLUSIONS Overall, host rhythms do not affect the performance of P. berghei and its asynchronous IDC is resistant to the scheduling forces that underpin synchronous replication in closely related parasites. This suggests that natural variation in the IDC schedule across species represents different parasite strategies that maximize fitness. Thus, subtle differences in the ecological interactions between parasites and their hosts/vectors may select for the evolution of very different IDC schedules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan J O'Donnell
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK.
| | - Sarah E Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
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A nuclear protein, PfMORC confers melatonin dependent synchrony of the human malaria parasite P. falciparum in the asexual stage. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2057. [PMID: 33479315 PMCID: PMC7820235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81235-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The host hormone melatonin is known to modulate the asexual cell-cycle of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the kinase PfPK7 is fundamental in the downstream signaling pathways. The nuclear protein PfMORC displays a histidine kinase domain and is involved in parasite cell cycle control. By using a real-time assay, we show a 24 h (h) rhythmic expression of PfMORC at the parasite asexual cycle and the expression is dramatically changed when parasites were treated with 100 nM melatonin for 17 h. Moreover, PfMORC expression was severely affected in PfPK7 knockout (PfPK7−) parasites following melatonin treatment. Parasites expressing 3D7morc-GFP shows nuclear localization of the protein during the asexual stage of parasite development. Although the PfMORC knockdown had no significant impact on the parasite proliferation in vitro it significantly changed the ratio of the different asexual intraerythrocytic stages of the parasites upon the addition of melatonin. Our data reveal that in addition to the upstream melatonin signaling pathways such as IP3 generation, calcium, and cAMP rise, a nuclear protein, PfMORC is essential for the hormone response in parasite synchronization.
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Fukuchi M, Oyama K, Mizuno H, Miyagawa A, Koumoto K, Fukuhara G. Hydrostatic Pressure-Regulated Cellular Calcium Responses. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:820-826. [PMID: 33410684 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hydrostatic pressure control has attracted much attention and presents a still challenging objective from mechanobiological viewpoints. Herein, we reveal the calcium entry processes in HeLa cells by means of hydrostatic pressure spectroscopy. The steady-state fluorescence spectral data comprehensively elucidated the factors controlling the outcomes of the hydrostatic pressure-stimulated calcium entry behavior. The present work leads to a new perspective on ion regulations in living cells and an attractive alternative to conventional mechanostimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minami Fukuchi
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Kotaro Oyama
- Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 1233 Watanukimachi, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan
- JST, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mizuno
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Akihisa Miyagawa
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Kazuya Koumoto
- Department of Nanobiochemistry, FIRST (Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Gaku Fukuhara
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
- JST, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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Pereira PHS, Garcia CRS. Melatonin action in Plasmodium infection: Searching for molecules that modulate the asexual cycle as a strategy to impair the parasite cycle. J Pineal Res 2021; 70:e12700. [PMID: 33025644 PMCID: PMC7757246 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Half of the world's population lives in countries at risk of malaria infection, which results in approximately 450,000 deaths annually. Malaria parasites infect erythrocytes in a coordinated manner, with cycle durations in multiples of 24 hours, which reflects a behavior consistent with the host's circadian cycle. Interference in cycle coordination can help the immune system to naturally fight infection. Consequently, there is a search for new drugs that interfere with the cycle duration for combined treatment with conventional antimalarials. Melatonin appears to be a key host hormone responsible for regulating circadian behavior in the parasite cycle. In addition to host factors, there are still unknown factors intrinsic to the parasite that control the cycle duration. In this review, we present a series of reports of indole compounds and melatonin derivatives with antimalarial activity that were tested on several species of Plasmodium to evaluate the cytotoxicity to parasites and human cells, in addition to the ability to interfere with the development of the erythrocytic cycle. Most of the reported compounds had an IC50 value in the low micromolar range, without any toxicity to human cells. Triptosil, an indole derivative of melatonin, was able to inhibit the effect of melatonin in vitro without causing changes to the parasitemia. The wide variety of tested compounds indicates that it is possible to develop a compound capable of safely eliminating parasites from the host and interfering with the life cycle, which is promising for the development of new combined therapies against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H. S. Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological AnalysesSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Celia R. S. Garcia
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological AnalysesSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of São PauloSão PauloBrazil
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Surur AS, Huluka SA, Mitku ML, Asres K. Indole: The After Next Scaffold of Antiplasmodial Agents? Drug Des Devel Ther 2020; 14:4855-4867. [PMID: 33204071 PMCID: PMC7666986 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s278588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a global public health problem due to the uphill fight against the causative Plasmodium parasites that are relentless in developing resistance. Indole-based antiplasmodial compounds are endowed with multiple modes of action, of which inhibition of hemozoin formation is the major mechanism of action reported for compounds such as cryptolepine, flinderoles, and isosungucine. Indole-based compounds exert their potent activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium strains by inhibiting hemozoin formation in a mode of action different from that of chloroquine or through a novel mechanism of action. For example, dysregulating the sodium and osmotic homeostasis of Plasmodium through inhibition of PfATP4 is the novel mechanism of cipargamin. The potential of developing multi-targeted compounds through molecular hybridization ensures the existence of indole-based compounds in the antimalarial pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Solomon Assefa Huluka
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Kaleab Asres
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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23
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Dias BK, Nakabashi M, Alves MRR, Portella DP, dos Santos BM, Costa da Silva Almeida F, Ribeiro RY, Schuck DC, Jordão AK, Garcia CR. The Plasmodium falciparum eIK1 kinase (PfeIK1) is central for melatonin synchronization in the human malaria parasite. Melatotosil blocks melatonin action on parasite cell cycle. J Pineal Res 2020; 69:e12685. [PMID: 32702775 PMCID: PMC7539967 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin and its indoles derivatives are central in the synchronization of malaria parasites. In this research, we discovered that melatonin is unable to increase the parasitemia in the human malaria Plasmodium falciparum that lacks the kinase PfeIK1. The PfeIK1 knockout strain is a valuable tool in the screening of indol-related compound that blocks the melatonin effect in wild-type (WT) parasite development. The assays were performed by using flow cytometry with simultaneous labeling for mitochondria viability with MitoTracker Deep Red and nucleus staining with SYBR Green. We found that Melatotosil leads to an increase in parasitemia in P. falciparum and blocks melatonin effect in the WT parasite. Using microscopy imaging system, we found that Melatotosil at 500 nM is able to induce cytosolic calcium rise in transgenic PfGCaMP3 parasites. On the contrary, the compound Triptiofen blocks P. falciparum cell cycle with IC50 9.76 µM ± 0.6, inhibits melatonin action, and does not lead to a cytosolic calcium rise in PfGCaMP3 parasites. We also found that the synthetic indol-related compounds arrested parasite cycle for PfeIK1 knockout and (WT) P. falciparum (3D7) in 72 hours culture assays with the IC50 values slighting lower for the WT strain. We concluded that the kinase PfeIK1 is central for melatonin downstream signaling pathways involved in parasite cell cycle progression. More importantly, the indol-related compounds block its cycle as an upstream essential mechanism for parasite survival. Our data clearly show that this class of compounds emerge as an alternative for the problem of resistance with the classical antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara K.M. Dias
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
- Faculdade de Ciências FarmacêuticasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
| | - Myna Nakabashi
- Faculdade de Ciências FarmacêuticasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Ramira Yuri Ribeiro
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
| | - Desiree C. Schuck
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
| | - Alessandro Kappel Jordão
- Departamento de FarmáciaFaculdade de FarmáciaUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do NorteNatalRNBrazil
- Unidade Universitária de FarmáciaCentro Universitário Estadual da Zona OesteRio de JaneiroRJBrazil
| | - Celia R.S. Garcia
- Faculdade de Ciências FarmacêuticasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
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Prior KF, Rijo-Ferreira F, Assis PA, Hirako IC, Weaver DR, Gazzinelli RT, Reece SE. Periodic Parasites and Daily Host Rhythms. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 27:176-187. [PMID: 32053788 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Biological rhythms appear to be an elegant solution to the challenge of coordinating activities with the consequences of the Earth's daily and seasonal rotation. The genes and molecular mechanisms underpinning circadian clocks in multicellular organisms are well understood. In contrast, the regulatory mechanisms and fitness consequences of biological rhythms exhibited by parasites remain mysterious. Here, we explore how periodicity in parasite traits is generated and why daily rhythms matter for parasite fitness. We focus on malaria (Plasmodium) parasites which exhibit developmental rhythms during replication in the mammalian host's blood and in transmission to vectors. Rhythmic in-host parasite replication is responsible for eliciting inflammatory responses, the severity of disease symptoms, and fueling transmission, as well as conferring tolerance to anti-parasite drugs. Thus, understanding both how and why the timing and synchrony of parasites are connected to the daily rhythms of hosts and vectors may make treatment more effective and less toxic to hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley F Prior
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology & Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Filipa Rijo-Ferreira
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute & Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Patricia A Assis
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Isabella C Hirako
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - David R Weaver
- Department of Neurobiology & NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ricardo T Gazzinelli
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sarah E Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology & Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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25
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Role of Melatonin in the Synchronization of Asexual Forms in the Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10091243. [PMID: 32867164 PMCID: PMC7563138 DOI: 10.3390/biom10091243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The indoleamine compound melatonin has been extensively studied in the regulation of the circadian rhythm in nearly all vertebrates. The effects of melatonin have also been studied in Protozoan parasites, especially in the synchronization of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum via a complex downstream signalling pathway. Melatonin activates protein kinase A (PfPKA) and requires the activation of protein kinase 7 (PfPK7), PLC-IP3, and a subset of genes from the ubiquitin-proteasome system. In other parasites, such as Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii, melatonin increases inflammatory components, thus amplifying the protective response of the host’s immune system and affecting parasite load. The development of melatonin-related indole compounds exhibiting antiparasitic properties clearly suggests this new and effective approach as an alternative treatment. Therefore, it is critical to understand how melatonin confers stimulatory functions in host–parasite biology.
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26
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Borges-Pereira L, Thomas SJ, Dos Anjos E Silva AL, Bartlett PJ, Thomas AP, Garcia CRS. The genetic Ca 2+ sensor GCaMP3 reveals multiple Ca 2+ stores differentially coupled to Ca 2+ entry in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:14998-15012. [PMID: 32848018 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014906] [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: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytosolic Ca2+ regulates multiple steps in the host-cell invasion, growth, proliferation, and egress of blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum, yet our understanding of Ca2+ signaling in this endemic malaria parasite is incomplete. By using a newly generated transgenic line of P. falciparum (PfGCaMP3) that expresses constitutively the genetically encoded Ca2+ indicator GCaMP3, we have investigated the dynamics of Ca2+ release and influx elicited by inhibitors of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase pumps, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), and thapsigargin (Thg). Here we show that in isolated trophozoite phase parasites: (i) both CPA and Thg release Ca2+ from intracellular stores in P. falciparum parasites; (ii) Thg is able to induce Ca2+ release from an intracellular compartment insensitive to CPA; (iii) only Thg is able to activate Ca2+ influx from extracellular media, through a mechanism resembling store-operated Ca2+ entry, typical of mammalian cells; and (iv) the Thg-sensitive Ca2+ pool is unaffected by collapsing the mitochondria membrane potential with the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone or the release of acidic Ca2+ stores with nigericin. These data suggest the presence of two Ca2+ pools in P. falciparum with differential sensitivity to the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase pump inhibitors, and only the release of the Thg-sensitive Ca2+ store induces Ca2+ influx. Activation of the store-operated Ca2+ entry-like Ca2+ influx may be relevant for controlling processes such as parasite invasion, egress, and development mediated by kinases, phosphatases, and proteases that rely on Ca2+ levels for their activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Samantha J Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Paula J Bartlett
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Andrew P Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
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27
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Plasmodium falciparum Knockout for the GPCR-Like PfSR25 Receptor Displays Greater Susceptibility to 1,2,3-Triazole Compounds That Block Malaria Parasite Development. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10081197. [PMID: 32824696 PMCID: PMC7465636 DOI: 10.3390/biom10081197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The search for new compounds with antimalarial activity is urgent, as resistance to ones in the classical drug, has already been described in more than one continent. Compounds derived from 1,2,3-triazoles are effective against parasites and bacteria. Here, we evaluated the potential antimalarial activity against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a culture of fifty-four triazole compounds derived from 1H-and 2H-1,2,3-triazole. We identified thirty-one compounds with potential antimalarial activity at concentrations in the micromolar order (µM) and IC50 values ranging from 2.80 µM (9) to 29.27 µM (21). Then, we selected some of these compounds to perform the same tests on the PfSR25- strain (knockout for P. falciparum G-protein coupled receptor-like, SR25). Our experiences with the PfSR25- strain showed that both compounds with higher antimalarial activity for the 3D7 strain and those with less activity resulted in lower IC50 values for the knockout strain. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated in human renal embryonic cells (HEK 293), using MTT assays. This demonstrated that the compounds with the highest activity (9, 13, 19, 22, 24, 29), showed no toxicity at the tested concentrations.
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28
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O'Donnell AJ, Prior KF, Reece SE. Host circadian clocks do not set the schedule for the within-host replication of malaria parasites. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200347. [PMID: 32781954 PMCID: PMC7575513 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian clocks coordinate organisms' activities with daily cycles in their environment. Parasites are subject to daily rhythms in the within-host environment, resulting from clock-control of host activities, including immune responses. Parasites also exhibit rhythms in their activities: the timing of within-host replication by malaria parasites is coordinated to host feeding rhythms. Precisely which host feeding-related rhythm(s) parasites align with and how this is achieved are unknown. Understanding rhythmic replication in malaria parasites matters because it underpins disease symptoms and fuels transmission investment. We test if rhythmicity in parasite replication is coordinated with the host's feeding-related rhythms and/or rhythms driven by the host's canonical circadian clock. We find that parasite rhythms coordinate with the time of day that hosts feed in both wild-type and clock-mutant hosts, whereas parasite rhythms become dampened in clock-mutant hosts that eat continuously. Our results hold whether infections are initiated with synchronous or with desynchronized parasites. We conclude that malaria parasite replication is coordinated to rhythmic host processes that are independent of the core-clock proteins PERIOD 1 and 2; most likely, a periodic nutrient made available when the host digests food. Thus, novel interventions could disrupt parasite rhythms to reduce their fitness, without interference by host clock-controlled homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan J O'Donnell
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kimberley F Prior
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah E Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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29
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Estimation of parasite age and synchrony status in Plasmodium falciparum infections. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10925. [PMID: 32616767 PMCID: PMC7331735 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67817-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human malaria parasites have complex but poorly understood population dynamics inside their human host. In some but not all infections, parasites progress synchronously through the 48 h lifecycle following erythrocyte invasion, such that at any one time there is a limited spread of parasites at a particular time (hours) post-invasion. Patients presenting with older parasites, and with asynchronous infections, have been reported to have higher risks of fatal outcomes, associated with higher parasite biomass and multiplication rates respectively. However, practical tools to assess synchrony and estimate parasite age post-invasion in patient samples are lacking. We have developed a novel method based on three genes differentially expressed over the parasite intra-erythrocytic lifecycle, and applied it to samples from patients with uncomplicated malaria attending two health clinics in Ghana. We found that most patients presented with synchronous infections, and with parasites within 12 h of erythrocyte invasion. Finally we investigated if clinical features such as fever and parasite density could act as predictors of parasite age and synchrony. The new method is a simple and practicable approach to study parasite dynamics in naturally-infected patients, and is a significant improvement on the subjective microscopical methods for parasite staging in vivo, aiding patient management.
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30
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Smith LM, Motta FC, Chopra G, Moch JK, Nerem RR, Cummins B, Roche KE, Kelliher CM, Leman AR, Harer J, Gedeon T, Waters NC, Haase SB. An intrinsic oscillator drives the blood stage cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Science 2020; 368:754-759. [PMID: 32409472 DOI: 10.1126/science.aba4357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The blood stage of the infection of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum exhibits a 48-hour developmental cycle that culminates in the synchronous release of parasites from red blood cells, which triggers 48-hour fever cycles in the host. This cycle could be driven extrinsically by host circadian processes or by a parasite-intrinsic oscillator. To distinguish between these hypotheses, we examine the P. falciparum cycle in an in vitro culture system and show that the parasite has molecular signatures associated with circadian and cell cycle oscillators. Each of the four strains examined has a different period, which indicates strain-intrinsic period control. Finally, we demonstrate that parasites have low cell-to-cell variance in cycle period, on par with a circadian oscillator. We conclude that an intrinsic oscillator maintains Plasmodium's rhythmic life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francis C Motta
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Garima Chopra
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - J Kathleen Moch
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Robert R Nerem
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Bree Cummins
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Kimberly E Roche
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Adam R Leman
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John Harer
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tomas Gedeon
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Norman C Waters
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Steven B Haase
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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31
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Host and Symbiont Cell Cycle Coordination Is Mediated by Symbiotic State, Nutrition, and Partner Identity in a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.02626-19. [PMID: 32156819 PMCID: PMC7064764 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02626-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomass regulation is critical to the overall health of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses. Despite the central role of the cell cycle in the growth and proliferation of cnidarian host cells and dinoflagellate symbionts, there are few studies that have examined the potential for host-symbiont coregulation. This study provides evidence for the acceleration of host cell proliferation when in local proximity to clusters of symbionts within cnidarian tentacles. The findings suggest that symbionts augment the cell cycle of not only their enveloping host cells but also neighboring cells in the epidermis and gastrodermis. This provides a possible mechanism for rapid colonization of cnidarian tissues. In addition, the cell cycles of symbionts differed depending on nutritional regime, symbiotic state, and species identity. The responses of cell cycle profiles to these different factors implicate a role for species-specific regulation of symbiont cell cycles within host cnidarian tissues. The cell cycle is a critical component of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and response to stress, yet its role in the regulation of intracellular symbioses is not well understood. To explore host-symbiont cell cycle coordination in a marine symbiosis, we employed a model for coral-dinoflagellate associations: the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida) and its native microalgal photosymbionts (Breviolum minutum and Breviolum psygmophilum). Using fluorescent labeling and spatial point-pattern image analyses to characterize cell population distributions in both partners, we developed protocols that are tailored to the three-dimensional cellular landscape of a symbiotic sea anemone tentacle. Introducing cultured symbiont cells to symbiont-free adult hosts increased overall host cell proliferation rates. The acceleration occurred predominantly in the symbiont-containing gastrodermis near clusters of symbionts but was also observed in symbiont-free epidermal tissue layers, indicating that the presence of symbionts contributes to elevated proliferation rates in the entire host during colonization. Symbiont cell cycle progression differed between cultured algae and those residing within hosts; the endosymbiotic state resulted in increased S-phase but decreased G2/M-phase symbiont populations. These phenotypes and the deceleration of cell cycle progression varied with symbiont identity and host nutritional status. These results demonstrate that host and symbiont cells have substantial and species-specific effects on the proliferation rates of their mutualistic partners. This is the first empirical evidence to support species-specific regulation of the symbiont cell cycle within a single cnidarian-dinoflagellate association; similar regulatory mechanisms likely govern interpartner coordination in other coral-algal symbioses and shape their ecophysiological responses to a changing climate.
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32
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Westwood ML, O'Donnell AJ, Schneider P, Albery GF, Prior KF, Reece SE. Testing possible causes of gametocyte reduction in temporally out-of-synch malaria infections. Malar J 2020; 19:17. [PMID: 31937300 PMCID: PMC6958767 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-3107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intraerythrocytic development cycle (IDC) of the rodent malaria Plasmodium chabaudi is coordinated with host circadian rhythms. When this coordination is disrupted, parasites suffer a 50% reduction in both asexual stages and sexual stage gametocytes over the acute phase of infection. Reduced gametocyte density may not simply follow from a loss of asexuals because investment into gametocytes ("conversion rate") is a plastic trait; furthermore, the densities of both asexuals and gametocytes are highly dynamic during infection. Hence, the reasons for the reduction of gametocytes in infections that are out-of-synch with host circadian rhythms remain unclear. Here, two explanations are tested: first, whether out-of-synch parasites reduce their conversion rate to prioritize asexual replication via reproductive restraint; second, whether out-of-synch gametocytes experience elevated clearance by the host's circadian immune responses. METHODS First, conversion rate data were analysed from a previous experiment comparing infections of P. chabaudi that were in-synch or 12 h out-of-synch with host circadian rhythms. Second, three new experiments examined whether the inflammatory cytokine TNF varies in its gametocytocidal efficacy according to host time-of-day and gametocyte age. RESULTS There was no evidence that parasites reduce conversion or that their gametocytes become more vulnerable to TNF when out-of-synch with host circadian rhythms. CONCLUSIONS The factors causing the reduction of gametocytes in out-of-synch infections remain mysterious. Candidates for future investigation include alternative rhythmic factors involved in innate immune responses and the rhythmicity in essential resources required for gametocyte development. Explaining why it matters for gametocytes to be synchronized to host circadian rhythms might suggest novel approaches to blocking transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Westwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK.
| | - Aidan J O'Donnell
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Petra Schneider
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Gregory F Albery
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Kimberley F Prior
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sarah E Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
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33
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Carvalho Cabral P, Olivier M, Cermakian N. The Complex Interplay of Parasites, Their Hosts, and Circadian Clocks. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:425. [PMID: 31921702 PMCID: PMC6920103 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites have evolved various mechanisms to favor infection of their hosts and enhance the success of the infection. In this respect, time-of-day effects were found during the course of parasitic infections, which can be caused or controlled by circadian rhythms in the physiology of their vertebrate hosts. These include circadian clock-controlled rhythms in metabolism and in immune responses. Conversely, parasites can also modulate their hosts' behavioral and cellular rhythms. Lastly, parasites themselves were in some cases shown to possess their own circadian clock mechanisms, which can influence their capacity to infect their hosts. A better knowledge of the circadian regulation of host-parasite interactions will help in designing new preventive and therapeutic strategies for parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Carvalho Cabral
- Laboratory of Molecular Chronobiology, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Olivier
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Cermakian
- Laboratory of Molecular Chronobiology, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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34
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Greischar MA, Reece SE, Savill NJ, Mideo N. The Challenge of Quantifying Synchrony in Malaria Parasites. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:341-355. [PMID: 30952484 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Malaria infection is often accompanied by periodic fevers, triggered by synchronous cycles of parasite replication within the host. The degree of synchrony in parasite development influences the efficacy of drugs and immune defenses and is therefore relevant to host health and infectiousness. Synchrony is thought to vary over the course of infection and across different host-parasite genotype or species combinations, but the evolutionary significance - if any - of this diversity remains elusive. Standardized methods are lacking, but the most common metric for quantifying synchrony is the percentage of parasites in a particular developmental stage. We use a heuristic model to show that this metric is often unacceptably biased. Methodological challenges must be addressed to characterize diverse patterns of synchrony and their consequences for disease severity and spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Greischar
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Sarah E Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nicholas J Savill
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nicole Mideo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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35
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Luthra T, Nayak AK, Bose S, Chakrabarti S, Gupta A, Sen S. Indole based antimalarial compounds targeting the melatonin pathway: Their design, synthesis and biological evaluation. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 168:11-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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36
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Fernandes JCR, Aoki JI, Maia Acuña S, Zampieri RA, Markus RP, Floeter-Winter LM, Muxel SM. Melatonin and Leishmania amazonensis Infection Altered miR-294, miR-30e, and miR-302d Impacting on Tnf, Mcp-1, and Nos2 Expression. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:60. [PMID: 30949455 PMCID: PMC6435487 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniases are neglected diseases that cause a large spectrum of clinical manifestations, from cutaneous to visceral lesions. The initial steps of the inflammatory response involve the phagocytosis of Leishmania and the parasite replication inside the macrophage phagolysosome. Melatonin, the darkness-signaling hormone, is involved in modulation of macrophage activation during infectious diseases, controlling the inflammatory response against parasites. In this work, we showed that exogenous melatonin treatment of BALB/c macrophages reduced Leishmania amazonensis infection and modulated host microRNA (miRNA) expression profile, as well as cytokine production such as IL-6, MCP-1/CCL2, and, RANTES/CCL9. The role of one of the regulated miRNA (miR-294-3p) in L. amazonensis BALB/c infection was confirmed with miRNA inhibition assays, which led to increased expression levels of Tnf and Mcp-1/Ccl2 and diminished infectivity. Additionally, melatonin treatment or miR-30e-5p and miR-302d-3p inhibition increased nitric oxide synthase 2 (Nos2) mRNA expression levels and nitric oxide (NO) production, altering the macrophage activation state and reducing infection. Altogether, these data demonstrated the impact of melatonin treatment on the miRNA profile of BALB/c macrophage infected with L. amazonensis defining the infection outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Cristina Ribeiro Fernandes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Ide Aoki
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stephanie Maia Acuña
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Andrade Zampieri
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Regina P Markus
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Sandra Marcia Muxel
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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37
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Scarpelli PH, Tessarin‐Almeida G, Viçoso KL, Lima WR, Borges‐Pereira L, Meissner KA, Wrenger C, Rafaello A, Rizzuto R, Pozzan T, Garcia CRS. Melatonin activates FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2 Plasmodium falciparum related-genes for mitochondria fission: Mitoemerald-GFP as a tool to visualize mitochondria structure. J Pineal Res 2019; 66:e12484. [PMID: 29480948 PMCID: PMC6585791 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria causes millions of deaths worldwide and is considered a huge burden to underdeveloped countries. The number of cases with resistance to all antimalarials is continuously increasing, making the identification of novel drugs a very urgent necessity. A potentially very interesting target for novel therapeutic intervention is the parasite mitochondrion. In this work, we studied in Plasmodium falciparum 3 genes coding for proteins homologues of the mammalian FIS1 (Mitochondrial Fission Protein 1) and DRP1 (Dynamin Related Protein 1) involved in mitochondrial fission. We studied the expression of P. falciparum genes that show ample sequence and structural homologies with the mammalian counterparts, namely FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2. The encoded proteins are characterized by a distinct pattern of expression throughout the erythrocytic cycle of P. falciparum, and their mRNAs are modulated by treating the parasite with the host hormone melatonin. We have previously reported that the knockout of the Plasmodium gene that codes for protein kinase 7 is essential for melatonin sensing. We here show that PfPk7 knockout results in major alterations of mitochondrial fission genes expression when compared to wild-type parasites, and no change in fission proteins expression upon treatment with the host hormone. Finally, we have compared the morphological characteristics (using MitoTracker Red CMX Ros) and oxygen consumption properties of P. falciparum mitochondria in wild-type parasites and PfPk7 Knockout strains. A novel GFP construct targeted to the mitochondrial matrix to wild-type parasites was also developed to visualize P. falciparum mitochondria. We here show that, the functional characteristics of P. falciparum are profoundly altered in cells lacking protein kinase 7, suggesting that this enzyme plays a major role in the control of mitochondrial morphogenesis and maturation during the intra-erythrocyte cell cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H. Scarpelli
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | | | - Kênia Lopes Viçoso
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Wania Rezende Lima
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais‐MedicinaUniversidade Federal de Mato Grosso‐Campus RondonópolisMato GrossoBrazil
| | - Lucas Borges‐Pereira
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Kamila Anna Meissner
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Anna Rafaello
- CNR Neurosciences InstituteUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | | | - Tullio Pozzan
- CNR Neurosciences InstituteUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - Celia R. S. Garcia
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
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Nunes RR, Fonseca ALD, Pinto ACDS, Maia EHB, Silva AMD, Varotti FDP, Taranto AG. Brazilian malaria molecular targets (BraMMT): selected receptors for virtual high-throughput screening experiments. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e180465. [PMID: 30810604 PMCID: PMC6388387 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Owing to increased spending on pharmaceuticals since 2010, discussions about rising costs for the development of new medical technologies have been focused on the pharmaceutical industry. Computational techniques have been developed to reduce costs associated with new drug development. Among these techniques, virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) can contribute to the drug discovery process by providing tools to search for new drugs with the ability to bind a specific molecular target. OBJECTIVES In this context, Brazilian malaria molecular targets (BraMMT) was generated to execute vHTS experiments on selected molecular targets of Plasmodium falciparum. METHODS In this study, 35 molecular targets of P. falciparum were built and evaluated against known antimalarial compounds. FINDINGS As a result, it could predict the correct molecular target of market drugs, such as artemisinin. In addition, our findings suggested a new pharmacological mechanism for quinine, which includes inhibition of falcipain-II and a potential new antimalarial candidate, clioquinol. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The BraMMT is available to perform vHTS experiments using OCTOPUS or Raccoon software to improve the search for new antimalarial compounds. It can be retrieved from www.drugdiscovery.com.br or download of Supplementary data.
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Cipolla-Neto J, Amaral FGD. Melatonin as a Hormone: New Physiological and Clinical Insights. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:990-1028. [PMID: 30215696 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 326] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin is a ubiquitous molecule present in almost every live being from bacteria to humans. In vertebrates, besides being produced in peripheral tissues and acting as an autocrine and paracrine signal, melatonin is centrally synthetized by a neuroendocrine organ, the pineal gland. Independently of the considered species, pineal hormone melatonin is always produced during the night and its production and secretory episode duration are directly dependent on the length of the night. As its production is tightly linked to the light/dark cycle, melatonin main hormonal systemic integrative action is to coordinate behavioral and physiological adaptations to the environmental geophysical day and season. The circadian signal is dependent on its daily production regularity, on the contrast between day and night concentrations, and on specially developed ways of action. During its daily secretory episode, melatonin coordinates the night adaptive physiology through immediate effects and primes the day adaptive responses through prospective effects that will only appear at daytime, when melatonin is absent. Similarly, the annual history of the daily melatonin secretory episode duration primes the central nervous/endocrine system to the seasons to come. Remarkably, maternal melatonin programs the fetuses' behavior and physiology to cope with the environmental light/dark cycle and season after birth. These unique ways of action turn melatonin into a biological time-domain-acting molecule. The present review focuses on the above considerations, proposes a putative classification of clinical melatonin dysfunctions, and discusses general guidelines to the therapeutic use of melatonin.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Cipolla-Neto
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Schneider P, Rund SSC, Smith NL, Prior KF, O'Donnell AJ, Reece SE. Adaptive periodicity in the infectivity of malaria gametocytes to mosquitoes. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1876. [PMID: 30282657 PMCID: PMC6191691 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Daily rhythms in behaviour, physiology and molecular processes are expected to enable organisms to appropriately schedule activities according to consequences of the daily rotation of the Earth. For parasites, this includes capitalizing on periodicity in transmission opportunities and for hosts/vectors, this may select for rhythms in immune defence. We examine rhythms in the density and infectivity of transmission forms (gametocytes) of rodent malaria parasites in the host's blood, parasite development inside mosquito vectors and potential for onwards transmission. Furthermore, we simultaneously test whether mosquitoes exhibit rhythms in susceptibility. We reveal that at night, gametocytes are twice as infective, despite being less numerous in the blood. Enhanced infectiousness at night interacts with mosquito rhythms to increase sporozoite burdens fourfold when mosquitoes feed during their rest phase. Thus, changes in mosquito biting time (owing to bed nets) may render gametocytes less infective, but this is compensated for by the greater mosquito susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schneider
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Samuel S. C. Rund
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Natasha L. Smith
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Kimberley F. Prior
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Aidan J. O'Donnell
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sarah E. Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
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Cecon E, Oishi A, Jockers R. Melatonin receptors: molecular pharmacology and signalling in the context of system bias. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:3263-3280. [PMID: 28707298 PMCID: PMC6057902 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin, N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, an evolutionally old molecule, is produced by the pineal gland in vertebrates, and it binds with high affinity to melatonin receptors, which are members of the GPCR family. Among the multiple effects attributed to melatonin, we will focus here on those that are dependent on the activation of the two mammalian MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors. We briefly summarize the latest developments on synthetic melatonin receptor ligands, including multi-target-directed ligands, and the characterization of signalling-biased ligands. We discuss signalling pathways activated by melatonin receptors that appear to be highly cell- and tissue-dependent, emphasizing the impact of system bias on the functional outcome. Different proteins have been demonstrated to interact with melatonin receptors, and thus, we postulate that part of this system bias has its molecular basis in differences of the expression of receptor-associated proteins including heterodimerization partners. Finally, bias at the level of the receptor, by the expression of genetic receptor variants, will be discussed to show how a modified receptor function can have an effect on the risk for common diseases like type 2 diabetes in humans. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on Recent Developments in Research of Melatonin and its Potential Therapeutic Applications. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.16/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Cecon
- Institut CochinInserm, U1016ParisFrance
- CNRS UMR 8104ParisFrance
- Univ. Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris CitéParisFrance
| | - Atsuro Oishi
- Institut CochinInserm, U1016ParisFrance
- CNRS UMR 8104ParisFrance
- Univ. Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris CitéParisFrance
| | - Ralf Jockers
- Institut CochinInserm, U1016ParisFrance
- CNRS UMR 8104ParisFrance
- Univ. Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris CitéParisFrance
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Baker DA, Drought LG, Flueck C, Nofal SD, Patel A, Penzo M, Walker EM. Cyclic nucleotide signalling in malaria parasites. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.170213. [PMID: 29263246 PMCID: PMC5746546 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclic nucleotides 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′, 5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are intracellular messengers found in most animal cell types. They usually mediate an extracellular stimulus to drive a change in cell function through activation of their respective cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, PKA and PKG. The enzymatic components of the malaria parasite cyclic nucleotide signalling pathways have been identified, and the genetic and biochemical studies of these enzymes carried out to date are reviewed herein. What has become very clear is that cyclic nucleotides play vital roles in controlling every stage of the complex malaria parasite life cycle. Our understanding of the involvement of cyclic nucleotide signalling in orchestrating the complex biology of malaria parasites is still in its infancy, but the recent advances in our genetic tools and the increasing interest in signalling will deliver more rapid progress in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Laura G Drought
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Stephanie D Nofal
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Maria Penzo
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.,Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eloise M Walker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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Hirako IC, Assis PA, Hojo-Souza NS, Reed G, Nakaya H, Golenbock DT, Coimbra RS, Gazzinelli RT. Daily Rhythms of TNFα Expression and Food Intake Regulate Synchrony of Plasmodium Stages with the Host Circadian Cycle. Cell Host Microbe 2018; 23:796-808.e6. [PMID: 29805094 PMCID: PMC6014587 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The Plasmodium cell cycle, wherein millions of parasites differentiate and proliferate, occurs in synchrony with the vertebrate host's circadian cycle. The underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here we addressed this question in a mouse model of Plasmodium chabaudi infection. Inflammatory gene expression and carbohydrate metabolism are both enhanced in interferon-γ (IFNγ)-primed leukocytes and liver cells from P. chabaudi-infected mice. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) expression oscillates across the host circadian cycle, and increased TNFα correlates with hypoglycemia and a higher frequency of non-replicative ring forms of trophozoites. Conversely, parasites proliferate and acquire biomass during food intake by the host. Importantly, cyclic hypoglycemia is attenuated and synchronization of P. chabaudi stages is disrupted in IFNγ-/-, TNF receptor-/-, or diabetic mice. Hence, the daily rhythm of systemic TNFα production and host food intake set the pace for Plasmodium synchronization with the host's circadian cycle. This mechanism indicates that Plasmodium parasites take advantage of the host's feeding habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Cristina Hirako
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology – University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605-4321, USA
| | - Patrícia Aparecida Assis
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology – University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605-4321, USA
| | - Natália Satchiko Hojo-Souza
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - George Reed
- Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine – University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605-4321, USA
| | - Helder Nakaya
- Escola de Ciências Farmacêuticas – Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Douglas Taylor Golenbock
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology – University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605-4321, USA
| | - Roney Santos Coimbra
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Tostes Gazzinelli
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology – University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605-4321, USA
- Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil
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Pecenin MF, Borges-Pereira L, Levano-Garcia J, Budu A, Alves E, Mikoshiba K, Thomas A, Garcia CRS. Blocking IP 3 signal transduction pathways inhibits melatonin-induced Ca 2+ signals and impairs P. falciparum development and proliferation in erythrocytes. Cell Calcium 2018; 72:81-90. [PMID: 29748136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3) signaling plays a crucial role in a wide range of eukaryotic processes. In Plasmodium falciparum, IP3 elicits Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores, even though no IP3 receptor homolog has been identified to date. The human host hormone melatonin plays a key role in entraining the P. falciparum life cycle in the intraerythrocytic stages, apparently through an IP3-dependent Ca2+ signal. The melatonin-induced cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) increase and malaria cell cycle can be blocked by the IP3 receptor blocker 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB). However, 2-APB also inhibits store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Therefore, we have used two novel 2-APB derivatives, DPB162-AE and DPB163-AE, which are 100-fold more potent than 2-APB in blocking SOCE in mammalian cells, and appear to act by interfering with clustering of STIM proteins. In the present work we report that DPB162-AE and DPB163-AE block the [Ca2+]cyt rise in response to melatonin in P. falciparum, but only at high concentrations. These compounds also block SOCE in the parasite at similarly high concentrations suggesting that P. falciparum SOCE is not activated in the same way as in mammalian cells. We further find that DPB162-AE and DPB163-AE affect the development of the intraerythrocytic parasites and invasion of new red blood cells. Our efforts to episomally express proteins that compete with native IP3 receptor like IP3-sponge and an IP3 sensor such as IRIS proved to be lethal to P. falciparum during intraerythrocytic cycle. The present findings point to an important role of IP3-induced Ca2+ release in intraerythrocytic stage of P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Fila Pecenin
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA; Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julio Levano-Garcia
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Budu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Alves
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katsuhiko Mikoshiba
- Lab. for Developmental Neurobiology, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan
| | - Andrew Thomas
- New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA
| | - Celia R S Garcia
- New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA; Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Prior KF, van der Veen DR, O’Donnell AJ, Cumnock K, Schneider D, Pain A, Subudhi A, Ramaprasad A, Rund SSC, Savill NJ, Reece SE. Timing of host feeding drives rhythms in parasite replication. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006900. [PMID: 29481559 PMCID: PMC5843352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythms enable organisms to synchronise the processes underpinning survival and reproduction to anticipate daily changes in the external environment. Recent work shows that daily (circadian) rhythms also enable parasites to maximise fitness in the context of ecological interactions with their hosts. Because parasite rhythms matter for their fitness, understanding how they are regulated could lead to innovative ways to reduce the severity and spread of diseases. Here, we examine how host circadian rhythms influence rhythms in the asexual replication of malaria parasites. Asexual replication is responsible for the severity of malaria and fuels transmission of the disease, yet, how parasite rhythms are driven remains a mystery. We perturbed feeding rhythms of hosts by 12 hours (i.e. diurnal feeding in nocturnal mice) to desynchronise the host's peripheral oscillators from the central, light-entrained oscillator in the brain and their rhythmic outputs. We demonstrate that the rhythms of rodent malaria parasites in day-fed hosts become inverted relative to the rhythms of parasites in night-fed hosts. Our results reveal that the host's peripheral rhythms (associated with the timing of feeding and metabolism), but not rhythms driven by the central, light-entrained circadian oscillator in the brain, determine the timing (phase) of parasite rhythms. Further investigation reveals that parasite rhythms correlate closely with blood glucose rhythms. In addition, we show that parasite rhythms resynchronise to the altered host feeding rhythms when food availability is shifted, which is not mediated through rhythms in the host immune system. Our observations suggest that parasites actively control their developmental rhythms. Finally, counter to expectation, the severity of disease symptoms expressed by hosts was not affected by desynchronisation of their central and peripheral rhythms. Our study at the intersection of disease ecology and chronobiology opens up a new arena for studying host-parasite-vector coevolution and has broad implications for applied bioscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley F. Prior
- Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Daan R. van der Veen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Aidan J. O’Donnell
- Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Cumnock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - David Schneider
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Arnab Pain
- Department of Bioscience, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amit Subudhi
- Department of Bioscience, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abhinay Ramaprasad
- Department of Bioscience, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samuel S. C. Rund
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Savill
- Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Reece
- Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Markus RP, Fernandes PA, Kinker GS, da Silveira Cruz-Machado S, Marçola M. Immune-pineal axis - acute inflammatory responses coordinate melatonin synthesis by pinealocytes and phagocytes. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 175:3239-3250. [PMID: 29105727 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin is well known for its circadian production by the pineal gland, and there is a growing body of data showing that it is also produced by many other cells and organs, including immune cells. The chronobiotic role of pineal melatonin, as well as its protective effects in vitro and in vivo, have been extensively explored. However, the interaction between the chronobiotic and defence functions of endogenous melatonin has been little investigated. This review details the current knowledge regarding the coordinated shift in melatonin synthesis from the pineal gland (circadian and monitoring roles) to the regulation of acute immune responses via immune cell production and autocrine effects, producing systemic interactions termed the immune-pineal axis. An acute inflammatory response drives the transcription factor, NFκB, to switch melatonin synthesis from pinealocytes to macrophages/microglia and, upon acute inflammatory resolution, back to pinealocytes. The potential pathophysiological relevance of immune-pineal axis dysregulation is highlighted, with both research and clinical implications, across several medical conditions, including host/parasite interaction, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on Recent Developments in Research of Melatonin and its Potential Therapeutic Applications. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.16/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina P Markus
- Laboratory of Chronopharmacology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunomodulation - Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro A Fernandes
- Laboratory of Chronopharmacology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunomodulation - Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela S Kinker
- Laboratory of Chronopharmacology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunomodulation - Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sanseray da Silveira Cruz-Machado
- Laboratory of Chronopharmacology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunomodulation - Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina Marçola
- Laboratory of Chronopharmacology and Laboratory of Neuroimmunomodulation - Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Lima WR, Martins DC, Parreira KS, Scarpelli P, Santos de Moraes M, Topalis P, Hashimoto RF, Garcia CRS. Genome-wide analysis of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum transcription factor PfNF-YB shows interaction with a CCAAT motif. Oncotarget 2017; 8:113987-114001. [PMID: 29371963 PMCID: PMC5768380 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about transcription factor regulation during the Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic cycle. In order to elucidate the role of the P. falciparum (Pf)NF-YB transcription factor we searched for target genes in the entire genome. PfNF-YB mRNA is highly expressed in late trophozoite and schizont stages relative to the ring stage. In order to determine the candidate genes bound by PfNF-YB a ChIP-on-chip assay was carried out and 297 genes were identified. Ninety nine percent of PfNF-YB binding was to putative promoter regions of protein coding genes of which only 16% comprise proteins of known function. Interestingly, our data reveal that PfNF-YB binding is not exclusively to a canonical CCAAT box motif. PfNF-YB binds to genes coding for proteins implicated in a range of different biological functions, such as replication protein A large subunit (DNA replication), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (nucleic acid metabolism) and multidrug resistance protein 2 (intracellular transport).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wânia Rezende Lima
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais-Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso-Campus Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - David Correa Martins
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
| | - Kleber Simônio Parreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais-Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso-Campus Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Pedro Scarpelli
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miriam Santos de Moraes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pantelis Topalis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, Hellas, Greece
| | - Ronaldo Fumio Hashimoto
- Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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48
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Reece SE, Prior KF, Mideo N. The Life and Times of Parasites: Rhythms in Strategies for Within-host Survival and Between-host Transmission. J Biol Rhythms 2017; 32:516-533. [PMID: 28845736 PMCID: PMC5734377 DOI: 10.1177/0748730417718904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Biological rhythms are thought to have evolved to enable organisms to organize their activities according to the earth's predictable cycles, but quantifying the fitness advantages of rhythms is challenging and data revealing their costs and benefits are scarce. More difficult still is explaining why parasites that live exclusively within the bodies of other organisms have biological rhythms. Rhythms exist in the development and traits of parasites, in host immune responses, and in disease susceptibility. This raises the possibility that timing matters for how hosts and parasites interact and, consequently, for the severity and transmission of diseases. Here, we take an evolutionary ecological perspective to examine why parasites exhibit biological rhythms and how their rhythms are regulated. Specifically, we examine the adaptive significance (evolutionary costs and benefits) of rhythms for parasites and explore to what extent interactions between hosts and parasites can drive rhythms in infections. That parasites with altered rhythms can evade the effects of control interventions underscores the urgent need to understand how and why parasites exhibit biological rhythms. Thus, we contend that examining the roles of biological rhythms in disease offers innovative approaches to improve health and opens up a new arena for studying host-parasite (and host-parasite-vector) coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Reece
- Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kimberley F. Prior
- Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nicole Mideo
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Ebrahimzadeh Z, Mukherjee A, Richard D. A map of the subcellular distribution of phosphoinositides in the erythrocytic cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Parasitol 2017; 48:13-25. [PMID: 29154995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite representing a small percentage of the cellular lipids of eukaryotic cells, phosphoinositides (PIPs) are critical in various processes such as intracellular trafficking and signal transduction. Central to their various functions is the differential distribution of PIP species to specific membrane compartments through the actions of kinases, phosphatases and lipases. Despite their importance in the malaria parasite lifecycle, the subcellular distribution of most PIP species in this organism is still unknown. We here localise several species of PIPs throughout the erythrocytic cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. We show that PI3P is mostly found at the apicoplast and the membrane of the food vacuole, that PI4P associates with the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane and that PI(4,5)P2, in addition to being detected at the plasma membrane, labels some cavity-like spherical structures. Finally, we show that the elusive PI5P localises to the plasma membrane, the nucleus and potentially to the transitional endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Our map of the subcellular distribution of PIP species in P. falciparum will be a useful tool to shed light on the dynamics of these lipids in this deadly parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Ebrahimzadeh
- Centre de recherche en infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705 Boul. Laurier, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Angana Mukherjee
- Centre de recherche en infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705 Boul. Laurier, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Dave Richard
- Centre de recherche en infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705 Boul. Laurier, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
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50
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The potential use of melatonin to treat protozoan parasitic infections: A review. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 97:948-957. [PMID: 29136773 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a circadian hormone produced in vertebrates by the pineal gland and other organs. Melatonin is believed to influence immune cells leading to modulation of the proliferative response of stimulated lymphocytes as well as cytokine production. Due to the antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of melatonin, it is suggested that this molecule could be a therapeutic alternative agent to fight bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections by a variety of mechanisms. Herein, we review the effects of melatonin on the cell biology of protozoan parasites and host's immune response. In toxoplasmosis, African trypanosomiasis and Chagas' disease, melatonin enhances host's immune response against the parasite via regulating the secretion of inflammatory mediators. In amoebiasis, melatonin reduces the amoebic lesions as well as increasing the leukophagocytosis and the number of dead amoebae. In giardiasis, serum melatonin levels are elevated in these patients; this suggests a positive correlation between the level of melatonin and phagocytic activity in the G. duodenalis infected patients, possibly related to melatonin's immunomodulatory effect. In leishmaniasis, melatonin arrests parasite replication accompanied by releasing mitochondrial Ca2+ into the cytosol, increasing the level of mitochondrial nitrites as well as reducing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In malaria, melatonin synchronizes the Plasmodium cell cycle via modulating cAMP-PKA and IP3-Ca2+ pathways. Thus, simultaneous administration of melatonin agonists or giving pharmacological doses of melatonin may be considered a novel approach for treatment of malarial infection.
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