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Swift RP, Rajaram K, Keutcha C, Liu HB, Kwan B, Dziedzic A, Jedlicka AE, Prigge ST. The NTP generating activity of pyruvate kinase II is critical for apicoplast maintenance in Plasmodium falciparum. eLife 2020; 9:e50807. [PMID: 32815516 PMCID: PMC7556864 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum parasites is believed to rely on the import of three-carbon phosphate compounds for use in organelle anabolic pathways, in addition to the generation of energy and reducing power within the organelle. We generated a series of genetic deletions in an apicoplast metabolic bypass line to determine which genes involved in apicoplast carbon metabolism are required for blood-stage parasite survival and organelle maintenance. We found that pyruvate kinase II (PyrKII) is essential for organelle maintenance, but that production of pyruvate by PyrKII is not responsible for this phenomenon. Enzymatic characterization of PyrKII revealed activity against all NDPs and dNDPs tested, suggesting that it may be capable of generating a broad range of nucleotide triphosphates. Conditional mislocalization of PyrKII resulted in decreased transcript levels within the apicoplast that preceded organelle disruption, suggesting that PyrKII is required for organelle maintenance due to its role in nucleotide triphosphate generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell P Swift
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Krithika Rajaram
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Cyrianne Keutcha
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Hans B Liu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Bobby Kwan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Amanda Dziedzic
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Anne E Jedlicka
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Sean T Prigge
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
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52
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Improvement of CRISPR/Cas9 system by transfecting Cas9-expressing Plasmodium berghei with linear donor template. Commun Biol 2020; 3:426. [PMID: 32759952 PMCID: PMC7406498 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01138-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites and is a major public health concern. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a promising technology, but still has technical problems, such as low efficiency and unexpected recombination. Here, we solved these problems by transfecting Cas9-expressing parasites with linear donor templates. The use of a linear donor template prevented unexpected recombination; in addition, constitutive expression of Cas9 enabled immediate cleavage of the target locus after transfection, allowing efficient integration of the donor template. Furthermore, due to the absence of the cNHEJ pathway, there were no off-target mutations in the resultant parasites. In addition, this developed method could be applied for multiple genetic modifications on different chromosomes and for large-scale chromosomal deletion in the subtelomeric region. Because of its robustness, high efficiency, and versatile applicability, we hope this method will be standard in the post-genomic era of Plasmodium species.
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53
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Defining multiplicity of vector uptake in transfected Plasmodium parasites. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10894. [PMID: 32616799 PMCID: PMC7331667 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67791-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The recurrent emergence of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum increases the urgency to genetically validate drug resistance mechanisms and identify new targets. Reverse genetics have facilitated genome-scale knockout screens in Plasmodium berghei and Toxoplasma gondii, in which pooled transfections of multiple vectors were critical to increasing scale and throughput. These approaches have not yet been implemented in human malaria species such as P. falciparum and P. knowlesi, in part because the extent to which pooled transfections can be performed in these species remains to be evaluated. Here we use next-generation sequencing to quantitate uptake of a pool of 94 barcoded vectors. The distribution of vector acquisition allowed us to estimate the number of barcodes and DNA molecules taken up by the parasite population. Dilution cloning of P. falciparum transfectants showed that individual clones possess as many as seven episomal barcodes, revealing that an intake of multiple vectors is a frequent event despite the inefficient transfection efficiency. Transfection of three spectrally-distinct fluorescent reporters allowed us to evaluate different transfection methods and revealed that schizont-stage transfection limited the tendency for parasites to take up multiple vectors. In contrast to P. falciparum, we observed that the higher transfection efficiency of P. knowlesi resulted in near complete representation of the library. These findings have important implications for how reverse genetics can be scaled in culturable Plasmodium species.
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54
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Three-dimensional ultrastructure of Plasmodium falciparum throughout cytokinesis. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008587. [PMID: 32511279 PMCID: PMC7302870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
New techniques for obtaining electron microscopy data through the cell volume are being increasingly utilized to answer cell biologic questions. Here, we present a three-dimensional atlas of Plasmodium falciparum ultrastructure throughout parasite cell division. Multiple wild type schizonts at different stages of segmentation, or budding, were imaged and rendered, and the 3D structure of their organelles and daughter cells are shown. Our high-resolution volume electron microscopy both confirms previously described features in 3D and adds new layers to our understanding of Plasmodium nuclear division. Interestingly, we demonstrate asynchrony of the final nuclear division, a process that had previously been reported as synchronous. Use of volume electron microscopy techniques for biological imaging is gaining prominence, and there is much we can learn from applying them to answer questions about Plasmodium cell biology. We provide this resource to encourage readers to consider adding these techniques to their cell biology toolbox.
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55
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Kirkman LA, Deitsch KW. Vive la Différence: Exploiting the Differences between Rodent and Human Malarias. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:504-511. [PMID: 32407681 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Experimental research into malaria biology and pathogenesis has historically focused on two model systems, in vitro culture of the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum and in vivo infections of laboratory animals using rodent parasites. While there is clear value in having a manipulatable animal model for studying malaria, there have occasionally been controversies around how representative the rodent model is of the human disease, and therefore significant emphasis has been placed on the similarities between the two biological systems. By focusing on basic nuclear functions, we wish to highlight that identifying key differences in the parasites and their interactions with their mammalian hosts can be equally informative and provide remarkable insights into the biology and evolution of these important infectious organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Kirkman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kirk W Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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56
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Polino AJ, Nasamu AS, Niles JC, Goldberg DE. Assessment of Biological Role and Insight into Druggability of the Plasmodium falciparum Protease Plasmepsin V. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:738-746. [PMID: 32069391 PMCID: PMC7155168 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Upon infecting a red blood cell (RBC), the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum drastically remodels its host by exporting hundreds of proteins into the RBC cytosol. This protein export program is essential for parasite survival. Hence export-related proteins could be potential drug targets. One essential enzyme in this pathway is plasmepsin V (PMV), an aspartic protease that processes export-destined proteins in the parasite endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at the Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif. Despite long-standing interest in this enzyme, functional studies have been hindered by the inability of previous technologies to produce a regulatable lethal depletion of PMV. To overcome this technical barrier, we designed a system for stringent post-transcriptional regulation allowing a tightly controlled, tunable knockdown of PMV. Using this system, we found that PMV must be dramatically depleted to affect parasite growth, suggesting the parasite maintains this enzyme in substantial excess. Surprisingly, depletion of PMV arrested parasite growth immediately after RBC invasion, significantly before the death from exported protein deficit that has previously been described. The data suggest that PMV inhibitors can halt parasite growth at two distinct points in the parasite life cycle. However, overcoming the functional excess of PMV in the parasite may require inhibitor concentrations far beyond the enzyme's IC50.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Polino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Armiyaw S Nasamu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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57
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Madariaga-Perpiñan I, Duque-Restrepo JC, Ayala-Ramirez P, García-Robles R. La edición del ADN. IATREIA 2020. [DOI: 10.17533/udea.iatreia.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dentro del mundo de las ciencias biológicas la terapia génica ha sido un tema llamativo desde su aparición. El desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías y avances en el campo de la bioingeniería como las nucleasas de dedos de zinc (ZFN), las nucleasas tipo activadores de transcripción (TALEN) y las repeticiones palindrómicas cortas agrupadas y regularmente interespaciadas (CRISPR/Cas9), abrieron las puertas a un sinnúmero de posibilidades en biología, entre ellas, la edición del genoma. Esta última consiste en la modificación directa del genoma a través de la introducción o escisión de secuencias nucleotídicas dentro de la hebra de ADN. Hoy en día su aplicación es extensa, desde el campo de la agroindustria y el control de plagas hasta el ámbito clínico con la “corrección” de enfermedades mendelianas, modulación de receptores inmunológicos en enfermedades infecciosas, modificaciones genéticas en líneas germinales, entre muchos otros empleos. Sin embargo, desde su descubrimiento en 1987, el sistema CRISPR/Cas9 no ha estado exento de polémica en aspectos bioéticos, la adquisición de su patente e, incluso, en cuanto a su eficacia. A pesar de las dificultades e incertidumbre que han surgido, el futuro del sistema es prometedor dada su sencillez y versatilidad de uso.
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58
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Hu D, Tang X, Ben Mamoun C, Wang C, Wang S, Gu X, Duan C, Zhang S, Suo J, Deng M, Yu Y, Suo X, Liu X. Efficient Single-Gene and Gene Family Editing in the Apicomplexan Parasite Eimeria tenella Using CRISPR-Cas9. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:128. [PMID: 32158750 PMCID: PMC7052334 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Eimeria species are pathogenic protozoa with a wide range of hosts and the cause of poultry coccidiosis, which results in huge economic losses to the poultry industry. These parasites encode a genome of ∼8000 genes that control a highly coordinated life cycle of asexual replication and sexual differentiation, transmission, and virulence. However, the function and physiological importance of the large majority of these genes remain unknown mostly due to the lack of tools for systematic analysis of gene functions. Here, we report the first application of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology in Eimeria tenella for analysis of gene function at a single gene level as well as for systematic functional analysis of an entire gene family. Using a transgenic line constitutively expressing Cas9, we demonstrated successful and efficient loss of function through non-homologous end joining as well as guided homologous recombination. Application of this approach to the study of the localization of EtGRA9 revealed that the gene encodes a secreted protein whose cellular distribution varied during the life cycle. Systematic disruption of the ApiAp2 transcription factor gene family using this approach revealed that 23 of the 33 factors expressed by this parasite are essential for development and survival in the host. Our data thus establish CRISPR-Cas9 as a powerful technology for gene editing in Eimeria and will set the stage for systematic functional analysis of its genome to understand its biology and pathogenesis, and will make it possible to identify and validate new targets for coccidiosis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinming Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Chaoyue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Si Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolong Gu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunhui Duan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Sixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxia Suo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Miner Deng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yonglan Yu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xun Suo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianyong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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59
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Batista FA, Gyau B, Vilacha JF, Bosch SS, Lunev S, Wrenger C, Groves MR. New directions in antimalarial target validation. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:189-202. [PMID: 31959021 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1691996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Malaria is one of the most prevalent human infections worldwide with over 40% of the world's population living in malaria-endemic areas. In the absence of an effective vaccine, emergence of drug-resistant strains requires urgent drug development. Current methods applied to drug target validation, a crucial step in drug discovery, possess limitations in malaria. These constraints require the development of techniques capable of simplifying the validation of Plasmodial targets.Areas covered: The authors review the current state of the art in techniques used to validate drug targets in malaria, including our contribution - the protein interference assay (PIA) - as an additional tool in rapid in vivo target validation.Expert opinion: Each technique in this review has advantages and disadvantages, implying that future validation efforts should not focus on a single approach, but integrate multiple approaches. PIA is a significant addition to the current toolset of antimalarial validation. Validation of aspartate metabolism as a druggable pathway provided proof of concept of how oligomeric interfaces can be exploited to control specific activity in vivo. PIA has the potential to be applied not only to other enzymes/pathways of the malaria parasite but could, in principle, be extrapolated to other infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando A Batista
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Benjamin Gyau
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Juliana F Vilacha
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Soraya S Bosch
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergey Lunev
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matthew R Groves
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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60
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Kümpornsin K, Kochakarn T, Chookajorn T. The resistome and genomic reconnaissance in the age of malaria elimination. Dis Model Mech 2019; 12:12/12/dmm040717. [PMID: 31874839 PMCID: PMC6955228 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.040717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasitic protozoa in the Plasmodium genus. A complete understanding of the biology of these parasites is challenging in view of their need to switch between the vertebrate and insect hosts. The parasites are also capable of becoming highly motile and of remaining dormant for decades, depending on the stage of their life cycle. Malaria elimination efforts have been implemented in several endemic countries, but the parasites have proven to be resilient. One of the major obstacles for malaria elimination is the development of antimalarial drug resistance. Ineffective treatment regimens will fail to remove the circulating parasites and to prevent the local transmission of the disease. Genomic epidemiology of malaria parasites has become a powerful tool to track emerging drug-resistant parasite populations almost in real time. Population-scale genomic data are instrumental in tracking the hidden pockets of Plasmodium in nationwide elimination efforts. However, genomic surveillance data can be useful in determining the threat only when combined with a thorough understanding of the malarial resistome – the genetic repertoires responsible for causing and potentiating drug resistance evolution. Even though long-term selection has been a standard method for drug target identification in laboratories, its implementation in large-scale exploration of the druggable space in Plasmodium falciparum, along with genome-editing technologies, have enabled mapping of the genetic repertoires that drive drug resistance. This Review presents examples of practical use and describes the latest technology to show the power of real-time genomic epidemiology in achieving malaria elimination. Summary: This Review discusses the challenges in malaria elimination and how implementation of national-scale genomic surveillance programmes in combination with resistome analyses could provide a powerful solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krittikorn Kümpornsin
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Theerarat Kochakarn
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Thanat Chookajorn
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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61
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The Metabolite Repair Enzyme Phosphoglycolate Phosphatase Regulates Central Carbon Metabolism and Fosmidomycin Sensitivity in Plasmodium falciparum. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.02060-19. [PMID: 31822583 PMCID: PMC6904873 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02060-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite has a voracious appetite, requiring large amounts of glucose and nutrients for its rapid growth and proliferation inside human red blood cells. The host cell is resource rich, but this is a double-edged sword; nutrient excess can lead to undesirable metabolic reactions and harmful by-products. Here, we demonstrate that the parasite possesses a metabolite repair enzyme (PGP) that suppresses harmful metabolic by-products (via substrate dephosphorylation) and allows the parasite to maintain central carbon metabolism. Loss of PGP leads to the accumulation of two damaged metabolites and causes a domino effect of metabolic dysregulation. Accumulation of one damaged metabolite inhibits an essential enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, leading to substrate accumulation and secondary inhibition of glycolysis. This work highlights how the parasite coordinates metabolic flux by eliminating harmful metabolic by-products to ensure rapid proliferation in its resource-rich niche. Members of the haloacid dehalogenase (HAD) family of metabolite phosphatases play an important role in regulating multiple pathways in Plasmodium falciparum central carbon metabolism. We show that the P. falciparum HAD protein, phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP), regulates glycolysis and pentose pathway flux in asexual blood stages via detoxifying the damaged metabolite 4-phosphoerythronate (4-PE). Disruption of the P. falciparumpgp gene caused accumulation of two previously uncharacterized metabolites, 2-phospholactate and 4-PE. 4-PE is a putative side product of the glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and its accumulation inhibits the pentose phosphate pathway enzyme, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD). Inhibition of 6-PGD by 4-PE leads to an unexpected feedback response that includes increased flux into the pentose phosphate pathway as a result of partial inhibition of upper glycolysis, with concomitant increased sensitivity to antimalarials that target pathways downstream of glycolysis. These results highlight the role of metabolite detoxification in regulating central carbon metabolism and drug sensitivity of the malaria parasite.
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62
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Narula AK, Azad CS, Nainwal LM. New dimensions in the field of antimalarial research against malaria resurgence. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 181:111353. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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63
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Lee MCS, Lindner SE, Lopez-Rubio JJ, Llinás M. Cutting back malaria: CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of Plasmodium. Brief Funct Genomics 2019; 18:281-289. [PMID: 31365053 PMCID: PMC6859820 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 approaches are revolutionizing our ability to perform functional genomics across a wide range of organisms, including the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. The ability to deliver single point mutations, epitope tags and gene deletions at increased speed and scale is enabling our understanding of the biology of these complex parasites, and pointing to potential new therapeutic targets. In this review, we describe some of the biological and technical considerations for designing CRISPR-based experiments, and discuss potential future developments that broaden the applications for CRISPR/Cas9 interrogation of the malaria parasite genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus C S Lee
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Scott E Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jose-Juan Lopez-Rubio
- Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR5235 CNRS, INSERM, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
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64
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CRISPR-Cas9 system: A new-fangled dawn in gene editing. Life Sci 2019; 232:116636. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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65
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Shapiro RS, Chavez A, Collins JJ. CRISPR-based genomic tools for the manipulation of genetically intractable microorganisms. Nat Rev Microbiol 2019; 16:333-339. [PMID: 29599458 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-018-0002-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Genetic manipulation of microorganisms has been crucial in understanding their biology, yet for many microbial species, robust tools for comprehensive genetic analysis were lacking until the advent of CRISPR-Cas-based gene editing techniques. In this Progress article, we discuss advances in CRISPR-based techniques for the genetic analysis of genetically intractable microorganisms, with an emphasis on mycobacteria, fungi and parasites. We discuss how CRISPR-based analyses in these organisms have enabled the discovery of novel gene functions, the investigation of genetic interaction networks and the identification of virulence factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Shapiro
- Department of Biological Engineering, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alejandro Chavez
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Department of Biological Engineering, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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66
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Sexton AE, Doerig C, Creek DJ, Carvalho TG. Post-Genomic Approaches to Understanding Malaria Parasite Biology: Linking Genes to Biological Functions. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1269-1278. [PMID: 31243988 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium species are evolutionarily distant from model eukaryotes, and as a consequence they exhibit many non-canonical cellular processes. In the post-genomic era, functional "omics" disciplines (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) have accelerated our understanding of unique aspects of the biology of malaria parasites. Functional "omics" tools, in combination with genetic manipulations, have offered new opportunities to investigate the function of previously uncharacterized genes. Knowledge of basic parasite biology is fundamental to understanding drug modes of action, mechanisms of drug resistance, and relevance of vaccine candidates. This Perspective highlights recent "omics"-based discoveries in basic biology and gene function of the most virulent human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E. Sexton
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- Centre for Chronic, Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases, Biomedical Sciences Cluster, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, 264 Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Teresa G. Carvalho
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
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67
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Xu R, Liu Y, Fan R, Liang R, Yue L, Liu S, Su XZ, Li J. Generation and functional characterisation of Plasmodium yoelii csp deletion mutants using a microhomology-based CRISPR/Cas9 method. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:705-714. [PMID: 31202685 PMCID: PMC10993195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing method that has greatly facilitated functional studies in many eukaryotic organisms including malaria parasites. Due to the lack of genes encoding enzymes necessary for the non-homologous end joining DNA repair pathway, genetic manipulation of malaria parasite genomes is generally accomplished through homologous recombination requiring the presence of DNA templates. Recently, an alternative double-strand break repair pathway, microhomology-mediated end joining, was found in the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Taking advantage of the MMEJ pathway, we developed a MMEJ-based CRISPR/Cas9 (mCRISPR) strategy to efficiently generate multiple mutant parasites simultaneously in genes with repetitive sequences. As a proof of principle, we successfully produced various size mutants in the central repeat region of the Plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite surface protein without the use of template DNA. Monitoring mixed parasite populations and individual parasites with different sizes of CSP-CRR showed that the CSP-CRR plays a role in the development of mosquito stages, with severe developmental defects in parasites with large deletions in the repeat region. However, the majority of the csp mutant parasite clones grew similarly to the wild type P. yoelii 17XL parasite in mice. This study develops a useful technique to efficiently generate mutant parasites with deletions or insertions, and shows that the CSP-CRR plays a role in parasite development in mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yanjing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Ruoxi Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Rui Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Lixia Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Shengfa Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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68
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Schlott AC, Mayclin S, Reers AR, Coburn-Flynn O, Bell AS, Green J, Knuepfer E, Charter D, Bonnert R, Campo B, Burrows J, Lyons-Abbott S, Staker BL, Chung CW, Myler PJ, Fidock DA, Tate EW, Holder AA. Structure-Guided Identification of Resistance Breaking Antimalarial N‑Myristoyltransferase Inhibitors. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:991-1000.e7. [PMID: 31080074 PMCID: PMC6658617 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The attachment of myristate to the N-terminal glycine of certain proteins is largely a co-translational modification catalyzed by N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), and involved in protein membrane-localization. Pathogen NMT is a validated therapeutic target in numerous infectious diseases including malaria. In Plasmodium falciparum, NMT substrates are important in essential processes including parasite gliding motility and host cell invasion. Here, we generated parasites resistant to a particular NMT inhibitor series and show that resistance in an in vitro parasite growth assay is mediated by a single amino acid substitution in the NMT substrate-binding pocket. The basis of resistance was validated and analyzed with a structure-guided approach using crystallography, in combination with enzyme activity, stability, and surface plasmon resonance assays, allowing identification of another inhibitor series unaffected by this substitution. We suggest that resistance studies incorporated early in the drug development process help selection of drug combinations to impede rapid evolution of parasite resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja C Schlott
- Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College, White City Campus Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK.
| | - Stephen Mayclin
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA 98109, USA; UCB Pharma, 7869 NE Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
| | - Alexandra R Reers
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, USA
| | - Olivia Coburn-Flynn
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Andrew S Bell
- Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College, White City Campus Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Judith Green
- Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ellen Knuepfer
- Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - David Charter
- Structural and Biophysical Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Roger Bonnert
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy Burrows
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Post Box 1826, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Sally Lyons-Abbott
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, USA
| | - Bart L Staker
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, USA
| | - Chun-Wa Chung
- Structural and Biophysical Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK; Crick-GSK Biomedical LinkLabs, GSK Medicines Research Centre, Stevenage, UK
| | - Peter J Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics & Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Edward W Tate
- Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College, White City Campus Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK.
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69
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Arnot DE. Tying up Loose Ends in the Malaria Antigenic Variation Story. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:588-590. [PMID: 31266710 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A recent paper (Zhang et al., PLoS Biol., 2019) shines remarkable new light onto the malaria antigenic variation story. Using CRISPR/Cas9-targeted chromosome breaks and long-read whole-genome sequencing, they followed the fate of detached subtelomeric PfEMP1/var genes and demonstrated that these initiate cascades of recombination at sites far from the original break.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Arnot
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh (ZJE) Institute and Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China.
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70
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Mohring F, Hart MN, Rawlinson TA, Henrici R, Charleston JA, Diez Benavente E, Patel A, Hall J, Almond N, Campino S, Clark TG, Sutherland CJ, Baker DA, Draper SJ, Moon RW. Rapid and iterative genome editing in the malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi provides new tools for P. vivax research. eLife 2019; 8:45829. [PMID: 31205002 PMCID: PMC6579517 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tackling relapsing Plasmodium vivax and zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi infections is critical to reducing malaria incidence and mortality worldwide. Understanding the biology of these important and related parasites was previously constrained by the lack of robust molecular and genetic approaches. Here, we establish CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in a culture-adapted P. knowlesi strain and define parameters for optimal homology-driven repair. We establish a scalable protocol for the production of repair templates by PCR and demonstrate the flexibility of the system by tagging proteins with distinct cellular localisations. Using iterative rounds of genome-editing we generate a transgenic line expressing P. vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP), a lead vaccine candidate. We demonstrate that PvDBP plays no role in reticulocyte restriction but can alter the macaque/human host cell tropism of P. knowlesi. Critically, antibodies raised against the P. vivax antigen potently inhibit proliferation of this strain, providing an invaluable tool to support vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Mohring
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa Natalie Hart
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ryan Henrici
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - James A Charleston
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Hall
- Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Almond
- Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Susana Campino
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Taane G Clark
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Colin J Sutherland
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J Draper
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert William Moon
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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71
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Walker MP, Lindner SE. Ribozyme-mediated, multiplex CRISPR gene editing and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) in rodent-infectious Plasmodium yoelii. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:9555-9566. [PMID: 31043479 PMCID: PMC6579477 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.007121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a major global health issue, affecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands of people annually. Efforts to break the transmission cycle of the causal Plasmodium parasite, and to cure those that are afflicted, rely upon functional characterization of genes essential to the parasite's growth and development. These studies are often based upon manipulations of the parasite genome to disrupt or modify a gene of interest to understand its importance and function. However, these approaches can be limited by the availability of selectable markers and the time required to generate transgenic parasites. Moreover, there also is a risk of disrupting native gene regulatory elements with the introduction of exogenous sequences. To address these limitations, we have developed CRISPR-RGR, a Streptococcus pyogenes (Sp)Cas9-based gene editing system for Plasmodium that utilizes a ribozyme-guide-ribozyme (RGR) single guide RNA (sgRNA) expression strategy with RNA polymerase II promoters. Using rodent-infectious Plasmodium yoelii, we demonstrate that both gene disruptions and coding sequence insertions are efficiently generated, producing marker-free parasites with homology arms as short as 80-100 bp. Additionally, we find that the common practice of using one sgRNA can produce both unintended plasmid integration and desired locus replacement editing events, whereas the use of two sgRNAs results in only locus replacement editing. Lastly, we show that CRISPR-RGR can be used for CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) by binding catalytically dead SpCas9 (dSpCas9) to the region upstream of a gene of interest, resulting in a position-dependent, but strand-independent reduction in gene expression. This robust and flexible system facilitates efficient genetic characterizations of rodent-infectious Plasmodium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Walker
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
| | - Scott E Lindner
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
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72
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Abstract
Babesia bovis, the most virulent causative agent of bovine babesiosis, is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although the whole-genome sequence was released more than a decade ago, functional analysis of the genomics of this parasite is hampered by the limited breadth of genetic engineering tools. In this study, we implemented the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 system for B. bovis and demonstrated its potential for genome editing. Cas9 and human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) were simultaneously expressed by the B. bovis elongation factor-1α bidirectional promoter, and a single guide RNA was expressed via the B. bovis U6 spliceosomal RNA promoter. Using a single plasmid construct, we were able to add an epitope tag to spherical body protein 3 (SBP3), introduce a point mutation into thioredoxin peroxidase 1 (tpx-1) to impair the function of the product, and replace the tpx-1 open reading frame with the other protein. Epitope tagging of SBP3 was efficient using this system, with a negligible number of remaining wild-type parasites and a pure transgenic population produced by allelic replacement of tpx-1 This advancement in genetic engineering tools for B. bovis will aid functional analysis of the genome and underpin characterization of candidate drug and vaccine targets.IMPORTANCE Babesia bovis is the most virulent cause of bovine babesiosis worldwide. The disease consequences are death, abortion, and economical loss due to reduced milk and meat production. Available vaccines are not effective, treatment options are limited, and emergence of drug and acaricide resistance has been reported from different regions. There is an urgent need to identify new drug and vaccine targets. Greater than half of the genes in B. bovis genome, including several expanded gene families which are unique for Babesia spp., have no predicted function. The available genetic engineering tools are based on conventional homologous recombination, which is time-consuming and inefficient. In this study, we adapted the CRISPR/Cas9 system as a robust genetic engineering tool for B. bovis This advancement will aid future functional studies of uncharacterized genes.
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73
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Bryant JM, Baumgarten S, Glover L, Hutchinson S, Rachidi N. CRISPR in Parasitology: Not Exactly Cut and Dried! Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:409-422. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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74
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Zhang X, Alexander N, Leonardi I, Mason C, Kirkman LA, Deitsch KW. Rapid antigen diversification through mitotic recombination in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000271. [PMID: 31083650 PMCID: PMC6532940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites possess the remarkable ability to maintain chronic infections that fail to elicit a protective immune response, characteristics that have stymied vaccine development and cause people living in endemic regions to remain at risk of malaria despite previous exposure to the disease. These traits stem from the tremendous antigenic diversity displayed by parasites circulating in the field. For Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent of the human malaria parasites, this diversity is exemplified by the variant gene family called var, which encodes the major surface antigen displayed on infected red blood cells (RBCs). This gene family exhibits virtually limitless diversity when var gene repertoires from different parasite isolates are compared. Previous studies indicated that this remarkable genome plasticity results from extensive ectopic recombination between var genes during mitotic replication; however, the molecular mechanisms that direct this process to antigen-encoding loci while the rest of the genome remains relatively stable were not determined. Using targeted DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and long-read whole-genome sequencing, we show that a single break within an antigen-encoding region of the genome can result in a cascade of recombination events leading to the generation of multiple chimeric var genes, a process that can greatly accelerate the generation of diversity within this family. We also found that recombinations did not occur randomly, but rather high-probability, specific recombination products were observed repeatedly. These results provide a molecular basis for previously described structured rearrangements that drive diversification of this highly polymorphic gene family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Noah Alexander
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Irina Leonardi
- Jill Roberts Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Christopher Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Laura A. Kirkman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kirk W. Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Our bodies are colonized by a complex ecosystem of bacteria, unicellular eukaryotes and their viruses that together play a major role in our health. Over the past few years tools derived from the prokaryotic immune system known as CRISPR-Cas have empowered researchers to modify and study organisms with unprecedented ease and efficiency. Here we discuss how various types of CRISPR-Cas systems can be used to modify the genome of gut microorganisms and bacteriophages. CRISPR-Cas systems can also be delivered to bacterial population and programmed to specifically eliminate members of the microbiome. Finally, engineered CRISPR-Cas systems can be used to control gene expression and modulate the production of metabolites and proteins. Together these tools provide exciting opportunities to investigate the complex interplay between members of the microbiome and our bodies, and present new avenues for the development of drugs that target the microbiome. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The ecology and evolution of prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Bikard
- Synthetic Biology Group, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France
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76
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Rodríguez-Rodríguez DR, Ramírez-Solís R, Garza-Elizondo MA, Garza-Rodríguez MDL, Barrera-Saldaña HA. Genome editing: A perspective on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 to study human diseases (Review). Int J Mol Med 2019; 43:1559-1574. [PMID: 30816503 PMCID: PMC6414166 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome editing reemerged in 2012 with the development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which is a genetic manipulation tool derived from the defense system of certain bacteria against viruses and plasmids. This method is easy to apply and has been used in a wide variety of experimental models, including cell lines, laboratory animals, plants, and even in human clinical trials. The CRISPR/Cas9 system consists of directing the Cas9 nuclease to create a site-directed double-strand DNA break using a small RNA molecule as a guide. A process that allows a permanent modification of the genomic target sequence can repair the damage caused to DNA. In the present study, the basic principles of the CRISPR/Cas9 system are reviewed, as well as the strategies and modifications of the enzyme Cas9 to eliminate the off-target cuts, and the different applications of CRISPR/Cas9 as a system for visualization and gene expression activation or suppression. In addition, the review emphasizes on the potential application of this system in the treatment of different diseases, such as pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hematologic, immune system, viral, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Raquel Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and University Hospital 'Dr. José E. González', Monterrey, Nuevo León 64460, México
| | - Ramiro Ramírez-Solís
- Institutional Core Laboratories, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Mario Alberto Garza-Elizondo
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Service of Rheumatology, School of Medicine and University Hospital 'Dr. José E. González', Monterrey, Nuevo León 64460, México
| | - María De Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and University Hospital 'Dr. José E. González', Monterrey, Nuevo León 64460, México
| | - Hugo Alberto Barrera-Saldaña
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and University Hospital 'Dr. José E. González', Monterrey, Nuevo León 64460, México
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77
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Tang Y, Meister TR, Walczak M, Pulkoski-Gross MJ, Hari SB, Sauer RT, Amberg-Johnson K, Yeh E. A mutagenesis screen for essential plastid biogenesis genes in human malaria parasites. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000136. [PMID: 30726238 PMCID: PMC6380595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Endosymbiosis has driven major molecular and cellular innovations. Plasmodium spp. parasites that cause malaria contain an essential, non-photosynthetic plastid-the apicoplast-which originated from a secondary (eukaryote-eukaryote) endosymbiosis. To discover organellar pathways with evolutionary and biomedical significance, we performed a mutagenesis screen for essential genes required for apicoplast biogenesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Apicoplast(-) mutants were isolated using a chemical rescue that permits conditional disruption of the apicoplast and a new fluorescent reporter for organelle loss. Five candidate genes were validated (out of 12 identified), including a triosephosphate isomerase (TIM)-barrel protein that likely derived from a core metabolic enzyme but evolved a new activity. Our results demonstrate, to our knowledge, the first forward genetic screen to assign essential cellular functions to unannotated P. falciparum genes. A putative TIM-barrel enzyme and other newly identified apicoplast biogenesis proteins open opportunities to discover new mechanisms of organelle biogenesis, molecular evolution underlying eukaryotic diversity, and drug targets against multiple parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas R. Meister
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Marta Walczak
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Pulkoski-Gross
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Sanjay B. Hari
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robert T. Sauer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Katherine Amberg-Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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78
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Boucher MJ, Yeh E. Disruption of Apicoplast Biogenesis by Chemical Stabilization of an Imported Protein Evades the Delayed-Death Phenotype in Malaria Parasites. mSphere 2019; 4:e00710-18. [PMID: 30674649 PMCID: PMC6344605 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00710-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) contain a nonphotosynthetic plastid organelle called the apicoplast, which houses essential metabolic pathways and is required throughout the parasite life cycle. The biogenesis pathways responsible for apicoplast growth, division, and inheritance are of key interest as potential drug targets. Unfortunately, several known apicoplast biogenesis inhibitors are of limited clinical utility because they cause a peculiar "delayed-death" phenotype in which parasites do not stop replicating until the second lytic cycle posttreatment. Identifying apicoplast biogenesis pathways that avoid the delayed-death phenomenon is a priority. Here, we generated parasites targeting a murine dihydrofolate reductase (mDHFR) domain, which can be conditionally stabilized with the compound WR99210, to the apicoplast. Surprisingly, chemical stabilization of this exogenous fusion protein disrupted parasite growth in an apicoplast-specific manner after a single lytic cycle. WR99210-treated parasites exhibited an apicoplast biogenesis defect beginning within the same lytic cycle as drug treatment, indicating that stabilized mDHFR perturbs a non-delayed-death biogenesis pathway. While the precise mechanism-of-action of the stabilized fusion is still unclear, we hypothesize that it inhibits apicoplast protein import by stalling within and blocking translocons in the apicoplast membranes.IMPORTANCE Malaria is a major cause of global childhood mortality. To sustain progress in disease control made in the last decade, new antimalarial therapies are needed to combat emerging drug resistance. Malaria parasites contain a relict chloroplast called the apicoplast, which harbors new targets for drug discovery. Unfortunately, some drugs targeting apicoplast pathways exhibit a delayed-death phenotype, which results in a slow onset-of-action that precludes their use as fast-acting, frontline therapies. Identification of druggable apicoplast biogenesis factors that will avoid the delayed-death phenotype is an important priority. Here, we find that chemical stabilization of an apicoplast-targeted mDHFR domain disrupts apicoplast biogenesis and inhibits parasite growth after a single lytic cycle, suggesting a non-delayed-death target. Our finding indicates that further interrogation of the mechanism-of-action of this exogenous fusion protein may reveal novel therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Boucher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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79
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Ng CL, Fidock DA. Plasmodium falciparum In Vitro Drug Resistance Selections and Gene Editing. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2013:123-140. [PMID: 31267498 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9550-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Malaria continues to be a global health burden, threatening over 40% of the world's population. Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, the etiological agent of the majority of human malaria cases, is compromising elimination efforts. New approaches to treating drug-resistant malaria benefit from defining resistance liabilities of known antimalarial agents and compounds in development and defining genetic changes that mediate loss of parasite susceptibility. Here, we present protocols for in vitro selection of drug-resistant parasites and for site-directed gene editing of candidate resistance mediators to test for causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline L Ng
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. .,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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80
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Abstract
Genetic manipulation remains a major obstacle for understanding the functional genomics of the deadliest malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum Although the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated protein 9) system has been successfully applied to introduce permanent changes in the parasite genome, its use is still limited. Here we show that fusing different epigenetic effector domains to a Cas9 null mutant efficiently and specifically reprograms the expression of target genes in P. falciparum By precisely writing and erasing histone acetylation at the transcription start site regions of the invasion-related genes reticulocyte binding protein homolog 4 (rh4) and erythrocyte binding protein 175 (eba-175), respectively, we achieved significant activation of rh4 and repression of eba-175, leading to the switch of the parasite invasion pathways into human erythrocytes. By using the epigenetic knockdown system, we have also characterized the effects of PfSET1, previously identified as an essential gene, on expression of mainly trophozoite- and schizont-specific genes, and therefore regulation of the growth of the mature forms of P. falciparum This epigenetic CRISPR/dCas9 system provides a powerful approach for regulating gene expression at the transcriptional level in P. falciparum.
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81
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Mutations in Plasmodium falciparum actin-binding protein coronin confer reduced artemisinin susceptibility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:12799-12804. [PMID: 30420498 PMCID: PMC6294886 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812317115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of Plasmodium falciparum with reduced susceptibility to artemisinin (ART) in Southeast Asia threatens global malaria control. Most failures of ART treatment are attributed to mutations in the pfkelch13 locus acting through an unclear mechanism. The role of pfkelch13 in reducing ART susceptibility was first identified in an in vitro selection experiment. We carried out a similar in vitro selection and discovered mutations in a different gene that reduce susceptibility to ART. The gene encodes PfCoronin, a conserved protein that in other organisms binds with actin to enhance cytoskeletal plasticity or is involved in vesicular transport. PfCoronin and PfKelch13 share structural similarities, and this finding may yield insights into the molecular mechanisms of ART resistance. Drug resistance is an obstacle to global malaria control, as evidenced by the recent emergence and rapid spread of delayed artemisinin (ART) clearance by mutant forms of the PfKelch13 protein in Southeast Asia. Identifying genetic determinants of ART resistance in African-derived parasites is important for surveillance and for understanding the mechanism of resistance. In this study, we carried out long-term in vitro selection of two recently isolated West African parasites (from Pikine and Thiès, Senegal) with increasing concentrations of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the biologically active form of ART, over a 4-y period. We isolated two parasite clones, one from each original isolate, that exhibited enhanced survival to DHA in the ring-stage survival assay. Whole-genome sequence analysis identified 10 mutations in seven different genes. We chose to focus on the gene encoding PfCoronin, a member of the WD40-propeller domain protein family, because mutations in this gene occurred in both independent selections, and the protein shares the β-propeller motif with PfKelch13 protein. For functional validation, when pfcoronin mutations were introduced into the parental parasites by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, these mutations were sufficient to reduce ART susceptibility in the parental lines. The discovery of a second gene for ART resistance may yield insights into the molecular mechanisms of resistance. It also suggests that pfcoronin mutants could emerge as a nonkelch13 type of resistance to ART in natural settings.
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82
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Balabaskaran-Nina P, Desai SA. Diverse target gene modifications in Plasmodium falciparum using Bxb1 integrase and an intronic attB. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:548. [PMID: 30333047 PMCID: PMC6192176 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3129-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic manipulation of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is needed to explore pathogen biology and evaluate antimalarial targets. It is, however, aggravated by a low transfection efficiency, a paucity of selectable markers and a biased A/T-rich genome. While various enabling technologies have been introduced over the past two decades, facile and broad-range modification of essential genes remains challenging. We recently devised a new application of the Bxb1 integrase strategy to meet this need through an intronic attB sequence within the gene of interest. Although this attB is silent and without effect on intron splicing or protein translation and function, it allows efficient gene modification with minimal risk of unwanted changes at other genomic sites. We describe the range of applications for this new method as well as specific cases where it is preferred over CRISPR-Cas9 and other technologies. The advantages and limitations of various strategies for endogenous gene editing are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Balabaskaran-Nina
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.,Present Address: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | - Sanjay A Desai
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
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83
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Vasquez JJ, Wedel C, Cosentino RO, Siegel TN. Exploiting CRISPR-Cas9 technology to investigate individual histone modifications. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:e106. [PMID: 29912461 PMCID: PMC6182134 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their importance for most DNA-templated processes, the function of individual histone modifications has remained largely unknown because in vivo mutational analyses are lacking. The reason for this is that histone genes are encoded by multigene families and that tools to simultaneously edit multiple genomic loci with high efficiency are only now becoming available. To overcome these challenges, we have taken advantage of the power of CRISPR-Cas9 for precise genome editing and of the fact that most DNA repair in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei occurs via homologous recombination. By establishing an episome-based CRISPR-Cas9 system for T. brucei, we have edited wild type cells without inserting selectable markers, inserted a GFP tag between an ORF and its 3'UTR, deleted both alleles of a gene in a single transfection, and performed precise editing of genes that exist in multicopy arrays, replacing histone H4K4 with H4R4 in the absence of detectable off-target effects. The newly established genome editing toolbox allows for the generation of precise mutants without needing to change other regions of the genome, opening up opportunities to study the role of individual histone modifications, catalytic sites of enzymes or the regulatory potential of UTRs in their endogenous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-José Vasquez
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Wedel
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Raul O Cosentino
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80752 Munich, Germany
- Biomedical Center Munich, Department of Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - T Nicolai Siegel
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80752 Munich, Germany
- Biomedical Center Munich, Department of Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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84
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Payungwoung T, Shinzawa N, Hino A, Nishi T, Murata Y, Yuda M, Iwanaga S. CRISPR/Cas9 system in Plasmodium falciparum using the centromere plasmid. Parasitol Int 2018; 67:605-608. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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85
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Kudyba HM, Cobb DW, Florentin A, Krakowiak M, Muralidharan V. CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing to Make Conditional Mutants of Human Malaria Parasite P. falciparum. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30295650 DOI: 10.3791/57747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This disease, which primarily affects those living in tropical and subtropical regions, is caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites. The development of more effective drugs to combat malaria can be accelerated by improving our understanding of the biology of this complex parasite. Genetic manipulation of these parasites is key to understanding their biology; however, historically the genome of P. falciparum has been difficult to manipulate. Recently, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has been utilized in malaria parasites, allowing for easier protein tagging, generation of conditional protein knockdowns, and deletion of genes. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has proven to be a powerful tool for advancing the field of malaria research. Here, we describe a CRISPR/Cas9 method for generating glmS-based conditional knockdown mutants in P. falciparum. This method is highly adaptable to other types of genetic manipulations, including protein tagging and gene knockouts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Kudyba
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia
| | - David W Cobb
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia
| | - Anat Florentin
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia
| | | | - Vasant Muralidharan
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia;
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86
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Ribeiro JM, Garriga M, Potchen N, Crater AK, Gupta A, Ito D, Desai SA. Guide RNA selection for CRISPR-Cas9 transfections in Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:825-832. [PMID: 29906414 PMCID: PMC9093057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing is addressing key limitations in the transfection of malaria parasites. While this method has already simplified the needed molecular cloning and reduced the time required to generate mutants in the human pathogen Plasmodium falciparum, optimal selection of required guide RNAs and guidelines for successful transfections have not been well characterised, leading workers to use time-consuming trial and error approaches. We used a genome-wide computational approach to create a comprehensive and publicly accessible database of possible guide RNA sequences in the P. falciparum genome. For each guide, we report on-target efficiency and specificity scores as well as information about the genomic site relevant to optimal design of CRISPR-Cas9 transfections to modify, disrupt, or conditionally knockdown any gene. As many antimalarial drug and vaccine targets are encoded by multigene families, we also developed a new paralog specificity score that should facilitate modification of either a single family member of interest or multiple paralogs that serve overlapping roles. Finally, we tabulated features of successful transfections in our laboratory, providing broadly useful guidelines for parasite transfections. Molecular studies aimed at understanding parasite biology or characterising drug and vaccine targets in P. falciparum should be facilitated by this comprehensive database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Ribeiro
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Meera Garriga
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Nicole Potchen
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Anna K Crater
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Ankit Gupta
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Daisuke Ito
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Sanjay A Desai
- The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
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87
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Boucher MJ, Ghosh S, Zhang L, Lal A, Jang SW, Ju A, Zhang S, Wang X, Ralph SA, Zou J, Elias JE, Yeh E. Integrative proteomics and bioinformatic prediction enable a high-confidence apicoplast proteome in malaria parasites. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005895. [PMID: 30212465 PMCID: PMC6155542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) and related apicomplexan pathogens contain a nonphotosynthetic plastid called the apicoplast. Derived from an unusual secondary eukaryote-eukaryote endosymbiosis, the apicoplast is a fascinating organelle whose function and biogenesis rely on a complex amalgamation of bacterial and algal pathways. Because these pathways are distinct from the human host, the apicoplast is an excellent source of novel antimalarial targets. Despite its biomedical importance and evolutionary significance, the absence of a reliable apicoplast proteome has limited most studies to the handful of pathways identified by homology to bacteria or primary chloroplasts, precluding our ability to study the most novel apicoplast pathways. Here, we combine proximity biotinylation-based proteomics (BioID) and a new machine learning algorithm to generate a high-confidence apicoplast proteome consisting of 346 proteins. Critically, the high accuracy of this proteome significantly outperforms previous prediction-based methods and extends beyond other BioID studies of unique parasite compartments. Half of identified proteins have unknown function, and 77% are predicted to be important for normal blood-stage growth. We validate the apicoplast localization of a subset of novel proteins and show that an ATP-binding cassette protein ABCF1 is essential for blood-stage survival and plays a previously unknown role in apicoplast biogenesis. These findings indicate critical organellar functions for newly discovered apicoplast proteins. The apicoplast proteome will be an important resource for elucidating unique pathways derived from secondary endosymbiosis and prioritizing antimalarial drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Boucher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Sreejoyee Ghosh
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Lichao Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Avantika Lal
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Se Won Jang
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - An Ju
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Shuying Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Xinzi Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Stuart A. Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - James Zou
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Joshua E. Elias
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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88
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Zhang M, Wang C, Otto TD, Oberstaller J, Liao X, Adapa SR, Udenze K, Bronner IF, Casandra D, Mayho M, Brown J, Li S, Swanson J, Rayner JC, Jiang RHY, Adams JH. Uncovering the essential genes of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum by saturation mutagenesis. Science 2018; 360:360/6388/eaap7847. [PMID: 29724925 DOI: 10.1126/science.aap7847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 537] [Impact Index Per Article: 89.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Severe malaria is caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Despite decades of research, the distinct biology of these parasites has made it challenging to establish high-throughput genetic approaches to identify and prioritize therapeutic targets. Using transposon mutagenesis of P. falciparum in an approach that exploited its AT-rich genome, we generated more than 38,000 mutants, saturating the genome and defining mutability and fitness costs for over 87% of genes. Of 5399 genes, our study defined 2680 genes as essential for optimal growth of asexual blood stages in vitro. These essential genes are associated with drug resistance, represent leading vaccine candidates, and include approximately 1000 Plasmodium-conserved genes of unknown function. We validated this approach by testing proteasome pathways for individual mutants associated with artemisinin sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Thomas D Otto
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Xiangyun Liao
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Swamy R Adapa
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Kenneth Udenze
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Iraad F Bronner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Deborah Casandra
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Matthew Mayho
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jacqueline Brown
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Suzanne Li
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Justin Swanson
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Rays H Y Jiang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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89
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Qian P, Wang X, Yang Z, Li Z, Gao H, Su XZ, Cui H, Yuan J. A Cas9 transgenic Plasmodium yoelii parasite for efficient gene editing. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 222:21-28. [PMID: 29684399 PMCID: PMC11002757 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 has applied as an efficient gene-editing method in malaria parasite Plasmodium. However, the size (4.2 kb) of the commonly used Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) limits its utility for genome editing in the parasites only introduced with cas9 plasmid. To establish the endogenous and constitutive expression of Cas9 protein in the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii, we replaced the coding region of an endogenous gene sera1 with the intact SpCas9 coding sequence using the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing method, generating the cas9-knockin parasite (PyCas9ki) of the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii. The resulted PyCas9ki parasite displays normal progression during the whole life cycle and possesses the Cas9 protein expression in asexual blood stage. By introducing the plasmid (pYCs) containing only sgRNA and homologous template elements, we successfully achieved both deletion and tagging modifications for different endogenous genes in the genome of PyCas9ki parasite. This cas9-knockin PyCas9ki parasite provides a new platform facilitating gene functions study in the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengge Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenkui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Han Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States
| | - Huiting Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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90
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A Plasmodium Parasite with Complete Late Liver Stage Arrest Protects against Preerythrocytic and Erythrocytic Stage Infection in Mice. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00088-18. [PMID: 29440367 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00088-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetically attenuated malaria parasites (GAP) that arrest during liver stage development are powerful immunogens and afford complete and durable protection against sporozoite infection. Late liver stage-arresting GAP provide superior protection against sporozoite challenge in mice compared to early live stage-arresting attenuated parasites. However, very few late liver stage-arresting GAP have been generated to date. Therefore, identification of additional loci that are critical for late liver stage development and can be used to generate novel late liver stage-arresting GAPs is of importance. We further explored genetic attenuation in Plasmodium yoelii by combining two gene deletions, PlasMei2 and liver-specific protein 2 (LISP2), that each cause late liver stage arrest with various degrees of infrequent breakthrough to blood stage infection. The dual gene deletion resulted in a synthetic lethal phenotype that caused complete attenuation in a highly susceptible mouse strain. P. yoeliiplasmei2-lisp2- arrested late in liver stage development and did not persist in livers beyond 3 days after infection. Immunization with this GAP elicited robust protective antibody responses in outbred and inbred mice against sporozoites, liver stages, and blood stages as well as eliciting protective liver-resident T cells. The immunization afforded protection against both sporozoite challenge and blood stage challenge. These findings provide evidence that completely attenuated late liver stage-arresting GAP are achievable via the synthetic lethal approach and might enable a path forward for the creation of a completely attenuated late liver stage-arresting P. falciparum GAP.
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91
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Morse NJ, Wagner JM, Reed KB, Gopal MR, Lauffer LH, Alper HS. T7 Polymerase Expression of Guide RNAs in vivo Allows Exportable CRISPR-Cas9 Editing in Multiple Yeast Hosts. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:1075-1084. [PMID: 29565571 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Efficient guide RNA expression often limits CRISPR-Cas9 implementation in new hosts. To address this limitation in fungal systems, we demonstrate the utility of a T7 polymerase system to effectively express sgRNAs. Initially, we developed a methodology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified version of the T7 P266L mutant polymerase with an SV40 nuclear localization signal to allow guide RNA expression immediately downstream of a T7 promoter. To improve targeting efficiency, guide RNA design was found to be tolerant to three mismatches or up to three additional bases appended to the 5' end. The addition of three guanines to a T7-based guide RNA improved guide RNA expression 80-fold and achieved transcriptional output similar to the strong Pol III snr52 promoter. Resulting gene editing and dCas9-guided gene regulation with a T7-based guide RNA was on par with the commonly used snr52 system in S. cerevisiae. Finally, 96% and 60% genome editing efficiencies were achieved in Kluyveromyces lactis and Yarrowia lipolytica respectively with minimal optimization of this system. Thus, T7-based expression of sgRNAs offers an orthogonal method for implementing CRISPR systems in fungal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Morse
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering , The University of Texas at Austin , 200 E Dean Keeton Street Stop C0400 , Austin , Texas 78712 , United States
| | - James M Wagner
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering , The University of Texas at Austin , 200 E Dean Keeton Street Stop C0400 , Austin , Texas 78712 , United States
| | - Kevin B Reed
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering , The University of Texas at Austin , 200 E Dean Keeton Street Stop C0400 , Austin , Texas 78712 , United States
| | - Madan R Gopal
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering , The University of Texas at Austin , 200 E Dean Keeton Street Stop C0400 , Austin , Texas 78712 , United States
| | - Lars H Lauffer
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering , The University of Texas at Austin , 200 E Dean Keeton Street Stop C0400 , Austin , Texas 78712 , United States
| | - Hal S Alper
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering , The University of Texas at Austin , 200 E Dean Keeton Street Stop C0400 , Austin , Texas 78712 , United States
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology , The University of Texas at Austin , 2500 Speedway Avenue , Austin , Texas 78712 , United States
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92
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Grzybek M, Golonko A, Górska A, Szczepaniak K, Strachecka A, Lass A, Lisowski P. The CRISPR/Cas9 system sheds new lights on the biology of protozoan parasites. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:4629-4640. [PMID: 29626235 PMCID: PMC5954013 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8927-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 system, a natural defence system of bacterial organisms, has recently been used to modify genomes of the most important protozoa parasites. Successful genome manipulations with the CRISPR/Cas9 system are changing the present view of genetics in parasitology. The application of this system offers a major chance to overcome the current restriction in culturing, maintaining and analysing protozoan parasites, and allows dynamic analysis of parasite genes functions, leading to a better understanding of pathogenesis. CRISPR/Cas9 system will have a significant influence on the process of developing novel drugs and treatment strategies against protozoa parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Grzybek
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9b, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Golonko
- Department of Biotechnology, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E, 15-351, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Górska
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Klaudiusz Szczepaniak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Strachecka
- Faculty of Biology, Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Lass
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9b, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Paweł Lisowski
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding PAS, Postepu 36A, 05-552 Jastrzebiec, Poland
- iPS Cell-Based Disease Modeling Group, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
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93
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Antonova E, Glazova O, Gaponova A, Eremyan A, Zvereva S, Grebenkina N, Volkova N, Volchkov P. Successful CRISPR/Cas9 mediated homologous recombination in a chicken cell line. F1000Res 2018; 7:238. [PMID: 29946437 PMCID: PMC6008848 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.13457.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: CRISPR/Cas9 system is becoming the dominant genome editing tool in a variety of organisms. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knock out has been demonstrated both in chicken cell lines and in chicken germ cells that served to generate genetically modified birds. However, there is limited data about CRISPR/Cas9 dependent homology directed repair (HDR) for avian, even in cell culture. Few attempts have been made with integrations in safe harbor loci of chicken genome that induces constitutive expression of the inserted gene. Gene expression under an endogenous promoter would be more valuable than under a constitutive exogenous promoter, as it allows the gene expression to be tissue-specific. Methods: Three gRNAs were chosen to target chicken 3'-untranslated region of GAPDH gene. Cas9-mediated activity in the targeted locus for the gRNAs in DF-1 cells was estimated by T7E1 assay. To edit the locus, the HDR cassette was added along with CRISPR/Cas9. The inserted sequence contained eGFP in frame with a GAPDH coding sequence via P2A and Neomycin resistance gene ( neoR) under cytomegalovirus promoter. Correct integration of the cassette was confirmed with fluorescent microscopy, PCR analysis and sequencing. Enrichment of modified cells was done by G418 selection. Efficiency of integration was assessed with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Results: We have established a CRISPR/Cas9 system to target an endogenous locus and precisely insert a gene under endogenous control. In our system, we used positive and negative selection to enrich modified cells and remove cells with undesirable insertions. The efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HDR was increased up to 90% via G418 enrichment. We have successfully inserted eGFP under control of the chicken GAPDH promoter. Conclusions: The approach can be used further to insert genes of interest under control of tissue-specific promoters in primordial germ cells in order to produce genetically modified birds with useful for biotechnological purposes features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Antonova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russian Federation
| | - Olga Glazova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russian Federation
| | - Anna Gaponova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russian Federation
| | - Aykaz Eremyan
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russian Federation
| | - Svetlana Zvereva
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russian Federation
| | - Natalya Grebenkina
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russian Federation
| | - Natalya Volkova
- Ernst Institute of Animal Husbandry, Podolsk Municipal District, Moscow Region, 142132 , Russian Federation
| | - Pavel Volchkov
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russian Federation
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94
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Abstract
Although the application of CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering approaches was first reported in apicomplexan parasites only 3 years ago, this technology has rapidly become an essential component of research on apicomplexan parasites. This review briefly describes the history of CRISPR/Cas9 and the principles behind its use along with documenting its implementation in apicomplexan parasites, especially Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. We also discuss the recent use of CRISPR/Cas9 for whole genome screening of gene knockout mutants in T. gondii and highlight its use for seminal genetic manipulations of Cryptosporidium spp. Finally, we consider new variations of CRISPR/Cas9 that have yet to be implemented in apicomplexans. Whereas CRISPR/Cas9 has already accelerated rapid interrogation of gene function in apicomplexans, the full potential of this technology is yet to be realized as new variations and innovations are integrated into the field.
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95
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Abstract
Experimental evolution studies reveal drug targets and resistance mechanisms
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane M Carlton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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96
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Janssen BD, Chen YP, Molgora BM, Wang SE, Simoes-Barbosa A, Johnson PJ. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene modification and gene knock out in the human-infective parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:270. [PMID: 29321601 PMCID: PMC5762654 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18442-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The sexually-transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis infects ~1/4 billion people worldwide. Despite its prevalence and myriad adverse outcomes of infection, the mechanisms underlying T. vaginalis pathogenesis are poorly understood. Genetic manipulation of this single-celled eukaryote has been hindered by challenges presented by its complex, repetitive genome and inefficient methods for introducing DNA (i.e. transfection) into the parasite. Here, we have developed methods to increase transfection efficiency using nucleofection, with the goal of efficiently introducing multiple DNA elements into a single T. vaginalis cell. We then created DNA constructs required to express several components essential to drive CRISPR/Cas9-mediated DNA modification: guide RNA (gRNA), the Cas9 endonuclease, short oligonucleotides and large, linearized DNA templates. Using these technical advances, we have established CRISPR/Cas9-mediated repair of mutations in genes contained on circular DNA plasmids harbored by the parasite. We also engineered CRISPR/Cas9 directed homologous recombination to delete (i.e. knock out) two non-essential genes within the T. vaginalis genome. This first report of the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in T. vaginalis greatly expands the ability to manipulate the genome of this pathogen and sets the stage for testing of the role of specific genes in many biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Janssen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yi-Pei Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Brenda M Molgora
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shuqi E Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Patricia J Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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97
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Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, cause extensive morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of their molecular biology. Although techniques for the generation of targeted gene disruptions have long been available for apicomplexans, such methods are not readily scalable to the entire genome. We recently used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt all nuclear protein-coding genes in T. gondii using a pooled format. The method relies on transfection of a guide RNA library into parasites constitutively expressing Cas9. Here, we present the complete workflow of such a screen, including preparation of the guide RNA library, growth and testing of the recipient strain, generation of the mutant population, culture conditions for the screen, preparation of genomic DNA libraries, next-generation sequencing of the guide RNA loci, and analysis to detect fitness-conferring genes. This method can be deployed to study how culture conditions affect the repertoire of genes needed by parasites, which will enable studies of their metabolic needs, host specificity, and drug-resistance mechanisms. In addition, by manipulating the background in which the screen is performed, researchers will be able to investigate genetic interactions, which may help uncover redundancy or epistasis in the parasite genome. Using this method, a genome-wide screen and its analysis can be completed in 3 weeks, after ∼1 month of preparation to generate the library and grow the cells needed, making it a powerful tool for uncovering functionally important genes in apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima M. Sidik
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - Diego Huet
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
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98
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Kuang D, Qiao J, Li Z, Wang W, Xia H, Jiang L, Dai J, Fang Q, Dai X. Tagging to endogenous genes of Plasmodium falciparum using CRISPR/Cas9. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:595. [PMID: 29197418 PMCID: PMC5712073 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2539-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite. Currently, there are seldom commercial antibodies against P. falciparum proteins, which greatly limits the study on Plasmodium. CRISPR/Cas9 is an efficient genome editing method, which has been employed in various organisms. However, the use of this technique in P. falciparum is still limited to gene knockout, site-specific mutation and generation of green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter line with disruption of inserted sites. RESULTS We have adapted the CRISPR/Cas9 system to add commercial tag sequences to endogenous genes of P. falciparum. To add HA or HA-TY1 tags to ck2β1, ck2α and stk, pL6cs-hDHFR-ck2β1/ck2α/stk was constructed, which contained sequences of tags, specific homologous arms, and sgRNA. The P. falciparum 3D7 strain was subsequently transfected with pUF1-BSD-Cas9 and pL6cs-hDHFR-ck2β1/ck2α/stk plasmids via electroporation. After that, BSD and WR99210 drugs were added to the culture to screen parasites containing both plasmids. Twenty days after electroporation, live parasites appeared and were collected to check the tagging by PCR, DNA sequencing, Western blotting and immuno-fluorescence assays. The results showed that the tags were successfully integrated into the C-terminus of these three proteins. CONCLUSIONS We have improved the method to integrate tags to Plasmodium falciparum genes using the CRISPR/Cas9 method, which lays the foundation for further study of Plasmodium falciparum at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexuan Kuang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan, 650118, China
| | - Jichen Qiao
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan, 650118, China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity at Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Zhou Li
- Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Hui Xia
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan, 650118, China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity at Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jiejie Dai
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan, 650118, China.
| | - Qiang Fang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan, 650118, China. .,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity at Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China.
| | - Xueyu Dai
- Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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99
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Sherling ES, van Ooij C. Host cell remodeling by pathogens: the exomembrane system in Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2017; 40:701-21. [PMID: 27587718 PMCID: PMC5007283 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection of erythrocytes by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. To survive inside erythrocytes, these parasites induce sweeping changes within the host cell, one of the most dramatic of which is the formation of multiple membranous compartments, collectively referred to as the exomembrane system. As an uninfected mammalian erythrocyte is devoid of internal membranes, the parasite must be the force and the source behind the formation of these compartments. Even though the first evidence of the presence these of internal compartments was obtained over a century ago, their functions remain mostly unclear, and in some cases completely unknown, and the mechanisms underlying their formation are still mysterious. In this review, we provide an overview of the different parts of the exomembrane system, describing the parasitophorous vacuole, the tubovesicular network, Maurer's clefts, the caveola-vesicle complex, J dots and other mobile compartments, and the small vesicles that have been observed in Plasmodium-infected cells. Finally, we combine the data into a simplified view of the exomembrane system and its relation to the alterations of the host erythrocyte. Plasmodium parasites remodel the host erythrocyte in various ways, including the formation of several membranous compartments, together referred to as the exomembrane system, within the erythrocyte cytosol that together are key to the sweeping changes in the host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma S Sherling
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Christiaan van Ooij
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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100
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Tálas A, Kulcsár PI, Weinhardt N, Borsy A, Tóth E, Szebényi K, Krausz SL, Huszár K, Vida I, Sturm Á, Gordos B, Hoffmann OI, Bencsura P, Nyeste A, Ligeti Z, Fodor E, Welker E. A convenient method to pre-screen candidate guide RNAs for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing by NHEJ-mediated integration of a 'self-cleaving' GFP-expression plasmid. DNA Res 2017; 24:609-621. [PMID: 28679166 PMCID: PMC5726473 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsx029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficacies of guide RNAs (gRNAs), the short RNA molecules that bind to and determine the sequence specificity of the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 nuclease, to mediate DNA cleavage vary dramatically. Thus, the selection of appropriate target sites, and hence spacer sequence, is critical for most applications. Here, we describe a simple, unparalleled method for experimentally pre-testing the efficiencies of various gRNAs targeting a gene. The method explores NHEJ-cloning, genomic integration of a GFP-expressing plasmid without homologous arms and linearized in-cell. The use of 'self-cleaving' GFP-plasmids containing universal gRNAs and corresponding targets alleviates cloning burdens when this method is applied. These universal gRNAs mediate efficient plasmid cleavage and are designed to avoid genomic targets in several model species. The method combines the advantages of the straightforward FACS detection provided by applying fluorescent reporter systems and of the PCR-based approaches being capable of testing targets in their genomic context, without necessitating any extra cloning steps. Additionally, we show that NHEJ-cloning can also be used in mammalian cells for targeted integration of donor plasmids up to 10 kb in size, with up to 30% efficiency, without any selection or enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Tálas
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter István Kulcsár
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
- University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nóra Weinhardt
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
- University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Borsy
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Tóth
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Kornélia Szebényi
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sarah Laura Krausz
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Huszár
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - István Vida
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ádám Sturm
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bianka Gordos
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Ivett Hoffmann
- Animal Biotechnology Section, Ruminant Genome Biology Group, NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Petra Bencsura
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Antal Nyeste
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Ligeti
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Elfrieda Fodor
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
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