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Wilson SK, Heckendorn J, Martorelli Di Genova B, Koch LL, Rooney PJ, Morrissette N, Lebrun M, Knoll LJ. A Toxoplasma gondii patatin-like phospholipase contributes to host cell invasion. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008650. [PMID: 32628723 PMCID: PMC7365478 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can invade any nucleated cell of any warm-blooded animal. In a previous screen to identify virulence determinants, disruption of gene TgME49_305140 generated a T. gondii mutant that could not establish a chronic infection in mice. The protein product of TgME49_305140, here named TgPL3, is a 277 kDa protein with a patatin-like phospholipase (PLP) domain and a microtubule binding domain. Antibodies generated against TgPL3 show that it is localized to the apical cap. Using a rapid selection FACS-based CRISPR/Cas-9 method, a TgPL3 deletion strain (ΔTgPL3) was generated. ΔTgPL3 parasites have defects in host cell invasion, which may be caused by reduced rhoptry secretion. We generated complementation clones with either wild type TgPL3 or an active site mutation in the PLP domain by converting the catalytic serine to an alanine, ΔTgPL3::TgPL3S1409A (S1409A). Complementation of ΔTgPL3 with wild type TgPL3 restored all phenotypes, while S1409A did not, suggesting that phospholipase activity is necessary for these phenotypes. ΔTgPL3 and S1409A parasites are also virtually avirulent in vivo but induce a robust antibody response. Vaccination with ΔTgPL3 and S1409A parasites protected mice against subsequent challenge with a lethal dose of Type I T. gondii parasites, making ΔTgPL3 a compelling vaccine candidate. These results demonstrate that TgPL3 has a role in rhoptry secretion, host cell invasion and survival of T. gondii during acute mouse infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K. Wilson
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | | | - Bruno Martorelli Di Genova
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Lindsey L. Koch
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Peggy J. Rooney
- Stratatech Corporation, Charmany Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Naomi Morrissette
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | | | - Laura J. Knoll
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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Foroutan M, Ghaffarifar F, Sharifi Z, Dalimi A. Vaccination with a novel multi-epitope ROP8 DNA vaccine against acute Toxoplasma gondii infection induces strong B and T cell responses in mice. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 69:101413. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Ghaffari AD, Dalimi A, Ghaffarifar F, Pirestani M. Structural predication and antigenic analysis of ROP16 protein utilizing immunoinformatics methods in order to identification of a vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii: An in silico approach. Microb Pathog 2020; 142:104079. [PMID: 32084578 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a common parasitic disease, affecting almost one-third of the world's population. Currently, there are no effective treatments for inhibiting the formation of chronic tissue cysts in infected hosts. Thus, the production of appropriate vaccines against this pathogen is an important goal to avoid toxoplasmosis. considering the role of rhoptry antigens like ROP16 in virulence and satisfactory immunogenicity, they can be used as promising vaccine candidates against T. gondii. In the present study, an in silico approach was used to analyze various aspects of the ROP16 protein, including physicochemical characteristics, the potential epitopes of B and T-cells, the secondary and tertiary structure, the subcellular localization, the transmembrane domain, and other important features of this protein using several bioinformatics tools to design a proper vaccine against T. gondii. The results showed that ROP16 protein includes 93 potential post-translational modification sites. The secondary structure of the ROP16 protein comprises 34.23% alpha-helix, 54.46% random coil, and 11.32% extended strand. Moreover, several potential B- and T-cell epitopes were identified for ROP16. Based on the results of Ramachandran plot, 84.64% of the amino acid residues were located in the favored, 10.34% in allowed, and 5.02% in outlier regions. Furthermore, the results of the antigenicity and allergenicity assessment noted that this protein was immunogenic and non-allergenic. Our findings suggested that structural and functional predictions applied to ROP16 protein using in silico tools can reduce the failure risk of the laboratory studies. This research provided an important basis for further studies and also developed an effective vaccine against acute and chronic toxoplasmosis by various strategies. Further studies are needed on the development of vaccines in vivo using ROP16 alone or in combination with other antigens in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Dalir Ghaffari
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abdolhossein Dalimi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Pirestani
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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Guevara RB, Fox BA, Bzik DJ. Toxoplasma gondii Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane-Associated Dense Granule Proteins Regulate Maturation of the Cyst Wall. mSphere 2020; 5:e00851-19. [PMID: 31941814 PMCID: PMC6968655 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00851-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
After differentiation is triggered, the tachyzoite-stage Toxoplasma gondii parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) has been hypothesized to transition into the cyst membrane that surrounds the cyst wall and encloses bradyzoites. Here, we tracked the localization of two PVM dense granule (GRA) proteins (GRA5 and GRA7) after in vitro differentiation of the tachyzoite stage parasitophorous vacuole into the mature cyst. GRA5 and GRA7 were visible at the cyst periphery at 6 h and at all later times after differentiation, suggesting that the PVM remained intact as it transitioned into the cyst membrane. By day 3 postdifferentiation, GRA5 and GRA7 were visible in a continuous pattern at the cyst periphery. In mature 7- and 10-day-old cysts permeabilized with a saponin pulse, GRA5 and GRA7 were localized to the cyst membrane and the cyst wall regions. Cysts at different stages of cyst development exhibited differential susceptibility to saponin permeabilization, and, correspondingly, saponin selectively removed GRA5 from the cyst membrane and cyst wall region in 10-day-old cysts. GRA5 and GRA7 were localized at the cyst membrane and cyst wall region at all times after differentiation of the parasitophorous vacuole, which supports a previous model proposing that the PVM develops into the cyst membrane. In addition, evaluation of Δgra3, Δgra5, Δgra7, Δgra8, and Δgra14 mutants revealed that PVM-localized GRAs were crucial to support the normal rate of accumulation of cyst wall proteins at the cyst periphery.IMPORTANCEToxoplasma gondii establishes chronic infection in humans by forming thick-walled cysts that persist in the brain. Once host immunity wanes, cysts reactivate to cause severe, and often lethal, toxoplasmic encephalitis. There is no available therapy to eliminate cysts or to prevent their reactivation. Furthermore, how the cyst membrane and cyst wall structures develop is poorly understood. Here, we visualized and tracked the localization of Toxoplasma parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) dense granules (GRA) proteins during cyst development in vitro. PVM-localized GRA5 and GRA7 were found at the cyst membrane and cyst wall region throughout cyst development, suggesting that the PVM remains intact and develops into the cyst membrane. In addition, our results show that genetic deletion of PVM GRAs reduced the rate of accumulation of cyst wall cargo at the cyst periphery and suggest that PVM-localized GRAs mediate the development and maturation of the cyst wall and cyst membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah B Guevara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Barbara A Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - David J Bzik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
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Abstract
Rhoptries are key secretory organelles for Toxoplasma gondii invasion. Here, we describe how to assess the ability of T. gondii tachyzoites to secrete their rhoptry contents in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa B Lodoen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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Kochayoo P, Changrob S, Wangriatisak K, Lee SK, Chootong P, Han ET. The persistence of naturally acquired antibodies and memory B cells specific to rhoptry proteins of Plasmodium vivax in patients from areas of low malaria transmission. Malar J 2019; 18:382. [PMID: 31783870 PMCID: PMC6884809 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3009-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rhoptries are the large, paired, secretory organelles located at the apical tip of the malaria merozoite that are considered important for parasite invasion processes. Plasmodium vivax rhoptry proteins have been shown to induce humoral immunity during natural infections. Therefore, these proteins may be potential novel vaccine candidates. However, there is a lack of data on the duration of antibody and memory B cell (MBC) responses. Here, the longitudinal analysis of antibody and MBC responses to the P. vivax rhoptry proteins PvRALP1-Ecto and PvRhopH2 were monitored and analysed in individuals to determine their persistence. Methods Thirty-nine samples from P. vivax-infected subjects (age 18–60 years) were recruited to explore the frequency and persistence of antibody and MBC responses against rhoptry proteins (PvRALP1-Ecto and PvRhopH2) using both cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort study designs. Antibody levels were determined by ELISA during clinical malaria, and at 3, 9 and 12 months post-infection. The frequency of MBC sub-sets and presence of rhoptry-specific MBCs in subjects 18 months after treatment were detected by flow cytometry and ELISPOT assay. Results The seroprevalence of antibodies against PvRALP1-Ecto and PvRhopH2 proteins was found to be high during acute infection, with IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 sub-classes predominant. However, these anti-rhoptry responses were short-lived and significantly decreased at 9 months post-infection. To relate the durability of these antibody responses to MBC persistence at post-infection, 18-month post-infection peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) samples were taken to detect rhoptry-specific MBCs and frequency of MBC sub-sets, and correlate with antibody responses. These late post-infection samples revealed that rhoptry-specific MBCs were present in about 70% of total subjects. However, the persistence of specific MBCs was not correlated with antibody responses as the majority of malaria subjects who were positive for PvRALP1-Ecto- or PvRhopH2-specific MBCs were seronegative for the rhoptry antigens. The frequencies of classical MBCs were increased after infection, whereas those of activated and atypical MBCs were decreased, indicating that MBC responses could switch from activated or atypical MBCs to classical MBCs after parasite clearance, and were maintained in blood circulating at post-infection. Conclusion The study showed that rhoptry antigens induced the development and persistence of MBC responses in P. vivax-infected subjects who lived in a region of low malaria transmission, which were not related to the longevity of antibody responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyawan Kochayoo
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Siriruk Changrob
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Kittikorn Wangriatisak
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Seong Kyun Lee
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.
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Methods for the Measurement of Early Events in Toxoplasma gondii Immunity in Mouse Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 31758463 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9857-9_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Critical steps in resistance of mice against Toxoplasma gondii occur in the first 2 or 3 h after the pathogen has entered a cell that has been exposed to interferon γ (IFNγ). The newly formed parasitophorous vacuole is attacked by the IFNγ-inducible IRG proteins and disrupted, resulting in death of the parasite and necrotic death of the cell. Here we describe some techniques that we have used to describe and quantify these events in different combinations of the host and the parasite.
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58
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Tsitsiklis A, Bangs DJ, Robey EA. CD8+ T Cell Responses to Toxoplasma gondii: Lessons from a Successful Parasite. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:887-898. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Tokunaga N, Nozaki M, Tachibana M, Baba M, Matsuoka K, Tsuboi T, Torii M, Ishino T. Expression and Localization Profiles of Rhoptry Proteins in Plasmodium berghei Sporozoites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:316. [PMID: 31552198 PMCID: PMC6746830 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Plasmodium lifecycle two infectious stages of parasites, merozoites, and sporozoites, efficiently infect mammalian host cells, erythrocytes, and hepatocytes, respectively. The apical structure of merozoites and sporozoites contains rhoptry and microneme secretory organelles, which are conserved with other infective forms of apicomplexan parasites. During merozoite invasion of erythrocytes, some rhoptry proteins are secreted to form a tight junction between the parasite and target cell, while others are discharged to maintain subsequent infection inside the parasitophorous vacuole. It has been questioned whether the invasion mechanisms mediated by rhoptry proteins are also involved in sporozoite invasion of two distinct target cells, mosquito salivary glands and mammalian hepatocytes. Recently we demonstrated that rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2), which is crucial for tight junction formation in merozoites, is also important for sporozoite invasion of both target cells. With the aim of comprehensively describing the mechanisms of sporozoite invasion, the expression and localization profiles of rhoptry proteins were investigated in Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. Of 12 genes representing merozoite rhoptry molecules, nine are transcribed in oocyst-derived sporozoites at a similar or higher level compared to those in blood-stage schizonts. Immuno-electron microscopy demonstrates that eight proteins, namely RON2, RON4, RON5, ASP/RON1, RALP1, RON3, RAP1, and RAMA, localize to rhoptries in sporozoites. It is noteworthy that most rhoptry neck proteins in merozoites are localized throughout rhoptries in sporozoites. This study demonstrates that most rhoptry proteins, except components of the high-molecular mass rhoptry protein complex, are commonly expressed in merozoites and sporozoites in Plasmodium spp., which suggests that components of the invasion mechanisms are basically conserved between infective forms independently of their target cells. Combined with sporozoite-stage specific gene silencing strategies, the contribution of rhoptry proteins in invasion mechanisms can be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naohito Tokunaga
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Mamoru Nozaki
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Mayumi Tachibana
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Minami Baba
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Matsuoka
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Motomi Torii
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ishino
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
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Suarez C, Lentini G, Ramaswamy R, Maynadier M, Aquilini E, Berry-Sterkers L, Cipriano M, Chen AL, Bradley P, Striepen B, Boulanger MJ, Lebrun M. A lipid-binding protein mediates rhoptry discharge and invasion in Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii parasites. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4041. [PMID: 31492901 PMCID: PMC6731292 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11979-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the Apicomplexa phylum, including Plasmodium and Toxoplasma, have two types of secretory organelles (micronemes and rhoptries) whose sequential release is essential for invasion and the intracellular lifestyle of these eukaryotes. During invasion, rhoptries inject an array of invasion and virulence factors into the cytoplasm of the host cell, but the molecular mechanism mediating rhoptry exocytosis is unknown. Here we identify a set of parasite specific proteins, termed rhoptry apical surface proteins (RASP) that cap the extremity of the rhoptry. Depletion of RASP2 results in loss of rhoptry secretion and completely blocks parasite invasion and therefore parasite proliferation in both Toxoplasma and Plasmodium. Recombinant RASP2 binds charged lipids and likely contributes to assembling the machinery that docks/primes the rhoptry to the plasma membrane prior to fusion. This study provides important mechanistic insight into a parasite specific exocytic pathway, essential for the establishment of infection. Plasmodium and Toxoplasma parasites rely on rhoptry exocytosis for invasion, but the underlying mechanism is not known. Here, Suarez et al. characterize rhoptry apical surface proteins (RASP) that localize to the rhoptry cap and bind charged lipids, and are essential for rhoptry secretion and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Suarez
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Gaëlle Lentini
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Raghavendran Ramaswamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3P6, Canada
| | | | - Eleonora Aquilini
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Michael Cipriano
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Allan L Chen
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Bradley
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Martin J Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3P6, Canada
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.
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Proteomic and structural characterization of self-assembled vesicles from excretion/secretion products of Toxoplasma gondii. J Proteomics 2019; 208:103490. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Translocation of effector proteins into host cells by Toxoplasma gondii. Curr Opin Microbiol 2019; 52:130-138. [PMID: 31446366 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The Apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is an obligate intracellular organism that must co-opt its host cell to survive. To this end, Toxoplasma parasites introduce a suite of effector proteins from two secretory compartments called rhoptries and dense granules into the host cells. Once inside, these effectors extensively modify the host cell to facilitate parasite penetration, replication and persistence. In this review, we summarize the most recent advances in current understanding of effector translocation from Toxoplasma's rhoptry and dense granule organelles into the host cell, with comparisons to Plasmodium spp. for broader context.
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63
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Panas MW, Ferrel A, Naor A, Tenborg E, Lorenzi HA, Boothroyd JC. Translocation of Dense Granule Effectors across the Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane in Toxoplasma-Infected Cells Requires the Activity of ROP17, a Rhoptry Protein Kinase. mSphere 2019; 4:e00276-19. [PMID: 31366709 PMCID: PMC6669336 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00276-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites co-opt host cell functions through introduction of a large set of rhoptry- and dense granule-derived effector proteins. These effectors reach the host cytosol through different means: direct injection for rhoptry effectors and translocation across the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) for dense granule (GRA) effectors. The machinery that translocates these GRA effectors has recently been partially elucidated, revealing three components, MYR1, MYR2, and MYR3. To determine whether other proteins might be involved, we returned to a library of mutants defective in GRA translocation and selected one with a partial defect, suggesting it might be in a gene encoding a new component of the machinery. Surprisingly, whole-genome sequencing revealed a missense mutation in a gene encoding a known rhoptry protein, a serine/threonine protein kinase known as ROP17. ROP17 resides on the host cytosol side of the PVM in infected cells and has previously been known for its activity in phosphorylating and thereby inactivating host immunity-related GTPases. Here, we show that null or catalytically dead mutants of ROP17 are defective in GRA translocation across the PVM but that translocation can be rescued "in trans" by ROP17 delivered by other tachyzoites infecting the same host cell. This strongly argues that ROP17's role in regulating GRA translocation is carried out on the host cytosolic side of the PVM, not within the parasites or lumen of the parasitophorous vacuole. This represents an entirely new way in which the different secretory compartments of Toxoplasma tachyzoites collaborate to modulate the host-parasite interaction.IMPORTANCE When Toxoplasma infects a cell, it establishes a protective parasitophorous vacuole surrounding it. While this vacuole provides protection, it also serves as a barrier to the export of parasite effector proteins that impact and take control of the host cell. Our discovery here that the parasite rhoptry protein ROP17 is necessary for export of these effector proteins provides a distinct, novel function for ROP17 apart from its known role in protecting the vacuole. This will enable future research into ways in which we can prevent the export of effector proteins, thereby preventing Toxoplasma from productively infecting its animal and human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Panas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Abel Ferrel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Adit Naor
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Tenborg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- University of California at Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
| | - Hernan A Lorenzi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - John C Boothroyd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Alizadeh P, Ahmadpour E, Daryani A, Kazemi T, Spotin A, Mahami-Oskouei M, Flynn RJ, Azadi Y, Rajabi S, Sandoghchian S. IL-17 and IL-22 elicited by a DNA vaccine encoding ROP13 associated with protection against Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:10782-10788. [PMID: 30565688 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasitic protozoan, is capable of infecting man and all warm-blooded animals. Cell-mediated immunity is vital in mounting protective responses against T. gondii infection. Recent studies have shown that T-helper (Th) 17 responses may play a key role in parasite control. In this current study, we constructed a DNA vaccine encoding T. gondii ROP13 in a pcDNA vector. Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with pcROP13 or controls and challenged with the RH strain of T. gondii. The results showed that immunization with pcROP13 could elicit an antibody response against T. gondii. The expression of the canonical Th17 cytokines, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22, were significantly increased after immunization with pcROP13 compared with control groups ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, vaccination resulted in a significant decrease in parasite load ( p < 0.05). The induction of Th17 related cytokines, using a ROP13 DNA vaccine, against T. gondii should be considered as a potential vaccine approach for the control of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paria Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ahmadpour
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Tohid Kazemi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Adel Spotin
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Mahami-Oskouei
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Robin J Flynn
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Yaghob Azadi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saba Rajabi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Siamak Sandoghchian
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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65
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Park BC, Reese M, Tagliabracci VS. Thinking outside of the cell: Secreted protein kinases in bacteria, parasites, and mammals. IUBMB Life 2019; 71:749-759. [PMID: 30941842 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Previous decades have seen an explosion in our understanding of protein kinase function in human health and disease. Hundreds of unique kinase structures have been solved, allowing us to create generalized rules for catalysis, assign roles of communities within the catalytic core, and develop specific drugs for targeting various pathways. Although our understanding of intracellular kinases has developed at a fast rate, our exploration into extracellular kinases has just begun. In this review, we will cover the secreted protein kinase families found in humans, bacteria, and parasites. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(6):749-759, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenden C Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael Reese
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Vincent S Tagliabracci
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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66
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Beraki T, Hu X, Broncel M, Young JC, O'Shaughnessy WJ, Borek D, Treeck M, Reese ML. Divergent kinase regulates membrane ultrastructure of the Toxoplasma parasitophorous vacuole. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:6361-6370. [PMID: 30850550 PMCID: PMC6442604 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1816161116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites replicate within a protective organelle, called the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). The Toxoplasma gondii PV is filled with a network of tubulated membranes, which are thought to facilitate trafficking of effectors and nutrients. Despite being critical to parasite virulence, there is scant mechanistic understanding of the network's functions. Here, we identify the parasite-secreted kinase WNG1 (With-No-Gly-loop) as a critical regulator of tubular membrane biogenesis. WNG1 family members adopt an atypical protein kinase fold lacking the glycine rich ATP-binding loop that is required for catalysis in canonical kinases. Unexpectedly, we find that WNG1 is an active protein kinase that localizes to the PV lumen and phosphorylates PV-resident proteins, several of which are essential for the formation of a functional intravacuolar network. Moreover, we show that WNG1-dependent phosphorylation of these proteins is required for their membrane association, and thus their ability to tubulate membranes. Consequently, WNG1 knockout parasites have an aberrant PV membrane ultrastructure. Collectively, our results describe a unique family of Toxoplasma kinases and implicate phosphorylation of secreted proteins as a mechanism of regulating PV development during parasite infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsebaot Beraki
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Malgorzata Broncel
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London United Kingdom
| | - Joanna C Young
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London United Kingdom
| | - William J O'Shaughnessy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Dominika Borek
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London United Kingdom
| | - Michael L Reese
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390;
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
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67
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Dubois DJ, Soldati-Favre D. Biogenesis and secretion of micronemes in Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13018. [PMID: 30791192 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of the parasitic phylum of Apicomplexa is the presence of highly specialised, apical secretory organelles, called the micronemes and rhoptries that play critical roles in ensuring survival and dissemination. Upon exocytosis, the micronemes release adhesin complexes, perforins, and proteases that are crucially implicated in egress from infected cells, gliding motility, migration across biological barriers, and host cell invasion. Recent studies on Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium species have shed more light on the signalling events and the machinery that trigger microneme secretion. Intracellular cyclic nucleotides, calcium level, and phosphatidic acid act as key mediators of microneme exocytosis, and several downstream effectors have been identified. Here, we review the key steps of microneme biogenesis and exocytosis, summarising the still fractal knowledge at the molecular level regarding the fusion event with the parasite plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Dubois
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
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68
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Characterization of strain-specific phenotypes associated with knockout of dense granule protein 9 in Toxoplasma gondii. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 229:53-61. [PMID: 30849416 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can invade any nucleated cell of mammals and cause toxoplasmosis. Dense granule proteins play major structural functions within the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and the cyst wall of T. gondii. Moreover, their particular location within the PV allows them to be involved in various interactions between parasites and the host cells. Dense granule protein 9 (GRA9) gene has been identified in T. gondii, although its role in the lytic cycle remains unclear. In the current study, the function of GRA9 in type I and type II Toxoplasma parasites was characterized. T. gondii GRA9 sequence and its expression were analyzed and derivatives of T. gondii RH and PLK strains with a null mutation in GRA9 were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 system. The phenotypes of GRA9 in wild types, knockout and complemented strains were analyzed in vitro and in vivo using Vero cells and BALB/c mice, respectively. Alignment of the amino acid sequence indicated that RH strain GRA9 contained one amino acid substitution when compared with PLK strain. Western blot analysis revealed that PLK strain had a higher expression level of GRA9 than RH strain. The phenotype analysis revealed that knockout of GRA9 in PLK parasites inhibited the plaque formation and egress from PV. Both the plaque formation and egress ability of PLKΔGRA9 strain were restored by complementation with a synonymous allele of PLK strain GRA9. Mouse experiments demonstrated that loss of GRA9 in PLK strain significantly reduced the pathogenicity of T. gondii. However, there was no phenotypic diferences between RH and RHΔGRA9 strains except the defect in host cell invasion. Overall, T. gondii GRA9 knockout only influenced the growth and virulence of PLK strain. These results indicate that GRA9 may be involved in parasite egress and virulence in mice in a strain-specific manner.
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69
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Adeyemi OS, Murata Y, Sugi T, Han Y, Kato K. Nanoparticles show potential to retard bradyzoites in vitro formation of Toxoplasma gondii. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2019; 66. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2019.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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70
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Li JX, He JJ, Elsheikha HM, Chen D, Zhai BT, Zhu XQ, Yan HK. Toxoplasma gondii ROP17 inhibits the innate immune response of HEK293T cells to promote its survival. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:783-792. [PMID: 30675671 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06215-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii secretes a group of rhoptry-secreted kinases (ROPs), which play significant roles in promoting intracellular infection. T. gondii rhoptry organelle protein 17 (ROP17) is one of these important effector proteins. However, its role in modulating host cell response during infection remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal that ROP17 (genotype I) induces significant changes in the expression genes and transcription factors of host cells. HEK293T cells were transfected with PCMV-N-HA-ROP17 plasmid or empty control PCMV-N-HA plasmid. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 3138 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PCMV-N-HA-ROP17-transfected HEK293T cells, including 1456 upregulated, 1682 downregulated DEGs. Also, 715 of the DEGs were transcription factors (TFs), including 423 downregulated TFs and 292 upregulated TFs. Most differentially expressed TFs, whether belong to signal transduction, cancer-related pathways or immune-related pathways, were downregulated in ROP17-expressing cells. ROP17 also decreased alternative splicing events in host cells, presumably via alteration of the expression of genes involved in the alternative splicing pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest a novel strategy whereby T. gondii ROP17 manipulates various cellular processes, including immune response through reprogramming host gene expression to promote its own colonization and survival in the infected host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Xi Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Jun He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Dan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin-Tao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.,Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Hohhot, 010018, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hai-Kuo Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
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71
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Tyebji S, Seizova S, Hannan AJ, Tonkin CJ. Toxoplasmosis: A pathway to neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 96:72-92. [PMID: 30476506 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that resides, in a latent form, in the human central nervous system. Infection with Toxoplasma drastically alters the behaviour of rodents and is associated with the incidence of specific neuropsychiatric conditions in humans. But the question remains: how does this pervasive human pathogen alter behaviour of the mammalian host? This fundamental question is receiving increasing attention as it has far reaching public health implications for a parasite that is very common in human populations. Our current understanding centres on neuronal changes that are elicited directly by this intracellular parasite versus indirect changes that occur due to activation of the immune system within the CNS, or a combination of both. In this review, we explore the interactions between Toxoplasma and its host, the proposed mechanisms and consequences on neuronal function and mental health, and discuss Toxoplasma infection as a public health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Tyebji
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Simona Seizova
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3052, Australia.
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3052, Australia.
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72
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Krishnamurthy S, Saeij JPJ. Toxoplasma Does Not Secrete the GRA16 and GRA24 Effectors Beyond the Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane of Tissue Cysts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:366. [PMID: 30406043 PMCID: PMC6201044 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
After invasion, Toxoplasma resides in a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) that is surrounded by the PV membrane (PVM). Once inside the PV, tachyzoites secrete dense granule proteins (GRAs) of which some, such as GRA16 and GRA24, are transported beyond the PVM likely via a putative translocon. However, once tachyzoites convert into bradyzoites within cysts, it is not known if secreted GRAs can traffic beyond the cyst wall membrane. We used the tetracycline inducible system to drive expression of HA epitope tagged GRA16 and GRA24 after inducing stage conversion and show that these proteins are not secreted beyond the cyst wall membrane. This suggests that secretion of GRA beyond the PVM is not important for the tissue cyst stage of Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruthi Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jeroen P J Saeij
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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73
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Effector variation at tandem gene arrays in tissue-dwelling coccidia: who needs antigenic variation anyway? Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 46:86-92. [PMID: 30317151 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Locus expansion and diversification is pervasive in apicomplexan genomes and is predominantly found in loci encoding secreted proteins that interact with factors outside of the parasite. Key for understanding the impact of each of these loci on the host requires identification and functional characterization of their protein products, but these repetitive loci often are refractory to genome assembly. In this review we focus on Toxoplasma gondii and its nearest relatives to highlight the known impact of duplicated and diversified loci on our understanding of the host-pathogen molecular arms race. We describe current tools used for the identification and characterization of these loci, and review the most recent examples of how gene-expansion driven diversification can lead to novel gene functions.
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74
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Azadi Y, Ahmadpour E, Hamishehkar H, Daryani A, Spotin A, Mahami-Oskouei M, Barac A, Rajabi S, Alizadeh P, Montazeri M. Quantification of Toxoplasma gondii in the tissues of BALB/c mice after immunization with nanoliposomal excretory-secretory antigens using Real-Time PCR. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2018; 59:52-56. [PMID: 30290888 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2018.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Although almost 1/3 of the world's population are seropositive, there is no effective vaccine against toxoplasmosis. Therefore, the development of an effective vaccine for control of toxoplasmosis is one of major concerns in parasitology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of nano-liposomal excretory-secretory antigens (NLESA) in BALB/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Excretory-secretory antigens (ESA) was obtained from tachyzoites, encapsulated in the liposome and studied by scanning electron microscope. BALB/c mice were immunized with NLESA and ESA, sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Immunization was performed three times at 14-day intervals and challenged with 1 × 104 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain four weeks later. The parasite load of mice blood, brain and spleen tissues were determined using quantitative PCR targeted at the repeated element (RE) gene. RESULTS The immunization with NLESA and ESA induced a significant increase of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody compared with PBS group (P < 0.05). After challenge with tachyzoites, qPCR analyses showed significant reduction of parasite load in NLESA and ESA immunized mice compared with control group (P < 0.05). Also, NLESAs were more effective than ESAs and showed significantly reduced parasite load in blood (P = 0.001) and brain tissue (P = 0.01). DISCUSSION The vaccination with NLESA showed more promising results comparing to ESA. Further studies are recommended in order to achieve effectiveness of the vaccine against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaghob Azadi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ahmadpour
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Hamed Hamishehkar
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Adel Spotin
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Aleksandra Barac
- Clinic for Infectious and tropical diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Saba Rajabi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Paria Alizadeh
- Student Research Committee, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahbobeh Montazeri
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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75
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Bai MJ, Wang JL, Elsheikha HM, Liang QL, Chen K, Nie LB, Zhu XQ. Functional Characterization of Dense Granule Proteins in Toxoplasma gondii RH Strain Using CRISPR-Cas9 System. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:300. [PMID: 30211128 PMCID: PMC6121064 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is an ongoing public health problem. The parasite's ability to invade and replicate within the host cell is dependent on many effectors, such as dense granule proteins (GRAs) released from the specialized organelle dense granules, into host cells. GRAs have emerged as important determinants of T. gondii pathogenesis. However, the functions of some GRAs remain undefined. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 technique to disrupt 17 GRA genes (GRA11, GRA12 bis, GRA13, GRA14, GRA20, GRA21, GRA28-31, GRA33-38, and GRA40) in the virulent T. gondii RH strain. The CRISPR-Cas9 constructs abolished the expression of the 17 GRA genes. Functional characterization of single ΔGRA mutants was achieved in vitro using cell-based plaque assay and egress assay, and in vivo in BALB/c mice. Targeted deletion of these 17 GRA genes had no significant effect neither on the in vitro growth and egress of the mutant strains from the host cells nor on the parasite virulence in the mouse model of infection. Comparative analysis of the transcriptomics data of the 17 GRA genes suggest that GRAs may serve different functions in different genotypes and life cycle stages of the parasite. In sum, although these 17 GRAs might not be essential for RH strain growth in vitro or virulence in mice, they may have roles in other strains or parasite stages, which warrants further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Jie Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jin-Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Qin-Li Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Kai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lan-Bi Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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76
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Liang Y, Wang S, Xie Q, Nan X, Li P, Hong G, Liu Q, Li X. Molecular characterization and protective immunity of rhoptry protein 35 (ROP35) of Toxoplasma gondii as a DNA vaccine. Vet Parasitol 2018; 260:12-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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77
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Bioinformatics analysis of ROP8 protein to improve vaccine design against Toxoplasma gondii. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 62:193-204. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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78
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Foroutan M, Zaki L, Ghaffarifar F. Recent progress in microneme-based vaccines development against Toxoplasma gondii. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2018; 7:93-103. [PMID: 30112348 PMCID: PMC6082678 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2018.7.2.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease, which infect several warm-blooded mammals. More than one-third of the human population are seropositive worldwide. Due to the high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection worldwide, the resulting clinical, mental, and economical complications, as well as incapability of current drugs in the elimination of parasites within tissue cysts, the development of a vaccine against T. gondii would be critical. In the past decades, valuable advances have been achieved in order to identification of vaccine candidates against T. gondii infection. Microneme proteins (MICs) secreted by the micronemes play a critical role in the initial stages of host cell invasion by parasites. In this review, we have summarized the recent progress for MIC-based vaccines development, such as DNA vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, vaccines based on live-attenuated vectors, and prime-boost strategy in different mouse models. In conclusion, the use of live-attenuated vectors as vehicles to deliver and express the target gene and prime-boost regimens showed excellent outcomes in the development of vaccines against toxoplasmosis, which need more attention in the future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Foroutan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Zaki
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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79
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Morlon-Guyot J, Berry L, Sauquet I, Singh Pall G, El Hajj H, Meissner M, Daher W. Conditional knock-down of a novel coccidian protein leads to the formation of aberrant apical organelles and abrogates mature rhoptry positioning in Toxoplasma gondii. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 223:19-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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80
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Xie Q, Li P, Nan X, Kong L, Zeng D, Ding Z, Wang S. The Molecular Characterization and Immunity Identification of Rhoptry Protein 22 of Toxoplasma gondii
as a DNA Vaccine Candidate Against Toxoplasmosis. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2018; 66:147-157. [PMID: 29858559 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenchao Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Yuhua Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Qing Xie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Pengju Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Xiaoxu Nan
- School of Stomatology; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Lingmin Kong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Dapeng Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Zhifang Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Shuai Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
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81
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Blank ML, Parker ML, Ramaswamy R, Powell CJ, English ED, Adomako-Ankomah Y, Pernas LF, Workman SD, Boothroyd JC, Boulanger MJ, Boyle JP. A Toxoplasma gondii locus required for the direct manipulation of host mitochondria has maintained multiple ancestral functions. Mol Microbiol 2018; 108:519-535. [PMID: 29505111 PMCID: PMC6245547 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The Toxoplasma gondii locus mitochondrial association factor 1 (MAF1) encodes multiple paralogs, some of which mediate host mitochondrial association (HMA). Previous work showed that HMA was a trait that arose in T. gondii through neofunctionalization of an ancestral MAF1 ortholog. Structural analysis of HMA-competent and incompetent MAF1 paralogs (MAF1b and MAF1a, respectively) revealed that both paralogs harbor an ADP ribose binding macro-domain, with comparatively low (micromolar) affinity for ADP ribose. Replacing the 16 C-terminal residues of MAF1b with those of MAF1a abrogated HMA, and we also show that only three residues in the C-terminal helix are required for MAF1-mediated HMA. Importantly these same three residues are also required for the in vivo growth advantage conferred by MAF1b, providing a definitive link between in vivo proliferation and manipulation of host mitochondria. Co-immunoprecipitation assays reveal that the ability to interact with the mitochondrial MICOS complex is shared by HMA-competent and incompetent MAF1 paralogs and mutants. The weak ADPr coordination and ability to interact with the MICOS complex shared between divergent paralogs may represent modular ancestral functions for this tandemly expanded and diversified T. gondii locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Blank
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michelle L. Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Raghavendran Ramaswamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cameron J. Powell
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elizabeth D. English
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yaw Adomako-Ankomah
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lena F. Pernas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Sean D. Workman
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John C. Boothroyd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Martin J. Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jon P. Boyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Wang M, Xie Q, Li P, Zuo S, Kong L, Wang C, Wang S. Immune Protection of Rhoptry Protein 21 (ROP21) of Toxoplasma gondii as a DNA Vaccine Against Toxoplasmosis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:909. [PMID: 29867820 PMCID: PMC5951983 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry proteins (TgROPs) are the major targets as key molecules for immunodiagnosis as well as immunoprophylaxis because of their initial presentation to the host immune system. In this work, it was aimed at evaluating the protection effect of TgROP21 DNA vaccine on experimental mice subjected to T. gondii challenge. The gene sequence encoding TgROP21 was inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX I, and western blotting indicates that the lysate of BHK cells transfected with pVAX-TgROP21 was specifically recognized as a band of about 82.6 kDa by serum obtained from a T. gondii infected chicken. The efficacy of intramuscular vaccination of BALB/c mice three times at weeks 0, 2, and 4 with pVAX-ROP21 was analyzed. The levels of IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a among pVAX-ROP21 vaccinated animals were integrally increased. It was uncovered by cytokine profile analyses that IFN-γ was significantly increased, while no significant changes were detected in interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Additionally, we found that immunization with pVAX-ROP21 significantly prolonged survival time (13.50 ± 1.65 days) after challenge infection with the virulent T. gondii RH strain, in comparison to those of control animals (died within 10 days). Moreover, the number of brain cysts (1475 ± 163) in the animals subjected to pVAX-TgROP21 vaccination decreased remarkably (P < 0.05) compared to the blank control mice (2333 ± 473), and the size of brain cysts in pVAX-TgROP21 group was significantly smaller than the groups of blank, PBS and pVAXI. It was indicated that intense cell-mediated and humoral immunity was triggered and defense against T. gondii was partially induced after vaccination by TgROP21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenchao Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Mingyong Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Targeted Therapy, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Xie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Pengju Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Suqiong Zuo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Lingmin Kong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Chenxing Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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83
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Zhou W, Quan JH, Gao FF, Ismail HAHA, Lee YH, Cha GH. Modulated Gene Expression of Toxoplasma gondii Infected Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Line (ARPE-19) via PI3K/Akt or mTOR Signal Pathway. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2018; 56:135-145. [PMID: 29742868 PMCID: PMC5976016 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.2.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Due to the critical location and physiological activities of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell, it is constantly subjected to contact with various infectious agents and inflammatory mediators. However, little is known about the signaling events in RPE involved in Toxoplasma gondii infection and development. The aim of the study is to screen the host mRNA transcriptional change of 3 inflammation-related gene categories, PI3K/Akt pathway regulatory components, blood vessel development factors and ROS regulators, to prove that PI3K/Akt or mTOR signaling pathway play an essential role in regulating the selected inflammation-related genes. The selected genes include PH domain and leucine- rich-repeat protein phosphatases (PHLPP), casein kinase2 (CK2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1). Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we found that T. gondii up-regulates PHLPP2, CK2β, VEGF, GCL, GST, and NQO1 gene expression levels, but down-regulates PHLPP1 and PEDF mRNA transcription levels. PI3K inhibition and mTOR inhibition by specific inhibitors showed that most of these host gene expression patterns were due to activation of PI3K/Akt or mTOR pathways with some exceptional cases. Taken together, our results reveal a new molecular mechanism of these gene expression change dependent on PI3K/Akt or mTOR pathways and highlight more systematical insight of how an intracellular T. gondii can manipulate host genes to avoid host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhou
- Institute of Immunology, Taishan Medical College, Tai'an 271-000, Shandong, China.,Department of Medical Science & Infection Biology, Chungnam National University, School of Medicine, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Juan-Hua Quan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524-001, Guangdong, China
| | - Fei-Fei Gao
- Department of Medical Science & Infection Biology, Chungnam National University, School of Medicine, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | | | - Young-Ha Lee
- Department of Medical Science & Infection Biology, Chungnam National University, School of Medicine, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Guang-Ho Cha
- Department of Medical Science & Infection Biology, Chungnam National University, School of Medicine, Daejeon 34134, Korea
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84
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Chaparro JD, Cheng T, Tran UP, Andrade RM, Brenner SBT, Hwang G, Cohn S, Hirata K, McKerrow JH, Reed SL. Two key cathepsins, TgCPB and TgCPL, are targeted by the vinyl sulfone inhibitor K11777 in in vitro and in vivo models of toxoplasmosis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193982. [PMID: 29565998 PMCID: PMC5863946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide, therapeutic options remain limited. Cathepsins, proteases that play key roles in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis and many other protozoan infections, are important potential therapeutic targets. Because both TgCPB and TgCPL play a role in T. gondii invasion, we evaluated the efficacy of the potent, irreversible vinyl sulfone inhibitor, K11777 (N-methyl-piperazine-Phe-homoPhe-vinylsulfone-phenyl). The inhibitor’s toxicity and pharmacokinetic profile have been well-studied because of its in vitro and in vivo activity against a number of parasites. We found that it inhibited both TgCPB (EC50 = 114 nM) and TgCPL (EC50 = 71 nM) in vitro. K11777 also inhibited invasion of human fibroblasts by RH tachyzoites by 71% (p = 0.003) and intracellular replication by >99% (p<0.0001). In vivo, a single dose of K11777 led to 100% survival of chicken embryos in an model of acute toxoplasmosis (p = 0.015 Cox regression analysis). Therefore, K11777 shows promise as a novel therapeutic agent in the treatment of toxoplasmosis, and may prove to be a broadly effective anti-parasitic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D. Chaparro
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Timmy Cheng
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Uyen Phuong Tran
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Rosa M. Andrade
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Sara B. T. Brenner
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Grace Hwang
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Shara Cohn
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ken Hirata
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Department of Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Sharon L. Reed
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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85
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Cook JH, Ueno N, Lodoen MB. Toxoplasma gondii disrupts β1 integrin signaling and focal adhesion formation during monocyte hypermotility. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:3374-3385. [PMID: 29295815 PMCID: PMC5836128 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.793281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The motility of blood monocytes is orchestrated by the activity of cell-surface integrins, which translate extracellular signals into cytoskeletal changes to mediate adhesion and migration. Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that infects migratory cells and enhances their motility, but the mechanisms underlying T. gondii-induced hypermotility are incompletely understood. We investigated the molecular basis for the hypermotility of primary human peripheral blood monocytes and THP-1 cells infected with T. gondii Compared with uninfected monocytes, T. gondii infection of monocytes reduced cell spreading and the number of activated β1 integrin clusters in contact with fibronectin during settling, an effect not observed in monocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Escherichia coli Furthermore, T. gondii infection disrupted the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at tyrosine 397 (Tyr-397) and Tyr-925 and of the related protein proline-rich tyrosine kinase (Pyk2) at Tyr-402. The localization of paxillin, FAK, and vinculin to focal adhesions and the colocalization of these proteins with activated β1 integrins were also impaired in T. gondii-infected monocytes. Using time-lapse confocal microscopy of THP-1 cells expressing enhanced GFP (eGFP)-FAK during settling on fibronectin, we found that T. gondii-induced monocyte hypermotility was characterized by a reduced number of enhanced GFP-FAK-containing clusters over time compared with uninfected cells. This study demonstrates an integrin conformation-independent regulation of the β1 integrin adhesion pathway, providing further insight into the molecular mechanism of T. gondii-induced monocyte hypermotility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua H Cook
- From the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and the Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
| | - Norikiyo Ueno
- From the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and the Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
| | - Melissa B Lodoen
- From the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and the Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
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86
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Xia J, Kong L, Zhou LJ, Wu SZ, Yao LJ, He C, He CY, Peng HJ. Genome-Wide Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation-Based Proteomic Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii ROP18's Human Interactome Shows Its Key Role in Regulation of Cell Immunity and Apoptosis. Front Immunol 2018; 9:61. [PMID: 29459857 PMCID: PMC5807661 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein ROP18 (TgROP18) is a key virulence factor secreted into the host cell during invasion, where it modulates the host cell response by interacting with its host targets. However, only a few TgROP18 targets have been identified. In this study, we applied a high-throughput protein-protein interaction (PPI) screening in human cells using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) to identify the targets of Type I strain ROP18 (ROP18I) and Type II strain ROP18 (ROP18II). From a pool of more than 18,000 human proteins, 492 and 141 proteins were identified as the targets of ROP18I and ROP18II, respectively. Gene ontology, search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins PPI network, and Ingenuity pathway analyses revealed that the majority of these proteins were associated with immune response and apoptosis. This indicates a key role of TgROP18 in manipulating host's immunity and cell apoptosis, which might contribute to the immune escape and successful parasitism of the parasite. Among the proteins identified, the immunity-related proteins N-myc and STAT interactor, IL20RB, IL21, ubiquitin C, and vimentin and the apoptosis-related protein P2RX1 were further verified as ROP18I targets by sensitized emission-fluorescence resonance energy transfer (SE-FRET) and co-immunoprecipitation. Our study substantially contributes to the current limited knowledge on human targets of TgROP18 and provides a novel tool to investigate the function of parasite effectors in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xia
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Kong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shui-Zhen Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Jie Yao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng He
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong-Juan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Foroutan M, Ghaffarifar F. Calcium-dependent protein kinases are potential targets for Toxoplasma gondii vaccine. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2018; 7:24-36. [PMID: 29399577 PMCID: PMC5795042 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2018.7.1.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii belongs to the Apicomplexa phylum that caused a widespread zoonotic infection in wide range of intermediate hosts. Over one-third of the world's population are latently infected with T. gondii and carry it. The complex life cycle of T. gondii indicates the presence of a plurality of antigenic epitopes. During the recent years, continuous efforts of scientists have made precious advances to elucidate the different aspects of the cell and molecular biology of T. gondii. Despite of great progresses, the development of vaccine candidates for preventing of T. gondii infection in men and animals is still remains a challenge. The calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) belongs to the superfamily of kinases, which restricted to the apicomplexans, ciliates, and plants. It has been documented that they contribute several functions in the life cycle of T. gondii such as gliding motility, cell invasion, and egress as well as some other critical developmental processes. In current paper, we reviewed the recent progress concerning the development of CDPK-based vaccines against acute and chronic T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Foroutan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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88
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Guérin A, El Hajj H, Penarete-Vargas D, Besteiro S, Lebrun M. RON4 L1 is a new member of the moving junction complex in Toxoplasma gondii. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17907. [PMID: 29263399 PMCID: PMC5738351 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18010-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexa parasites, including Toxoplasma and Plasmodium species, possess a unique invasion mechanism that involves a tight apposition between the parasite and the host plasma membranes, called “moving junction” (MJ). The MJ is formed by the assembly of the microneme protein AMA1, exposed at the surface of the parasite, and the parasite rhoptry neck (RON) protein RON2, exposed at the surface of the host cell. In the host cell, RON2 is associated with three additional parasite RON proteins, RON4, RON5 and RON8. Here we describe RON4L1, an additional member of the MJ complex in Toxoplasma. RON4L1 displays some sequence similarity with RON4 and is cleaved at the C-terminal end before reaching the rhoptry neck. Upon secretion during invasion, RON4L1 is associated with MJ and targeted to the cytosolic face of the host membrane. We generated a RON4L1 knock-out cell line and showed that it is not essential for the lytic cycle in vitro, although mutant parasites kill mice less efficiently. Similarly to RON8, RON4L1 is a coccidian-specific protein and its traffic to the MJ is not affected in absence of RON2, RON4 and RON5, suggesting the co-existence of independent MJ complexes in tachyzoite of Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Guérin
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Hiba El Hajj
- Department of Internal Medicine and Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | | | | | - Maryse Lebrun
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.
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Zhang X, Su R, Cheng Z, Zhu W, Li Y, Wang Y, Du J, Cai Y, Luo Q, Shen J, Yu L. A mechanistic study of Toxoplasma gondii ROP18 inhibiting differentiation of C17.2 neural stem cells. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:585. [PMID: 29169404 PMCID: PMC5701453 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2529-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Congenital infection of Toxoplasma gondii is an important factor causing birth defects. The neural stem cells (NSCs) are found to be one of the target cells for the parasite during development of the brain. As a key virulence factor of the parasite that hijacks host cellular functions, ROP18 has been demonstrated to mediate the inhibition of host innate and adaptive immune responses through specific binding different host immunity related molecules. However, its pathogenic actions in NSCs remain elusive. Results In the present study, ROP18 recombinant adenovirus (Ad-ROP18) was constructed and used to infect C17.2 NSCs. After 3d- or 5d–culture in differentiation medium, the differentiation of C17.2 NSCs and the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were detected. The results showed that the protein level of βIII-tubulin, a marker of neurons, in the Ad-ROP18-transfected C17.2 NSCs was significantly decreased, indicating that the differentiation of C17.2 NSCs was inhibited by the ROP18. The β-catenin level in the Ad-ROP18-transfected C17.2 NSCs was found to be lower than that in the Ad group. Also, neurogenin1 (Ngn1) and neurogenin2 (Ngn2) were downregulated significantly (P < 0.05) in the Ad-ROP18-transfected C17.2 NSCs compared to the Ad group. Accordingly, the TOP flash/FOP flash dual-luciferase report system showed that the transfection of Ad-ROP18 decreased the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity in the C17.2 NSCs. Conclusions The inhibition effect of the ROP18 from T. gondii (TgROP18) on the neuronal differentiation of C17.2 NSCs was at least partly mediated through inhibiting the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, eventually resulting in the downregulation of Ngn1 and Ngn2. The findings help to better understand potential mechanisms of brain pathology induced by TgROP18.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Su
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengyang Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanbo Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yelin Li
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongzhong Wang
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Du
- Department of Biochemistry, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yihong Cai
- Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qingli Luo
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Jilong Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology; Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People's Republic of China.
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Abou-El-Naga IF, El Kerdany ED, Mady RF, Shalaby TI, Zaytoun EM. The effect of lopinavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir loaded PLGA nanoparticles on experimental toxoplasmosis. Parasitol Int 2017; 66:735-747. [PMID: 28838776 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A marked reduction has been achieved in the incidence and clinical course of toxoplasmic encephalitis after the introduction of protease inhibitors within the treatment regimen of HIV (HIV-PIs). This work was undertaken to study for the first time, the efficacy of HIV-PIs, lopinavir/ritonavir (L/R), as a therapeutic agent in acute experimental toxoplasmosis. Lopinavir/ritonavir (L/R) were used in the same ratio present in aluvia, a known HIV-PIs drug used in the developing countries in the treatment regimens of AID's patient. Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles were used as a delivery system to L/R therapy. L/R alone or after its encapsulation on PLGA were given to Swiss strain albino mice that were infected with RH virulent toxoplasma strain. Both forms caused parasitological improvement in both mortality rate and parasite count. The higher efficacy was achieved by using L/R PLGA together with minimizing the effective dose. There was significant reduction in the parasite count in the peritoneal fluid and the liver. Parasite viability and infectivity were also significantly reduced. The anti-toxoplasma effect of the drug was attributed to the morphological distortion of the tachyzoites as evident by the ultrastructure examination and suppressed the egress of tachyzoites. L/R also induced changes that suggest apoptosis and autophagy of tachyzoites. The parasitophorous vacuole membrane was disrupted and vesiculated. The nanotubular networks inside the parasitophorous vacuole were disrupted. Therefore, the present work opens a new possible way for the approved HIV-PIs as an alternative treatment against acute toxoplasmosis. Furthermore, it increases the list of the opportunistic parasites that can be treated by this drug. The successful in vivo effect of HIV-PIs against Toxoplasma gondii suggests that this parasite may be a target in HIV treated patients, thus decrease the possibility of toxoplasmic encephalitis development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rasha Fadly Mady
- Medical Parasitology Department, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Egypt.
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91
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Zamponi N, Zamponi E, Mayol GF, Lanfredi-Rangel A, Svärd SG, Touz MC. Endoplasmic reticulum is the sorting core facility in the Golgi-lacking protozoanGiardia lamblia. Traffic 2017; 18:604-621. [DOI: 10.1111/tra.12501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nahuel Zamponi
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - CONICET; Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Córdoba Argentina
| | - Emiliano Zamponi
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - CONICET; Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Córdoba Argentina
| | - Gonzalo F. Mayol
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - CONICET; Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Córdoba Argentina
| | | | - Staffan G. Svärd
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - María C. Touz
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - CONICET; Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Córdoba Argentina
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92
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The moving junction protein RON4, although not critical, facilitates host cell invasion and stabilizes MJ members. Parasitology 2017; 144:1490-1497. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017000968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYToxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite of phylum Apicomplexa. To facilitate high-efficiency invasion of host cells, T. gondii secretes various proteins related to the moving junction (MJ) complex from rhoptries and micronemes into the interface between the parasite and host. AMA1/RON2/4/5/8 is an important MJ complex, but its mechanism of assembly remains unclear. In this study, we used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate a derivative of T. gondii strain RH with a null mutation in TgRON4, thought to be an essential MJ component. Deficiency of TgRON4 moderately decreased invasion ability relative to that of the wild-type parasite. In addition, expression of the endogenous N-terminal fragment of RON5 decreased in the mutant. Together, the results improve our understanding of the assembly mechanism of the MJ complex of T. gondii and raise the possibility of developing new therapeutic drugs that target this complex.
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93
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Tardieux I, Baum J. Reassessing the mechanics of parasite motility and host-cell invasion. J Cell Biol 2017; 214:507-15. [PMID: 27573462 PMCID: PMC5004448 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201605100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to migrate is fundamental to multicellular and single-celled life. Apicomplexan parasites, an ancient protozoan clade that includes malaria parasites (Plasmodium) and Toxoplasma, achieve remarkable speeds of directional cell movement. This rapidity is achieved via a divergent actomyosin motor system, housed within a narrow compartment that lies underneath the length of the parasite plasma membrane. How this motor functions at a mechanistic level during motility and host cell invasion is a matter of debate. Here, we integrate old and new insights toward refining the current model for the function of this motor with the aim of revitalizing interest in the mechanics of how these deadly pathogens move.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Tardieux
- Institute of Advanced BioSciences, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1209, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England, UK
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94
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Ghosh S, Kennedy K, Sanders P, Matthews K, Ralph SA, Counihan NA, de Koning-Ward TF. ThePlasmodiumrhoptry associated protein complex is important for parasitophorous vacuole membrane structure and intraerythrocytic parasite growth. Cell Microbiol 2017; 19. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sreejoyee Ghosh
- School of Medicine; Deakin University; Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
| | - Kit Kennedy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Paul Sanders
- The Burnet Institute; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Kathryn Matthews
- School of Medicine; Deakin University; Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
| | - Stuart A. Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; Melbourne Victoria Australia
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95
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Adeyemi OS, Murata Y, Sugi T, Kato K. Inorganic nanoparticles kill Toxoplasma gondii via changes in redox status and mitochondrial membrane potential. Int J Nanomedicine 2017; 12:1647-1661. [PMID: 28280332 PMCID: PMC5339004 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s122178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the anti-Toxoplasma gondii potential of gold, silver, and platinum nanoparticles (NPs). Inorganic NPs (0.01–1,000 µg/mL) were screened for antiparasitic activity. The NPs caused >90% inhibition of T. gondii growth with EC50 values of ≤7, ≤1, and ≤100 µg/mL for gold, silver, and platinum NPs, respectively. The NPs showed no host cell cytotoxicity at the effective anti-T. gondii concentrations; the estimated selectivity index revealed a ≥20-fold activity toward the parasite versus the host cell. The anti-T. gondii activity of the NPs, which may be linked to redox signaling, affected the parasite mitochondrial membrane potential and parasite invasion, replication, recovery, and infectivity potential. Our results demonstrated the antiparasitic potential of NPs. The findings support the further exploration of NPs as a possible source of alternative and effective anti-T. gondii agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan; Medicinal Biochemistry and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | - Yuho Murata
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Sugi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Kentaro Kato
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
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96
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Wang JL, Li TT, Elsheikha HM, Chen K, Zhu WN, Yue DM, Zhu XQ, Huang SY. Functional Characterization of Rhoptry Kinome in the Virulent Toxoplasma gondii RH Strain. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:84. [PMID: 28174572 PMCID: PMC5258691 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular apicomplexan protozoan which can infect any warm-blooded animal and causes severe diseases in immunocompromised individuals or infants infected in utero. The survival and success of this parasite require that it colonizes the host cell, avoids host immune defenses, replicates within an appropriate niche, and exits the infected host cell to spread to neighboring non-infected cells. All of these processes depend on the parasite ability to synthesis and export secreted proteins. Amongst the secreted proteins, rhoptry organelle proteins (ROPs) are essential for the parasite invasion and host cell manipulation. Even though the functions of most ROPs have been elucidated in the less virulent T. gondii (type II), the roles of ROPs in the highly virulent type I strain remain largely un-characterized. Herein, we investigated the contributions of 15 ROPs (ROP10, ROP11, ROP15, ROP20, ROP23, ROP31, ROP32, ROP33, ROP34, ROP35, ROP36, ROP40, ROP41, ROP46, and ROP47) to the infectivity of the high virulent type I T. gondii (RH strain). Using CRISPR-Cas9, these 15 ROPs genes were successfully disrupted and the effects of gene knockout on the parasite's ability to infect cells in vitro and BALB/c mice in vivo were investigated. These results showed that deletions of these ROPs did not interfere with the parasite ability to grow in cultured human foreskin fibroblast cells and did not significantly alter parasite pathogenicity for BALB/c mice. Although these ROPs did not seem to be essential for the acute infectious stage of type I T. gondii in the mouse model, they might have different functions in other intermediate hosts or play different roles in other life cycle forms of this parasite due to the different expression patterns; this warrants further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Lanzhou, China
| | - Ting-Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Lanzhou, China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus Loughborough, UK
| | - Kai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei-Ning Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLanzhou, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural UniversityTai'an, China
| | - Dong-Mei Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLanzhou, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Lanzhou, China
| | - Si-Yang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Lanzhou, China
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97
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Yang Z, Hou Y, Hao T, Rho HS, Wan J, Luan Y, Gao X, Yao J, Pan A, Xie Z, Qian J, Liao W, Zhu H, Zhou X. A Human Proteome Array Approach to Identifying Key Host Proteins Targeted by Toxoplasma Kinase ROP18. Mol Cell Proteomics 2017; 16:469-484. [PMID: 28087594 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m116.063602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma kinase ROP18 is a key molecule responsible for the virulence of Toxoplasma gondii; however, the mechanisms by which ROP18 exerts parasite virulence via interaction with host proteins remain limited to a small number of identified substrates. To identify a broader array of ROP18 substrates, we successfully purified bioactive mature ROP18 and used it to probe a human proteome array. Sixty eight new putative host targets were identified. Functional annotation analysis suggested that these proteins have a variety of functions, including metabolic process, kinase activity and phosphorylation, cell growth, apoptosis and cell death, and immunity, indicating a pleiotropic role of ROP18 kinase. Among these proteins, four candidates, p53, p38, UBE2N, and Smad1, were further validated. We demonstrated that ROP18 targets p53, p38, UBE2N, and Smad1 for degradation. Importantly, we demonstrated that ROP18 phosphorylates Smad1 Ser-187 to trigger its proteasome-dependent degradation. Further functional characterization of the substrates of ROP18 may enhance understanding of the pathogenesis of Toxoplasma infection and provide new therapeutic targets. Similar strategies could be used to identify novel host targets for other microbial kinases functioning at the pathogen-host interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoshou Yang
- From the ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yongheng Hou
- From the ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Taofang Hao
- From the ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hee-Sool Rho
- the §Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Jun Wan
- the ¶Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | - Yizhao Luan
- the ‖State Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.,the **School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xin Gao
- ‡‡The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China; and
| | - Jianping Yao
- §§The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Aihua Pan
- From the ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhi Xie
- the ‖State Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jiang Qian
- the ¶Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | - Wanqin Liao
- From the ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China;
| | - Heng Zhu
- the §Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205;
| | - Xingwang Zhou
- From the ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China;
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98
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A Critical Role for Toxoplasma gondii Vacuolar Protein Sorting VPS9 in Secretory Organelle Biogenesis and Host Infection. Sci Rep 2016; 6:38842. [PMID: 27966671 PMCID: PMC5155228 DOI: 10.1038/srep38842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate sorting of proteins to the three types of parasite-specific secretory organelles namely rhoptry, microneme and dense granule in Toxoplasma gondii is crucial for successful host cell invasion by this obligate intracellular parasite. Despite its tiny body architecture and limited trafficking machinery, T. gondii relies heavily on transport of vesicles containing proteins, lipids and important virulence-like factors that are delivered to these secretory organelles. However, our understanding on how trafficking of vesicles operates in the parasite is still limited. Here, we show that the T. gondii vacuolar protein sorting 9 (TgVps9), has guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity towards Rab5a and is crucial for sorting of proteins destined to secretory organelles. Our results illuminate features of TgVps9 protein as a key trafficking facilitator that regulates protein maturation, secretory organelle formation and secretion, thereby ensuring a primary role in host infection by T. gondii.
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99
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Sinai AP, Watts EA, Dhara A, Murphy RD, Gentry MS, Patwardhan A. Reexamining Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection: Surprising Activity for a "Dormant" Parasite. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2016; 3:175-185. [PMID: 28191447 PMCID: PMC5295825 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-016-0045-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite over a third of the world's population being chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii, little is known about this largely asymptomatic phase of infection. This stage is mediated in vivo by bradyzoites within tissue cysts. The absence of overt symptoms has been attributed to the dormancy of bradyzoites. In this review, we reexamine the conventional view of chronic toxoplasmosis in light of emerging evidence challenging both the nature of dormancy and the consequences of infection in the CNS. RECENT FINDINGS New and emerging data reveal a previously unrecognized level of physiological and replicative capacity of bradyzoites within tissue cysts. These findings have emerged in the context of a reexamination of the chronic infection in the brain that correlates with changes in neuronal architecture, neurochemistry, and behavior that suggest that the chronic infection is not without consequence. SUMMARY The emerging data driven by the development of new approaches to study the progression of chronic toxoplasma infection reveals significant physiological and replicative capacity for what has been viewed as a dormant state. The emergence of bradyzoite and tissue cyst biology from what was viewed as a physiological "black box" offers exciting new areas for investigation with direct implications on the approaches to drug development targeting this drug-refractory state. In addition, new insights from studies on the neurobiology on chronic infection reveal a complex and dynamic interplay between the parasite, brain microenvironment, and the immune response that results in the detente that promotes the life-long persistence of the parasite in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P Sinai
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Watts
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Animesh Dhara
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Robert D Murphy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Matthew S Gentry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Abhijit Patwardhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
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100
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Fan W, Chang S, Shan X, Gao D, Zhang SQ, Zhang J, Jiang N, Ma D, Mao Z. Transcriptional profile of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells transfected by Toxoplasma rhoptry protein 16. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:4099-4108. [PMID: 27666388 PMCID: PMC5101894 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma rhoptry protein 16 (ROP16) is crucial in the host-pathogen interaction by acting as a virulent factor during invasion. To improve understanding of the molecular function underlying the effect of ROP16 on host cells, the present study analyzed the transcriptional profile of genes in the ROP16-transfected SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. The transcriptional profile of the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line overexpressing ROP16 were determined by microarray analysis in order to determine the host neural cell response to the virulent factor. Functional analysis was performed using the Protein Analysis Through Evolutionary Relationships classification system. The ToppGene Suite was used to select candidate genes from the differentially expressed genes. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape software according to the interaction associations determined using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis of the selected genes confirmed the results of the microarray. The results showed that 383 genes were differentially expressed in response to ROP16 transfection, of which 138 genes were upregulated and 245 genes were downregulated. Functional analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in several biological processes, including developmental process, biological regulation and apoptotic process. A total of 15 candidate genes from the DEGs were screened using the ToppGene Suite. No significant differences in expression were observed between the RT-qPCR data and the microarray data. Transfection with ROP16 resulted in alterations of several biological processes, including nervous system development, apoptosis and transcriptional regulation. Several genes, including CXCL12, BAI1, ZIC2, RBMX, RASSF6, MAGE-A6 and HOX, were identified as significant DEGs. Taken together, these results may contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying the functions of ROP16 and provide scope for further investigation of the pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Fan
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Chang
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Xiumei Shan
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Dejun Gao
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Steven Qian Zhang
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Duan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Zuohua Mao
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
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