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Cervantes S, Bunnik EM, Saraf A, Conner CM, Escalante A, Sardiu ME, Ponts N, Prudhomme J, Florens L, Le Roch KG. The multifunctional autophagy pathway in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Autophagy 2013; 10:80-92. [PMID: 24275162 PMCID: PMC4028325 DOI: 10.4161/auto.26743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a catabolic pathway typically induced by nutrient starvation to recycle amino acids, but can also function in removing damaged organelles. In addition, this pathway plays a key role in eukaryotic development. To date, not much is known about the role of autophagy in apicomplexan parasites and more specifically in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Comparative genomic analysis has uncovered some, but not all, orthologs of autophagy-related (ATG) genes in the malaria parasite genome. Here, using a genome-wide in silico analysis, we confirmed that ATG genes whose products are required for vesicle expansion and completion are present, while genes involved in induction of autophagy and cargo packaging are mostly absent. We subsequently focused on the molecular and cellular function of P. falciparum ATG8 (PfATG8), an autophagosome membrane marker and key component of the autophagy pathway, throughout the parasite asexual and sexual erythrocytic stages. In this context, we showed that PfATG8 has a distinct and atypical role in parasite development. PfATG8 localized in the apicoplast and in vesicles throughout the cytosol during parasite development. Immunofluorescence assays of PfATG8 in apicoplast-minus parasites suggest that PfATG8 is involved in apicoplast biogenesis. Furthermore, treatment of parasite cultures with bafilomycin A 1 and chloroquine, both lysosomotropic agents that inhibit autophagosome and lysosome fusion, resulted in dramatic morphological changes of the apicoplast, and parasite death. Furthermore, deep proteomic analysis of components associated with PfATG8 indicated that it may possibly be involved in ribophagy and piecemeal microautophagy of the nucleus. Collectively, our data revealed the importance and specificity of the autophagy pathway in the malaria parasite and offer potential novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Cervantes
- Graduate Program in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA; Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA
| | - Evelien M Bunnik
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA
| | - Anita Saraf
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research; Kansas City, MO USA
| | - Christopher M Conner
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA
| | - Aster Escalante
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA
| | | | - Nadia Ponts
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA
| | - Jacques Prudhomme
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA
| | | | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA USA
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Abstract
Drugs that kill or inhibit the sexual stages of Plasmodium in order to prevent transmission are important components of malaria control programmes. Reducing gametocyte carriage is central to the control of Plasmodium falciparum transmission as infection can result in extended periods of gametocytaemia. Unfortunately the number of drugs with activity against gametocytes is limited. Primaquine is currently the only licensed drug with activity against the sexual stages of malaria parasites and its use is hampered by safety concerns. This shortcoming is likely the result of the technical challenges associated with gametocyte studies together with the focus of previous drug discovery campaigns on asexual parasite stages. However recent emphasis on malaria eradication has resulted in an upsurge of interest in identifying compounds with activity against gametocytes. This review examines the gametocytocidal properties of currently available drugs as well as those in the development pipeline and examines the prospects for discovery of new anti-gametocyte compounds.
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Pohlit AM, Lima RBS, Frausin G, Silva LFRE, Lopes SCP, Moraes CB, Cravo P, Lacerda MVG, Siqueira AM, Freitas-Junior LH, Costa FTM. Amazonian plant natural products: perspectives for discovery of new antimalarial drug leads. Molecules 2013; 18:9219-40. [PMID: 23917112 PMCID: PMC6270278 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18089219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 07/14/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria parasites are now resistant, or showing signs of resistance, to most drugs used in therapy. Novel chemical entities that exhibit new mechanisms of antiplasmodial action are needed. New antimalarials that block transmission of Plasmodium spp. from humans to Anopheles mosquito vectors are key to malaria eradication efforts. Although P. vivax causes a considerable number of malaria cases, its importance has for long been neglected. Vivax malaria can cause severe manifestations and death; hence there is a need for P. vivax-directed research. Plants used in traditional medicine, namely Artemisia annua and Cinchona spp. are the sources of the antimalarial natural products artemisinin and quinine, respectively. Based on these compounds, semi-synthetic artemisinin-derivatives and synthetic quinoline antimalarials have been developed and are the most important drugs in the current therapeutic arsenal for combating malaria. In the Amazon region, where P. vivax predominates, there is a local tradition of using plant-derived preparations to treat malaria. Here, we review the current P. falciparum and P. vivax drug-sensitivity assays, focusing on challenges and perspectives of drug discovery for P. vivax, including tests against hypnozoites. We also present the latest findings of our group and others on the antiplasmodial and antimalarial chemical components from Amazonian plants that may be potential drug leads against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Martin Pohlit
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia (INPA), Av. André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375 Manaus, AM, Brazil; E-Mails: (R.B.S.L.); (G.F.); (L.F.R.S.)
| | - Renata Braga Souza Lima
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia (INPA), Av. André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375 Manaus, AM, Brazil; E-Mails: (R.B.S.L.); (G.F.); (L.F.R.S.)
| | - Gina Frausin
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia (INPA), Av. André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375 Manaus, AM, Brazil; E-Mails: (R.B.S.L.); (G.F.); (L.F.R.S.)
| | - Luiz Francisco Rocha e Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia (INPA), Av. André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375 Manaus, AM, Brazil; E-Mails: (R.B.S.L.); (G.F.); (L.F.R.S.)
| | - Stefanie Costa Pinto Lopes
- Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6109, 13083-862 Campinas, SP, Brazil; E-Mail:
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) – Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNEPM) - P.O. Box 6192, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; E-Mails: (C.B.M.); (L.H.F.-J.)
| | - Pedro Cravo
- Programa de Mestrado em Sociedade, Tecnologia e Meio Ambiente. UniEVANGÉLICA-Centro Universitário de Anápolis, 75083-515 Anapólis, GO, Brazil; E-Mail:
- Centro de Malária e Doenças Tropicais, LA/IHMT-Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil; E-Mails: (M.V.G.L.); (A.M.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - André Machado Siqueira
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil; E-Mails: (M.V.G.L.); (A.M.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Lucio H. Freitas-Junior
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) – Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNEPM) - P.O. Box 6192, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; E-Mails: (C.B.M.); (L.H.F.-J.)
| | - Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
- Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6109, 13083-862 Campinas, SP, Brazil; E-Mail:
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Determination of protein subcellular localization in apicomplexan parasites. Trends Parasitol 2012; 28:546-54. [PMID: 22995720 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2012.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Revised: 08/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Parasites from the phylum Apicomplexa include causative agents of serious diseases including malaria (Plasmodium spp.) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii). Apicomplexan parasites infect thousands of types of animal cells and send their proteins to an array of compartments within their own cell, as well as exporting proteins into and beyond their host cell. Ascertaining destinations to which individual proteins are delivered allows researchers to better understand parasite biology and to identify potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Our toolkit for establishing subcellular locations of apicomplexan proteins is becoming more extensive and specialized, and here we review developments in this technology.
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