1
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Alberione MP, González-Ruiz V, von Rohr O, Rudaz S, Soldati-Favre D, Izquierdo L, Kloehn J. N-acetylglucosamine supplementation fails to bypass the critical acetylation of glucosamine-6-phosphate required for Toxoplasma gondii replication and invasion. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011979. [PMID: 38900808 PMCID: PMC11218972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell surface of Toxoplasma gondii is rich in glycoconjugates which hold diverse and vital functions in the lytic cycle of this obligate intracellular parasite. Additionally, the cyst wall of bradyzoites, that shields the persistent form responsible for chronic infection from the immune system, is heavily glycosylated. Formation of glycoconjugates relies on activated sugar nucleotides, such as uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). The glucosamine-phosphate-N-acetyltransferase (GNA1) generates N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate critical to produce UDP-GlcNAc. Here, we demonstrate that downregulation of T. gondii GNA1 results in a severe reduction of UDP-GlcNAc and a concomitant drop in glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs), leading to impairment of the parasite's ability to invade and replicate in the host cell. Surprisingly, attempts to rescue this defect through exogenous GlcNAc supplementation fail to completely restore these vital functions. In depth metabolomic analyses elucidate diverse causes underlying the failed rescue: utilization of GlcNAc is inefficient under glucose-replete conditions and fails to restore UDP-GlcNAc levels in GNA1-depleted parasites. In contrast, GlcNAc-supplementation under glucose-deplete conditions fully restores UDP-GlcNAc levels but fails to rescue the defects associated with GNA1 depletion. Our results underscore the importance of glucosamine-6-phosphate acetylation in governing T. gondii replication and invasion and highlight the potential of the evolutionary divergent GNA1 in Apicomplexa as a target for the development of much-needed new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pía Alberione
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Olivier von Rohr
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Rudaz
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Su Q, Chen Y, He H. Molecular evolution of Toll-like receptors in rodents. Integr Zool 2024; 19:371-386. [PMID: 37403417 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the key sensor molecules in vertebrates, trigger the innate immunity and prime the adaptive immune system. The TLR family of rodents, the largest order of mammals, typically contains 13 TLR genes. However, a clear picture of the evolution of the rodent TLR family has not yet emerged and the TLR evolutionary patterns are unclear in rodent clades. Here, we analyzed the natural variation and the evolutionary processes acting on the TLR family in rodents at both the interspecific and population levels. Our results showed that rodent TLRs were dominated by purifying selection, but a series of positively selected sites (PSSs) primarily located in the ligand-binding domain was also identified. The numbers of PSSs differed among TLRs, and nonviral-sensing TLRs had more PSSs than those in viral-sensing TLRs. Gene-conversion events were found between TLR1 and TLR6 in most rodent species. Population genetic analyses showed that TLR2, TLR8, and TLR12 were under positive selection in Rattus norvegicus and R. tanezumi, whereas positive selection also acted on TLR5 and TLR9 in the former species, as well as TLR1 and TLR7 in the latter species. Moreover, we found that the proportion of polymorphisms with potentially functional change was much lower in viral-sensing TLRs than in nonviral-sensing TLRs in both of these rat species. Our findings revealed the first thorough insight into the evolution of the rodent TLR genetic variability and provided important novel insights into the evolutionary history of TLRs over long and short timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Su
- College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Chen
- College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Hongxuan He
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Perera DJ, Koger-Pease C, Paulini K, Daoudi M, Ndao M. Beyond schistosomiasis: unraveling co-infections and altered immunity. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0009823. [PMID: 38319102 PMCID: PMC10938899 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00098-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the helminth Schistosoma spp. and has the second highest global impact of all parasites. Schistosoma are transmitted through contact with contaminated fresh water predominantly in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Due to the widespread prevalence of Schistosoma, co-infection with other infectious agents is common but often poorly described. Herein, we review recent literature describing the impact of Schistosoma co-infection between species and Schistosoma co-infection with blood-borne protozoa, soil-transmitted helminths, various intestinal protozoa, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, various urinary tract infection-causing agents, and viral pathogens. In each case, disease severity and, of particular interest, the immune landscape, are altered as a consequence of co-infection. Understanding the impact of schistosomiasis co-infections will be important when considering treatment strategies and vaccine development moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilhan J. Perera
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cal Koger-Pease
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kayla Paulini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mohamed Daoudi
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Momar Ndao
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
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4
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Imhof D, Hänggeli KPA, De Sousa MCF, Vigneswaran A, Hofmann L, Amdouni Y, Boubaker G, Müller J, Hemphill A. Working towards the development of vaccines and chemotherapeutics against neosporosis-With all of its ups and downs-Looking ahead. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2024; 124:91-154. [PMID: 38754928 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan and obligatory intracellular parasite, which is the leading cause of reproductive failure in cattle and affects other farm and domestic animals, but also induces neuromuscular disease in dogs of all ages. In cattle, neosporosis is an important health problem, and has a considerable economic impact. To date there is no protective vaccine or chemotherapeutic treatment on the market. Immuno-prophylaxis has long been considered as the best control measure. Proteins involved in host cell interaction and invasion, as well as antigens mediating inflammatory responses have been the most frequently assessed vaccine targets. However, despite considerable efforts no effective vaccine has been introduced to the market to date. The development of effective compounds to limit the effects of vertical transmission of N. caninum tachyzoites has emerged as an alternative or addition to vaccination, provided suitable targets and safe and efficacious drugs can be identified. Additionally, the combination of both treatment strategies might be interesting to further increase protectivity against N. caninum infections and to decrease the duration of treatment and the risk of potential drug resistance. Well-established and standardized animal infection models are key factors for the evaluation of promising vaccine and compound candidates. The vast majority of experimental animal experiments concerning neosporosis have been performed in mice, although in recent years the numbers of experimental studies in cattle and sheep have increased. In this review, we discuss the recent findings concerning the progress in drug and vaccine development against N. caninum infections in mice and ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Imhof
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Kai Pascal Alexander Hänggeli
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Cristina Ferreira De Sousa
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anitha Vigneswaran
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Larissa Hofmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yosra Amdouni
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ghalia Boubaker
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Müller
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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5
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Orchanian SB, Still K, Harris TH, Lodoen MB. Deficiency in astrocyte CCL2 production reduces neuroimmune control of Toxoplasma gondii infection. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011710. [PMID: 38206985 PMCID: PMC10807779 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects one-third of the world's human population and establishes infection in the brain. Cerebral immune cell infiltration is critical for controlling the parasite, but little is known about the molecular cues guiding immune cells to the brain during infection. Activated astrocytes produce CCL2, a chemokine that mediates inflammatory monocyte recruitment to tissues by binding to the CCR2 receptor. We detected elevated CCL2 production in the brains of C57BL/6J mice by 15 days after T. gondii infection. Utilizing confocal microscopy and intracellular flow cytometry, we identified microglia and brain-infiltrating myeloid cells as the main producers of CCL2 during acute infection, and CCL2 was specifically produced in regions of parasite infection in the brain. In contrast, astrocytes became the dominant CCL2 producer during chronic T. gondii infection. To determine the role of astrocyte-derived CCL2 in mobilizing immune cells to the brain and controlling T. gondii infection, we generated GFAP-Cre x CCL2fl/fl mice, in which astrocytes are deficient in CCL2 production. We observed significantly decreased immune cell recruitment and increased parasite burden in the brain during chronic, but not acute, infection of mice deficient in astrocyte CCL2 production, without an effect on peripheral immune responses. To investigate potential mechanisms explaining the reduced control of T. gondii infection, we analyzed key antimicrobial and immune players in host defense against T. gondii and detected a reduction in iNOS+ myeloid cells, and T. gondii-specific CD4+ T cells in the knockout mice. These data uncover a critical role for astrocyte-derived CCL2 in immune cell recruitment and parasite control in the brain during chronic, but not acute, T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B. Orchanian
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Katherine Still
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Tajie H. Harris
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Melissa B. Lodoen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
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6
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Brito RMDM, de Lima Bessa G, Bastilho AL, Dantas-Torres F, de Andrade-Neto VF, Bueno LL, Fujiwara RT, Magalhães LMD. Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:461. [PMID: 38115102 PMCID: PMC10729521 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06080-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Toxoplasma gondii infections are of great concern for public health, and their impact is usually most severe in pregnant women and their foetuses, and in immunocompromised individuals. Displaying considerable genetic diversity, T. gondii strains differ widely according to geographical location, with archetypal strains predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere and non-archetypal (atypical) strains, with highly diverse genotypes, found mainly in South America. In this review, we present an overview of the identification and distribution of non-archetypal strains of T. gondii. Special attention is paid to the strains that have been isolated in Brazil, their interaction with the host immunological response, and their impact on disease outcomes. The genetic differences among the strains are pivotal to the distinct immunological responses that they elicit. These differences arise from polymorphisms of key proteins released by the parasite, which represent important virulence factors. Infection with divergent non-archetypal strains can lead to unusual manifestations of the disease, even in immunocompetent individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre Lazoski Bastilho
- Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto
- Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
| | - Luisa M D Magalhães
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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7
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Tucker MS, O’Brien CN, Johnson AN, Dubey JP, Rosenthal BM, Jenkins MC. RNA-Seq of Phenotypically Distinct Eimeria maxima Strains Reveals Coordinated and Contrasting Maturation and Shared Sporogonic Biomarkers with Eimeria acervulina. Pathogens 2023; 13:2. [PMID: 38276148 PMCID: PMC10818985 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Strains of Eimeria maxima, an enteric parasite of poultry, vary in virulence. Here, we performed microscopy and RNA sequencing on oocysts of strains APU-1 (which exhibits more virulence) and APU-2. Although each underwent parallel development, APU-1 initially approached maturation more slowly. Each strain sporulated by hour 36; their gene expression diverged somewhat thereafter. Candidate biomarkers of viability included 58 genes contributing at least 1000 Transcripts Per Million throughout sporulation, such as cation-transporting ATPases and zinc finger domain-containing proteins. Many genes resemble constitutively expressed genes also important to Eimeria acervulina. Throughout sporulation, the expression of only a few genes differed between strains; these included cyclophilin A, EF-1α, and surface antigens (SAGs). Mature and immature oocysts uniquely differentially express certain genes, such as an X-Pro dipeptidyl-peptidase domain-containing protein in immature oocysts and a profilin in mature oocysts. The immature oocysts of each strain expressed more phosphoserine aminotransferase and the mature oocysts expressed more SAGs and microneme proteins. These data illuminate processes influencing sporulation in Eimeria and related genera, such as Cyclospora, and identify biological processes which may differentiate them. Drivers of development and senescence may provide tools to assess the viability of oocysts, which would greatly benefit the poultry industry and food safety applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Tucker
- Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA (J.P.D.); (B.M.R.); (M.C.J.)
| | - Celia N. O’Brien
- Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA (J.P.D.); (B.M.R.); (M.C.J.)
| | - Alexis N. Johnson
- Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA (J.P.D.); (B.M.R.); (M.C.J.)
- Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Washington, DC 20006, USA
| | - Jitender P. Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA (J.P.D.); (B.M.R.); (M.C.J.)
| | - Benjamin M. Rosenthal
- Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA (J.P.D.); (B.M.R.); (M.C.J.)
| | - Mark C. Jenkins
- Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA (J.P.D.); (B.M.R.); (M.C.J.)
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8
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Silva MF, Douglas K, Sandalli S, Maclean AE, Sheiner L. Functional and biochemical characterization of the Toxoplasma gondii succinate dehydrogenase complex. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011867. [PMID: 38079448 PMCID: PMC10735183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) is a series of membrane embedded enzymatic complexes critical for energy conversion and mitochondrial metabolism. In commonly studied eukaryotes, including humans and animals, complex II, also known as succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), is an essential four-subunit enzyme that acts as an entry point to the mETC, by harvesting electrons from the TCA cycle. Apicomplexa are pathogenic parasites with significant impact on human and animal health. The phylum includes Toxoplasma gondii which can cause fatal infections in immunocompromised people. Most apicomplexans, including Toxoplasma, rely on their mETC for survival, yet SDH remains largely understudied. Previous studies pointed to a divergent apicomplexan SDH with nine subunits proposed for the Toxoplasma complex, compared to four in humans. While two of the nine are homologs of the well-studied SDHA and B, the other seven have no homologs in SDHs of other systems. Moreover, SDHC and D, that anchor SDH to the membrane and participate in substrate bindings, have no homologs in Apicomplexa. Here, we validated five of the seven proposed subunits as bona fide SDH components and demonstrated their importance for SDH assembly and activity. We further find that all five subunits are important for parasite growth, and that disruption of SDH impairs mitochondrial respiration and results in spontaneous initiation of differentiation into bradyzoites. Finally, we provide evidence that the five subunits are membrane bound, consistent with their potential role in membrane anchoring, and we demonstrate that a DY motif in one of them, SDH10, is essential for complex formation and function. Our study confirms the divergent composition of Toxoplasma SDH compared to human, and starts exploring the role of the lineage-specific subunits in SDH function, paving the way for future mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana F. Silva
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kiera Douglas
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Sandalli
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew E. Maclean
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lilach Sheiner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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9
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Kim HJ, Kim H, Lee JH, Hwangbo C. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4): new insight immune and aging. Immun Ageing 2023; 20:67. [PMID: 38001481 PMCID: PMC10668412 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-023-00383-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
TLR4, a transmembrane receptor, plays a central role in the innate immune response. TLR4 not only engages with exogenous ligands at the cellular membrane's surface but also interacts with intracellular ligands, initiating intricate intracellular signaling cascades. Through MyD88, an adaptor protein, TLR4 activates transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1, thereby facilitating the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Another adapter protein linked to TLR4, known as TRIF, autonomously propagates signaling pathways, resulting in heightened interferon expression. Recently, TLR4 has garnered attention as a significant factor in the regulation of symptoms in aging-related disorders. The persistent inflammatory response triggered by TLR4 contributes to the onset and exacerbation of these disorders. In addition, alterations in TLR4 expression levels play a pivotal role in modifying the manifestations of age-related diseases. In this review, we aim to consolidate the impact of TLR4 on cellular senescence and aging-related ailments, highlighting the potential of TLR4 as a novel therapeutic target that extends beyond immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Jin Kim
- Division of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyemin Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Hyung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry (BK21 Four), College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24414, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Hwangbo
- Division of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Shortt E, Hackett CG, Stadler RV, Kent RS, Herneisen AL, Ward GE, Lourido S. CDPK2A and CDPK1 form a signaling module upstream of Toxoplasma motility. mBio 2023; 14:e0135823. [PMID: 37610220 PMCID: PMC10653799 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01358-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE This work uncovers interactions between various signaling pathways that govern Toxoplasma gondii egress. Specifically, we compare the function of three canonical calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) using chemical-genetic and conditional-depletion approaches. We describe the function of a previously uncharacterized CDPK, CDPK2A, in the Toxoplasma lytic cycle, demonstrating that it contributes to parasite fitness through regulation of microneme discharge, gliding motility, and egress from infected host cells. Comparison of analog-sensitive kinase alleles and conditionally depleted alleles uncovered epistasis between CDPK2A and CDPK1, implying a partial functional redundancy. Understanding the topology of signaling pathways underlying key events in the parasite life cycle can aid in efforts targeting kinases for anti-parasitic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Shortt
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Rachel V. Stadler
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Robyn S. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Alice L. Herneisen
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Biology Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gary E. Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Sebastian Lourido
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Biology Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Doghish AS, Ali MA, Elrebehy MA, Mohamed HH, Mansour R, Ghanem A, Hassan A, Elballal MS, Elazazy O, Elesawy AE, Abdel Mageed SS, Nassar YA, Mohammed OA, Abulsoud AI. The interplay between toxoplasmosis and host miRNAs: Mechanisms and consequences. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 250:154790. [PMID: 37683390 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the highly prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The infection with T. gondii could pass unidentified in immunocompetent individuals; however, latent cysts remain dormant in their digestive tract, but they could be shed and excreted with feces infesting the environment. However, active toxoplasmosis can create serious consequences, particularly in newborns and infected persons with compromised immunity. These complications include ocular toxoplasmosis, in which most cases cannot be treated. Additionally, it caused many stillbirths and miscarriages. Circulating miRNAs are important regulatory molecules ensuring that the normal physiological role of various organs is harmonious. Upon infection with T. gondii, the tightly regulated miRNA profile is disrupted to favor the parasite's survival and further participate in the disease pathogenesis. Interestingly, this dysregulated profile could be useful in acute and chronic disease discrimination and in providing insights into the pathomechanisms of the disease. Thus, this review sheds light on the various roles of miRNAs in signaling pathways regulation involved in the pathogenesis of T. gondii and provides insights into the application of miRNAs clinically for its diagnosis and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S Doghish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11231, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed A Ali
- School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A Elrebehy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt.
| | - Hend H Mohamed
- School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Reda Mansour
- Zoology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Helwan 11795, Egypt; Biology Department, School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Aml Ghanem
- School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Hassan
- School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt; Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Helwan 11795, Egypt
| | - Mohammed S Elballal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Ola Elazazy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Ahmed E Elesawy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Sherif S Abdel Mageed
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Yara A Nassar
- Biology Department, School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Osama A Mohammed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed I Abulsoud
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11231, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt
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12
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Martinez M, Mageswaran SK, Guérin A, Chen WD, Thompson CP, Chavin S, Soldati-Favre D, Striepen B, Chang YW. Origin and arrangement of actin filaments for gliding motility in apicomplexan parasites revealed by cryo-electron tomography. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4800. [PMID: 37558667 PMCID: PMC10412601 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40520-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The phylum Apicomplexa comprises important eukaryotic parasites that invade host tissues and cells using a unique mechanism of gliding motility. Gliding is powered by actomyosin motors that translocate host-attached surface adhesins along the parasite cell body. Actin filaments (F-actin) generated by Formin1 play a central role in this critical parasitic activity. However, their subcellular origin, path and ultrastructural arrangement are poorly understood. Here we used cryo-electron tomography to image motile Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites and reveal the cellular architecture of F-actin at nanometer-scale resolution. We demonstrate that F-actin nucleates at the apically positioned preconoidal rings and is channeled into the pellicular space between the parasite plasma membrane and the inner membrane complex in a conoid extrusion-dependent manner. Within the pellicular space, filaments on the inner membrane complex surface appear to guide the apico-basal flux of F-actin. F-actin concordantly accumulates at the basal end of the parasite. Finally, analyzing a Formin1-depleted Toxoplasma gondii mutant pinpoints the upper preconoidal ring as the conserved nucleation hub for F-actin in Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma. Together, we provide an ultrastructural model for the life cycle of F-actin for apicomplexan gliding motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shrawan Kumar Mageswaran
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute of Structural Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amandine Guérin
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William David Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cameron Parker Thompson
- Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sabine Chavin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yi-Wei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute of Structural Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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13
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Lee Y, Lillehoj HS. Development of a new immunodiagnostic tool for poultry coccidiosis using an antigen-capture sandwich assay based on monoclonal antibodies detecting an immunodominant antigen of Eimeria. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102790. [PMID: 37302331 PMCID: PMC10404777 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to develop an antigen-capture ELISA that detects an immunodominant antigen of Eimeria, 3-1E which is present in all Eimeria species, using a set of 3-1E-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Highly sensitive 3-1E-specific antigen-capture ELISA was established using compatible mAb pairs (#318 and #320) selected from 6 mAbs (#312, #317, #318, #319, #320, and #323) with high binding activity against recombinant 3-1E protein. These anti-3-1E mAbs specifically recognized E. tenella sporozoites and a higher level of 3-1E was detected in the lysate of sporozoites than in sporocysts. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using 2 mAbs (#318 and #320) showed specific staining around the membrane of E. tenella sporozoites. In order to measure the changes in the 3-1E level during in coccidiosis, serum, feces, jejunal, and cecal contents were individually collected daily for 7-days postinfection (dpi) with E. maxima and E. tenella. The new ELISA was sensitive and specific for 3-1E detection in all samples collected daily from E. maxima- and E. tenella-infected chickens for a week, and the detection sensitivity ranges were 2 to 5 ng/mL and 1 to 5 ng/mL in serum, 4 to 25 ng/mL and 4 to 30 ng/mL in feces, 1 to 3 ng/mL and 1 to 10 ng/mL in cecal contents, and 3 to 65 ng/mL and 4 to 22 ng/mL in jejunal contents. Following coccidiosis, the overall 3-1E levels started to increase from 4 dpi, and the highest production was shown on 5 dpi. Among the samples collected from Eimeria-infected chickens, the highest detection level was found in the jejunal contents of E. maxima-infected chickens. Furthermore, the level of IFN-γ in serum was significantly (P < 0.05) increased from 3 dpi and peaked on 5 dpi post E. maxima infection. Post E. tenella infection, the level of IFN-γ in serum gradually (P < 0.05) increased from 2 to 5 dpi and plateaued at 7 dpi. The level of TNF-α in serum was rapidly (P < 0.05) increased from 4 dpi and those levels were kept until 7 dpi post both Eimeria infections (E. maxima and E. tenella). More importantly, the daily changes in the 3-1E levels in different samples from E. maxima- and E. tenella-infected chickens were effectively monitored with this new antigen-capture ELISA. Therefore, this new immunoassay is a sensitive diagnostic tool to monitor coccidiosis in a large field population in the commercial poultry farms before clinical symptoms develop using serum, feces, and gut samples during the entire period of infection cycle starting from 1 d after infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngsub Lee
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Hyun S Lillehoj
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
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14
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Hildebrandt F, Mohammed M, Dziedziech A, Bhandage AK, Divne AM, Barrenäs F, Barragan A, Henriksson J, Ankarklev J. scDual-Seq of Toxoplasma gondii-infected mouse BMDCs reveals heterogeneity and differential infection dynamics. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1224591. [PMID: 37575232 PMCID: PMC10415529 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells and macrophages are integral parts of the innate immune system and gatekeepers against infection. The protozoan pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii, is known to hijack host immune cells and modulate their immune response, making it a compelling model to study host-pathogen interactions. Here we utilize single cell Dual RNA-seq to parse out heterogeneous transcription of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) infected with two distinct genotypes of T. gondii parasites, over multiple time points post infection. We show that the BMDCs elicit differential responses towards T. gondii infection and that the two parasite lineages distinctly manipulate subpopulations of infected BMDCs. Co-expression networks define host and parasite genes, with implications for modulation of host immunity. Integrative analysis validates previously established immune pathways and additionally, suggests novel candidate genes involved in host-pathogen interactions. Altogether, this study provides a comprehensive resource for characterizing host-pathogen interplay at high-resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hildebrandt
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mubasher Mohammed
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexis Dziedziech
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Global Health, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Amol K. Bhandage
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Maria Divne
- Microbial Single Cell Genomics Facility, SciLifeLab, Biomedical Center (BMC) Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Barrenäs
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonio Barragan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Henriksson
- Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Center for Microbial Research, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johan Ankarklev
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Microbial Single Cell Genomics Facility, SciLifeLab, Biomedical Center (BMC) Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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15
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Li J, Xiao Q, Tan Q, Chen J, Sun L, Chen X, Chu Z, Wu H, Zhang Z, Li H, Zhao X, Zhang X. TgMORN2, a MORN Family Protein Involved in the Regulation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Toxoplasma gondii. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10228. [PMID: 37373373 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
MORN proteins play a key role in the cytoskeletal structure of eukaryotes and are essential for the close arrangement of the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. A gene with nine MORN motifs (TGGT1_292120, named TgMORN2) was identified in the Toxoplasma gondii genome; it was presumed to belong to the MORN protein family and to have the function of forming the cytoskeleton, which affects the survival of T. gondii. However, the genetic deletion of MORN2 did not noticeably affect parasite growth and virulence. Using adjacent protein labeling techniques, we identified a network of TgMORN2 interactions, which mainly included endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress)-related proteins. In exploring these data, we found that the pathogenicity of the KO-TgMORN2 strain was significantly reduced in the case of tunicamycin-induced ER stress. Reticulon TgRTN (TGGT1_226430) and tubulin β-Tubulin were identified as interaction proteins of TgMORN2. Collectively, TgMORN2 plays a role in ER stress, which lays a foundation for further research on the function of the MORN protein in T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxuan Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Qianqian Xiao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Qianqian Tan
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Junpeng Chen
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Ziyu Chu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Hongxia Wu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Zhenzhao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
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16
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Pazoki H, Mirjalali H, Niyyati M, Seyed Tabaei SJ, Mosafa N, Shahrokh S, Aghdaei HA, Kupz A, Zali MR. Toxoplasma gondii profilin induces NLRP3 activation and IL-1β production/secretion in THP-1 cells. Microb Pathog 2023; 180:106120. [PMID: 37080500 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a highly prevalent protozoan that infects a broad spectrum of warm-blooded animals. Profilin is a critical protein that plays a role in the movement and invasion of T. gondii. In the current study, we assessed how profilin stimulates inflammasomes and how it induces transcription and secretion of IL-1β. For this purpose, we assessed the level of TLR 2, 4, 5, and 9 expressions in a THP-1 cell line treated with profilin from T. gondii (TgP). In addition, we analyzed the expression levels of various inflammasomes, as well as IL-1β, and IL-18 in THP-1 cells treated with the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950. TgP significantly increased the expression of TLR5 but the expression of TLR2, 4, and 9 was not significantly increased. In addition, TgP did not significantly increase the level of inflammasomes after 5 h. Treatment with MCC950 significantly reduced NLRP3 and IL-1β on both transcription and protein levels. Although the transcription level of NLRP3 was reduced 5 h after treatment with TgP, western blot analysis showed an increase in NLRP3. The western blot and ELISA analysis also showed that TgP increased both pro- and mature IL-1β. In summary, our study showed that NLRP3 most probably plays a pivotal role in the expression and production levels of IL-1β during the interaction between TgP and macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Pazoki
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Niyyati
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyed Javad Seyed Tabaei
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nariman Mosafa
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Shahrokh
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Andreas Kupz
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, 4878, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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17
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Dans MG, Piirainen H, Nguyen W, Khurana S, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Dawson AT, Das S, Parkyn Schneider M, Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Gancheva MR, Tonkin CJ, Mollard V, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, Wilson DW, Rogers KL, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Sleebs BE, Kursula I, Gilson PR. Sulfonylpiperazine compounds prevent Plasmodium falciparum invasion of red blood cells through interference with actin-1/profilin dynamics. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002066. [PMID: 37053271 PMCID: PMC10128974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With emerging resistance to frontline treatments, it is vital that new antimalarial drugs are identified to target Plasmodium falciparum. We have recently described a compound, MMV020291, as a specific inhibitor of red blood cell (RBC) invasion, and have generated analogues with improved potency. Here, we generated resistance to MMV020291 and performed whole genome sequencing of 3 MMV020291-resistant populations. This revealed 3 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in 2 genes; 2 in profilin (N154Y, K124N) and a third one in actin-1 (M356L). Using CRISPR-Cas9, we engineered these mutations into wild-type parasites, which rendered them resistant to MMV020291. We demonstrate that MMV020291 reduces actin polymerisation that is required by the merozoite stage parasites to invade RBCs. Additionally, the series inhibits the actin-1-dependent process of apicoplast segregation, leading to a delayed death phenotype. In vitro cosedimentation experiments using recombinant P. falciparum proteins indicate that potent MMV020291 analogues disrupt the formation of filamentous actin in the presence of profilin. Altogether, this study identifies the first compound series interfering with the actin-1/profilin interaction in P. falciparum and paves the way for future antimalarial development against the highly dynamic process of actin polymerisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - William Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sachin Khurana
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Somya Mehra
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Sujaan Das
- Ludwig Maximilian University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria R Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alyssa E Barry
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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18
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Ren B, Liang X, Brouwers JF, Miron RC, Shen B, Gupta N. Synthesis vs. salvage of ester- and ether-linked phosphatidylethanolamine in the intracellular protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. Commun Biol 2023; 6:306. [PMID: 36949328 PMCID: PMC10033509 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04664-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent zoonotic pathogen infecting livestock as well as humans. The exceptional ability of this parasite to reproduce in several types of nucleated host cells necessitates a coordinated usage of endogenous and host-derived nutritional resources for membrane biogenesis. Phosphatidylethanolamine is the second most common glycerophospholipid in T. gondii, but how its requirement in the acutely-infectious fast-dividing tachyzoite stage is satisfied remains enigmatic. This work reveals that the parasite deploys de novo synthesis and salvage pathways to meet its demand for ester- and ether-linked PtdEtn. Auxin-mediated depletion of the phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (ECT) caused a lethal phenotype in tachyzoites due to impaired invasion and cell division, disclosing a vital role of the CDP-ethanolamine pathway during the lytic cycle. In accord, the inner membrane complex appeared disrupted concurrent with a decline in its length, parasite width and major phospholipids. Integrated lipidomics and isotope analyses of the TgECT mutant unveiled the endogenous synthesis of ester-PtdEtn, and salvage of ether-linked lipids from host cells. In brief, this study demonstrates how T. gondii operates various means to produce distinct forms of PtdEtn while featuring the therapeutic relevance of its de novo synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjian Ren
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiaohan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jos F Brouwers
- Research Group for Analysis Techniques in the Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda, The Netherlands
| | - Rosalba Cruz Miron
- Intracellular Parasite Education and Research Labs (iPEARL), Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
- Intracellular Parasite Education and Research Labs (iPEARL), Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India.
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19
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Walczak M, Meister TR, Nguyen HM, Zhu Y, Besteiro S, Yeh E. Structure-Function Relationship for a Divergent Atg8 Protein Required for a Nonautophagic Function in Apicomplexan Parasites. mBio 2023; 14:e0364221. [PMID: 36625582 PMCID: PMC9973341 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03642-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Atg8 family proteins are highly conserved eukaryotic proteins with diverse autophagy and nonautophagic functions in eukaryotes. While the structural features required for conserved autophagy functions of Atg8 are well established, little is known about the molecular changes that facilitated acquisition of divergent, nonautophagic functions of Atg8. The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum offers a unique opportunity to study nonautophagic functions of Atg8 family proteins because it encodes a single Atg8 homolog whose only essential function is in the inheritance of an unusual secondary plastid called the apicoplast. Here, we used functional complementation to investigate the structure-function relationship for this divergent Atg8 protein. We showed that the LC3-interacting region (LIR) docking site (LDS), the major interaction interface of the Atg8 protein family, is required for P. falciparum Atg8 (PfAtg8) apicoplast localization and function, likely via Atg8 lipidation. On the other hand, another region previously implicated in canonical Atg8 interactions, the N-terminal helix, is not required for apicoplast-specific PfAtg8 function. Finally, our investigations at the cellular level demonstrate that the unique apicomplexan-specific loop, previously implicated in interaction with membrane conjugation machinery in recombinant protein-based in vitro assays, is not required for membrane conjugation nor for the apicoplast-specific effector function of Atg8 in both P. falciparum and related Apicomplexa member Toxoplasma gondii. These results suggest that the effector function of apicomplexan Atg8 is mediated by structural features distinct from those previously identified for macroautophagy and selective autophagy functions. IMPORTANCE The most extensively studied role of Atg8 proteins is in autophagy. However, it is clear that they have other nonautophagic functions critical to cell function and disease pathogenesis that are so far understudied compared to their canonical role in autophagy. Mammalian cells contain multiple Atg8 paralogs that have diverse, specialized functions. Gaining molecular insight into their nonautophagic functions is difficult because of redundancy between the homologs and their role in both autophagy and nonautophagic pathways. Malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum are a unique system to study a novel, nonautophagic function of Atg8 separate from its role in autophagy: they have only one Atg8 protein whose only essential function is in the inheritance of the apicoplast, a unique secondary plastid organelle. Insights into the molecular basis of PfAtg8's function in apicoplast biogenesis will have important implications for the evolution of diverse nonautophagic functions of the Atg8 protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Walczak
- Department of Pathology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Thomas R. Meister
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Hoa Mai Nguyen
- LPHI UMR5235, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Yili Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Pathology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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20
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Qiu J, Xie Y, Shao C, Shao T, Qin M, Zhang R, Liu X, Xu Z, Wang Y. Toxoplasma gondii microneme protein MIC3 induces macrophage TNF-α production and Ly6C expression via TLR11/MyD88 pathway. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011105. [PMID: 36730424 PMCID: PMC9928027 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the most successful parasite worldwide. It is of great interest to understand how T. gondii induce different immune responses in different hosts. In this study, we found that a peptide of T. gondii microneme protein MIC3 induced TNF-α production, NF-κB phosphorylation, iNOS transcription and Ly6C expression in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. MyD88 inhibition, small interfering RNA against Tlr11 and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-out of Tlr11 all reduced MIC3-induced TNF-α production, NF-κB phosphorylation, iNOS transcription and Ly6C expression. Additionally, we determined the location of MIC3 peptide in mouse macrophages using immunofluorescence. MIC3 could both adhere to the cell membrane of mouse macrophages and enter the cells. These results suggest that MIC3 triggered the immune responses in mouse macrophages via TLR11/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. It is known that human macrophages lacking TLR11. We predicted that the immune responses induced by MIC3 in human macrophages were significantly different from those in mouse macrophages. As expected, MIC3 peptide failed to induce TNF-α expression, iNOS expression and NF-κB phosphorylation in human THP-1 derived macrophages. MIC3 induced macrophage immune responses via TLR11. Intriguingly, the amino acid sequence of MIC3 is completely different from the well-known TLR11 ligand profilin, which generates a potent IL-12p40, TNF-α and IL-6 response. In marked contrast to profilin, MIC3 could not induce IL-12p40 expression in both mouse RAW264.7 cells and human THP-1 derived macrophages. Furthermore, the simulated tertiary structure of MIC3 peptide shows poor similarity with the crystal structure of profilin, suggesting that MIC3 might be a different ligand from profilin. These findings about MIC3 and TLR11 will provide us with important insights into the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis and coevolution during host-parasite interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingfan Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanci Xie
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenlu Shao
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tianye Shao
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Qin
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinjian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhipeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail:
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21
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Zhang X, Yuan H, Mahmmod YS, Yang Z, Zhao M, Song Y, Luo S, Zhang XX, Yuan ZG. Insight into the current Toxoplasma gondii DNA vaccine: a review article. Expert Rev Vaccines 2023; 22:66-89. [PMID: 36508550 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2157818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) is a widespread protozoan with significant economic losses and public health importance. But so far, the protective effect of reported DNA-based vaccines fluctuates widely, and no study has demonstrated complete protection. AREAS COVERED This review provides an inclusive summary of T. gondii DNA vaccine antigens, adjuvants, and some other parameters. A total of 140 articles from 2000 to 2021 were collected from five databases. By contrasting the outcomes of acute and chronic challenges, we aimed to investigate and identify viable immunological strategies for optimum protection. Furthermore, we evaluated and discussed the impact of several parameters on challenge outcomes in the hopes of developing some recommendations to assist better future horizontal comparisons among research. EXPERT OPINION In the coming five years of research, the exploration of vaccine cocktails combining invasion antigens and metabolic antigens with genetic adjuvants or novel DNA delivery methods may offer us desirable protection against this multiple stage of life parasite. In addition to finding a better immune strategy, developing better in silico prediction methods, solving problems posed by variables in practical applications, and gaining a more profound knowledge of T.gondii-host molecular interaction is also crucial towards a successful vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xirui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, PR China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Hao Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, PR China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yasser S Mahmmod
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, 17155, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zipeng Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, PR China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Mengpo Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, PR China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yining Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, PR China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shengjun Luo
- Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xiu-Xiang Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Zi-Guo Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, PR China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
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22
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Toxoplasma Shelph, a Phosphatase Located in the Parasite Endoplasmic Reticulum, Is Required for Parasite Virulence. mSphere 2022; 7:e0035022. [PMID: 36326242 PMCID: PMC9769683 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00350-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasitic eukaryote that evolved to successfully propagate in any nucleated cell. As with any other eukaryote, its life cycle is regulated by signaling pathways controlled by kinases and phosphatases. T. gondii encodes an atypical bacterial-like phosphatase absent from mammalian genomes, named Shelph, after its first identification in the psychrophilic bacterium Schewanella sp. Here, we demonstrate that Toxoplasma Shelph is an active phosphatase localized in the parasite endoplasmic reticulum. The phenotyping of a shelph knockout (KO) line showed a minor impairment in invasion on human fibroblasts, while the other steps of the parasite lytic cycle were not affected. In contrast with Plasmodium ortholog Shelph1, this invasion deficiency was not correlated with any default in the biogenesis of secretory organelles. However, Shelph-KO parasites displayed a much-pronounced defect in virulence in vivo. These phenotypes could be rescued by genetic complementation, thus supporting an important function for Shelph in the context of a natural infection. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii belongs to the Apicomplexa phylum, which comprises more than 5,000 species, among which is Plasmodium falciparum, the notorious agent of human malaria. Intriguingly, the Apicomplexa genomes encode at least one phosphatase closely related to the bacterial Schewanella phosphatase, or Shelph. To better understand the importance of these atypical bacterial enzymes in eukaryotic parasites, we undertook the functional characterization of T. gondii Shelph. Our results uncovered its subcellular localization and its enzymatic activity, revealed its subtle involvement during the tachyzoite invasion step of the lytic cycle, and more importantly, highlighted a critical requirement of this phosphatase for parasite propagation in mice. Overall, this study revealed an unexpected role for T. gondii Shelph in the maintenance of parasite virulence in vivo.
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23
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Dogga SK, Lunghi M, Maco B, Li J, Claudi B, Marq JB, Chicherova N, Kockmann T, Bumann D, Hehl AB, Soldati-Favre D, Hammoudi PM. Importance of aspartyl protease 5 in the establishment of the intracellular niche during acute and chronic infection of Toxoplasma gondii. Mol Microbiol 2022; 118:601-622. [PMID: 36210525 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Virulence and persistence of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii involve the secretion of effector proteins belonging to the family of dense granule proteins (GRAs) that act notably as modulators of the host defense mechanisms and participate in cyst wall formation. The subset of GRAs residing in the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) or exported into the host cell, undergo proteolytic cleavage in the Golgi upon the action of the aspartyl protease 5 (ASP5). In tachyzoites, ASP5 substrates play central roles in the morphology of the PV and the export of effectors across the translocon complex MYR1/2/3. Here, we used N-terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates to identify novel ASP5 cleavage products by comparing the N-terminome of wild-type and Δasp5 lines in tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Validated substrates reside within the PV or PVM in an ASP5-dependent manner. Remarkably, Δasp5 bradyzoites are impaired in the formation of the cyst wall in vitro and exhibit a considerably reduced cyst burden in chronically infected animals. More specifically two-photon serial tomography of infected mouse brains revealed a comparatively reduced number and size of the cysts throughout the establishment of persistence in the absence of ASP5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Dogga
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jiagui Li
- Focal Area Infection Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Claudi
- Focal Area Infection Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Baptiste Marq
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Natalia Chicherova
- Focal Area Infection Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kockmann
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich/University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Bumann
- Focal Area Infection Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adrian B Hehl
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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24
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A Signaling Factor Linked to Toxoplasma gondii Guanylate Cyclase Complex Controls Invasion and Egress during Acute and Chronic Infection. mBio 2022; 13:e0196522. [PMID: 36200777 PMCID: PMC9600588 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01965-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular apicomplexan parasite that relies on cyclic GMP (cGMP)-dependent signaling to trigger timely egress from host cells in response to extrinsic and intrinsic signals. A guanylate cyclase (GC) complex, conserved across the Apicomplexa, plays a pivotal role in integrating these signals, such as the key lipid mediator phosphatidic acid and changes in pH and ionic composition. This complex is composed of an atypical GC fused to a flippase-like P4-ATPase domain and assembled with the cell division control protein CDC50.1 and a unique GC organizer (UGO). While the dissemination of the fast-replicating tachyzoites responsible for acute infection is well understood, it is less clear if the cyst-forming bradyzoites can disseminate and contribute to cyst burden. Here, we characterized a novel component of the GC complex recently termed signaling linking factor (SLF). Tachyzoites conditionally depleted in SLF are impaired in microneme exocytosis, conoid extrusion, and motility and hence unable to invade and egress. A stage-specific promoter swap strategy allowed the generation of SLF- and GC-deficient bradyzoites that are viable as tachyzoites but show a reduction in cyst burden during the onset of chronic infection. Upon oral infection, SLF-deficient cysts failed to establish infection in mice, suggesting SLF's importance for the natural route of T. gondii infection. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa. This life-threatening opportunistic pathogen establishes a chronic infection in human and animals that is resistant to immune attacks and chemotherapeutic intervention. The slow-growing parasites persist in tissue cysts that constitute a predominant source of transmission. Host cell invasion and egress are two critical steps of the parasite lytic cycle that are governed by a guanylate cyclase complex conserved across the Apicomplexa. A signaling linked factor is characterized here as an additional component of the complex that not only is essential during acute infection but also plays a pivotal role during natural oral infection with tissue cysts' dissemination and persistence.
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25
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Vo KC, Ruga L, Psathaki OE, Franzkoch R, Distler U, Tenzer S, Hensel M, Hegemann P, Gupta N. Plasticity and therapeutic potential of cAMP and cGMP-specific phosphodiesterases in Toxoplasma gondii. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:5775-5789. [PMID: 36382189 PMCID: PMC9619220 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a common zoonotic protozoan pathogen adapted to intracellular parasitism in many host cells of diverse organisms. Our previous work has identified 18 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) proteins encoded by the parasite genome, of which 11 are expressed during the lytic cycle of its acutely-infectious tachyzoite stage in human cells. Here, we show that ten of these enzymes are promiscuous dual-specific phosphodiesterases, hydrolyzing cAMP and cGMP. TgPDE1 and TgPDE9, with a Km of 18 μM and 31 μM, respectively, are primed to hydrolyze cGMP, whereas TgPDE2 is highly specific to cAMP (Km, 14 μM). Immuno-electron microscopy revealed various subcellular distributions of TgPDE1, 2, and 9, including in the inner membrane complex, apical pole, plasma membrane, cytosol, dense granule, and rhoptry, indicating spatial control of signaling within tachyzoites. Notably, despite shared apical location and dual-catalysis, TgPDE8 and TgPDE9 are fully dispensable for the lytic cycle and show no functional redundancy. In contrast, TgPDE1 and TgPDE2 are individually required for optimal growth, and their collective loss is lethal to the parasite. In vitro phenotyping of these mutants revealed the roles of TgPDE1 and TgPDE2 in proliferation, gliding motility, invasion and egress of tachyzoites. Moreover, our enzyme inhibition assays in conjunction with chemogenetic phenotyping underpin TgPDE1 as a target of commonly-used PDE inhibitors, BIPPO and zaprinast. Finally, we identified a retinue of TgPDE1 and TgPDE2-interacting kinases and phosphatases, possibly regulating the enzymatic activity. In conclusion, our datasets on the catalytic function, physiological relevance, subcellular localization and drug inhibition of key phosphodiesterases highlight the previously-unanticipated plasticity and therapeutic potential of cyclic nucleotide signaling in T. gondii.
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Key Words
- 3′IT, 3′-insertional tagging
- Apicomplexa
- COS, crossover sequence
- CRISPR, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats
- DHFR-TS, dihydrofolate reductase – thymidylate synthase
- HFF, human foreskin fibroblast
- HXGPRT, hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase
- IMC, inner membrane complex
- Lytic cycle
- MoI, multiplicity of infection
- PDE, phosphodiesterase
- PKA, protein kinase A
- PKG, protein kinase G
- PM, plasma membrane
- Phosphodiesterase
- S. C., selection cassette
- TEM, transmission electron microscopy
- Tachyzoite
- cAMP & cGMP signaling
- sgRNA, single guide RNA
- smHA, spaghetti monster-HA
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Chi Vo
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Liberta Ruga
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olympia Ekaterini Psathaki
- University of Osnabrück, Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Integrated Bioimaging Faciltiy (iBiOs), Germany
| | - Rico Franzkoch
- University of Osnabrück, Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Integrated Bioimaging Faciltiy (iBiOs), Germany
| | - Ute Distler
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Tenzer
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael Hensel
- University of Osnabrück, Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Integrated Bioimaging Faciltiy (iBiOs), Germany
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India
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26
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Dos Santos Pacheco N, Brusini L, Haase R, Tosetti N, Maco B, Brochet M, Vadas O, Soldati-Favre D. Conoid extrusion regulates glideosome assembly to control motility and invasion in Apicomplexa. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1777-1790. [DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01212-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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27
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A Role for Basigin in Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0020522. [PMID: 35913173 PMCID: PMC9387297 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00205-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of specific host cell surface receptors during Toxoplasma gondii invasion of host cells is poorly defined. Here, we interrogated the role of the well-known malarial invasion receptor, basigin, in T. gondii infection of astrocytes. We found that primary astrocytes express two members of the BASIGIN (BSG) immunoglobulin family, basigin and embigin, but did not express neuroplastin. Antibody blockade of either basigin or embigin caused a significant reduction of parasite infectivity in astrocytes. The specific role of basigin during T. gondii invasion was further examined using a mouse astrocytic cell line (C8-D30), which exclusively expresses basigin. CRISPR-mediated deletion of basigin in C8-D30 cells resulted in decreased T. gondii infectivity. T. gondii replication and invasion efficiency were not altered by basigin deficiency, but parasite attachment to astrocytes was markedly reduced. We also conducted a proteomic screen to identify T. gondii proteins that interact with basigin. Toxoplasma-encoded cyclophilins, the protein 14-3-3, and protein disulfide isomerase (TgPDI) were among the putative basigin-ligands identified. Recombinant TgPDI produced in E. coli bound to basigin and pretreatment of tachyzoites with a PDI inhibitor decreased parasite attachment to host cells. Finally, mutagenesis of the active site cysteines of TgPDI abolished enzyme binding to basigin. Thus, basigin and its related immunoglobulin family members may represent host receptors that mediate attachment of T. gondii to diverse cell types.
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28
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Nyonda MA, Kloehn J, Sosnowski P, Krishnan A, Lentini G, Maco B, Marq JB, Hannich JT, Hopfgartner G, Soldati-Favre D. Ceramide biosynthesis is critical for establishment of the intracellular niche of Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111224. [PMID: 35977499 PMCID: PMC9396527 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii possesses sphingolipid synthesis capabilities and is equipped to salvage lipids from its host. The contribution of these two routes of lipid acquisition during parasite development is unclear. As part of a complete ceramide synthesis pathway, T. gondii expresses two serine palmitoyltransferases (TgSPT1 and TgSPT2) and a dihydroceramide desaturase. After deletion of these genes, we determine their role in parasite development in vitro and in vivo during acute and chronic infection. Detailed phenotyping through lipidomic approaches reveal a perturbed sphingolipidome in these mutants, characterized by a drastic reduction in ceramides and ceramide phosphoethanolamines but not sphingomyelins. Critically, parasites lacking TgSPT1 display decreased fitness, marked by reduced growth rates and a selective defect in rhoptry discharge in the form of secretory vesicles, causing an invasion defect. Disruption of de novo ceramide synthesis modestly affects acute infection in vivo but severely reduces cyst burden in the brain of chronically infected mice. De novo sphingolipid synthesis is active at the ER of Toxoplasma gondii T. gondii scavenges sphingomyelins but synthesizes ceramide phosphoethanolamines TgSPT1 is required for establishment of the intracellular niche during invasion Defects in T. gondii sphingolipid synthesis affect chronic infection in vivo
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Akinyi Nyonda
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Piotr Sosnowski
- Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gaëlle Lentini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Baptiste Marq
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - J Thomas Hannich
- Department of Biochemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gerard Hopfgartner
- Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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29
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Li Z, Li X, Jin M, Liu Y, He Y, Jia N, Cui X, Liu Y, Hu G, Yu Q. Identification of potential biomarkers and their correlation with immune infiltration cells in schizophrenia using combinative bioinformatics strategy. Psychiatry Res 2022; 314:114658. [PMID: 35660966 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have identified changes in gene expression in brains of schizophrenia patients and their altered molecular processes, but the findings in different datasets were inconsistent and diverse. Here we performed the most comprehensive analysis of gene expression patterns to explore the underlying mechanisms and the potential biomarkers for early diagnosis in schizophrenia. We focused on 10 gene expression datasets in post-mortem human brain samples of schizophrenia downloaded from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database using the integrated bioinformatics analyses including robust rank aggregation (RRA) algorithm, Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and CIBERSORT. Machine learning algorithm was used to construct the risk prediction model for early diagnosis of schizophrenia. We identified 15 key genes (SLC1A3, AQP4, GJA1, ALDH1L1, SOX9, SLC4A4, EGR1, NOTCH2, PVALB, ID4, ABCG2, METTL7A, ARC, F3 and EMX2) in schizophrenia by performing multiple bioinformatics analysis algorithms. Moreover, the interesting part of the study is that there is a correlation between the expression of hub genes and the immune infiltrating cells estimated by CIBERSORT. Besides, the risk prediction model was constructed by using both these genes and the immune cells with a high accuracy of 0.83 in the training set, and achieved a high AUC of 0.77 for the test set. Our study identified several potential biomarkers for diagnosis of SCZ based on multiple bioinformatics algorithms, and the constructed risk prediction model using these biomarkers achieved high accuracy. The results provide evidence for an improved understanding of the molecular mechanism of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xinwei Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Mengdi Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yang He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Ningning Jia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xingyao Cui
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yane Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Guoyan Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qiong Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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30
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Kehrer J, Formaglio P, Muthinja JM, Weber S, Baltissen D, Lance C, Ripp J, Grech J, Meissner M, Funaya C, Amino R, Frischknecht F. Plasmodium
sporozoite disintegration during skin passage limits malaria parasite transmission. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54719. [PMID: 35403820 PMCID: PMC9253755 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202254719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During transmission of malaria‐causing parasites from mosquitoes to mammals, Plasmodium sporozoites migrate rapidly in the skin to search for a blood vessel. The high migratory speed and narrow passages taken by the parasites suggest considerable strain on the sporozoites to maintain their shape. Here, we show that the membrane‐associated protein, concavin, is important for the maintenance of the Plasmodium sporozoite shape inside salivary glands of mosquitoes and during migration in the skin. Concavin‐GFP localizes at the cytoplasmic periphery and concavin(−) sporozoites progressively round up upon entry of salivary glands. Rounded concavin(−) sporozoites fail to pass through the narrow salivary ducts and are rarely ejected by mosquitoes, while normally shaped concavin(−) sporozoites are transmitted. Strikingly, motile concavin(−) sporozoites disintegrate while migrating through the skin leading to parasite arrest or death and decreased transmission efficiency. Collectively, we suggest that concavin contributes to cell shape maintenance by riveting the plasma membrane to the subtending inner membrane complex. Interfering with cell shape maintenance pathways might hence provide a new strategy to prevent a malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
- Infectious Diseases Imaging Platform Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Pauline Formaglio
- Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Julianne Mendi Muthinja
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Sebastian Weber
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
| | - Danny Baltissen
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Christopher Lance
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Johanna Ripp
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Janessa Grech
- Experimental Parasitology Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Markus Meissner
- Experimental Parasitology Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Charlotta Funaya
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
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31
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Boisard J, Duvernois-Berthet E, Duval L, Schrével J, Guillou L, Labat A, Le Panse S, Prensier G, Ponger L, Florent I. Marine gregarine genomes reveal the breadth of apicomplexan diversity with a partially conserved glideosome machinery. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:485. [PMID: 35780080 PMCID: PMC9250747 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08700-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Our current view of the evolutionary history, coding and adaptive capacities of Apicomplexa, protozoan parasites of a wide range of metazoan, is currently strongly biased toward species infecting humans, as data on early diverging apicomplexan lineages infecting invertebrates is extremely limited. Here, we characterized the genome of the marine eugregarine Porospora gigantea, intestinal parasite of Lobsters, remarkable for the macroscopic size of its vegetative feeding forms (trophozoites) and its gliding speed, the fastest so far recorded for Apicomplexa. Two highly syntenic genomes named A and B were assembled. Similar in size (~ 9 Mb) and coding capacity (~ 5300 genes), A and B genomes are 10.8% divergent at the nucleotide level, corresponding to 16-38 My in divergent time. Orthogroup analysis across 25 (proto)Apicomplexa species, including Gregarina niphandrodes, showed that A and B are highly divergent from all other known apicomplexan species, revealing an unexpected breadth of diversity. Phylogenetically these two species branch sisters to Cephaloidophoroidea, and thus expand the known crustacean gregarine superfamily. The genomes were mined for genes encoding proteins necessary for gliding, a key feature of apicomplexans parasites, currently studied through the molecular model called glideosome. Sequence analysis shows that actin-related proteins and regulatory factors are strongly conserved within apicomplexans. In contrast, the predicted protein sequences of core glideosome proteins and adhesion proteins are highly variable among apicomplexan lineages, especially in gregarines. These results confirm the importance of studying gregarines to widen our biological and evolutionary view of apicomplexan species diversity, and to deepen our understanding of the molecular bases of key functions such as gliding, well known to allow access to the intracellular parasitic lifestyle in Apicomplexa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Boisard
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France. .,Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Structure et instabilité des génomes (STRING UMR 7196 CNRS/INSERM U1154), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, CP 26, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France. .,Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Evelyne Duvernois-Berthet
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA UMR 7221 CNRS), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, CP 32, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Linda Duval
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France
| | - Joseph Schrével
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France
| | - Laure Guillou
- CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, Sorbonne Université, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Amandine Labat
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Le Panse
- Plateforme d'Imagerie Merimage, FR2424, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Gérard Prensier
- Cell biology and Electron Microscopy Laboratory, François Rabelais University, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 3223 Cedex, Tours, BP, France
| | - Loïc Ponger
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Structure et instabilité des génomes (STRING UMR 7196 CNRS/INSERM U1154), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, CP 26, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France.
| | - Isabelle Florent
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France.
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32
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Santos JM, Frénal K. Dominique Soldati-Favre: Bringing Toxoplasma gondii to the Molecular World. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:910611. [PMID: 35711657 PMCID: PMC9196188 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.910611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joana M Santos
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Karine Frénal
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
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33
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Deletion of Toxoplasma Rhoptry Protein 38 (PruΔ rop38) as a Vaccine Candidate for Toxoplasmosis in a Murine Model. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061336. [PMID: 35740356 PMCID: PMC9220005 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a serious zoonotic disease that threatens human and animal health. Here, we evaluated the vaccine potential of the deletion of Toxoplasma rhoptry protein 38 (PruΔrop38) through its pathogenicity and immunoprotective efficacy in mice. Mice inoculated intraperitoneally with 1 × 103, 2 × 103, or 4 × 103 PruΔrop38 showed no visible signs, whereas mice inoculated with 1 × 103 parental Pru strain showed obvious wasting and bow-back, suggesting a significantly lower pathogenicity of PruΔrop38 in mice. Vaccination with 1 × 102 PruΔrop38 triggered a mixed Th1/Th2 response (Th1 response predominant), with higher IgG, IgG2a, and IgG1 levels in serum from week 3 to week 12, and a significant increase in IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-10 in suspensions of splenocytes at 30 or 60 days post-immunization. All vaccinated mice survived when infected intraperitoneally with tachyzoites (RH, Pru, VEG, or TgcatBJ1) or when infected orally with cysts (Pru or ME49). The brain parasite burden during Pru tachyzoite, Pru cyst and ME49 cyst challenges were significantly reduced in vaccinated mice. The duration of immunization showed that vaccination with PruΔrop38 could protect mice from challenge with different varied genotypes of Toxoplasma strains against different routes of infection. Collectively, these findings indicate that PruΔrop38 is an attenuated strain that provides long-term protective efficacy against acute or chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.
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34
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Nyonda MA, Boyer JB, Belmudes L, Krishnan A, Pino P, Couté Y, Brochet M, Meinnel T, Soldati-Favre D, Giglione C. N-Acetylation of secreted proteins is widespread in Apicomplexa and independent of acetyl-CoA ER-transporter AT1. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:275539. [PMID: 35621049 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetyl-CoA participates in post-translational modification of proteins, central carbon and lipid metabolism in several cell compartments. In mammals, the acetyl-CoA transporter 1 (AT1) facilitates the flux of cytosolic acetyl-CoA into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), enabling the acetylation of proteins of the secretory pathway, in concert with dedicated acetyltransferases including NAT8. However, the implication of the ER acetyl-CoA pool in acetylation of ER-transiting proteins in Apicomplexa is unknown. We identify homologues of AT1 and NAT8 in Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium berghei. Proteome-wide analyses revealed widespread N-terminal acetylation marks of secreted proteins in both parasites. Such acetylation profile of N-terminally processed proteins was never observed so far in any other organisms. AT1 deletion resulted in a considerable reduction of parasite fitness. In P. berghei, AT1 is important for growth of asexual blood stages and production of female gametocytes and male gametocytogenesis impaling its requirement for transmission. In the absence of AT1, the lysine and N-terminal acetylation sites remained globally unaltered, suggesting an uncoupling between the role of AT1 in development and active acetylation occurring along the secretory pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Akinyi Nyonda
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Baptiste Boyer
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Intergrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lucid Belmudes
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, UMR BioSanté U1292, CNRS, CEA, FR2048, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paco Pino
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,ExcellGene SA, CH1870 Monthey, Switzerland
| | - Yohann Couté
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, UMR BioSanté U1292, CNRS, CEA, FR2048, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Meinnel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Intergrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Carmela Giglione
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Intergrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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35
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Li W, Grech J, Stortz JF, Gow M, Periz J, Meissner M, Jimenez-Ruiz E. A splitCas9 phenotypic screen in Toxoplasma gondii identifies proteins involved in host cell egress and invasion. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:882-895. [PMID: 35538310 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01114-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, have specific adaptations that enable invasion and exit from the host cell. Owing to the phylogenetic distance between apicomplexan parasites and model organisms, comparative genomics has limited capacity to infer gene functions. Further, although CRISPR/Cas9-based screens have assigned roles to some Toxoplasma genes, the functions of encoded proteins have proven difficult to assign. To overcome this problem, we devised a conditional Cas9-system in T. gondii that enables phenotypic screens. Using an indicator strain for F-actin dynamics and apicoplast segregation, we screened 320 genes to identify those required for defined steps in the asexual life cycle. The detailed characterization of two genes identified in our screen, through the generation of conditional knockout parasites using the DiCre-system, revealed that signalling linking factor (SLF) is an integral part of a signalling complex required for early induction of egress, and a novel conoid protein (conoid gliding protein, CGP) functions late during egress and is required for the activation of gliding motility. Establishing different indicator lines and applying our conditional Cas9 screen could enable the identification of genes involved in organellar biogenesis, parasite replication or maintenance of the endosymbiotic organelles in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Janessa Grech
- Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Felix Stortz
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Matthew Gow
- Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Javier Periz
- Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Meissner
- Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Munich, Germany. .,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Elena Jimenez-Ruiz
- Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Munich, Germany.
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36
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Ye Z, Ni W, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Yu L, Huang X. Molecular characterization of a profilin gene from a parasitic ciliate Cryptocaryon irritans. Exp Parasitol 2022; 236-237:108248. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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37
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Screening the Toxoplasma kinome with high-throughput tagging identifies a regulator of invasion and egress. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:868-881. [PMID: 35484233 PMCID: PMC9167752 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01104-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases regulate fundamental aspects of eukaryotic cell biology, making them attractive chemotherapeutic targets in parasites like Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. To systematically examine the parasite kinome, we developed a high-throughput tagging (HiT) strategy to endogenously label protein kinases with an auxin-inducible degron and fluorophore. Hundreds of tagging vectors were assembled from synthetic sequences in a single reaction and used to generate pools of mutants to determine localization and function. Examining 1,160 arrayed clones, we assigned 40 protein localizations and associated 15 kinases with distinct defects. The fitness of tagged alleles was also measured by pooled screening, distinguishing delayed from acute phenotypes. A previously unstudied kinase, associated with delayed loss, was shown to be a regulator of invasion and egress. We named the kinase Store Potentiating/Activating Regulatory Kinase (SPARK), based on its impact on intracellular Ca2+ stores. Despite homology to mammalian PDK1, SPARK lacks a lipid-binding domain, suggesting a rewiring of the pathway in parasites. HiT screening extends genome-wide approaches into complex cellular phenotypes, providing a scalable and versatile platform to dissect parasite biology.
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38
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Sasai M, Yamamoto M. Anti-toxoplasma host defense systems and the parasitic counterdefense mechanisms. Parasitol Int 2022; 89:102593. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Involvement of Urm1, a Ubiquitin-Like Protein, in the Regulation of Oxidative Stress Response of Toxoplasma gondii. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0239421. [PMID: 35323018 PMCID: PMC9045335 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02394-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (Urm1) is a ubiquitin-like molecule (UBL) with the ability to act as a posttranslational protein modifier. Here, we characterized the Toxoplasma gondii homolog of URM1 located in the tachyzoite cytoplasm. The total loss of the TgURM1 resulted in a significant reduction in parasite invasion, replication, and virulence in mice, revealing that TgURM1 plays a pivotal role in T. gondii survival. For TgURM1, urmylation was significantly induced by oxidative stress, and mutations of the C-terminal glycine-glycine motif of TgURM1 blocked the urmylation process. Furthermore, the TgURM1 knockout strain was intolerant to oxidative stress, suggesting that TgURM1 is involved in the oxidative stress process. TgAHP1, an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, was screened via proximity-based protein labeling techniques and proteomics and was shown to interact with TgURM1 under oxidative stress conditions. In conclusion, TgURM1 is a UBL protein involved in the response of Toxoplasma to oxidative stress. IMPORTANCE T. gondii has an intricate life cycle which involves multiple morphologically and physiologically distinct stages, and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) may be key regulators of protein expression at relevant life cycle stages. In recent years, ubiquitin-like proteins with modification functions have been discovered and studied, including Sumo, Rub1, ATG8, and ATG12. Ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (Urm1) is a ubiquitin-like molecule (UBL), which is considered to be the oldest ubiquitin-like system. In this study, we identified the Urm1 gene in Toxoplasma and explored that the urmylation of Urm1 was significantly induced by oxidative stress. Fewer studies have been conducted on ubiquitin-like proteins of parasites, and our results provide theoretical support for the research of metabolic regulation and antioxidative stress processes in T. gondii.
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40
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Ambaru B, Gangadharan GM, Subramanya HS, Gupta CM. Profilin is involved in G1 to S phase progression and mitotic spindle orientation during Leishmania donovani cell division cycle. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265692. [PMID: 35316283 PMCID: PMC8939790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilin is a multi-ligand binding protein, which is a key regulator of actin dynamics and involved in regulating several cellular functions. It is present in all eukaryotes, including trypanosomatids such as Leishmania. However, not much is known about its functions in these organisms. Our earlier studies have shown that Leishmania parasites express a single homologue of profilin (LdPfn) that binds actin, phosphoinositides and poly- L- proline motives, and depletion of its intracellular pool to 50%of normal levels affects the cell growth and intracellular trafficking. Here, we show, employing affinity pull-down and mass spectroscopy, that LdPfn interacted with a large number of proteins, including those involved in mRNA processing and protein translation initiation, such as eIF4A1. Further, we reveal, using mRNA Seq analysis, that depletion of LdPfn in Leishmania cells (LdPfn+/-) resulted in significantly reduced expression of genes which encode proteins involved in cell cycle regulation, mRNA translation initiation, nucleosides and amino acids transport. In addition, we show that in LdPfn+/- cells, cellular levels of eIF4A1 protein were significantly decreased, and during their cell division cycle, G1-to-S phase progression was delayed and orientation of mitotic spindle altered. These changes were, however, reversed to normal by episomal expression of GFP-LdPfn in LdPfn+/- cells. Taken together, our results indicate that profilin is involved in regulation of G1-to-S phase progression and mitotic spindle orientation in Leishmania cell cycle, perhaps through its interaction with elF4A1 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bindu Ambaru
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | - Chhitar M. Gupta
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- * E-mail:
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41
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Lunghi M, Kloehn J, Krishnan A, Varesio E, Vadas O, Soldati-Favre D. Pantothenate biosynthesis is critical for chronic infection by the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2022; 13:345. [PMID: 35039477 PMCID: PMC8764084 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27996-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme A (CoA) is an essential molecule acting in metabolism, post-translational modification, and regulation of gene expression. While all organisms synthesize CoA, many, including humans, are unable to produce its precursor, pantothenate. Intriguingly, like most plants, fungi and bacteria, parasites of the coccidian subgroup of Apicomplexa, including the human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, possess all the enzymes required for de novo synthesis of pantothenate. Here, the importance of CoA and pantothenate biosynthesis for the acute and chronic stages of T. gondii infection is dissected through genetic, biochemical and metabolomic approaches, revealing that CoA synthesis is essential for T. gondii tachyzoites, due to the parasite's inability to salvage CoA or intermediates of the pathway. In contrast, pantothenate synthesis is only partially active in T. gondii tachyzoites, making the parasite reliant on its uptake. However, pantothenate synthesis is crucial for the establishment of chronic infection, offering a promising target for intervention against the persistent stage of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Varesio
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (MZ 2.0), University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Oscar Vadas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Protein and peptide purification platform, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Nayeri T, Sarvi S, Daryani A. Toxoplasmosis: Targeting neurotransmitter systems in psychiatric disorders. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:123-146. [PMID: 34476718 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00824-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The most common form of the disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is latent toxoplasmosis due to the formation of tissue cysts in various organs, such as the brain. Latent toxoplasmosis is probably a risk factor in the development of some neuropsychiatric disorders. Behavioral changes after infection are caused by the host immune response, manipulation by the parasite, central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, as well as changes in hormonal and neuromodulator relationships. The present review focused on the exact mechanisms of T. gondii effect on the alteration of behavior and neurotransmitter levels, their catabolites and metabolites, as well as the interaction between immune responses and this parasite in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. The dysfunction of neurotransmitters in the neural transmission is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, further intensive studies are required to determine the effect of this parasite on altering the level of neurotransmitters and the role of neurotransmitters in the etiology of host behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tooran Nayeri
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protist infecting a wide group of warm-blooded animals, ranging from birds to humans. While this infection is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it can also lead to severe ocular or neurological outcomes in immunocompromised individuals or in developing fetuses. This obligate intracellular parasite has the ability to infect a considerable range of nucleated cells and can propagate in the intermediate host. Yet, under the pressure of the immune system it transforms into an encysted persistent form residing primarily in the brain and muscle tissues. Encysted parasites, which are resistant to current medication, may reactivate and give rise to an acute infection. The clinical outcome of toxoplasmosis depends on a complex balance between the host immune response and parasite virulence factors. Susceptibility to the disease is thus determined by both parasite strains and host species. Recent advances on our understanding of host cell-parasite interactions and parasite virulence have brought new insights into the pathophysiology of T. gondii infection and are summarized here.
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Pamukcu S, Cerutti A, Bordat Y, Hem S, Rofidal V, Besteiro S. Differential contribution of two organelles of endosymbiotic origin to iron-sulfur cluster synthesis and overall fitness in Toxoplasma. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010096. [PMID: 34793583 PMCID: PMC8639094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are one of the most ancient and ubiquitous prosthetic groups, and they are required by a variety of proteins involved in important metabolic processes. Apicomplexan parasites have inherited different plastidic and mitochondrial Fe-S clusters biosynthesis pathways through endosymbiosis. We have investigated the relative contributions of these pathways to the fitness of Toxoplasma gondii, an apicomplexan parasite causing disease in humans, by generating specific mutants. Phenotypic analysis and quantitative proteomics allowed us to highlight notable differences in these mutants. Both Fe-S cluster synthesis pathways are necessary for optimal parasite growth in vitro, but their disruption leads to markedly different fates: impairment of the plastidic pathway leads to a loss of the organelle and to parasite death, while disruption of the mitochondrial pathway trigger differentiation into a stress resistance stage. This highlights that otherwise similar biochemical pathways hosted by different sub-cellular compartments can have very different contributions to the biology of the parasites, which is something to consider when exploring novel strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aude Cerutti
- LPHI, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Yann Bordat
- LPHI, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Sonia Hem
- BPMP, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Valérie Rofidal
- BPMP, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
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Nemati S, Pazoki H, Mohammad Rahimi H, Asadzadeh Aghdaei H, Shahrokh S, Baghaei K, Mirjalali H, Zali MR. Toxoplasma gondii profilin and tachyzoites RH strain may manipulate autophagy via downregulating Atg5 and Atg12 and upregulating Atg7. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:7041-7047. [PMID: 34453672 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06667-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autophagy process is an important defense mechanism against intracellular infection. This process plays a critical role in limiting the development of Toxoplasma gondii. This study aimed to investigate the effects of T. gondii profilin and tachyzoites on the expression of autophagy genes. METHODS AND RESULTS PMA-activated THP-1 cell line was incubated with T. gondii profilin and tachyzoites for 6 h. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the expression of Atg5, Atg7, Atg12, and LC3b was evaluated using real-time PCR. The results revealed statistically significant downregulation of Atg5 for 1.43 (P-value = 0.0062) and 4.15 (P-value = 0.0178) folds after treatment with T. gondii profilin and tachyzoites, respectively. Similar to Atg 5, Atg 12 revealed a statistically significant downregulation for profilin (1.41 fold; P-value = 0.0047) and T. gondii tachyzoites (3.25 fold; P-value = 0.011). The expression of Atg7 elevated in both T. gondii profilin (2.083 fold; P-value = 0.0087) and tachyzoites (1.64 fold; P-value = 0.206). T. gondii profilin and tachyzoites downregulated (1.04 fold; P-value = 0.0028) and upregulated (twofold; P-value = 0.091) the expression of LC3b, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that T. gondii and profilin may manipulate autophagy via preventing from the formation of Atg5-12-16L complex to facilitate replication of T. gondii and development of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Nemati
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Pazoki
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Shahrokh
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Baghaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Kloehn J, Lunghi M, Varesio E, Dubois D, Soldati-Favre D. Untargeted Metabolomics Uncovers the Essential Lysine Transporter in Toxoplasma gondii. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11080476. [PMID: 34436417 PMCID: PMC8399914 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites are responsible for devastating diseases, including malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. Current treatments are limited by emerging resistance to, as well as the high cost and toxicity of existing drugs. As obligate intracellular parasites, apicomplexans rely on the uptake of many essential metabolites from their host. Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is auxotrophic for several metabolites, including sugars (e.g., myo-inositol), amino acids (e.g., tyrosine), lipidic compounds and lipid precursors (cholesterol, choline), vitamins, cofactors (thiamine) and others. To date, only few apicomplexan metabolite transporters have been characterized and assigned a substrate. Here, we set out to investigate whether untargeted metabolomics can be used to identify the substrate of an uncharacterized transporter. Based on existing genome- and proteome-wide datasets, we have identified an essential plasma membrane transporter of the major facilitator superfamily in T. gondii-previously termed TgApiAT6-1. Using an inducible system based on RNA degradation, TgApiAT6-1 was depleted, and the mutant parasite's metabolome was compared to that of non-depleted parasites. The most significantly reduced metabolite in parasites depleted in TgApiAT6-1 was identified as the amino acid lysine, for which T. gondii is predicted to be auxotrophic. Using stable isotope-labeled amino acids, we confirmed that TgApiAT6-1 is required for efficient lysine uptake. Our findings highlight untargeted metabolomics as a powerful tool to identify the substrate of orphan transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (D.S.-F.); Tel.: +41-22-379-57-16 (J.K.); +41-22-379-56-72 (D.S.-F.)
| | - Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
| | - Emmanuel Varesio
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (MZ 2.0), University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - David Dubois
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (D.S.-F.); Tel.: +41-22-379-57-16 (J.K.); +41-22-379-56-72 (D.S.-F.)
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47
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Mulas F, Wang X, Song S, Nishanth G, Yi W, Brunn A, Larsen PK, Isermann B, Kalinke U, Barragan A, Naumann M, Deckert M, Schlüter D. The deubiquitinase OTUB1 augments NF-κB-dependent immune responses in dendritic cells in infection and inflammation by stabilizing UBC13. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:1512-1527. [PMID: 32024978 PMCID: PMC8167118 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0362-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are indispensable for defense against pathogens but may also contribute to immunopathology. Activation of DCs upon the sensing of pathogens by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is largely mediated by pattern recognition receptor/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling and depends on the appropriate ubiquitination of the respective signaling molecules. However, the ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes involved and their interactions are only incompletely understood. Here, we reveal that the deubiquitinase OTU domain, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 1 (OTUB1) is upregulated in DCs upon murine Toxoplasma gondii infection and lipopolysaccharide challenge. Stimulation of DCs with the TLR11/12 ligand T. gondii profilin and the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide induced an increase in NF-κB activation in OTUB1-competent cells, resulting in elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, which was also observed upon the specific stimulation of TLR2, TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9. Mechanistically, OTUB1 promoted NF-κB activity in DCs by K48-linked deubiquitination and stabilization of the E2-conjugating enzyme UBC13, resulting in increased K63-linked ubiquitination of IRAK1 (IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1) and TRAF6 (TNF receptor-associated factor 6). Consequently, DC-specific deletion of OTUB1 impaired the production of cytokines, in particular IL-12, by DCs over the first 2 days of T. gondii infection, resulting in the diminished production of protective interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by natural killer cells, impaired control of parasite replication, and, finally, death from chronic T. encephalitis, all of which could be prevented by low-dose IL-12 treatment in the first 3 days of infection. In contrast, impaired OTUB1-deficient DC activation and cytokine production by OTUB1-deficient DCs protected mice from lipopolysaccharide-induced immunopathology. Collectively, these findings identify OTUB1 as a potent novel regulator of DCs during infectious and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriana Mulas
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Xu Wang
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, 325035, Wenzhou, China.
| | - Shanshan Song
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Gopala Nishanth
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wenjing Yi
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Brunn
- Department of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Pia-Katharina Larsen
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Berend Isermann
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kalinke
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence-Resolving Infection Susceptibility (RESIST), Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Antonio Barragan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael Naumann
- Institute for Experimental Internal Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martina Deckert
- Department of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dirk Schlüter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence-Resolving Infection Susceptibility (RESIST), Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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Clark JT, Christian DA, Gullicksrud JA, Perry JA, Park J, Jacquet M, Tarrant JC, Radaelli E, Silver J, Hunter CA. IL-33 promotes innate lymphoid cell-dependent IFN-γ production required for innate immunity to Toxoplasma gondii. eLife 2021; 10:e65614. [PMID: 33929319 PMCID: PMC8121546 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-33 is an alarmin required for resistance to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, but its role in innate resistance to this organism is unclear. Infection with T. gondii promotes increased stromal cell expression of IL-33, and levels of parasite replication correlate with release of IL-33 in affected tissues. In response to infection, a subset of innate lymphoid cells (ILC) emerges composed of IL-33R+ NK cells and ILC1s. In Rag1-/-mice, where NK cells and ILC1 production of IFN-γ mediate innate resistance to T. gondii, the loss of the IL-33R resulted in reduced ILC responses and increased parasite replication. Furthermore, administration of IL-33 to Rag1-/- mice resulted in a marked decrease in parasite burden, increased production of IFN-γ, and the recruitment and expansion of inflammatory monocytes associated with parasite control. These protective effects of exogenous IL-33 were dependent on endogenous IL-12p40 and the ability of IL-33 to enhance ILC production of IFN-γ. These results highlight that IL-33 synergizes with IL-12 to promote ILC-mediated resistance to T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph T Clark
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - David A Christian
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jodi A Gullicksrud
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Joseph A Perry
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jeongho Park
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Kangwon National University College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary ScienceChuncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Maxime Jacquet
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Liver Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital of Basel and University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - James C Tarrant
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Enrico Radaelli
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jonathan Silver
- Department of Respiratory Inflammation and Autoimmunity, AstraZenecaGaithersburgUnited States
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
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Das S, Stortz JF, Meissner M, Periz J. The multiple functions of actin in apicomplexan parasites. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13345. [PMID: 33885206 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The cytoskeletal protein actin is highly abundant and conserved in eukaryotic cells. It occurs in two different states- the globular (G-actin) form, which can polymerise into the filamentous (F-actin) form, fulfilling various critical functions including cytokinesis, cargo trafficking and cellular motility. In higher eukaryotes, there are several actin isoforms with nearly identical amino acid sequences. Despite the high level of amino acid identity, they display regulated expression patterns and unique non-redundant roles. The number of actin isoforms together with conserved sequences may reflect the selective pressure exerted by scores of actin binding proteins (ABPs) in higher eukaryotes. In contrast, in many protozoans such as apicomplexan parasites which possess only a few ABPs, the regulatory control of actin and its multiple functions are still obscure. Here, we provide a summary of the regulation and biological functions of actin in higher eukaryotes and compare it with the current knowledge in apicomplexans. We discuss future experiments that will help us understand the multiple, critical roles of this fascinating system in apicomplexans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujaan Das
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Felix Stortz
- Department Metabolism of Infection, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Markus Meissner
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Javier Periz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
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50
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RIPK3 Facilitates Host Resistance to Oral Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00021-21. [PMID: 33526566 PMCID: PMC8091083 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00021-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infection activates pattern recognition receptor (PRR) pathways that drive innate inflammatory responses to control infection. Necroptosis is a proinflammatory cell death pathway apart from the innate immune response that has evolved to control pathogenic infection. In this study, we further defined the role of Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) as a PRR and assessed its contribution to necroptosis as a host protection mechanism to T. gondii infection. We found that ZBP1 does not induce proinflammatory necroptosis cell death, and ZBP1 null mice have reduced survival after oral T. gondii infection. In contrast, mice deleted in receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3-/-), a central mediator of necroptosis, have significantly improved survival after oral T. gondii infection without a reduction in parasite burden. The physiological consequences of RIPK3 activity did not show any differences in intestine villus immunopathology, but RIPK3-/- mice showed higher immune cell infiltration and edema in the lamina propria. The contribution of necroptosis to host survival was clarified with mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase null (MLKL-/-) mice. We found MLKL-/- mice succumbed to oral T. gondii infection the same as wild-type mice, indicating necroptosis-independent RIPK3 activity impacts host survival. These results provide new insights on the impacts of proinflammatory cell death pathways as a mechanism of host defense to oral T. gondii infection.
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