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Diffendall G, Scherf A. Deciphering the Plasmodium falciparum perinuclear var gene expression site. Trends Parasitol 2024:S1471-4922(24)00142-9. [PMID: 38910098 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.06.002] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, responsible for the deadliest form of human malaria, employs antigenic variation via monoallelic expression as a key survival strategy. The selective activation of one out of the 60-member var gene family is key to understanding the parasite's ability to cause severe disease and evade the host immune response. var gene activation is initiated by its relocation to a specialized expression site. While the perinuclear expression site (PES) plays a crucial role in enabling the expression of a single allele, the characteristics of this PES remain largely obscure. Recent breakthroughs in genome editing tools and the discovery of regulatory noncoding RNAs have shed light on this intriguing biological feature, offering significant insights into the mechanisms of pathogen virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen Diffendall
- Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, CNRS EMR9195, Paris, France
| | - Artur Scherf
- Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, CNRS EMR9195, Paris, France.
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2
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Schwarzer E, Skorokhod O. Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins of Malaria Parasites during the Life Cycle. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6145. [PMID: 38892332 PMCID: PMC11173270 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116145] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are essential for regulating protein functions, influencing various fundamental processes in eukaryotes. These include, but are not limited to, cell signaling, protein trafficking, the epigenetic control of gene expression, and control of the cell cycle, as well as cell proliferation, differentiation, and interactions between cells. In this review, we discuss protein PTMs that play a key role in the malaria parasite biology and its pathogenesis. Phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, lipidation and lipoxidation, glycosylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation, nitrosylation and glutathionylation, all of which occur in malarial parasites, are reviewed. We provide information regarding the biological significance of these modifications along all phases of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium spp. Importantly, not only the parasite, but also the host and vector protein PTMs are often crucial for parasite growth and development. In addition to metabolic regulations, protein PTMs can result in epitopes that are able to elicit both innate and adaptive immune responses of the host or vector. We discuss some existing and prospective results from antimalarial drug discovery trials that target various PTM-related processes in the parasite or host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelin Schwarzer
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Oleksii Skorokhod
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
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3
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Jeffers V. Histone code: a common language and multiple dialects to meet the different developmental requirements of apicomplexan parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102472. [PMID: 38581913 PMCID: PMC11162943 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites have complex life cycles, often requiring transmission between two different hosts, facing periods of dormancy within the host or in the environment to maximize chances of transmission. To support survival in these different conditions, tightly regulated and correctly timed gene expression is critical. The modification of histones and nucleosome composition makes a significant contribution to this regulation, and as eukaryotes, the fundamental mechanisms underlying this process in apicomplexans are similar to those in model eukaryotic organisms. However, single-celled intracellular parasites face unique challenges, and regulation of gene expression at the epigenetic level provides tight control for responses that must often be rapid and robust. Here, we discuss the recent advances in understanding the dynamics of histone modifications across Apicomplexan life cycles and the molecular mechanisms that underlie epigenetic regulation of gene expression to promote parasite life cycle progression, dormancy, and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Jeffers
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
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4
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Voss TS, Brancucci NM. Regulation of sexual commitment in malaria parasites - a complex affair. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102469. [PMID: 38574448 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Malaria blood stage parasites commit to either one of two distinct cellular fates while developing within erythrocytes of their mammalian host: they either undergo another round of asexual replication or they differentiate into nonreplicative transmissible gametocytes. Depending on the state of infection, either path may support or impair the ultimate goal of human-to-human transmission via the mosquito vector. Malaria parasites therefore evolved strategies to control investments into asexual proliferation versus gametocyte formation. Recent work provided fascinating molecular insight into shared and unique mechanisms underlying the control and environmental modulation of sexual commitment in the two most widely studied malaria parasite species, Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei. With this review, we aim at placing these findings into a comparative mechanistic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till S Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Nicolas Mb Brancucci
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland.
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5
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Liu C, Tang J, Liang K, Liu P, Li Z. Ready for renascence in mosquito: The regulation of gene expression in Plasmodium sexual development. Acta Trop 2024; 254:107191. [PMID: 38554994 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107191] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the most perilous vector-borne infectious diseases for humans globally. Sexual gametocyte represents the exclusive stage at which malaria parasites are transmitted from the vertebrate to the Anopheles host. The feasible and effective approach to prevent malaria transmission is by addressing the sexual developmental processes, that is, gametocytogenesis and gametogenesis. Thus, this review will comprehensively cover advances in the regulation of gene expression surrounding the transmissible stages, including epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China; School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Jingjing Tang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Kejia Liang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Zhenkui Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China.
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6
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Sollelis L, Howick VM, Marti M. Revisiting the determinants of malaria transmission. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:302-312. [PMID: 38443304 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.02.001] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Malaria parasites have coevolved with humans over thousands of years, mirroring their migration out of Africa. They persist to this day, despite continuous elimination efforts worldwide. These parasites can adapt to changing environments during infection of human and mosquito, and when expanding the geographical range by switching vector species. Recent studies in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, identified determinants governing the plasticity of sexual conversion rates, sex ratio, and vector competence. Here we summarize the latest literature revealing environmental, epigenetic, and genetic determinants of malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauriane Sollelis
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection and Immunity University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Virginia M Howick
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health, and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Matthias Marti
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection and Immunity University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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7
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Lappalainen R, Kumar M, Duraisingh MT. Hungry for control: metabolite signaling to chromatin in Plasmodium falciparum. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102430. [PMID: 38306915 PMCID: PMC11157454 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum undergoes a complex life cycle in two hosts, mammalian and mosquito, where it is constantly subjected to environmental changes in nutrients. Epigenetic mechanisms govern transcriptional switches and are essential for parasite persistence and proliferation. Parasites infecting red blood cells are auxotrophic for several nutrients, and mounting evidence suggests that various metabolites act as direct substrates for epigenetic modifications, with their abundance directly relating to changes in parasite gene expression. Here, we review the latest understanding of metabolic changes that alter the histone code resulting in changes to transcriptional programmes in malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Lappalainen
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA.
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8
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Farrukh A, Musabyimana JP, Distler U, Mahlich VJ, Mueller J, Bick F, Tenzer S, Pradel G, Ngwa CJ. The Plasmodium falciparum CCCH zinc finger protein MD3 regulates male gametocytogenesis through its interaction with RNA-binding proteins. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:543-564. [PMID: 38148574 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The transmission of malaria parasites to mosquitoes is dependent on the formation of gametocytes. Once fully matured, gametocytes are able to transform into gametes in the mosquito's midgut, a process accompanied with their egress from the enveloping erythrocyte. Gametocyte maturation and gametogenesis require a well-coordinated gene expression program that involves a wide spectrum of regulatory proteins, ranging from histone modifiers to transcription factors to RNA-binding proteins. Here, we investigated the role of the CCCH zinc finger protein MD3 in Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis. MD3 was originally identified as an epigenetically regulated protein of immature gametocytes and recently shown to be involved in male development in a barcode-based screen in P. berghei. We report that MD3 is mainly present in the cytoplasm of immature male P. falciparum gametocytes. Parasites deficient of MD3 are impaired in gametocyte maturation and male gametocytogenesis. BioID analysis in combination with co-immunoprecipitation assays unveiled an interaction network of MD3 with RNA-binding proteins like PABP1 and ALBA3, with translational initiators, regulators and repressors like elF4G, PUF1, NOT1 and CITH, and with further regulators of gametocytogenesis, including ZNF4, MD1 and GD1. We conclude that MD3 is part of a regulator complex crucial for post-transcriptional fine-tuning of male gametocytogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afia Farrukh
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jean Pierre Musabyimana
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ute Distler
- Core Facility for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Immunology, University Medical Centre of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Vanessa Jil Mahlich
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Julius Mueller
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabian Bick
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Tenzer
- Core Facility for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Immunology, University Medical Centre of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Che Julius Ngwa
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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9
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Reyser T, Paloque L, Augereau JM, Di Stefano L, Benoit-Vical F. Epigenetic regulation as a therapeutic target in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2024; 23:44. [PMID: 38347549 PMCID: PMC10863139 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04855-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past thirty years, epigenetic regulation of gene expression has gained increasing interest as it was shown to be implicated in illnesses ranging from cancers to parasitic diseases. In the malaria parasite, epigenetics was shown to be involved in several key steps of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium, among which asexual development and sexual commitment, but also in major biological processes like immune evasion, response to environmental changes or DNA repair. Because epigenetics plays such paramount roles in the Plasmodium parasite, enzymes involved in these regulating pathways represent a reservoir of potential therapeutic targets. This review focuses on epigenetic regulatory processes and their effectors in the malaria parasite, as well as the inhibitors of epigenetic pathways and their potential as new anti-malarial drugs. Such types of drugs could be formidable tools that may contribute to malaria eradication in a context of widespread resistance to conventional anti-malarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaud Reyser
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Paloque
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Michel Augereau
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Luisa Di Stefano
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Françoise Benoit-Vical
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France.
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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10
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Azizan S, Selvarajah SA, Tang J, Jeninga MD, Schulz D, Pareek K, Herr T, Day KP, De Koning-Ward TF, Petter M, Duffy MF. The P. falciparum alternative histones Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are dynamically acetylated and antagonized by PfSir2 histone deacetylases at heterochromatin boundaries. mBio 2023; 14:e0201423. [PMID: 37882786 PMCID: PMC10746207 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02014-23] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum relies on variant expression of members of multi-gene families as a strategy for environmental adaptation to promote parasite survival and pathogenesis. These genes are located in transcriptionally silenced DNA regions. A limited number of these genes escape gene silencing, and switching between them confers variant fitness on parasite progeny. Here, we show that PfSir2 histone deacetylases antagonize DNA-interacting acetylated alternative histones at the boundaries between active and silent DNA. This finding implicates acetylated alternative histones in the mechanism regulating P. falciparum variant gene silencing and thus malaria pathogenesis. This work also revealed that acetylation of alternative histones at promoters is dynamically associated with promoter activity across the genome, implicating acetylation of alternative histones in gene regulation genome wide. Understanding mechanisms of gene regulation in P. falciparum may aid in the development of new therapeutic strategies for malaria, which killed 619,000 people in 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suffian Azizan
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shamista A. Selvarajah
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jingyi Tang
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Myriam D. Jeninga
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Kapil Pareek
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tamara Herr
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Karen P. Day
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F. De Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Michaela Petter
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael F. Duffy
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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11
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Kioko M, Pance A, Mwangi S, Goulding D, Kemp A, Rono M, Ochola-Oyier LI, Bull PC, Bejon P, Rayner JC, Abdi AI. Extracellular vesicles could be a putative posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism that shapes intracellular RNA levels in Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6447. [PMID: 37833314 PMCID: PMC10575976 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42103-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum secretes extracellular vesicles (PfEVs) that contain parasite-derived RNA. However, the significance of the secreted RNA remains unexplored. Here, we compare secreted and intracellular RNA from asexual cultures of six P. falciparum lines. We find that secretion of RNA via extracellular vesicles is not only periodic throughout the asexual intraerythrocytic developmental cycle but is also highly conserved across P. falciparum isolates. We further demonstrate that the phases of RNA secreted via extracellular vesicles are discernibly shifted compared to those of the intracellular RNA within the secreting whole parasite. Finally, transcripts of genes with no known function during the asexual intraerythrocytic developmental cycle are enriched in PfEVs compared to the whole parasite. We conclude that the secretion of extracellular vesicles could be a putative posttranscriptional RNA regulation mechanism that is part of or synergise the classic RNA decay processes to maintain intracellular RNA levels in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mwikali Kioko
- Bioscience Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Alena Pance
- Pathogens and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- School of Life and Medical Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Shaban Mwangi
- Bioscience Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - David Goulding
- Pathogens and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alison Kemp
- Cambridge Institute of Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin Rono
- Bioscience Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Pwani University Biosciences Research Centre, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Pete C Bull
- Bioscience Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- Bioscience Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Cambridge Institute of Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Abdirahman I Abdi
- Bioscience Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
- Pwani University Biosciences Research Centre, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya.
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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12
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Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
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13
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Harris CT, Tong X, Campelo R, Marreiros IM, Vanheer LN, Nahiyaan N, Zuzarte-Luís VA, Deitsch KW, Mota MM, Rhee KY, Kafsack BFC. Sexual differentiation in human malaria parasites is regulated by competition between phospholipid metabolism and histone methylation. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:1280-1292. [PMID: 37277533 PMCID: PMC11163918 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01396-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
For Plasmodium falciparum, the most widespread and virulent malaria parasite that infects humans, persistence depends on continuous asexual replication in red blood cells, while transmission to their mosquito vector requires asexual blood-stage parasites to differentiate into non-replicating gametocytes. This decision is controlled by stochastic derepression of a heterochromatin-silenced locus encoding AP2-G, the master transcription factor of sexual differentiation. The frequency of ap2-g derepression was shown to be responsive to extracellular phospholipid precursors but the mechanism linking these metabolites to epigenetic regulation of ap2-g was unknown. Through a combination of molecular genetics, metabolomics and chromatin profiling, we show that this response is mediated by metabolic competition for the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine between histone methyltransferases and phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase, a critical enzyme in the parasite's pathway for de novo phosphatidylcholine synthesis. When phosphatidylcholine precursors are scarce, increased consumption of SAM for de novo phosphatidylcholine synthesis impairs maintenance of the histone methylation responsible for silencing ap2-g, increasing the frequency of derepression and sexual differentiation. This provides a key mechanistic link that explains how LysoPC and choline availability can alter the chromatin status of the ap2-g locus controlling sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal T Harris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xinran Tong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BCMB Allied Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Riward Campelo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Inês M Marreiros
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Leen N Vanheer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Navid Nahiyaan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vanessa A Zuzarte-Luís
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kirk W Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria M Mota
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kyu Y Rhee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Björn F C Kafsack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Toenhake CG, Voorberg-van der Wel A, Wu H, Kanyal A, Nieuwenhuis IG, van der Werff NM, Hofman SO, Zeeman AM, Kocken CHM, Bártfai R. Epigenetically regulated RNA-binding proteins signify malaria hypnozoite dormancy. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112727. [PMID: 37392389 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112727] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Dormancy enables relapsing malaria parasites, such as Plasmodium vivax and cynomolgi, to survive unfavorable conditions. It is enabled by hypnozoites, parasites remaining quiescent inside hepatocytes before reactivating and establishing blood-stage infection. We integrate omics approaches to explore gene-regulatory mechanisms underlying hypnozoite dormancy. Genome-wide profiling of activating and repressing histone marks identifies a few genes that get silenced by heterochromatin during hepatic infection of relapsing parasites. By combining single-cell transcriptomics, chromatin accessibility profiling, and fluorescent in situ RNA hybridization, we show that these genes are expressed in hypnozoites and that their silencing precedes parasite development. Intriguingly, these hypnozoite-specific genes mainly encode proteins with RNA-binding domains. We hence hypothesize that these likely repressive RNA-binding proteins keep hypnozoites in a developmentally competent but dormant state and that heterochromatin-mediated silencing of the corresponding genes aids reactivation. Exploring the regulation and exact function of these proteins hence could provide clues for targeted reactivation and killing of these latent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Haoyu Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Abhishek Kanyal
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Sam Otto Hofman
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie Zeeman
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, the Netherlands
| | | | - Richárd Bártfai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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15
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Alemayehu A. Biology and epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax gametocyte carriage: Implication for malaria control and elimination. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2023; 21:e00295. [PMID: 36950502 PMCID: PMC10025134 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is among the leading public health problems worldwide. Female anopheles mosquito orchestrates the transmission of malaria by taking gametocytes and introducing sporozoite while taking blood meals. Interrupting transmission is the major strategy for malaria elimination. The gametocyte stage is essential for the onward transmission of malaria. Thus, understanding its basic biology and epidemiology is key to malaria control and elimination. Therefore, the current review focuses on revealing the biology, prevalence, and determinants of gametocyte carriage as well as its implication on mitigation of malaria. It also illustrates the role of asymptomatic and sub-microscopic Plasmodium infections and G-6-PD deficiency in gametocyte carriage and hence malaria transmission. Gametocytogenesis is initiated at committed merozoites and gives rise to the development of gametocytes. The trigger for gametocytogenesis depends on the host, parasite, and intervention factors. Gametocytes pass through five developmental stages identifiable by molecular markers. A considerable number of malaria patients carry gametocytes at a sub-microscopic level, thereby serving as a potential infectious reservoir of transmission. Factors involving the human host, Plasmodium parasite, and intervention parameters play a critical role in gametocyte biology and prevalence. The contribution of asymptomatic and sub-microscopic infections to malaria transmission is unknown. The clear impact of G-6-PD deficiency on malaria control and elimination remains unclear. Lack of clarity on such issues might impede the success of interventions. Basic science and epidemiological studies should continue to overcome the challenges and cope with the ever-evolving parasite and guide interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aklilu Alemayehu
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
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16
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Jeninga MD, Tang J, Selvarajah SA, Maier AG, Duffy MF, Petter M. Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes display global chromatin remodelling during sexual differentiation. BMC Biol 2023; 21:65. [PMID: 37013531 PMCID: PMC10071754 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01568-4] [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: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protozoan malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a complex life cycle during which it needs to differentiate into multiple morphologically distinct life forms. A key process for transmission of the disease is the development of male and female gametocytes in the human blood, yet the mechanisms determining sexual dimorphism in these haploid, genetically identical sexual precursor cells remain largely unknown. To understand the epigenetic program underlying the differentiation of male and female gametocytes, we separated the two sexual forms by flow cytometry and performed RNAseq as well as comprehensive ChIPseq profiling of several histone variants and modifications. RESULTS We show that in female gametocytes the chromatin landscape is globally remodelled with respect to genome-wide patterns and combinatorial usage of histone variants and histone modifications. We identified sex specific differences in heterochromatin distribution, implicating exported proteins and ncRNAs in sex determination. Specifically in female gametocytes, the histone variants H2A.Z/H2B.Z were highly enriched in H3K9me3-associated heterochromatin. H3K27ac occupancy correlated with stage-specific gene expression, but in contrast to asexual parasites this was unlinked to H3K4me3 co-occupancy at promoters in female gametocytes. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, we defined novel combinatorial chromatin states differentially organising the genome in gametocytes and asexual parasites and unravelled fundamental, sex-specific differences in the epigenetic code. Our chromatin maps represent an important resource for future understanding of the mechanisms driving sexual differentiation in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam D Jeninga
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jingyi Tang
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Shamista A Selvarajah
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Alexander G Maier
- The Australian National University, Research School of Biology, 134 Linnaeus Way, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Michael F Duffy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Michaela Petter
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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17
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Abdi AI, Achcar F, Sollelis L, Silva-Filho JL, Mwikali K, Muthui M, Mwangi S, Kimingi HW, Orindi B, Andisi Kivisi C, Alkema M, Chandrasekar A, Bull PC, Bejon P, Modrzynska K, Bousema T, Marti M. Plasmodium falciparum adapts its investment into replication versus transmission according to the host environment. eLife 2023; 12:e85140. [PMID: 36916164 PMCID: PMC10059685 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite life cycle includes asexual replication in human blood, with a proportion of parasites differentiating to gametocytes required for transmission to mosquitoes. Commitment to differentiate into gametocytes, which is marked by activation of the parasite transcription factor ap2-g, is known to be influenced by host factors but a comprehensive model remains uncertain. Here, we analyze data from 828 children in Kilifi, Kenya with severe, uncomplicated, and asymptomatic malaria infection over 18 years of falling malaria transmission. We examine markers of host immunity and metabolism, and markers of parasite growth and transmission investment. We find that inflammatory responses associated with reduced plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels are associated with markers of increased investment in parasite sexual reproduction (i.e. transmission investment) and reduced growth (i.e. asexual replication). This association becomes stronger with falling transmission and suggests that parasites can rapidly respond to the within-host environment, which in turn is subject to changing transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdirahman I Abdi
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research ProgrammeKilifiKenya
- Pwani University Biosciences Research Centre, Pwani UniversityKilifiKenya
| | - Fiona Achcar
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, University of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Lauriane Sollelis
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, University of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - João Luiz Silva-Filho
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, University of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Cheryl Andisi Kivisi
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research ProgrammeKilifiKenya
- Pwani University Biosciences Research Centre, Pwani UniversityKilifiKenya
| | - Manon Alkema
- Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Amrita Chandrasekar
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, University of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Peter C Bull
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research ProgrammeKilifiKenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research ProgrammeKilifiKenya
| | - Katarzyna Modrzynska
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, University of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Teun Bousema
- Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Matthias Marti
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, University of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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18
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Abstract
The three-dimensional (3D) genome structure of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is highly organized and plays important roles in regulating coordinated expression patterns of specific genes such as virulence genes which are involved in antigenic variation and immune escape. However, the molecular mechanisms that control 3D genome of the parasite remain elusive. Here, by analyzing genome organization of P. falciparum, we identify high-interacting regions (HIRs) with strong chromatin interactions at telomeres and virulence genes loci. Specifically, HIRs are highly enriched with repressive histone marks (H3K36me3 and H3K9me3) and form the transcriptional repressive center. Deletion of PfSET2, which controls H3K36me3 level, results in marked reduction of both intrachromosomal and interchromosomal interactions for HIRs. Importantly, such chromatin reorganization coordinates with dynamic changes in epigenetic feature in HIRs and transcriptional activation of var genes. Additionally, different cluster of var genes based on the pattern of chromatin interactions show distinct transcriptional activation potential after deletion of PfSET2. Our results uncover a fundamental mechanism that the epigenetic factor PfSET2 controls the 3D organization of heterochromatin to regulate the transcription activities of var genes family in P. falciparum. IMPORTANCE PfSET2 has been reported to play key role in silencing var genes in Plasmodium falciparum, while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we provide evidence that PfSET2 is essential to maintain 3D genome organization of heterochromatin region to keep var genes in transcription repressive state. These findings can contribute better understanding of the regulation of high-order chromatin structure in P. falciparum.
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19
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Sah RK, Anand S, Dar W, Jain R, Kumari G, Madan E, Saini M, Gupta A, Joshi N, Hada RS, Gupta N, Pati S, Singh S. Host-Erythrocytic Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Regulates Plasmodium Histone Deacetylase Activity and Exhibits Epigenetic Control over Cell Death and Differentiation. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0276622. [PMID: 36744922 PMCID: PMC10100792 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02766-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of resistance to practically all antimalarial drugs poses a challenge to the current malaria elimination and eradication efforts. Given that the epigenome of Plasmodium falciparum governs several crucial parasite functions, pharmaceutical interventions with transmission-blocking potential that target epigenetic molecular markers and regulatory mechanisms are likely to encounter drug resistance. In the malaria parasite, histone deacetylases (HDACs) are essential epigenetic modulators that regulate cellular transcriptional rearrangements, notably the molecular mechanisms underlying parasite proliferation and differentiation. We establish "lipid sequestration" as a mechanism by which sphingolipids, specifically Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) (a metabolic product of Sphingosine Kinase 1 [SphK-1]), regulate epigenetic reprogramming in the parasite by interacting with, and modulating, the histone-deacetylation activity of PfHDAC-1, thereby regulating Plasmodium pathogenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that altering host S1P levels with PF-543, a potent and selective Sphk-1 inhibitor, dysregulates PfHDAC-1 activity, resulting in a significant increase in the global histone acetylation signals and, consequently, transcriptional modulation of genes associated with gametocytogenesis, virulence, and proliferation. Our findings point to a hitherto unrecognized functional role for host S1P-mediated sphingolipid signaling in modulating PfHDAC-1's enzymatic activity and, as a result, the parasite's dynamic genome-wide transcriptional patterns. The epigenetic regulation of parasite proliferation and sexual differentiation offers a novel approach for developing host-targeted therapeutics to combat malaria resistance to conventional regimens. IMPORTANCE Sphingolipid is an 18-carbon amino-alcohol-containing lipid with a sphingosine backbone, which when phosphorylated by sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK-1), generates sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), an essential lipid signaling molecule. Dysregulation of S1P function has been observed in a variety of pathologies, including severe malaria. The malaria parasite Plasmodium acquires a host S1P pool for its growth and survival. Here, we describe the molecular attuning of histone deacetylase-1 (PfHDAC-1), a crucial epigenetic modulator that contributes to the establishment of epigenetic chromatin states and parasite survival, in response to S1P binding. Our findings highlight the host lipid-mediated epigenetic regulation of malaria parasite key genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Sah
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Sakshi Anand
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Waseem Dar
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Ravi Jain
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Geeta Kumari
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Evanka Madan
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Monika Saini
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Aashima Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Nishant Joshi
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Rahul Singh Hada
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Nutan Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Soumya Pati
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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20
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Cruz Camacho A, Kiper E, Oren S, Zaharoni N, Nir N, Soffer N, Noy Y, Ben David B, Rivkin A, Rotkopf R, Michael D, Carvalho TG, Regev-Rudzki N. High-throughput analysis of the transcriptional patterns of sexual genes in malaria. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:14. [PMID: 36639683 PMCID: PMC9838061 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05624-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is the leading protozoan causing malaria, the most devastating parasitic disease. To ensure transmission, a small subset of Pf parasites differentiate into the sexual forms (gametocytes). Since the abundance of these essential parasitic forms is extremely low within the human host, little is currently known about the molecular regulation of their sexual differentiation, highlighting the need to develop tools to investigate Pf gene expression during this fundamental mechanism. METHODS We developed a high-throughput quantitative Reverse-Transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) platform to robustly monitor Pf transcriptional patterns, in particular, systematically profiling the transcriptional pattern of a large panel of gametocyte-related genes (GRG). Initially, we evaluated the technical performance of the systematic RT-qPCR platform to ensure it complies with the accepted quality standards for: (i) RNA extraction, (ii) cDNA synthesis and (iii) evaluation of gene expression through RT-qPCR. We then used this approach to monitor alterations in gene expression of a panel of GRG upon treatment with gametocytogenesis regulators. RESULTS We thoroughly elucidated GRG expression profiles under treatment with the antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) or the metabolite choline over the course of a Pf blood cycle (48 h). We demonstrate that both significantly alter the expression pattern of PfAP2-G, the gametocytogenesis master regulator. However, they also markedly modify the developmental rate of the parasites and thus might bias the mRNA expression. Additionally, we screened the effect of the metabolites lactate and kynurenic acid, abundant in severe malaria, as potential regulators of gametocytogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that the high-throughput RT-qPCR method enables studying the immediate transcriptional response initiating gametocytogenesis of the parasites from a very low volume of malaria-infected RBC samples. The obtained data expand the current knowledge of the initial alterations in mRNA profiles of GRG upon treatment with reported regulators. In addition, using this method emphasizes that asexual parasite stage composition is a crucial element that must be considered when interpreting changes in GRG expression by RT-qPCR, specifically when screening for novel compounds that could regulate Pf sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Cruz Camacho
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Edo Kiper
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sonia Oren
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nir Zaharoni
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Netta Nir
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Soffer
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yael Noy
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bar Ben David
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Anna Rivkin
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ron Rotkopf
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dan Michael
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Feinberg Graduate School, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Teresa G. Carvalho
- grid.1018.80000 0001 2342 0938Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086 Australia
| | - Neta Regev-Rudzki
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Faculty of Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
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21
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Epigenetic and Epitranscriptomic Gene Regulation in Plasmodium falciparum and How We Can Use It against Malaria. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101734. [PMID: 36292619 PMCID: PMC9601349 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, is still one of the biggest global health challenges. P. falciparum is the deadliest species to humans. In this review, we discuss how this parasite develops and adapts to the complex and heterogenous environments of its two hosts thanks to varied chromatin-associated and epigenetic mechanisms. First, one small family of transcription factors, the ApiAP2 proteins, functions as master regulators of spatio-temporal patterns of gene expression through the parasite life cycle. In addition, chromatin plasticity determines variable parasite cell phenotypes that link to parasite growth, virulence and transmission, enabling parasite adaptation within host conditions. In recent years, epitranscriptomics is emerging as a new regulatory layer of gene expression. We present evidence of the variety of tRNA and mRNA modifications that are being characterized in Plasmodium spp., and the dynamic changes in their abundance during parasite development and cell fate. We end up outlining that new biological systems, like the mosquito model, to decipher the unknowns about epigenetic mechanisms in vivo; and novel methodologies, to study the function of RNA modifications; are needed to discover the Achilles heel of the parasite. With this new knowledge, future strategies manipulating the epigenetics and epitranscriptomic machinery of the parasite have the potential of providing new weapons against malaria.
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22
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ApiAP2 Gene-Network Regulates Gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium Parasites. Cell Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/5796578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease, caused by unicellular Apicomplexan protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. The sexual stage of Plasmodium is one of the most fascinating aspects of the Plasmodium life cycle, yet relatively less explored until now. The production of sexually fit gametocytes through gametocytogenesis is essential to the transmission of the Plasmodium parasite into an anopheline mosquito vector. Understanding how gametocytogenesis is regulated promotes the identification of novel drug targets and also the development of transmission-blocking vaccines that would help reduce the disease burden in endemic areas. Transcriptional regulation in Plasmodium parasites is primarily controlled by a family of twenty-seven Apicomplexan Apetela 2 (ApiAP2) genes which act in a cascade to enable the parasite to progress through its asexual replication as well as gametocytogenesis. Here, we review the latest progress made on members of the ApiAP2 family characterized as key players of the transcriptional machinery of gametocytes. Further, we will highlight the transcriptional regulation network of ApiAP2 genes at each stage of gametocytogenesis.
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23
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Plasmodium falciparum S-Adenosylmethionine Synthetase Is Essential for Parasite Survival through a Complex Interaction Network with Cytoplasmic and Nuclear Proteins. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071419. [PMID: 35889137 PMCID: PMC9320499 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SAMS) is a key enzyme for the synthesis of the lone methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), which is involved in transmethylation reactions and hence required for cellular processes such as DNA, RNA, and histone methylation, but also polyamine biosynthesis and proteostasis. In the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, PfSAMS is encoded by a single gene and has been suggested to be crucial for malaria pathogenesis and transmission; however, to date, PfSAMS has not been fully characterized. To gain deeper insight into the function of PfSAMS, we generated a conditional gene knockdown (KD) using the glmS ribozyme system. We show that PfSAMS localizes to the cytoplasm and the nucleus of blood-stage parasites. PfSAMS-KD results in reduced histone methylation and leads to impaired intraerythrocytic growth and gametocyte development. To further determine the interaction network of PfSAMS, we performed a proximity-dependent biotin identification analysis. We identified a complex network of 1114 proteins involved in biological processes such as cell cycle control and DNA replication, or transcription, but also in phosphatidylcholine and polyamine biosynthesis and proteasome regulation. Our findings highlight the diverse roles of PfSAMS during intraerythrocytic growth and sexual stage development and emphasize that PfSAMS is a potential drug target.
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Saxena H, Gupta A. P. falciparum PfRUVBL proteins binds at TARE region and var gene promoter located in subtelomeric region. Pathog Dis 2022; 80:6595874. [PMID: 35640888 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to survive and establish infection, Plasmodium parasite employ various strategies to evade host immune response. Var genes family, a repertoire of 60 genes, express parasite-specific protein PfEMP1, a variable surface antigen, on the membrane of infected erythrocyte, and by continuously switching the variants of PfEMP1, helps the parasite to avoid detection and destruction by host immune system during intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle. Although chromatin modifications are recognized to be a prominent phenomenon in regulation of mono-allelic expression of these var genes, however the precise histone codes and molecular players & mechanisms guiding these modifications are yet to be unravelled in depth. In this study, we have functionally characterized RUVBL proteins of P. falciparum and shown that PfMYST (an essential lysine acetyl transferase) and PfRUVBL protein complex occupy the TARE region and var gene promoter in ring stage of the parasite. Further we have demonstrated that PfMYST/PfRUVBL complex interact with core histone, H3 & H4. Overall the findings of this study adds a layer by identifying the potential role of epigenetic regulators, PfMYST & PfRUVBL in regulation of monoallelic expression of var genes in malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himani Saxena
- Epigenetics and Human disease laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, India
| | - Ashish Gupta
- Epigenetics and Human disease laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, India
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Quinn JE, Jeninga MD, Limm K, Pareek K, Meißgeier T, Bachmann A, Duffy MF, Petter M. The Putative Bromodomain Protein PfBDP7 of the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum Cooperates With PfBDP1 in the Silencing of Variant Surface Antigen Expression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:816558. [PMID: 35493110 PMCID: PMC9039026 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.816558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation is a critical mechanism in controlling virulence, differentiation, and survival of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium (P.) falciparum. Bromodomain proteins contribute to this process by binding to acetylated lysine residues of histones and thereby targeting the gene regulatory machinery to gene promoters. A protein complex containing the P. falciparum bromodomain proteins (PfBDP) 1 and PfBDP2 (BDP1/BDP2 core complex) was previously shown to play an essential role for the correct transcription of invasion related genes. Here, we performed a functional characterization of a third component of this complex, which we dubbed PfBDP7, because structural modelling predicted a typical bromodomain fold. We confirmed that PfBDP7 is a nuclear protein that interacts with PfBDP1 at invasion gene promoters in mature schizont stage parasites and contributes to their transcription. Although partial depletion of PfBDP7 showed no significant effect on parasite viability, conditional knock down of either PfBDP7 or PfBDP1 resulted in the de-repression of variant surface antigens (VSA), which are important pathogenicity factors. This de-repression was evident both on mRNA and protein level. To understand the underlying mechanism, we mapped the genome wide binding sites of PfBDP7 by ChIPseq and showed that in early schizonts, PfBDP7 and PfBDP1 are commonly enriched in heterochromatic regions across the gene body of all VSA families, including genes coding for PfEMP1, RIFIN, STEVOR, and PfMC-2TM. This suggests that PfBDP7 and PfBDP1 contribute to the silencing of VSAs by associating with heterochromatin. In conclusion, we identified PfBDP7 as a chromatin binding protein that is a constitutive part of the P. falciparum BDP1/BDP2 core complex and established PfBDP1 and PfBDP7 as novel players in the silencing of heterochromatin regulated virulence gene families of the malaria parasite P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E. Quinn
- Mikrobiologisches Institut—Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Myriam D. Jeninga
- Mikrobiologisches Institut—Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Limm
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kapil Pareek
- Mikrobiologisches Institut—Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tina Meißgeier
- Mikrobiologisches Institut—Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anna Bachmann
- Department of Cellular Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael F. Duffy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Bio21 Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michaela Petter
- Mikrobiologisches Institut—Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Michaela Petter,
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Connacher J, von Grüning H, Birkholtz L. Histone Modification Landscapes as a Roadmap for Malaria Parasite Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:848797. [PMID: 35433676 PMCID: PMC9010790 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.848797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum remains the deadliest parasite species in the world, responsible for 229 million cases of human malaria in 2019. The ability of the P. falciparum parasite to progress through multiple life cycle stages and thrive in diverse host and vector species hinges on sophisticated mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Emerging evidence indicates such epigenetic control exists in concentric layers, revolving around core histone post-translational modification (PTM) landscapes. Here, we provide a necessary update of recent epigenome research in malaria parasites, focusing specifically on the ability of dynamic histone PTM landscapes to orchestrate the divergent development and differentiation pathways in P. falciparum parasites. In addition to individual histone PTMs, we discuss recent findings that imply functional importance for combinatorial PTMs in P. falciparum parasites, representing an operational histone code. Finally, this review highlights the remaining gaps and provides strategies to address these to obtain a more thorough understanding of the histone modification landscapes that are at the center of epigenetic regulation in human malaria parasites.
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von Bredow L, Schäfer TM, Hogenkamp J, Tretbar M, Stopper D, Kraft FB, Schliehe-Diecks J, Schöler A, Borkhardt A, Bhatia S, Held J, Hansen FK. Synthesis, Antiplasmodial, and Antileukemia Activity of Dihydroartemisinin–HDAC Inhibitor Hybrids as Multitarget Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030333. [PMID: 35337131 PMCID: PMC8952208 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030333] [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: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the gold standard for the treatment of malaria, but the efficacy is threatened by the development of parasite resistance. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) are an emerging new class of potential antiplasmodial drugs. In this work, we present the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a mini library of dihydroartemisinin–HDACi hybrid molecules. The screening of the hybrid molecules for their activity against selected human HDAC isoforms, asexual blood stage P. falciparum parasites, and a panel of leukemia cell lines delivered important structure–activity relationships. All synthesized compounds demonstrated potent activity against the 3D7 and Dd2 line of P. falciparum with IC50 values in the single-digit nanomolar range. Furthermore, the hybrid (α)-7c displayed improved activity against artemisinin-resistant parasites compared to dihydroartemisinin. The screening of the compounds against five cell lines from different leukemia entities revealed that all hydroxamate-based hybrids (7a–e) and the ortho-aminoanilide 8 exceeded the antiproliferative activity of dihydroartemisinin in four out of five cell lines. Taken together, this series of hybrid molecules represents an excellent starting point toward the development of antimalarial and antileukemia drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas von Bredow
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (L.v.B.); (M.T.); (A.S.)
| | - Thomas Martin Schäfer
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.S.); (J.H.)
| | - Julian Hogenkamp
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.-D.); (A.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Maik Tretbar
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (L.v.B.); (M.T.); (A.S.)
| | - Daniel Stopper
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Cell Biological Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany; (D.S.); (F.B.K.)
| | - Fabian B. Kraft
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Cell Biological Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany; (D.S.); (F.B.K.)
| | - Julian Schliehe-Diecks
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.-D.); (A.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Andrea Schöler
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (L.v.B.); (M.T.); (A.S.)
| | - Arndt Borkhardt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.-D.); (A.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Sanil Bhatia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.-D.); (A.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Jana Held
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.S.); (J.H.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Finn K. Hansen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Cell Biological Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany; (D.S.); (F.B.K.)
- Correspondence:
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Thommen BT, Passecker A, Buser T, Hitz E, Voss TS, Brancucci NMB. Revisiting the Effect of Pharmaceuticals on Transmission Stage Formation in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:802341. [PMID: 35223540 PMCID: PMC8873190 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.802341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites rely on specialized stages, called gametocytes, to ensure human-to-human transmission. The formation of these sexual precursor cells is initiated by commitment of blood stage parasites to the sexual differentiation pathway. Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent of six parasite species infecting humans, employs nutrient sensing to control the rate at which sexual commitment is initiated, and the presence of stress-inducing factors, including antimalarial drugs, has been linked to increased gametocyte production in vitro and in vivo. These observations suggest that therapeutic interventions may promote gametocytogenesis and malaria transmission. Here, we engineered a P. falciparum reporter line to quantify sexual commitment rates after exposure to antimalarials and other pharmaceuticals commonly prescribed in malaria-endemic regions. Our data reveal that some of the tested drugs indeed have the capacity to elevate sexual commitment rates in vitro. Importantly, however, these effects are only observed at drug concentrations that inhibit parasite survival and only rarely result in a net increase of gametocyte production. Using a drug-resistant parasite reporter line, we further show that the gametocytogenesis-promoting effect of drugs is linked to general stress responses rather than to compound-specific activities. Altogether, we did not observe evidence for mechanistic links between the regulation of sexual commitment and the activity of commonly used pharmaceuticals in vitro. Our data hence does not support scenarios in which currently applied therapeutic interventions would promote the spread of drug-resistant parasites or malaria transmission in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basil T. Thommen
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Armin Passecker
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tamara Buser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eva Hitz
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Till S. Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Till S. Voss, ; Nicolas M. B. Brancucci,
| | - Nicolas M. B. Brancucci
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Till S. Voss, ; Nicolas M. B. Brancucci,
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The transcriptional regulator HDP1 controls expansion of the inner membrane complex during early sexual differentiation of malaria parasites. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:289-299. [PMID: 35087229 PMCID: PMC8852293 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-01045-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Transmission of Plasmodium falciparum and other malaria parasites requires their differentiation from asexual blood stages into gametocytes, the non-replicative sexual stage necessary to infect the mosquito vector. This transition involves changes in gene expression and chromatin reorganization that result in the activation and silencing of stage-specific genes. However, the genomes of malaria parasites have been noted for their limited number of transcriptional and chromatin regulators, and the molecular mediators of these changes remain largely unknown. We recently identified homeodomain protein 1 (HDP1) as a DNA-binding protein, first expressed in gametocytes, that enhances the expression of key genes critical for early sexual differentiation. The discovery of HDP1 marks a new class of transcriptional regulator in malaria parasites outside of the better-characterized ApiAP2 family. Here, using molecular biology, biochemistry and microscopy techniques, we show that HDP1 is essential for gametocyte maturation, facilitating the necessary upregulation of inner membrane complex components during early gametocytogenesis that gives P. falciparum gametocytes their characteristic shape.
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Shang X, Wang C, Fan Y, Guo G, Wang F, Zhao Y, Sheng F, Tang J, He X, Yu X, Zhang M, Zhu G, Yin S, Mu J, Culleton R, Cao J, Jiang M, Zhang Q. OUP accepted manuscript. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3413-3431. [PMID: 35288749 PMCID: PMC8989538 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin-associated gene silencing controls multiple physiological processes in malaria parasites, however, little is known concerning the regulatory network and cis-acting sequences involved in the organization of heterochromatin and how they modulate heterochromatic gene expression. Based on systematic profiling of genome-wide occupancy of eighteen Apicomplexan AP2 transcription factors by ChIP-seq analysis, we identify and characterize eight heterochromatin-associated factors (PfAP2-HFs), which exhibit preferential enrichment within heterochromatic regions but with differential coverage profiles. Although these ApiAP2s target euchromatic gene loci via specific DNA motifs, they are likely integral components of heterochromatin independent of DNA motif recognition. Systematic knockout screenings of ApiAP2 factors coupled with RNA-seq transcriptomic profiling revealed three activators and three repressors of heterochromatic gene expression including four PfAP2-HFs. Notably, expression of virulence genes is either completely silenced or significantly reduced upon the depletion of PfAP2-HC. Integrated multi-omics analyses reveal autoregulation and feed-forward loops to be common features of the ApiAP2 regulatory network, in addition to the occurrence of dynamic interplay between local chromatin structure and ApiAP2s in transcriptional control. Collectively, this study provides a valuable resource describing the genome-wide landscape of the ApiAP2 family and insights into functional divergence and cooperation within this family during the blood-stage development of malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fei Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital; Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yuemeng Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital; Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Fei Sheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital; Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jianxia Tang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, 214064, China
| | - Xiaoqin He
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, 214064, China
| | - Xinyu Yu
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, 214064, China
| | - Meihua Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, 214064, China
| | - Guoding Zhu
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, 214064, China
| | - Shigang Yin
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jianbing Mu
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Richard Culleton
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Centre, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Jun Cao
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Jun Cao. Tel: +05 10 6878 1007;
| | - Mei Jiang
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Mei Jiang. Tel: +86 21 6598 5138;
| | - Qingfeng Zhang
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86 21 6598 5138;
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Mitesser V, Dzikowski R. Resetting var Gene Transcription in Plasmodium falciparum. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2470:211-220. [PMID: 35881348 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2189-9_16] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
One of the key mechanisms contributing to the virulence of Plasmodium falciparum is its ability to undergo antigenic switching among antigenically distinct variants of the PfEMP1 adhesive proteins, encoded by the var gene family. To avoid premature exposure of its antigenic repertoire, the parasite transcribes its var genes in a mutually exclusive manner, and switch expression at a very slow rate. This process is epigenetically regulated and it relies on "epigenetic memory," which imprints the single active var gene to remain active for multiple replication cycles. Erasing this epigenetic memory in parasites grown in culture resembles parasites, which egress from the liver. It could therefore be of interest for investigating var switching patterns at the onset of malaria infections. In addition, this procedure could be used for creating heterogeneity of var expression among parasite populations. The methodology described here for resetting of var gene expression is based on promoter titration, also known as molecular sponging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Mitesser
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ron Dzikowski
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Dinko B, Tackie R, Henriques G, Stewart L, Sutherland C. Generation of Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytes In Vitro with Specific Considerations for Field Isolates. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2470:121-132. [PMID: 35881343 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2189-9_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Reproducible induction of gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro is crucial for performing various experimental analyses to understand gametocyte cellular and molecular biology and immunology, and for the evaluation of antigametocidal agents and vaccine development. In this protocol, we present specific procedures for the enrichment, synchronous production and separation of developmental stages of P. falciparum gametocytes from culture-adapted field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bismarck Dinko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
| | - Richmond Tackie
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Gisela Henriques
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Lindsay Stewart
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Colin Sutherland
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Oduma CO, Koepfli C. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax Adjust Investment in Transmission in Response to Change in Transmission Intensity: A Review of the Current State of Research. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:786317. [PMID: 34956934 PMCID: PMC8692836 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.786317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites can adjust the proportion of parasites that develop into gametocytes, and thus the probability for human-to-vector transmission, through changes in the gametocyte conversion rate. Understanding the factors that impact the commitment of malaria parasites to transmission is required to design better control interventions. Plasmodium spp. persist across countries with vast differences in transmission intensities, and in sites where transmission is highly seasonal. Mounting evidence shows that Plasmodium spp. adjusts the investment in transmission according to seasonality of vector abundance, and transmission intensity. Various techniques to determine the investment in transmission are available, i.e., short-term culture, where the conversion rate can be measured most directly, genome and transcriptome studies, quantification of mature gametocytes, and mosquito feeding assays. In sites with seasonal transmission, the proportion of gametocytes, their densities and infectivity are higher during the wet season, when vectors are plentiful. When countries with pronounced differences in transmission intensity were compared, the investment in transmission was higher when transmission was low, thus maximizing the parasite’s chances to be transmitted to mosquitoes. Increased transmissibility of residual infections after a successful reduction of malaria transmission levels need to be considered when designing intervention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colins O Oduma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya.,Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Cristian Koepfli
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
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Usui M, Williamson KC. Stressed Out About Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytogenesis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:790067. [PMID: 34926328 PMCID: PMC8674873 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.790067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Blocking malaria transmission is critical to malaria control programs but remains a major challenge especially in endemic regions with high levels of asymptomatic infections. New strategies targeting the transmissible sexual stages of the parasite, called gametocytes, are needed. This review focuses on P. falciparum gametocytogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Highlighting advances made elucidating genes required for gametocyte production and identifying key questions that remain unanswered such as the factors and regulatory mechanisms that contribute to gametocyte induction, and the mechanism of sequestration. Tools available to begin to address these issues are also described to facilitate advances in our understanding of this important stage of the life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Usui
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kim C Williamson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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35
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Prata IO, Cubillos EFG, Krüger A, Barbosa D, Martins J, Setubal JC, Wunderlich G. Plasmodium falciparum Acetyl-CoA Synthetase Is Essential for Parasite Intraerythrocytic Development and Chromatin Modification. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:3224-3240. [PMID: 34766750 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum possesses a unique Acetyl-CoA Synthetase (PfACS), which provides acetyl moieties for different metabolic and regulatory cellular pathways. We characterized PfACS and studied its role focusing on epigenetic modifications using the var gene family as reporter genes. For this, mutant lines to modulate plasmodial ACS expression by degron-mediated protein degradation and ribozyme-induced transcript decay were created. Additionally, an inhibitor of the human Acetyl-CoA Synthetase 2 was tested for its effectiveness in interfering with PfACS. The knockdown of PfACS or its inhibition resulted in impaired parasite growth. Decreased levels of PfACS also led to differential histone acetylation patterns, altered variant gene expression, and concomitantly decreased cytoadherence of infected red blood cells containing knocked-down parasites. Further, ChIP analysis revealed the presence of PfACS in many loci in ring stage parasites, underscoring its involvement in the regulation of chromatin. Due to its central function in the plasmodial metabolism and significant differences to human ACS, PfACS is an interesting target for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora Oliveira Prata
- Department of Parasitology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Eliana Fernanda Galindo Cubillos
- Department of Parasitology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Arne Krüger
- Department of Parasitology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Deibs Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Joaquim Martins
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - João Carlos Setubal
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Gerhard Wunderlich
- Department of Parasitology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
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36
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Chua MJ, Tng J, Hesping E, Fisher GM, Goodman CD, Skinner-Adams T, Do D, Lucke AJ, Reid RC, Fairlie DP, Andrews KT. Histone deacetylase inhibitor AR-42 and achiral analogues kill malaria parasites in vitro and in mice. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2021; 17:118-127. [PMID: 34560571 PMCID: PMC8463797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites and results in significant health and economic impacts. Malaria eradication is hampered by parasite resistance to current drugs and the lack of a widely effective vaccine. Compounds that target epigenetic regulatory proteins, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), may lead to new therapeutic agents with a different mechanism of action, thereby avoiding resistance mechanisms to current antimalarial drugs. The anticancer HDAC inhibitor AR-42, as its racemate (rac-AR-42), and 36 analogues were investigated for in vitro activity against P. falciparum. Rac-AR-42 and selected compounds were assessed for cytotoxicity against human cells, histone hyperacetylation, human HDAC1 inhibition and oral activity in a murine malaria model. Rac-AR-42 was tested for ex vivo asexual and in vitro exoerythrocytic stage activity against P. berghei murine malaria parasites. Rac-AR-42 and 13 achiral analogues were potent inhibitors of asexual intraerythrocytic stage P. falciparum 3D7 growth in vitro (IC50 5–50 nM), with four of these compounds having >50-fold selectivity for P. falciparum versus human cells (selectivity index 56–118). Rac-AR-42 induced in situ hyperacetylation of P. falciparum histone H4, consistent with PfHDAC(s) inhibition. Furthermore, rac-AR-42 potently inhibited P. berghei infected erythrocyte growth ex vivo (IC50 40 nM) and P. berghei exoerythrocytic forms in hepatocytes (IC50 1 nM). Oral administration of rac-AR-42 and two achiral analogues inhibited P. berghei growth in mice, with rac-AR-42 (50 mg/kg/day single dose for four days) curing all infections. These findings demonstrate curative properties for HDAC inhibitors in the oral treatment of experimental mouse malaria. HDAC inhibitors rac-AR-42 and 13 analogues inhibit P. falciparum growth in vitro. Rac-AR-42 inhibits P. berghei exoerythrocytic forms in hepatocytes (IC50 1 nM). Rac-AR-42 causes in situ hyperacetylation of P. falciparum histone H4. Rac-AR-42 cures P. berghei infected mice with oral dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Jang Chua
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Jiahui Tng
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Eva Hesping
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Gillian M Fisher
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | | | - Tina Skinner-Adams
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Darren Do
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew J Lucke
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Robert C Reid
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - David P Fairlie
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
| | - Katherine T Andrews
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Queensland, 4111, Australia.
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37
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Miao J, Wang C, Lucky AB, Liang X, Min H, Adapa SR, Jiang R, Kim K, Cui L. A unique GCN5 histone acetyltransferase complex controls erythrocyte invasion and virulence in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009351. [PMID: 34403450 PMCID: PMC8396726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The histone acetyltransferase GCN5-associated SAGA complex is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to human and functions as a general transcription co-activator in global gene regulation. In this study, we identified a divergent GCN5 complex in Plasmodium falciparum, which contains two plant homeodomain (PHD) proteins (PfPHD1 and PfPHD2) and a plant apetela2 (AP2)-domain transcription factor (PfAP2-LT). To dissect the functions of the PfGCN5 complex, we generated parasite lines with either the bromodomain in PfGCN5 or the PHD domain in PfPHD1 deleted. The two deletion mutants closely phenocopied each other, exhibiting significantly reduced merozoite invasion of erythrocytes and elevated sexual conversion. These domain deletions caused dramatic decreases not only in histone H3K9 acetylation but also in H3K4 trimethylation, indicating synergistic crosstalk between the two euchromatin marks. Domain deletion in either PfGCN5 or PfPHD1 profoundly disturbed the global transcription pattern, causing altered expression of more than 60% of the genes. At the schizont stage, these domain deletions were linked to specific down-regulation of merozoite genes involved in erythrocyte invasion, many of which contain the AP2-LT binding motif and are also regulated by AP2-I and BDP1, suggesting targeted recruitment of the PfGCN5 complex to the invasion genes by these specific factors. Conversely, at the ring stage, PfGCN5 or PfPHD1 domain deletions disrupted the mutually exclusive expression pattern of the entire var gene family, which encodes the virulent factor PfEMP1. Correlation analysis between the chromatin state and alteration of gene expression demonstrated that up- and down-regulated genes in these mutants are highly correlated with the silent and active chromatin states in the wild-type parasite, respectively. Collectively, the PfGCN5 complex represents a novel HAT complex with a unique subunit composition including an AP2 transcription factor, which signifies a new paradigm for targeting the co-activator complex to regulate general and parasite-specific cellular processes in this low-branching parasitic protist. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression plays essential roles in orchestrating the general and parasite-specific cellular pathways in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. To better understand the epigenetic mechanisms in this parasite, we characterized the histone acetyltransferase GCN5-mediated transcription regulation during intraerythrocytic development of the parasite. Using tandem affinity purification and proteomic characterization, we identified that the PfGCN5-associated complex contains nine core components, including two PHD domain proteins (PfPHD1 and PfPHD2) and an AP2-domain transcription factor, which is divergent from the canonical GCN5 complexes evolutionarily conserved from yeast to human. To understand the functions of the PfGCN5 complex, we performed domain deletions in two subunits of this complex, PfGCN5 and PfPHD1. We found that the two deletion mutants displayed very similar growth phenotypes, including significantly reduced merozoite invasion rates and elevated sexual conversion. These two mutants were associated with dramatic decreases in histone H3K9 acetylation and H3K4 trimethylation, which led to global changes in chromatin states and gene expression. Consistent with the phenotypes, genes significantly affected by the PfGCN5 and PfPHD1 gene disruption include those participating in parasite-specific pathways such as invasion, virulence, and sexual development. In conclusion, this study presents a new model of the PfGCN5 complex for targeting the co-activator complex to regulate general and parasite-specific cellular processes in this low-branching parasitic protist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JM); (LC)
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Amuza Byaruhanga Lucky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Xiaoying Liang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Swamy Rakesh Adapa
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rays Jiang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kami Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JM); (LC)
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38
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CRISPR/Cas9-engineered inducible gametocyte producer lines as a valuable tool for Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission research. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4806. [PMID: 34376675 PMCID: PMC8355313 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24954-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum replicates inside erythrocytes in the blood of infected humans. During each replication cycle, a small proportion of parasites commits to sexual development and differentiates into gametocytes, which are essential for parasite transmission via the mosquito vector. Detailed molecular investigation of gametocyte biology and transmission has been hampered by difficulties in generating large numbers of these highly specialised cells. Here, we engineer P. falciparum NF54 inducible gametocyte producer (iGP) lines for the routine mass production of synchronous gametocytes via conditional overexpression of the sexual commitment factor GDV1. NF54/iGP lines consistently achieve sexual commitment rates of 75% and produce viable gametocytes that are transmissible by mosquitoes. We also demonstrate that further genetic engineering of NF54/iGP parasites is a valuable tool for the targeted exploration of gametocyte biology. In summary, we believe the iGP approach developed here will greatly expedite basic and applied malaria transmission stage research.
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39
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Shang X, Shen S, Tang J, He X, Zhao Y, Wang C, He X, Guo G, Liu M, Wang L, Zhu Q, Yang G, Jiang C, Zhang M, Yu X, Han J, Culleton R, Jiang L, Cao J, Gu L, Zhang Q. A cascade of transcriptional repression determines sexual commitment and development in Plasmodium falciparum. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9264-9279. [PMID: 34365503 PMCID: PMC8450074 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gametocytogenesis, the process by which malaria parasites produce sexual forms that can infect mosquitoes, is essential for the transmission of malaria. A transcriptional switch of the pfap2-g gene triggers sexual commitment, but how the complex multi-step process is precisely programed remains largely unknown. Here, by systematic functional screening of a panel of ApiAP2 transcription factors, we identify six new ApiAP2 members associated with gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Among these, PfAP2-G5 (PF3D7_1139300) was found to be indispensable for gametocytogenesis. This factor suppresses the transcriptional activity of the pfap2-g gene via binding to both the upstream region and exonic gene body, the latter is linked to the maintenance of local heterochromatin structure, thereby preventing initiation of sexual commitment. Removal of this repressive effect through pfap2-g5 knockout disrupts the asexual replication cycle and promotes sexual commitment accompanied by upregulation of pfap2-g expression. However, the gametocytes produced fail to mature fully. Further analyses show that PfAP2-G5 is essential for gametocyte maturation, and causes the down-regulation of pfap2-g and a set of early gametocyte genes activated by PfAP2-G prior to gametocyte development. Collectively, our findings reveal a regulation cascade of gametocyte production in malaria parasites, and provide a new target for transmission blocking interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Shang
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Shijun Shen
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jianxia Tang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, China
| | - Xiaoqin He
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, China
| | - Yuemeng Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China.,Unit of Human Parasite Molecular and Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Changhong Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Xiaohui He
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Gangqiang Guo
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China.,Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qianshu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Cizhong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Meihua Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, China
| | - Xinyu Yu
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, China
| | - Jiping Han
- Unit of Human Parasite Molecular and Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Richard Culleton
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Centre, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan.,Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Unit of Human Parasite Molecular and Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Cao
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, China.,Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Liang Gu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qingfeng Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China
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40
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Schneider P, Reece SE. The private life of malaria parasites: Strategies for sexual reproduction. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 244:111375. [PMID: 34023299 PMCID: PMC8346949 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria parasites exhibit a complex lifecycle, requiring extensive asexual replication in the liver and blood of the vertebrate host, and in the haemocoel of the insect vector. Yet, they must also undergo a single round of sexual reproduction, which occurs in the vector's midgut upon uptake of a blood meal. Sexual reproduction is obligate for infection of the vector and thus, is essential for onwards transmission to new hosts. Sex in malaria parasites involves several bottlenecks in parasite number, making the stages involved attractive targets for blocking disease transmission. Malaria parasites have evolved a suite of adaptations ("strategies") to maximise the success of sexual reproduction and transmission, which could undermine transmission-blocking interventions. Yet, understanding parasite strategies may also reveal novel opportunities for such interventions. Here, we outline how evolutionary and ecological theories, developed to explain reproductive strategies in multicellular taxa, can be applied to explain two reproductive strategies (conversion rate and sex ratio) expressed by malaria parasites within the vertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schneider
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Sarah E Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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41
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Abstract
Infections caused by protozoans remain a public health issue, especially in tropical countries. Serious adverse events, lack of efficacy at the different stages of the infection and routes of administration that have a negative impact on treatment adherence are some of the problems with currently available therapy against these diseases. Here we describe an epigenetic target, sirtuin 2 and its related proteins, that is promising given the results in phenotypic assays and in vivo models against Sir2 of Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania infantum, Schistosoma mansoni, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi parasites. The results we present highlight how this target can be extensively explored and how its inhibitors might be employed in the clinic.
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42
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Nardella F, Halby L, Dobrescu I, Viluma J, Bon C, Claes A, Cadet-Daniel V, Tafit A, Roesch C, Hammam E, Erdmann D, Mairet-Khedim M, Peronet R, Mecheri S, Witkowski B, Scherf A, Arimondo PB. Procainamide-SAHA Fused Inhibitors of hHDAC6 Tackle Multidrug-Resistant Malaria Parasites. J Med Chem 2021; 64:10403-10417. [PMID: 34185525 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic post-translational modifications are essential for human malaria parasite survival and progression through its life cycle. Here, we present new functionalized suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) derivatives that chemically combine the pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor procainamide. A three- or four-step chemical synthesis was designed starting from cheap raw materials. Compared to the single drugs, the combined molecules showed a superior activity in Plasmodium and a potent inhibition against human HDAC6, exerting no cytotoxicity in human cell lines. These new compounds are fully active in multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum Cambodian isolates. They target transmission of the parasite by inducing irreversible morphological changes in gametocytes and inhibiting exflagellation. The compounds are slow-acting and have an additive antimalarial effect in combination with fast-acting epidrugs and dihydroartemisinin. The lead compound decreases parasitemia in mice in a severe malaria model. Taken together, this novel fused molecule offers an affordable alternative to current failing antimalarial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Nardella
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ludovic Halby
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Irina Dobrescu
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Johanna Viluma
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Corentin Bon
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France.,Ecole Doctorale MTCI ED563, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75270, France
| | - Aurélie Claes
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Véronique Cadet-Daniel
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ambre Tafit
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Camille Roesch
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Elie Hammam
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Diane Erdmann
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France.,Ecole Doctorale MTCI ED563, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75270, France
| | - Melissa Mairet-Khedim
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Roger Peronet
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Salah Mecheri
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Artur Scherf
- Unité Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, Institut Pasteur, CNRS ERL 9195, INSERM Unit U1201, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Paola B Arimondo
- Epigenetic Chemical Biology, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, UMR n°3523, CNRS, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
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43
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Peculiarities of Plasmodium falciparum Gene Regulation and Chromatin Structure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105168. [PMID: 34068393 PMCID: PMC8153576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly complex life cycle of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is based on an orchestrated and tightly regulated gene expression program. In general, eukaryotic transcription regulation is determined by a combination of sequence-specific transcription factors binding to regulatory DNA elements and the packaging of DNA into chromatin as an additional layer. The accessibility of regulatory DNA elements is controlled by the nucleosome occupancy and changes of their positions by an active process called nucleosome remodeling. These epigenetic mechanisms are poorly explored in P. falciparum. The parasite genome is characterized by an extraordinarily high AT-content and the distinct architecture of functional elements, and chromatin-related proteins also exhibit high sequence divergence compared to other eukaryotes. Together with the distinct biochemical properties of nucleosomes, these features suggest substantial differences in chromatin-dependent regulation. Here, we highlight the peculiarities of epigenetic mechanisms in P. falciparum, addressing chromatin structure and dynamics with respect to their impact on transcriptional control. We focus on the specialized chromatin remodeling enzymes and discuss their essential function in P. falciparum gene regulation.
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Maran SR, Fleck K, Monteiro-Teles NM, Isebe T, Walrad P, Jeffers V, Cestari I, Vasconcelos EJR, Moretti N. Protein acetylation in the critical biological processes in protozoan parasites. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:815-830. [PMID: 33994102 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein lysine acetylation has emerged as a major regulatory post-translational modification in different organisms, present not only on histone proteins affecting chromatin structure and gene expression but also on nonhistone proteins involved in several cellular processes. The same scenario was observed in protozoan parasites after the description of their acetylomes, indicating that acetylation might regulate crucial biological processes in these parasites. The demonstration that glycolytic enzymes are regulated by acetylation in protozoans shows that this modification might regulate several other processes implicated in parasite survival and adaptation during the life cycle, opening the chance to explore the regulatory acetylation machinery of these parasites as drug targets for new treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen Rodrigues Maran
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Patógenos (LBMP) - Departamento Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia - Escola Paulista de Medicina - Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Krista Fleck
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | | | - Tony Isebe
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pegine Walrad
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Victoria Jeffers
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Igor Cestari
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Nilmar Moretti
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Patógenos (LBMP) - Departamento Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia - Escola Paulista de Medicina - Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
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Le Govic Y, Houzé S, Papon N. Repurposing Anticancer Drugs To Tackle Malaria. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:2192-2194. [PMID: 33931947 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Despite considerable efforts, malaria remains one of the most devastating infectious disease worldwide. In the absence of an effective vaccine, the prophylaxis and management of Plasmodium infections still rely on the therapeutic use of antimalarial agents. However, the emergence of resistant parasites has jeopardized the efficiency of virtually all antimalarial drugs, including artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs). Thus, there is an urgent need for innovative treatments with novel targets to avoid or overcome drug resistance. In this context, Huang & colleagues prioritized compounds that can block the activity of epigenetic enzymes, and described the discovery of a selective P. falciparum histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with high activity against various stages of the parasite. These findings may pave the way toward developing new lead compounds with broad-spectrum activity, thus facilitating malaria treatment and elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohann Le Govic
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre de Biologie Humaine, CHU Amiens Picardie - site Sud, Amiens, France.,Agents Infectieux, Résistance et Chimiothérapie (AGIR), UR 4294, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, UFR de Pharmacie, Amiens, France
| | - Sandrine Houzé
- CNR du Paludisme, AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat - Claude-Bernard, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, UMR261 Merit, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Papon
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Study Group (GEIHP), EA 3142, UNIV Angers, UNIV Brest, SFR 4208 ICAT, Angers, France
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Creative interior design by Plasmodium falciparum: Lipid metabolism and the parasite's secret chamber. Parasitol Int 2021; 83:102369. [PMID: 33905815 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Malaria parasites conceal themselves within host erythrocytes and establish a necessary logistics system through the three-membrane layered structures of these cells. To establish this system, lipid metabolism is needed for the de novo synthesis of lipids and the recycling of extracellular lipids and erythrocyte lipid components. Cholesterol supply depends on its uptake from the extracellular environment and erythrocyte cytoplasm, but phospholipids can be synthesized on their own. This differential production of lipid species creates unique modifications in the lipid profile of parasitized erythrocytes, which in turn may influence the biophysical and/or mechanical properties of organelles and vesicles and communication among them. Variations in local membrane properties possibly influence the transportation of various molecules such as parasite-derived proteins, because efficiencies in secretion, vesicle fusion and budding are partly determined by the lipid profiles. Comprehensive understanding of the parasite's lipid metabolism and the biophysics of lipid membranes provides fundamental knowledge about these pathogenic organisms and could lead to new anti-malarials.
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Carrington E, Cooijmans RHM, Keller D, Toenhake CG, Bártfai R, Voss TS. The ApiAP2 factor PfAP2-HC is an integral component of heterochromatin in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. iScience 2021; 24:102444. [PMID: 33997710 PMCID: PMC8105651 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites undergo a complex life cycle in the human host and the mosquito vector. The ApiAP2 family of DNA-binding proteins plays a dominant role in parasite development and life cycle progression. Most ApiAP2 factors studied to date act as transcription factors regulating stage-specific gene expression. Here, we characterized an ApiAP2 factor in Plasmodium falciparum that we termed PfAP2-HC. We demonstrate that PfAP2-HC specifically binds to heterochromatin throughout the genome. Intriguingly, PfAP2-HC does not bind DNA in vivo and recruitment of PfAP2-HC to heterochromatin is independent of its DNA-binding domain but strictly dependent on heterochromatin protein 1. Furthermore, our results suggest that PfAP2-HC functions neither in the regulation of gene expression nor in heterochromatin formation or maintenance. In summary, our findings reveal PfAP2-HC as a core component of heterochromatin in malaria parasites and identify unexpected properties and substantial functional divergence among the members of the ApiAP2 family of regulatory proteins. The ApiAP2 factor AP2-HC is a core component of heterochromatin in malaria parasites Binding of AP2-HC to heterochromatin strictly depends on heterochromatin protein 1 The AP2 DNA-binding domain of AP2-HC is dispensable for heterochromatin association
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Affiliation(s)
- Eilidh Carrington
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Dominique Keller
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Richárd Bártfai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Till Steffen Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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Roberds A, Ferraro E, Luckhart S, Stewart VA. HIV-1 Impact on Malaria Transmission: A Complex and Relevant Global Health Concern. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:656938. [PMID: 33912477 PMCID: PMC8071860 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.656938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria/HIV-1 co-infection has become a significant public health problem in the tropics where there is geographical overlap of the two diseases. It is well described that co-infection impacts clinical progression of both diseases; however, less is known about the impact of co-infection on disease transmission. Malaria transmission is dependent upon multiple critical factors, one of which is the presence and viability of the sexual-stage gametocyte. In this review, we summarize evidence surrounding gametocyte production in Plasmodium falciparum and the development factors and the consequential impact that HIV-1 has on malaria parasite transmission. Epidemiological and clinical evidence surrounding anemia, immune dysregulation, and chemotherapy as it pertains to co-infection and gametocyte transmission are reviewed. We discuss significant gaps in understanding that are often due to the biological complexities of both diseases as well as the lack of entomological data necessary to define transmission success. In particular, we highlight special epidemiological populations, such as co-infected asymptomatic gametocyte carriers, and the unique role these populations have in a future focused on malaria elimination and eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Roberds
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Division of Tropical Public Health, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Emily Ferraro
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - V Ann Stewart
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Division of Tropical Public Health, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Connacher J, Josling GA, Orchard LM, Reader J, Llinás M, Birkholtz LM. H3K36 methylation reprograms gene expression to drive early gametocyte development in Plasmodium falciparum. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:19. [PMID: 33794978 PMCID: PMC8017609 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00393-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Plasmodium sexual gametocyte stages are the only transmissible form of the malaria parasite and are thus responsible for the continued transmission of the disease. Gametocytes undergo extensive functional and morphological changes from commitment to maturity, directed by an equally extensive control program. However, the processes that drive the differentiation and development of the gametocyte post-commitment, remain largely unexplored. A previous study reported enrichment of H3K36 di- and tri-methylated (H3K36me2&3) histones in early-stage gametocytes. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing, we identify a stage-specific association between these repressive histone modifications and transcriptional reprogramming that define a stage II gametocyte transition point. Results Here, we show that H3K36me2 and H3K36me3 from stage II gametocytes are associated with repression of genes involved in asexual proliferation and sexual commitment, indicating that H3K36me2&3-mediated repression of such genes is essential to the transition from early gametocyte differentiation to intermediate development. Importantly, we show that the gene encoding the transcription factor AP2-G as commitment master regulator is enriched with H3K36me2&3 and actively repressed in stage II gametocytes, providing the first evidence of ap2-g gene repression in post-commitment gametocytes. Lastly, we associate the enhanced potency of the pan-selective Jumonji inhibitor JIB-04 in gametocytes with the inhibition of histone demethylation including H3K36me2&3 and a disruption of normal transcriptional programs. Conclusions Taken together, our results provide the first description of an association between global gene expression reprogramming and histone post-translational modifications during P. falciparum early sexual development. The stage II gametocyte-specific abundance of H3K36me2&3 manifests predominantly as an independent regulatory mechanism targeted towards genes that are repressed post-commitment. H3K36me2&3-associated repression of genes is therefore involved in key transcriptional shifts that accompany the transition from early gametocyte differentiation to intermediate development. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-021-00393-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Connacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Gabrielle A Josling
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lindsey M Orchard
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa.
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Chawla J, Oberstaller J, Adams JH. Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps. Pathogens 2021; 10:346. [PMID: 33809464 PMCID: PMC7999360 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquito transmission of the deadly malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is mediated by mature sexual forms (gametocytes). Circulating in the vertebrate host, relatively few intraerythrocytic gametocytes are picked up during a bloodmeal to continue sexual development in the mosquito vector. Human-to-vector transmission thus represents an infection bottleneck in the parasite's life cycle for therapeutic interventions to prevent malaria. Even though recent progress has been made in the identification of genetic factors linked to gametocytogenesis, a plethora of genes essential for sexual-stage development are yet to be unraveled. In this review, we revisit P. falciparum transmission biology by discussing targetable features of gametocytes and provide a perspective on a forward-genetic approach for identification of novel transmission-blocking candidates in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotsna Chawla
- Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 7, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research and USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research and USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
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