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Rawat RS, Gupta A, Antil N, Bhatnagar S, Singh M, Rawat A, Prasad TSK, Sharma P. Protein kinase PfPK2 mediated signalling is critical for host erythrocyte invasion by malaria parasite. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011770. [PMID: 37988347 PMCID: PMC10662742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Signalling pathways in malaria parasite remain poorly defined and major reason for this is the lack of understanding of the function of majority of parasite protein kinases and phosphatases in parasite signalling and its biology. In the present study, we have elucidated the function of Protein Kinase 2 (PfPK2), which is known to be indispensable for the survival of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We demonstrate that it is involved in the invasion of host erythrocytes, which is critical for establishing infection. In addition, PfPK2 may also be involved in the maturation of the parasite post-invasion. PfPK2 regulates the release of microneme proteins like Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1), which facilitates the formation of Tight Junction between the merozoite and host erythrocyte- a key step in the process of invasion. Comparative phosphoproteomics studies revealed that PfPK2 may be involved in regulation of several key proteins involved in invasion and signalling. Furthermore, PfPK2 regulates the generation of cGMP and the release of calcium in the parasite, which are key second messengers for the process of invasion. These and other studies have shed light on a novel signalling pathway in which PfPK2 acts as an upstream regulator of important cGMP-calcium signalling, which plays an important role in parasite invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh Rawat
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankit Gupta
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Neelam Antil
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, India
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Sonika Bhatnagar
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Monika Singh
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Akanksha Rawat
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - T. S. Keshava Prasad
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Pushkar Sharma
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
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Abstract
Blood cell analysis is essential for the diagnosis and identification of hematological malignancies. The use of digital microscopy systems has been extended in clinical laboratories. Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) has attracted wide attention in the medical field due to its nanoscale spatial resolution and high sensitivity. It is considered to be a potential method of blood cell analysis that may have more advantages than traditional approaches such as conventional optical microscopy and hematology analyzers in certain examination projects. In this review, we firstly summarize several common blood cell analysis technologies in the clinic, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies. Then, we focus on the basic principles and characteristics of three representative SRM techniques, as well as the latest advances in these techniques for blood cell analysis. Finally, we discuss the developmental trend and possible research directions of SRM, and provide some discussions on further development of technologies for blood cell analysis.
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Lee SH, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Quan FS. Protection and Alleviated Inflammation Induced by Virus-like Particle Vaccines Containing Plasmodium berghei MSP-8, MSP-9 and RAP1. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020203. [PMID: 35214662 PMCID: PMC8875819 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLP) are a highly efficient vaccine platform used to present multiple antigenic proteins. Merozoite surface protein 8 (MSP-8), 9 (MSP-9) and rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP1) of Plasmodium berghei are the important proteins in erythrocyte invasion and the replication of parasites. In this study, we generated three VLPs expressing MSP-8, MSP-9 or RAP1 together with influenza virus matrix protein M1 as a core protein, and the protection and alleviated inflammation induced by VLP immunization were investigated. Mice were immunized with a mixture of three VLPs, MSP-8, MSP-9 and RAP1, and challenge-infected with P. berghei. As a result, VLPs immunization elicited higher levels of P. berghei or VLPs-specific IgG antibody responses in the sera upon boost compared to that upon prime and naive. Upon challenge infection with P. berghei, higher levels of CD4+ T cell and memory B cell responses in the spleen were also found in VLPs-immunized mice compared to non-immunized control. Importantly, VLP immunization significantly alleviated inflammatory cytokine responses (TNF-α, IFN-γ) both in the sera and spleen. VLP vaccine immunization also assisted in diminishing the parasitic burden in the peripheral blood and prolonged the survival of immunized mice. These results indicated that a VLPs vaccine containing MSP-8, MSP-9 and RAP1 could be a vaccine candidate for P. berghei infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (S.-H.L.); (K.-B.C.)
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (S.-H.L.); (K.-B.C.)
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (S.-H.L.); (K.-B.C.)
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-961-2302
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Wilairat P, Auparakkitanon S. Plug for the parasitophorous duct: a solution of two conundra. Malar J 2020; 19:370. [PMID: 33066767 PMCID: PMC7566142 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03445-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We present two conundra in the biology of intraerythrocytic malaria parasite: how an apparent open parasitophorous duct provide direct access of only a select set of serum proteins to the parasitophorous vacuole, and how proteases mediate membrane lysis to allow merozoite egress. SOLUTION We posit the existence of a parasitophorous vacuolar duct plug that is originally formed from a tight junction (or parts thereof) between merozoite apical surface and red blood cell plasma membrane, which by moving over the parasite surface towards the posterior end draws the parasite into the host cell interior, and by remaining at the passage orifice provides a location of transporter(s) for import of serum proteins into parasitophorous vacuole and an opening for merozoite egress upon its dissolution/dismantling through protease(s) action. CONCLUSION This notion obviates the need of a distinct intact parasitophorous vacuolar membrane, which in the proposed model is an extension of the red blood cell membrane but still forms an intracellular compartment for parasite growth and development. The model is testable using existing high-resolution electron and X-ray tomography tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapon Wilairat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
| | - Saranya Auparakkitanon
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
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A novel platform for peptide-mediated affinity capture and LC-MS/MS identification of host receptors involved in Plasmodium invasion. J Proteomics 2020; 231:104002. [PMID: 33045431 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.104002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Successful Plasmodium falciparum invasion of red blood cells includes the orderly execution of highly specific receptor-ligand molecular interactions between the parasite's proteins and the red blood cell membrane proteins. There is a growing need for elucidating receptor-ligand pairings, which will help in understanding the parasite's biology and provide the fundamental basis for developing prophylactic or therapeutic alternatives leading to mitigating or eliminating this type of malaria. We have thus used Plasmodium falciparum RH5 - derived peptides and ghost red blood cell proteins in synthetic peptide affinity capture assays to identify important host receptors used by Plasmodium spp. in the invasion of red blood cells. LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed the extensively described interaction between PfRH5 and the basigin receptor on the red blood cell membrane. As shown here, tagged synthetic peptides displaying high binding ability to erythrocytes can be used to identify receptors present in protein extracts from ghost red blood cells via affinity capture and LC-MS/MS. SIGNIFICANCE: The article describes a novel approach for identifying red blood cell receptors based on the ability of synthetic peptides having high red blood cell binding capacity to capture Plasmodium spp. receptors on proteins extracted from ghost red blood cells. Specifically, novel methods to identify Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte binding protein homolog 5 PfRH5 and basigin interaction using a combination of affinity capture and LC-MS/MS assays is described. Identification of these host RBC receptors interacting with malarial parasite proteins is of utmost importance in studying the disease's pathogenesis and will provide crucial information in understanding the parasite's biology. In addition, data from these studies can be used to identify potential therapeutic target(s) to mitigate or eliminate this debilitating disease.
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Reyes C, Molina-Franky J, Aza-Conde J, Suárez CF, Pabón L, Moreno-Vranich A, Patarroyo MA, Patarroyo ME. Malaria: Paving the way to developing peptide-based vaccines against invasion in infectious diseases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 527:1021-1026. [PMID: 32439169 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains a large-scale public health problem, killing more than 400,000 people and infecting up to 230 million worldwide, every year. Unfortunately, despite numerous efforts and research concerning vaccine development, results to date have been low and/or strain-specific. This work describes a strategy involving Plasmodium falciparum Duffy binding-like (DBL) and reticulocyte-binding protein homologue (RH) family-derived minimum functional peptides, netMHCIIpan3.2 parental and modified peptides' in silico binding prediction and modeling some Aotus major histocompatibility class II (MHCII) molecules based on known human molecules' structure to understand their differences. These are used to explain peptides' immunological behaviour when used as vaccine components in the Aotus model. Despite the great similarity between human and Aotus immune system molecules, around 50% of Aotus allele molecules lack a counterpart in the human immune system which could lead to an Aotus-specific vaccine. It was also confirmed that functional Plasmodium falciparum' conserved proteins are immunologically silent (in both the animal model and in-silico prediction); they must therefore be modified to elicit an appropriate immune response. Some peptides studied here had the desired behaviour and can thus be considered components of a fully-protective antimalarial vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Reyes
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jessica Molina-Franky
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad de Boyacá, Tunja, Colombia
| | - Jorge Aza-Conde
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos F Suárez
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Laura Pabón
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Armando Moreno-Vranich
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel E Patarroyo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
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