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Goh XT, Lim YAL, Lee PC, Nissapatorn V, Chua KH. Diversity and natural selection of Merozoite surface Protein-1 in three species of human malaria parasites: Contribution from South-East Asian isolates. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 244:111390. [PMID: 34087264 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the genetic diversity of human malaria parasites (i.e., P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. knowlesi) in Malaysia and southern Thailand targeting the 19-kDa C-terminal region of Merozoite Surface Protein-1 (MSP-119). This region is essential for the recognition and invasion of erythrocytes and it is considered one of the leading candidates for asexual blood stage vaccines. However, the genetic data of MSP-119 among human malaria parasites in Malaysia is limited and there is also a need to update the current sequence diversity of this gene region among the Thailand isolates. In this study, genomic DNA was extracted from 384 microscopy-positive blood samples collected from patients who attended the hospitals or clinics in Malaysia and malaria clinics in Thailand from the year 2008 to 2016. The MSP-119 was amplified using PCR followed by bidirectional sequencing. DNA sequences identified in the present study were subjected to Median-joining network analysis with sequences of MSP-119 obtained from GenBank. DNA sequence analysis revealed that PfMSP-119 of Malaysian and Thailand isolates was not genetically conserved as high number of haplotypes were detected and positive selection was prevalent in PfMSP-119, hence questioning its suitability to be used as a vaccine candidate. A novel haplotype (Q/TNG/L) was also detected in Thailand P. falciparum isolate. In contrast, PvMSP-119 was highly conserved, however for the first time, a non-synonymous substitution (A1657S) was reported among Malaysian isolates. As for PkMSP-119, the presence of purifying selection and low nucleotide diversity indicated that it might be a potential vaccine target for P. knowlesi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ting Goh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yvonne A L Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Ping Chin Lee
- School of Science and Technology, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Veeranoot Nissapatorn
- Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP) and School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Kek Heng Chua
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Beeson JG, Drew DR, Boyle MJ, Feng G, Fowkes FJI, Richards JS. Merozoite surface proteins in red blood cell invasion, immunity and vaccines against malaria. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 40:343-72. [PMID: 26833236 PMCID: PMC4852283 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria accounts for an enormous burden of disease globally, with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for the majority of malaria, and P. vivax being a second important cause, especially in Asia, the Americas and the Pacific. During infection with Plasmodium spp., the merozoite form of the parasite invades red blood cells and replicates inside them. It is during the blood-stage of infection that malaria disease occurs and, therefore, understanding merozoite invasion, host immune responses to merozoite surface antigens, and targeting merozoite surface proteins and invasion ligands by novel vaccines and therapeutics have been important areas of research. Merozoite invasion involves multiple interactions and events, and substantial processing of merozoite surface proteins occurs before, during and after invasion. The merozoite surface is highly complex, presenting a multitude of antigens to the immune system. This complexity has proved challenging to our efforts to understand merozoite invasion and malaria immunity, and to developing merozoite antigens as malaria vaccines. In recent years, there has been major progress in this field, and several merozoite surface proteins show strong potential as malaria vaccines. Our current knowledge on this topic is reviewed, highlighting recent advances and research priorities. The authors summarize current knowledge of merozoite surface proteins of malaria parasites; their function in invasion, processing of surface proteins before, during and after invasion, their importance as targets of immunity, and the current status of malaria vaccines that target merozoite surface proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Damien R Drew
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle J Boyle
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gaoqian Feng
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Freya J I Fowkes
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jack S Richards
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Diversity and population structure of Plasmodium falciparum in Thailand based on the spatial and temporal haplotype patterns of the C-terminal 19-kDa domain of merozoite surface protein-1. Malar J 2014; 13:54. [PMID: 24521474 PMCID: PMC3931489 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The 19-kDa C-terminal region of the merozoite surface protein-1 of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (PfMSP-119) constitutes the major component on the surface of merozoites and is considered as one of the leading candidates for asexual blood stage vaccines. Because the protein exhibits a level of sequence variation that may compromise the effectiveness of a vaccine, the global sequence diversity of PfMSP-119 has been subjected to extensive research, especially in malaria endemic areas. In Thailand, PfMSP-119 sequences have been derived from a single parasite population in Tak province, located along the Thailand-Myanmar border, since 1995. However, the extent of sequence variation and the spatiotemporal patterns of the MSP-119 haplotypes along the Thai borders with Laos and Cambodia are unknown. Methods Sixty-three isolates of P. falciparum from five geographically isolated populations along the Thai borders with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia in three transmission seasons between 2002 and 2008 were collected and culture-adapted. The msp-1 gene block 17 was sequenced and analysed for the allelic diversity, frequency and distribution patterns of PfMSP-119 haplotypes in individual populations. The PfMSP-119 haplotype patterns were then compared between parasite populations to infer the population structure and genetic differentiation of the malaria parasite. Results Five conserved polymorphic positions, which accounted for five distinct haplotypes, of PfMSP-119 were identified. Differences in the prevalence of PfMSP-119 haplotypes were detected in different geographical regions, with the highest levels of genetic diversity being found in the Kanchanaburi and Ranong provinces along the Thailand-Myanmar border and Trat province located at the Thailand-Cambodia border. Despite this variability, the distribution patterns of individual PfMSP-119 haplotypes seemed to be very similar across the country and over the three malarial transmission seasons, suggesting that gene flow may operate between parasite populations circulating in Thailand and the three neighboring countries. Conclusion The major MSP-119 haplotypes of P. falciparum populations in all endemic populations during three transmission seasons in Thailand were identified, providing basic information on the common haplotypes of MSP-119 that is of use for malaria vaccine development and inferring the population structure of P. falciparum populations in Thailand.
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Khatoon L, Baliraine FN, Bonizzoni M, Malik SA, Yan G. Genetic structure of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in the Bannu district of Pakistan. Malar J 2010; 9:112. [PMID: 20416089 PMCID: PMC2873525 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2009] [Accepted: 04/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are the major causative agents of malaria. While knowledge of the genetic structure of malaria parasites is useful for understanding the evolution of parasite virulence, designing anti-malarial vaccines and assessing the impact of malaria control measures, there is a paucity of information on genetic diversity of these two malaria parasites in Pakistan. This study sought to shed some light on the genetic structure of P. vivax and P. falciparum in this understudied region. METHODS The genetic diversities of P. vivax and P. falciparum populations from the densely populated, malaria-endemic Bannu district of Pakistan were evaluated by analysis of their merozoite surface protein (msp) genes by PCR-RFLP. Specifically, the Pvmsp-3alpha and Pvmsp-3beta genes of P. vivax and the Pfmsp-1 and Pfmsp-2 genes of P. falciparum were analysed. RESULTS In P. vivax, genotyping of Pvmsp-3alpha and Pvmsp-3beta genes showed a high level of diversity at these loci. Four distinct allele groups: A (1.9 kb), B (1.5 kb), C (1.2 kb), and D (0.3 kb) were detected for Pvmsp-3alpha, type A being the most prevalent (82%). Conversely, amplification of the P. vivax msp-3beta locus produced two allele groups: A (1.7-2.2 kb, 62%) and B (1.4-1.5 kb, 33%), with 5% mixed-strain infections. Restriction analysis of Pvmsp-3alpha and Pvmsp-3beta yielded 12 and 8 distinct alleles, respectively, with a combined mixed genotype prevalence of 20%. In P. falciparum, all three known genotypes of Pfmsp-1 and two of Pfmsp-2 were observed, with MAD20 occurring in 67% and 3D7/IC in 65% of the isolates, respectively. Overall, 24% P. falciparum samples exhibited mixed-strain infections. CONCLUSION These results indicate that both P. vivax and P. falciparum populations in Pakistan are highly diverse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Khatoon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Frederick N Baliraine
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California - San Francisco, P.O. Box 0811, San Francisco, CA 94143-0811, USA
| | - Mariangela Bonizzoni
- College of Health Sciences, Program in Public Health, University of California - Irvine, Irvine CA 92697-4050, USA
| | - Salman A Malik
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Guiyun Yan
- College of Health Sciences, Program in Public Health, University of California - Irvine, Irvine CA 92697-4050, USA
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Mehrizi AA, Zakeri S, Salmanian AH, Sanati MH, Djadid ND. Plasmodium falciparum: Sequence analysis of the gene encoding the C-terminus region of the merozoite surface protein-1, a potential malaria vaccine antigen, in Iranian clinical isolates. Exp Parasitol 2008; 118:378-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2007] [Revised: 09/18/2007] [Accepted: 10/02/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Mamillapalli A, Sunil S, Diwan SS, Sharma SK, Tyagi PK, Adak T, Joshi H, Malhotra P. Polymorphism and epitope sharing between the alleles of merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium falciparum among Indian isolates. Malar J 2007; 6:95. [PMID: 17659072 PMCID: PMC1950510 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-6-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2007] [Accepted: 07/20/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) is one of the leading candidates for vaccination against the erythrocytic stages of malaria. However, a major concern in the development of MSP-1 based malaria vaccine is the polymorphism observed in different geographical Plasmodium falciparum isolates. To explore whether the sequence heterogeneity of PfMSP-1 leads to variation in naturally acquired anti-MSP-119 antibodies, the present study was undertaken to study PfMSP-119 sequence polymorphism in malaria-endemic villages in eastern India and also carried out a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using three PfMSP-119 variant forms.
Methods
The sequence variations in the C-terminal region of PfMSP-119 were determined in a malaria endemic region. Three PfMSP-119 variants were produced in Escherichia coli (PfMSP119QKNG-L, PfMSP119EKNG-L and PfMSP119ETSR-F) and an immunodepletion assay was carried out using the corresponding patients' sera.
Results
Results revealed predominance of PfMAD20 allele among Indian field isolates. Seven PfMSP-119 variant forms were isolated in a singe geographical location. Three of PfMSP-119 variant forms when expressed in E. coli showed presence of cross-reaction as well as variant specific antibodies in malaria infected patient sera.
Conclusion
The present study demonstrates the existence of allele specific antibodies in P. falciparum-infected patient sera, however their role in protection requires further investigation. These results thereby, suggest the importance of a multi-allelic PfMSP-119 based vaccine for an effective malaria control.
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Pacheco MA, Poe AC, Collins WE, Lal AA, Tanabe K, Kariuki SK, Udhayakumar V, Escalante. AA. A comparative study of the genetic diversity of the 42kDa fragment of the merozoite surface protein 1 in Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2006; 7:180-7. [PMID: 17010678 PMCID: PMC1853303 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2006.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2006] [Revised: 08/22/2006] [Accepted: 08/23/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the genetic diversity of the 42kDa fragment of the merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) antigen in Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, as well as in non-human primate malarial parasites. This fragment undergoes a proteolytic cleavage generating two fragments of 19kDa (MSP-1(19)) and 33kDa (MSP-1(33)) that are critical in erythrocyte invasion. We found that overall the MSP-1(33) fragment exhibits greater genetic diversity than the MSP-1(19) regardless of the species. We have found evidence for positive natural selection only in the human malaria parasites by comparing the rate of non-synonymous versus synonymous substitutions. In addition, we found clear differences between the two major human malaria parasites. In the case of P. falciparum, positive natural selection is acting on the MSP-1(19) region while the MSP-1(33) is neutral or under purifying selection. The opposite pattern was observed in P. vivax. Our results suggest different roles of this antigen in the host-parasite immune interaction in each of the major human malarial parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda C. Poe
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia
| | - William E. Collins
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia
| | - Altaf A. Lal
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia
| | - Kazuyuki Tanabe
- International Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Simon K. Kariuki
- Center for Vector Biology and Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia
| | - Ananias A. Escalante.
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- *Corresponding Author: Ananias A. Escalante, PhD School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University P. O. Box 874501, Tempe, Arizona 85287-4501 Phone: 1-480-9653739, Fax: 1-480-965-6899 E-mail:
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