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Zhang M, Wang Y, Shen HM, Chen SB, Wang TY, Kassegne K, Chen JH. Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection of Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 in Global Populations. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 122:105605. [PMID: 38759940 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 (PvMSP8) is a promising candidate target for the development of multi-component vaccines. Therefore, determining the genetic variation pattern of Pvmsp8 is essential in providing a reference for the rational design of the P. vivax malaria vaccines. This study delves into the genetic characteristics of the Pvmsp8 gene, specifically focusing on samples from the China-Myanmar border (CMB) region, and contrasts these findings with broader global patterns. The study uncovers that Pvmsp8 exhibits a notable level of conservation across different populations, with limited polymorphisms and relatively low nucleotide diversity (0.00023-0.00120). This conservation contrasts starkly with the high polymorphisms found in other P. vivax antigens such as Pvmsp1. A total of 25 haplotypes and 14 amino acid mutation sites were identified in the global populations, and all mutation sites were confined to non-functional regions. The study also notes that most CMB Pvmsp8 haplotypes are shared among Burmese, Cambodian, Thai, and Vietnamese populations, indicating less geographical variance, but differ notably from those found in Pacific island regions or the Panama. The findings underscore the importance of considering regional genetic diversity in P. vivax when developing targeted malaria vaccines. Non departure from neutral evolution were found by Tajima's D test, however, statistically significant differences were observed between the kn/ks rates. The study's findings are crucial in understanding the evolution and population structure of the Pvmsp8 gene, particularly during regional malaria elimination efforts. The highly conserved nature of Pvmsp8, combined with the lack of mutations in its functional domain, presents it as a promising candidate for developing a broad and effective P. vivax vaccine. This research thus lays a foundation for the rational development of multivalent malaria vaccines targeting this genetically stable antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases; National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310013, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Mo Shen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases; National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Shen-Bo Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases; National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Yu Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases; National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Kokouvi Kassegne
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases; National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Hu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases; National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310013, People's Republic of China; School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Hainan Tropical Diseases Research Center (Hainan Sub-Center, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Haikou 571199, China.
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Hernández-Zambrano LJ, Alfonso-González H, Buitrago SP, Castro-Cavadía CJ, Garzón-Ospina D. Exploring the genetic diversity pattern of PvEBP/DBP2: A promising candidate for an effective Plasmodium vivax vaccine. Acta Trop 2024; 255:107231. [PMID: 38685340 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains a public health challenge. Since many control strategies have proven ineffective in eradicating this disease, new strategies are required, among which the design of a multivalent vaccine stands out. However, the effectiveness of this strategy has been hindered, among other reasons, by the genetic diversity observed in parasite antigens. In Plasmodium vivax, the Erythrocyte Binding Protein (PvEBP, also known as DBP2) is an alternate ligand to Duffy Binding Protein (DBP); given its structural resemblance to DBP, EBP/DBP2 is proposed as a promising antigen for inclusion in vaccine design. However, the extent of genetic diversity within the locus encoding this protein has not been comprehensively assessed. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity of the locus encoding the P. vivax EBP/DBP2 protein and to determine the evolutionary mechanisms modulating this diversity. Several intrapopulation genetic variation parameters were estimated using 36 gene sequences of PvEBP/DBP2 from Colombian P. vivax clinical isolates and 186 sequences available in databases. The study then evaluated the worldwide genetic structure and the evolutionary forces that may influence the observed patterns of genetic variation. It was found that the PvEBP/DBP2 gene exhibits one of the lowest levels of genetic diversity compared to other vaccine-candidate antigens. Four major haplotypes were shared worldwide. Analysis of the protein's 3D structure and epitope prediction identified five regions with potential antigenic properties. The results suggest that the PvEBP/DBP2 protein possesses ideal characteristics to be considered when designing a multivalent effective antimalarial vaccine against P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Hernández-Zambrano
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Heliairis Alfonso-González
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Sindy P Buitrago
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Carlos J Castro-Cavadía
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba (GIMBIC), School of Health Sciences, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia.
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Latif ENM, Noordin NR, Shahari S, Amir A, Lau YL, Cheong FW, Abdullah ML, Fong MY. Genetic polymorphism and clustering of the Plasmodium cynomolgi Duffy binding protein 1 region II of recent macaque isolates from Peninsular Malaysia. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:105. [PMID: 38240877 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08125-0] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium cynomolgi is a simian malaria parasite that has been increasingly infecting humans. It is naturally present in the long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques in Southeast Asia. The P. cynomolgi Duffy binding protein 1 region II [PcDBP1(II)] plays an essential role in the invasion of the parasite into host erythrocytes. This study investigated the genetic polymorphism, natural selection and haplotype clustering of PcDBP1(II) from wild macaque isolates in Peninsular Malaysia. The genomic DNA of 50 P. cynomolgi isolates was extracted from the macaque blood samples. Their PcDBP1(II) gene was amplified using a semi-nested PCR, cloned into a plasmid vector and subsequently sequenced. The polymorphism, natural selection and haplotypes of PcDBP1(II) were analysed using MEGA X and DnaSP ver.6.12.03 programmes. The analyses revealed high genetic polymorphism of PcDBP1(II) (π = 0.026 ± 0.004; Hd = 0.996 ± 0.001), and it was under purifying (negative) selection. A total of 106 haplotypes of PcDBP1(II) were identified. Phylogenetic and haplotype analyses revealed two groups of PcDBP1(II). Amino acid length polymorphism was observed between the groups, which may lead to possible phenotypic difference between them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naqib Rafieqin Noordin
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shahhaziq Shahari
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Amirah Amir
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee-Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fei-Wen Cheong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Lutfi Abdullah
- National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Mansouri S, Heidari A, Keshavarz H, Fallah P, Bairami A, Mahmoudi E. Genetic diversity of merozoite surface protein-5 (MSP-5) of Plasmodium vivax isolates from Malaria patients in Iran. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:807. [PMID: 37978446 PMCID: PMC10656958 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08804-w] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria has not yet been eradicated in Iran, and Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is the main cause of malaria in the country. This study aimed to investigate and analyze the amount of genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-5 (PvMSP-5) exon 1 gene in the southeast of Iran.Thirty-five patients with clinical symptoms of P. vivax malaria participated. The exon 1 of PvMSP-5 was amplified by PCR, and the PCR product of all isolates was sequenced, and genetic polymorphisms were determined using various genetic software.The analysis showed that studied isolates are different from one another in the DnaSP software version. Out of the 612 sites, 477 were monomorphic and 135 were segregated. The total number of mutations was 143. The singleton variable and the parsimony informative sites were 23 and 112, respectively. There were 17 specific haplotypes with haplotype diversity equal to 0.943. Nucleotide diversity was equal to 0.06766 in the isolates. The ratio of nonsynonymous (0.06446) to synonymous (0.07909) mutations was 0.815020. Tajima's D, which expressed coding, and non-coding regions, was 0.72403, which was not deemed significant (P > 0.10).The analysis of intrapopulation diversity revealed nucleotide and haplotype diversity in the msp-5 gene of Iranian P. vivax isolates. In addition to balancing or purifying selection, intragenic recombination also contributed to the variation observed in exon 1 of PvMSP-5, according to the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sholeh Mansouri
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Aliehsan Heidari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Hossein Keshavarz
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Fallah
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Amir Bairami
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Elaheh Mahmoudi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
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Perrotti E, L'Episcopia M, Menegon M, Soares IS, Rosas-Aguirre A, Speybroeck N, LLanos-Cuentas A, Menard D, Ferreira MU, Severini C. Reduced polymorphism of Plasmodium vivax early transcribed membrane protein (PvETRAMP) 11.2. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:238. [PMID: 37461081 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05851-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ETRAMP11.2 (PVX_003565) is a well-characterized protein with antigenic potential. It is considered to be a serological marker for diagnostic tools, and it has been suggested as a potential vaccine candidate. Despite its immunological relevance, the polymorphism of the P. vivax ETRAMP11.2 gene (pvetramp11.2) remains undefined. The genetic variability of an antigen may limit the effectiveness of its application as a serological surveillance tool and in vaccine development and, therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of pvetramp11.2 in parasite populations from Amazonian regions and worldwide. We also evaluated amino acid polymorphism on predicted B-cell epitopes. The low variability of the sequence encoding PvETRAMP11.2 protein suggests that it would be a suitable marker in prospective serodiagnostic assays for surveillance strategies or in vaccine design against P. vivax malaria. METHODS The pvetramp11.2 of P. vivax isolates collected from Brazil (n = 68) and Peru (n = 36) were sequenced and analyzed to assess nucleotide polymorphisms, allele distributions, population differentiation, genetic diversity and signature of selection. In addition, sequences (n = 104) of seven populations from different geographical regions were retrieved from the PlasmoDB database and included in the analysis to study the worldwide allele distribution. Potential linear B-cell epitopes and their polymorphisms were also explored. RESULTS The multiple alignments of 208 pvetramp11.2 sequences revealed a low polymorphism and a marked geographical variation in allele diversity. Seven polymorphic sites and 11 alleles were identified. All of the alleles were detected in isolates from the Latin American region and five alleles were detected in isolates from the Southeast Asia/Papua New Guinea (SEA/PNG) region. Three alleles were shared by all Latin American populations (H1, H6 and H7). The H1 allele (reference allele from Salvador-1 strain), which was absent in the SEA/PNG populations, was the most represented allele in populations from Brazil (54%) and was also detected at high frequencies in populations from all other Latin America countries (range: 13.0% to 33.3%). The H2 allele was the major allele in SEA/PNG populations, but was poorly represented in Latin America populations (only in Brazil: 7.3%). Plasmodium vivax populations from Latin America showed a marked inter-population genetic differentiation (fixation index [Fst]) in contrast to SEA/PNG populations. Codon bias measures (effective number of codons [ENC] and Codon bias index [CBI]) indicated preferential use of synonymous codons, suggesting selective pressure at the translation level. Only three amino acid substitutions, located in the C-terminus, were detected. Linear B-cell epitope mapping predicted two epitopes in the Sal-1 PvETRAMP11.2 protein, one of which was fully conserved in all of the parasite populations analyzed. CONCLUSIONS We provide an overview of the allele distribution and genetic differentiation of ETRAMP11.2 antigen in P. vivax populations from different endemic areas of the world. The reduced polymorphism and the high degree of protein conservation supports the application of PvETRAMP11.2 protein as a reliable antigen for application in serological assays or vaccine design. Our findings provide useful information that can be used to inform future study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edvige Perrotti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Michela Menegon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene S Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Angel Rosas-Aguirre
- Research Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Alexander Von Humboldt", Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Niko Speybroeck
- Research Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alejandro LLanos-Cuentas
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Alexander Von Humboldt", Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Didier Menard
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie Et Mycologie Médicale, Les Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut de Parasitologie Et Pathologie Tropicale, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Malaria Genetics and Resistance Unit-INSERM U1201, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Marcelo Urbano Ferreira
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carlo Severini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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Plasmodium cynomolgi in humans: current knowledge and future directions of an emerging zoonotic malaria parasite. Infection 2022; 51:623-640. [PMID: 36401673 PMCID: PMC9676733 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01952-2] [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: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium cynomolgi (Pcy), a simian malaria parasite, is a recent perfect example of emerging zoonotic transfer in human. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the epidemiology of natural Pcy infections in humans, mosquitoes and monkeys, along with its biological, clinical and drug sensitivity patterns. Knowledge gaps and further studies on Pcy in humans are also discussed. This parasite currently seems to be geographically limited in South-East Asia (SEA) with a global prevalence in human ranging from 0 to 1.4%. The Pcy infections were reported in local SEA populations and European travelers, and range from asymptomatic carriage to mild/moderate attacks with no evidence of pathognomonic clinical and laboratory patterns but with Pcy strain-shaped clinical differences. Geographical distribution and competence of suitable mosquito vectors and non-primate hosts, globalization, climate change, and increased intrusion of humans into the habitat of monkeys are key determinants to emergence of Pcy parasites in humans, along with its expansion outside SEA. Sensitization/information campaigns coupled with training and assessment sessions of microscopists and clinicians on Pcy are greatly needed to improve data on the epidemiology and management of human Pcy infection. There is a need for development of sensitive and specific molecular tools for individual diagnosis and epidemiological studies. The development of safe and efficient anti-hypnozoite drugs is the main therapeutic challenge for controlling human relapsing malaria parasites. Experience gained from P. knowlesi malaria, development of integrated measures and strategies—ideally with components related to human, monkeys, mosquito vectors, and environment—could be very helpful to prevent emergence of Pcy malaria in humans through disruption of transmission chain from monkeys to humans and ultimately contain its expansion in SEA and potential outbreaks in a context of malaria elimination.
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Lee WC, Cheong FW, Amir A, Lai MY, Tan JH, Phang WK, Shahari S, Lau YL. Plasmodium knowlesi: the game changer for malaria eradication. Malar J 2022; 21:140. [PMID: 35505339 PMCID: PMC9066973 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04131-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi is a zoonotic malaria parasite that has gained increasing medical interest over the past two decades. This zoonotic parasitic infection is prevalent in Southeast Asia and causes many cases with fulminant pathology. Despite several biogeographical restrictions that limit its distribution, knowlesi malaria cases have been reported in different parts of the world due to travelling and tourism activities. Here, breakthroughs and key information generated from recent (over the past five years, but not limited to) studies conducted on P. knowlesi were reviewed, and the knowledge gap in various research aspects that need to be filled was discussed. Besides, challenges and strategies required to control and eradicate human malaria with this emerging and potentially fatal zoonosis were described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenn-Chyau Lee
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fei Wen Cheong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Amirah Amir
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Meng Yee Lai
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jia Hui Tan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Wei Kit Phang
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shahhaziq Shahari
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee-Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Villasis E, Garro K, Rosas-Aguirre A, Rodriguez P, Rosado J, Gave A, Guzman-Guzman M, Manrique P, White M, Speybroeck N, Vinetz JM, Torres K, Gamboa D. PvMSP8 as a Novel Plasmodium vivax Malaria Sero-Marker for the Peruvian Amazon. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10030282. [PMID: 33801386 PMCID: PMC7999794 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The measurement of recent malaria exposure can support malaria control efforts. This study evaluated serological responses to an in-house Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 (PvMSP8) expressed in a Baculovirus system as sero-marker of recent exposure to P. vivax (Pv) in the Peruvian Amazon. In a first evaluation, IgGs against PvMSP8 and PvMSP10 proteins were measured by Luminex in a cohort of 422 Amazonian individuals with known history of Pv exposure (monthly data of infection status by qPCR and/or microscopy over five months). Both serological responses were able to discriminate between exposed and non-exposed individuals in a good manner, with slightly higher performance of anti-PvMSP10 IgGs (area under the curve AUC = 0.78 [95% CI = 0.72–0.83]) than anti-PvMSP8 IgGs (AUC = 0.72 [95% CI = 0.67–0.78]) (p = 0.01). In a second evaluation, the analysis by ELISA of 1251 plasma samples, collected during a population-based cross-sectional survey, confirmed the good performance of anti-PvMSP8 IgGs for discriminating between individuals with Pv infection at the time of survey and/or with antecedent of Pv in the past month (AUC = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.74–0.83]). Anti-PvMSP8 IgG antibodies can be considered as a good biomarker of recent Pv exposure in low-moderate transmission settings of the Peruvian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Villasis
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 15102, Lima, Peru; (K.G.); (P.R.); (K.T.)
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru; (A.R.-A.); (J.M.V.); (D.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katherine Garro
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 15102, Lima, Peru; (K.G.); (P.R.); (K.T.)
| | - Angel Rosas-Aguirre
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru; (A.R.-A.); (J.M.V.); (D.G.)
- Research Institute of Health and Society (IRSS). Université Catholique de Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-champs 30/B1.30.14 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels 1200, Belgium;
| | - Pamela Rodriguez
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 15102, Lima, Peru; (K.G.); (P.R.); (K.T.)
| | - Jason Rosado
- Malaria: Parasites and Hosts Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France; (J.R.); (M.W.)
- Sorbonne Université, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, École Doctorale Pierre Louis - Santé Publique, Campus des Cordeliers, ED 393, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Anthony Gave
- Laboratorio de Malaria: Parásitos y Vectores, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru;
| | - Mitchel Guzman-Guzman
- Laboratorio ICEMR-Amazonia, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru;
| | - Paulo Manrique
- Leishmania and Malaria Research Unit. Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru;
| | - Michael White
- Malaria: Parasites and Hosts Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France; (J.R.); (M.W.)
| | - Niko Speybroeck
- Research Institute of Health and Society (IRSS). Université Catholique de Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-champs 30/B1.30.14 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels 1200, Belgium;
| | - Joseph Michael Vinetz
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru; (A.R.-A.); (J.M.V.); (D.G.)
- Laboratorio ICEMR-Amazonia, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru;
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Katherine Torres
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 15102, Lima, Peru; (K.G.); (P.R.); (K.T.)
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru; (A.R.-A.); (J.M.V.); (D.G.)
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru; (A.R.-A.); (J.M.V.); (D.G.)
- Laboratorio de Malaria: Parásitos y Vectores, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru;
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru
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9
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Ricaurte-Contreras LA, Lovera A, Moreno-Pérez DA, Bohórquez MD, Suárez CF, Gutiérrez-Vásquez E, Cuy-Chaparro L, Garzón-Ospina D, Patarroyo MA. Two 20-Residue-Long Peptides Derived from Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 10 EGF-Like Domains Are Involved in Binding to Human Reticulocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041609. [PMID: 33562650 PMCID: PMC7915351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites’ invasion of their target cells is a complex, multi-step process involving many protein-protein interactions. Little is known about how complex the interaction with target cells is in Plasmodium vivax and few surface molecules related to reticulocytes’ adhesion have been described to date. Natural selection, functional and structural analysis were carried out on the previously described vaccine candidate P. vivax merozoite surface protein 10 (PvMSP10) for evaluating its role during initial contact with target cells. It has been shown here that the recombinant carboxyl terminal region (rPvMSP10-C) bound to adult human reticulocytes but not to normocytes, as validated by two different protein-cell interaction assays. Particularly interesting was the fact that two 20-residue-long regions (388DKEECRCRANYMPDDSVDYF407 and 415KDCSKENGNCDVNAECSIDK434) were able to inhibit rPvMSP10-C binding to reticulocytes and rosette formation using enriched target cells. These peptides were derived from PvMSP10 epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains (precisely, from a well-defined electrostatic zone) and consisted of regions having the potential of being B- or T-cell epitopes. These findings provide evidence, for the first time, about the fragments governing PvMSP10 binding to its target cells, thus highlighting the importance of studying them for inclusion in a P. vivax antimalarial vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Alejandra Ricaurte-Contreras
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
- MSc Programme in Microbiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Andrea Lovera
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Darwin Andrés Moreno-Pérez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Michel David Bohórquez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Carlos Fernando Suárez
- Biomathematics Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia;
| | - Elizabeth Gutiérrez-Vásquez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Laura Cuy-Chaparro
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
- Health Sciences Division, Main Campus, Universidad Santo Tomás, Carrera 9#51-11, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Correspondence:
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10
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Lozano JM, Rodríguez Parra Z, Hernández-Martínez S, Yasnot-Acosta MF, Rojas AP, Marín-Waldo LS, Rincón JE. The Search of a Malaria Vaccine: The Time for Modified Immuno-Potentiating Probes. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020115. [PMID: 33540947 PMCID: PMC7913233 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020115] [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: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a deadly disease that takes the lives of more than 420,000 people a year and is responsible for more than 229 million clinical cases globally. In 2019, 95% of malaria morbidity occurred in African countries. The development of a highly protective vaccine is an urgent task that remains to be solved. Many vaccine candidates have been developed, from the use of the entire attenuated and irradiated pre-erythrocytic parasite forms (or recombinantly expressed antigens thereof) to synthetic candidates formulated in a variety of adjuvants and delivery systems, however these have unfortunately proven a limited efficacy. At present, some vaccine candidates are finishing safety and protective efficacy trials, such as the PfSPZ and the RTS,S/AS01 which are being introduced in Africa. We propose a strategy for introducing non-natural elements into target antigens representing key epitopes of Plasmodium spp. Accordingly, chemical strategies and knowledge of host immunity to Plasmodium spp. have served as the basis. Evidence is obtained after being tested in experimental rodent models for malaria infection and recognized for human sera from malaria-endemic regions. This encourages us to propose such an immune-potentiating strategy to be further considered in the search for new vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Lozano
- Grupo de Investigación Mimetismo Molecular de los Agentes Infecciosos, Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia—Sede Bogotá, 111321 Bogota, Colombia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-3102-504-657
| | - Zully Rodríguez Parra
- Grupo de Investigación Mimetismo Molecular de los Agentes Infecciosos, Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia—Sede Bogotá, 111321 Bogota, Colombia;
| | - Salvador Hernández-Martínez
- Dirección de Infección e Inmunidad, Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 62508 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico;
| | - Maria Fernanda Yasnot-Acosta
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba, Universidad de Córdoba, 230002 Monteria, Colombia;
| | - Angela Patricia Rojas
- Grupo de Investigación Biología Celular y Autoinmuniad, Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Bogotá, 111321 Bogota, Colombia;
| | | | - Juan Edilberto Rincón
- Departamento de Ingeniería y Mecatrónica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Bogotá, 111321 Bogota, Colombia;
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11
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Muh F, Kim N, Nyunt MH, Firdaus ER, Han JH, Hoque MR, Lee SK, Park JH, Moon RW, Lau YL, Kaneko O, Han ET. Cross-species reactivity of antibodies against Plasmodium vivax blood-stage antigens to Plasmodium knowlesi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008323. [PMID: 32559186 PMCID: PMC7304578 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by multiple different species of protozoan parasites, and interventions in the pre-elimination phase can lead to drastic changes in the proportion of each species causing malaria. In endemic areas, cross-reactivity may play an important role in the protection and blocking transmission. Thus, successful control of one species could lead to an increase in other parasite species. A few studies have reported cross-reactivity producing cross-immunity, but the extent of cross-reactive, particularly between closely related species, is poorly understood. P. vivax and P. knowlesi are particularly closely related species causing malaria infections in SE Asia, and whilst P. vivax cases are in decline, zoonotic P. knowlesi infections are rising in some areas. In this study, the cross-species reactivity and growth inhibition activity of P. vivax blood-stage antigen-specific antibodies against P. knowlesi parasites were investigated. Bioinformatics analysis, immunofluorescence assay, western blotting, protein microarray, and growth inhibition assay were performed to investigate the cross-reactivity. P. vivax blood-stage antigen-specific antibodies recognized the molecules located on the surface or released from apical organelles of P. knowlesi merozoites. Recombinant P. vivax and P. knowlesi proteins were also recognized by P. knowlesi- and P. vivax-infected patient antibodies, respectively. Immunoglobulin G against P. vivax antigens from both immune animals and human malaria patients inhibited the erythrocyte invasion by P. knowlesi. This study demonstrates that there is extensive cross-reactivity between antibodies against P. vivax to P. knowlesi in the blood stage, and these antibodies can potently inhibit in vitro invasion, highlighting the potential cross-protective immunity in endemic areas. In recent years, malaria initiatives have increasingly shifted focus from achieving malaria control to achieving malaria elimination. However, the interventions used are leading to drastic changes in the proportions of different Plasmodium species causing clinical infection, particularly within Southeast Asia. Little is known about how these different parasite species interact/compete in nature or whether exposure to one species could cause some level of protection against another. We examined cross-reactive antibody responses to key parasite proteins with roles in red blood cell invasion and identified novel cross-species reactivity among the closest of malaria affecting the human population (P. vivax and P. knowlesi). This comprehensive analysis provides evidence that cross-reactive immunity could play an important role in areas where species distributions are perturbed by malaria control measures, and future efforts to identify the specific cross-reactive epitopes involved would be invaluable both to our understanding of malaria immunity and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fauzi Muh
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Namhyeok Kim
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Egy Rahman Firdaus
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohammad Rafiul Hoque
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Kyun Lee
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Park
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Robert W. Moon
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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12
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Abstract
Malaria is a vector-borne disease that involves multiple parasite species in a variety of ecological settings. However, the parasite species causing the disease, the prevalence of subclinical infections, the emergence of drug resistance, the scale-up of interventions, and the ecological factors affecting malaria transmission, among others, are aspects that vary across areas where malaria is endemic. Such complexities have propelled the study of parasite genetic diversity patterns in the context of epidemiologic investigations. Importantly, molecular studies indicate that the time and spatial distribution of malaria cases reflect epidemiologic processes that cannot be fully understood without characterizing the evolutionary forces shaping parasite population genetic patterns. Although broad in scope, this review in the Microbiology Spectrum Curated Collection: Advances in Molecular Epidemiology highlights the need for understanding population genetic concepts when interpreting parasite molecular data. First, we discuss malaria complexity in terms of the parasite species involved. Second, we describe how molecular data are changing our understanding of malaria incidence and infectiousness. Third, we compare different approaches to generate parasite genetic information in the context of epidemiologically relevant questions related to malaria control. Finally, we describe a few Plasmodium genomic studies as evidence of how these approaches will provide new insights into the malaria disease dynamics. *This article is part of a curated collection.
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13
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Rosas-Aguirre A, Patra KP, Calderón M, Torres K, Gamboa D, Arocutipa E, Málaga E, Garro K, Fernández C, Trompeter G, Alnasser Y, Llanos-Cuentas A, Gilman RH, Vinetz JM. Anti-MSP-10 IgG indicates recent exposure to Plasmodium vivax infection in the Peruvian Amazon. JCI Insight 2020; 5:130769. [PMID: 31770108 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.130769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDSerological tools for the accurate detection of recent malaria exposure are needed to guide and monitor malaria control efforts. IgG responses against Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum merozoite surface protein-10 (MSP10) were measured as a potential way to identify recent malaria exposure in the Peruvian Amazon.METHODSA field-based study included 470 participants in a longitudinal cohort who completed a comprehensive evaluation: light microscopy and PCR on enrollment, at least 1 monthly follow-up by light microscopy, a second PCR, and serum and dried blood spots for serological analysis at the end of the follow-up. IgG titers against novel mammalian cell-produced recombinant PvMSP10 and PfMSP10 were determined by ELISA.RESULTSDuring the follow-up period, 205 participants were infected, including 171 with P. vivax, 26 with P. falciparum, 6 with infections by both species but at different times, and 2 with mixed infections. Exposure to P. vivax was more accurately identified when serological responses to PvMSP10 were obtained from serum (sensitivity, 58.1%; specificity, 81.8%; AUC: 0.76) than from dried blood spots (sensitivity, 35.2; specificity, 83.5%; AUC: 0.64) (PAUC < 0.001). Sensitivity was highest (serum, 82.9%; dried blood spot, 45.7%) with confirmed P. vivax infections occurring 7-30 days before sample collection; sensitivity decreased significantly in relation to time since last documented infection. PvMSP10 serological data did not show evidence of interspecies cross-reactivity. Anti-PfMSP10 responses poorly discriminated between P. falciparum-exposed and nonexposed individuals (AUC = 0.59; P > 0.05).CONCLUSIONAnti-PvMSP10 IgG indicates recent exposure to P. vivax at the population level in the Amazon region. Serum, not dried blood spots, should be used for such serological tests.FUNDINGCooperative agreement U19AI089681 from the United States Public Health Service, NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as the Amazonian International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Rosas-Aguirre
- Fund for Scientific Research FNRS, Brussels, Belgium.,Research Institute of Health and Society, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Instituto de Medicina, Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt," Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Kailash P Patra
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Maritza Calderón
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, and
| | - Katherine Torres
- Instituto de Medicina, Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt," Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Instituto de Medicina, Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt," Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, and.,Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Edith Arocutipa
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, and.,Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Edith Málaga
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, and.,Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Katherine Garro
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Carlos Fernández
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Grace Trompeter
- Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yossef Alnasser
- Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas
- Instituto de Medicina, Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt," Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Robert H Gilman
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, and.,Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA.,Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, and.,Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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14
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Bendezu J, Villasis E, Morales Ruiz S, Garro K, Infante B, Gutierrez-Loli R, Rodríguez P, Fernández-Díaz M, Gamboa D, Torres K. Evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum MSP10 and its development as a serological tool for the Peruvian Amazon region. Malar J 2019; 18:327. [PMID: 31547821 PMCID: PMC6757379 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2959-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different antigens are needed to characterize Plasmodium falciparum infection in terms of seroreactivity and targets for invasion inhibition, in order to guide and identify the proper use of such proteins as tools for the development of serological markers and/or as vaccine candidates. METHODS IgG responses in 84 serum samples from individuals with P. falciparum infection [classified as symptomatic (Sym) or asymptomatic (Asym)], or acute Plasmodium vivax infection, from the Peruvian Amazon region, were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays specific for a baculovirus-produced recombinant protein P. falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 10 (rMSP10) and for non-EGF region selected peptides of PfMSP10 selected by a bioinformatics tool (PfMSP10-1, PfMSP10-2 and PfMSP10-3). Monoclonal antibodies against the selected peptides were evaluated by western blotting, confocal microscopy and inhibition invasion assays. RESULTS Seroreactivity analysis of the P. falciparum Sym- and Asym-infected individuals against rMSP10 showed a higher response as compared to the individuals with P. vivax acute infection. IgG responses against peptide PfMSP10-1 were weak. Interestingly high IgG response was found against peptide PfMSP10-2 and the combination of peptides PfMSP10-1 + PfMSP10-2. Monoclonal antibodies were capable of detecting native PfMSP10 on purified schizonts by western blot and confocal microscopy. A low percentage of inhibition of merozoite invasion of erythrocytes in vitro was observed when the monoclonal antibodies were compared with the control antibody against AMA-1 antigen. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of PfMSP10 in the merozoite invasion. CONCLUSIONS The rMSP10 and the PfMSP10-2 peptide synthesized for this study may be useful antigens for evaluation of P. falciparum malaria exposure in Sym and Asym individuals from the Peruvian Amazon region. Moreover, these antigens can be used for further investigation of the role of this protein in other malaria-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Bendezu
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, FARVET, Carretera Panamericana Sur No 766 km 198.5, Chincha Alta, Ica, Peru.
| | - Elizabeth Villasis
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo "Abraham Vaisberg Wolach, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt-Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, San Martín de Porres, Lima, Peru
| | - Sandra Morales Ruiz
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, FARVET, Carretera Panamericana Sur No 766 km 198.5, Chincha Alta, Ica, Peru
| | - Katherine Garro
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo "Abraham Vaisberg Wolach, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Berónica Infante
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo "Abraham Vaisberg Wolach, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Renzo Gutierrez-Loli
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo "Abraham Vaisberg Wolach, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Pamela Rodríguez
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo "Abraham Vaisberg Wolach, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Manolo Fernández-Díaz
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, FARVET, Carretera Panamericana Sur No 766 km 198.5, Chincha Alta, Ica, Peru
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo "Abraham Vaisberg Wolach, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt-Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, San Martín de Porres, Lima, Peru
| | - Katherine Torres
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo "Abraham Vaisberg Wolach, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt-Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, San Martín de Porres, Lima, Peru.
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15
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Atique Ahmed M, Kang HJ, Quan FS. Low Levels of Polymorphisms and Negative Selection in Plasmodum knowlesi Merozoite Surface Protein 8 in Malaysian Isolates. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 57:445-450. [PMID: 31533414 PMCID: PMC6753297 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.4.445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Human infections due to the monkey malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is increasingly being reported from most Southeast Asian countries specifically Malaysia. The parasite causes severe and fatal malaria thus there is a need for urgent measures for its control. In this study, the level of polymorphisms, haplotypes and natural selection of full-length pkmsp8 in 37 clinical samples from Malaysian Borneo along with 6 lab-adapted strains were investigated. Low levels of polymorphism were observed across the full-length gene, the double epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains were mostly conserved, and non-synonymous substitutions were absent. Evidence of strong negative selection pressure in the non-EGF regions were found indicating functional constrains acting at different domains. Phylogenetic haplotype network analysis identified shared haplotypes and indicated geographical clustering of samples originating from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. This is the first study to genetically characterize the full-length msp8 gene from clinical isolates of P. knowlesi from Malaysia; however, further functional characterization would be useful for future rational vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Atique Ahmed
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, 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.,Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
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16
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Zhang X, Chu R, Xu S, Fu H, Tang J, Chen L, Shi X, Chen J, Li Y, Zhu G, Han ET, Xuan Y, Cao J, Cheng Y. Immunogenicity analysis of genetically conserved segments in Plasmodium ovale merozoite surface protein-8. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:164. [PMID: 30975200 PMCID: PMC6460738 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3412-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium ovale is widely distributed across tropical regions and has two closely related but distinct species, namely P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri. Combining genetic characterization with the immunogenicity of merozoite surface protein-8 (MSP-8) supports considering MSP-8 as a candidate target for blood-stage vaccines against malaria. However, no previous studies have focused on characterizing the genetic diversity and immunogenicity of PoMSP-8. Methods Blood samples were collected from 42 patients infected with P. ovale. The patients were migrant workers returning to the Jiangsu Province from Africa; genomic DNA was extracted from their blood samples for sequencing and protein expression. The recombinant PoMSP-8 (rPoMSP-8) proteins were expressed and purified to assess their immune responses in BALB/c mice. Results The sequences of the P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri msp8 genes were completely conserved in each isolate. The rPoMSP-8 proteins were successfully expressed and purified as ~70 kDa proteins. Antibodies raised against rPoMSP-8 in mice showed appropriate immunoreactivity, as evidenced by immunoblotting. These specific antibodies were detected at day 7 post-immunization, and their levels increased throughout the whole immunization period. rPoMSP-8-raised antibodies had high endpoint titers (1:5,120,000) and high avidity (PocMSP-8: 94.84%, PowMSP-8: 92.69%). Cross-reactivity between rPocMSP-8 and rPowMSP-8 was observed with each anti-PoMSP8-specific antibody. Conclusions Remarkable conservation and high immunogenicity was observed in both rPoMSP-8s. Intriguingly, cross-reaction between rPocMSP-8 and rPowMSP-8 was detected, suggesting that a single PoMSP8-based construction might be applicable for both species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3412-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Zhang
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruilin Chu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Sui Xu
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Haitian Fu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxia Tang
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Limei Chen
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodan Shi
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Chen
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoding Zhu
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Yinghua Xuan
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jun Cao
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasite Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yang Cheng
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Camargo-Ayala PA, Garzón-Ospina D, Moreno-Pérez DA, Ricaurte-Contreras LA, Noya O, Patarroyo MA. On the Evolution and Function of Plasmodium vivax Reticulocyte Binding Surface Antigen ( pvrbsa). Front Genet 2018; 9:372. [PMID: 30250483 PMCID: PMC6139305 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The RBSA protein is encoded by a gene described in Plasmodium species having tropism for reticulocytes. Since this protein is antigenic in natural infections and can bind to target cells, it has been proposed as a potential candidate for an anti-Plasmodium vivax vaccine. However, genetic diversity (a challenge which must be overcome for ensuring fully effective vaccine design) has not been described at this locus. Likewise, the minimum regions mediating specific parasite-host interaction have not been determined. This is why the rbsa gene’s evolutionary history is being here described, as well as the P. vivax rbsa (pvrbsa) genetic diversity and the specific regions mediating parasite adhesion to reticulocytes. Unlike what has previously been reported, rbsa was also present in several parasite species belonging to the monkey-malaria clade; paralogs were also found in Plasmodium parasites invading reticulocytes. The pvrbsa locus had less diversity than other merozoite surface proteins where natural selection and recombination were the main evolutionary forces involved in causing the observed polymorphism. The N-terminal end (PvRBSA-A) was conserved and under functional constraint; consequently, it was expressed as recombinant protein for binding assays. This protein fragment bound to reticulocytes whilst the C-terminus, included in recombinant PvRBSA-B (which was not under functional constraint), did not. Interestingly, two PvRBSA-A-derived peptides were able to inhibit protein binding to reticulocytes. Specific conserved and functionally important peptides within PvRBSA-A could thus be considered when designing a fully-effective vaccine against P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Andrea Camargo-Ayala
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,Microbiology Postgraduate Programme, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Darwin Andrés Moreno-Pérez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,Livestock Sciences Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Oscar Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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18
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Goodswen SJ, Kennedy PJ, Ellis JT. A Gene-Based Positive Selection Detection Approach to Identify Vaccine Candidates Using Toxoplasma gondii as a Test Case Protozoan Pathogen. Front Genet 2018; 9:332. [PMID: 30177953 PMCID: PMC6109633 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades, various in silico approaches have been developed and refined that attempt to identify protein and/or peptide vaccines candidates from informative signals encoded in protein sequences of a target pathogen. As to date, no signal has been identified that clearly indicates a protein will effectively contribute to a protective immune response in a host. The premise for this study is that proteins under positive selection from the immune system are more likely suitable vaccine candidates than proteins exposed to other selection pressures. Furthermore, our expectation is that protein sequence regions encoding major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) binding peptides will contain consecutive positive selection sites. Using freely available data and bioinformatic tools, we present a high-throughput approach through a pipeline that predicts positive selection sites, protein subcellular locations, and sequence locations of medium to high T-Cell MHC class I binding peptides. Positive selection sites are estimated from a sequence alignment by comparing rates of synonymous (dS) and non-synonymous (dN) substitutions among protein coding sequences of orthologous genes in a phylogeny. The main pipeline output is a list of protein vaccine candidates predicted to be naturally exposed to the immune system and containing sites under positive selection. Candidates are ranked with respect to the number of consecutive sites located on protein sequence regions encoding MHCI-binding peptides. Results are constrained by the reliability of prediction programs and quality of input data. Protein sequences from Toxoplasma gondii ME49 strain (TGME49) were used as a case study. Surface antigen (SAG), dense granules (GRA), microneme (MIC), and rhoptry (ROP) proteins are considered worthy T. gondii candidates. Given 8263 TGME49 protein sequences processed anonymously, the top 10 predicted candidates were all worthy candidates. In particular, the top ten included ROP5 and ROP18, which are T. gondii virulence determinants. The chance of randomly selecting a ROP protein was 0.2% given 8263 sequences. We conclude that the approach described is a valuable addition to other in silico approaches to identify vaccines candidates worthy of laboratory validation and could be adapted for other apicomplexan parasite species (with appropriate data).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Goodswen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul J Kennedy
- School of Software, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Centre for Artificial Intelligence, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - John T Ellis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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19
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Garzón-Ospina D, Buitrago SP, Ramos AE, Patarroyo MA. Identifying Potential Plasmodium vivax Sporozoite Stage Vaccine Candidates: An Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection. Front Genet 2018; 9:10. [PMID: 29422913 PMCID: PMC5788960 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasite antigen genetic diversity represents a great obstacle when designing a vaccine against malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax. Selecting vaccine candidate antigens has been focused on those fulfilling a role in invasion and which are conserved, thus avoiding specific-allele immune responses. Most antigens described to date belong to the blood stage, thereby blocking parasite development within red blood cells, whilst studying antigens from other stages has been quite restricted. Antigens from different parasite stages are required for developing a completely effective vaccine; thus, pre-erythrocyte stage antigens able to block the first line of infection becoming established should also be taken into account. However, few antigens from this stage have been studied to date. Several P. falciparum sporozoite antigens are involved in invasion. Since 77% of genes are orthologous amongst Plasmodium parasites, P. vivax sporozoite antigen orthologs to those of P. falciparum might be present in its genome. Although these genes might have high genetic diversity, conserved functionally-relevant regions (ideal for vaccine development) could be predicted by comparing genetic diversity patterns and evolutionary rates. This study was thus aimed at searching for putative P. vivax sporozoite genes so as to analyse their genetic diversity for determining their potential as vaccine candidates. Several DNA sequence polymorphism estimators were computed at each locus. The evolutionary force (drift, selection and recombination) drawing the genetic diversity pattern observed was also determined by using tests based on polymorphism frequency spectrum as well as the type of intra- and inter-species substitutions. Likewise, recombination was assessed both indirectly and directly. The results showed that sporozoite genes were more conserved than merozoite genes evaluated to date. Putative domains implied in cell traversal, gliding motility and hepatocyte interaction had a negative selection signal, being conserved amongst different species in the genus. PvP52, PvP36, PvSPATR, PvPLP1, PvMCP1, PvTLP, PvCelTOS, and PvMB2 antigens or functionally restricted regions within them would thus seem promising vaccine candidates and could be used when designing a pre-erythrocyte and/or multi-stage vaccine against P. vivax to avoid allele-specific immune responses that could reduce vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sindy P Buitrago
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrea E Ramos
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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20
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Analysis of polymorphisms and selective pressures on ama1 gene in Plasmodium knowlesi isolates from Sabah, Malaysia. J Genet 2017; 96:653-663. [PMID: 28947714 DOI: 10.1007/s12041-017-0817-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) of Plasmodium spp. is a merozoite surface antigen that is essential for the recognition and invasion of erythrocytes. Polymorphisms occurring in this surface antigen will cause major obstacles in developing effective malaria vaccines based on AMA-1. The objective of this study was to characterize ama1 gene in Plasmodium knowlesi isolates from Sabah. DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from Keningau, Kota Kinabalu and Kudat. The Pkama1 gene was amplified using nested PCR and subjected to bidirectional sequencing. Analysis of DNA sequence revealed that most of the nucleotide polymorphisms were synonymous and concentrated in domain I of PkAMA-1. Forteen haplotypes were identified based on amino acid variations and haplotype K5 was the most common haplotype. dN/dS ratios implied that purifying selection was prevalent in Pkama1 gene. Fu and Li's D and F values further provided evidence of negative selection acting on domain II of Pkama1. Lownucleotide diversitywas also detected for the Pkama1 sequences,which is similar to reports on Pkama1 from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. The presence of purifying selection and low nucleotide diversity indicated that domain II of Pkama1 can be used as a target for vaccine development.
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21
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Rittipornlertrak A, Nambooppha B, Simking P, Punyapornwithaya V, Tiwananthagorn S, Jittapalapong S, Chung YT, Sthitmatee N. Low levels of genetic diversity associated with evidence of negative selection on the Babesia bovis apical membrane antigen 1 from parasite populations in Thailand. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 54:447-454. [PMID: 28807856 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Babesia bovis, a parasite infecting cattle and buffalo, continues to spread throughout the developing world. The babesial vaccine was developed to be a sustainable alternative treatment to control the parasite. However, genetic diversity is a major obstacle for designing and developing a safe and effective vaccine. The apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) is considered to be a potential vaccine candidate antigen among immunogenic genes of B. bovis. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of B. bovis AMA-1 (BbAMA-1), three B. bovis DNA samples were randomly selected to characterize in order to explore genetic diversity and natural selection and to predict the antigen epitopes. The sequence analysis revealed that BbAMA-1 has a low level of polymorphism and is highly conserved (95.46-99.94%) among Thai and global isolates. The majority of the polymorphic sites were observed in domains I and III. Conversely, domain II contained no polymorphic sites. We report the first evidence of strong negative or purifying selection across the full length of the gene, especially in domain I, by demonstrating a significant excess of the average number of synonymous (dS) over the non-synonymous (dN) substitutions. Finally, we also predict the linear and conformational B-cell epitope. The predicted B-cell epitopes appeared to be involved with the amino acid changes. Collectively, the results suggest that the conserved BbAMA-1 may be used to detect regional differences in the B. bovis parasite. Importantly, the limitation of BbAMA-1 diversity under strong negative selection indicates strong functional constraints on this gene. Thus, the gene could be a valuable target vaccine candidate antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pacharathon Simking
- Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12110, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Yang-Tsung Chung
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Nattawooti Sthitmatee
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; Excellent Center in Veterinary Bioscience, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
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22
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Cheng Y, Wang B, Changrob S, Han JH, Sattabongkot J, Ha KS, Chootong P, Lu F, Cao J, Nyunt MH, Park WS, Hong SH, Lim CS, Tsuboi T, Han ET. Naturally acquired humoral and cellular immune responses to Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 8 in patients with P. vivax infection. Malar J 2017; 16:211. [PMID: 28532483 PMCID: PMC5440977 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1837-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Thirty-one glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins of Plasmodium vivax, merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1), MSP1 paralogue, MSP4, MSP5, MSP8, and MSP10 have been reported from homologs of Plasmodium falciparum by gene annotation with bioinformatics tools. These GPI-anchored proteins contain two epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains at its C-terminus. Here, P. vivax merozoite surface protein 8 (PvMSP8) are considered as potential targets of protective immunity. Methods Recombinant PvMSP8 (rPvMSP8) was expressed, purified, and used for the assessment of humoral and cellular immune responses in P. vivax-infected patients and immune mice. Moreover, the target epitope of ant-PvMSP8 antibodies and subcellular localization of PvMSP8 was also determined. Results The rPvMSP8 was successfully expressed and purified as soluble form as ~55 kDa. PvMSP8 was localized to the outer circle of pigments associated with the food vacuole. The rPvMSP8 protein had a high antigenicity (73.2% in sensitivity and 96.2% in specificity) in patients infected with P. vivax. IgG2 antibody subtype was the predominantly responses to this antigen. Antibody response to PvMSP8 increased up to day 7 and after that slightly decreased within a month. The longevity of anti-PvMSP8 antibody was stably sustained up to 12-year recovery patient samples. Most anti-PvMSP8 antibodies recognized two epitopes that were located outside the C-terminal EGF-like domain. The cellular immune response in P. vivax-exposed individuals produced high levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 upon PvMSP8 antigen stimulation in vitro. Conclusions All data in this study suggest that PvMSP8 antigen has a potential to induce both humoral and cellular immune responses in patients with P. vivax infection. The subcellular localization of PvMSP8 confirmed that it was associated with the parasite food vacuole in blood-stage parasites. A further characterization of this protein will be useful for blood stage P. vivax vaccine development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1837-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Cheng
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Parasitology, Wuxi Medical School, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Siriruk Changrob
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Kwon-Soo Ha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Feng Lu
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention (Ministry of Health), and Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Cao
- Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention (Ministry of Health), and Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Myat Htut Nyunt
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Won Sun Park
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Ho Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Seung Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Baquero LA, Moreno-Pérez DA, Garzón-Ospina D, Forero-Rodríguez J, Ortiz-Suárez HD, Patarroyo MA. PvGAMA reticulocyte binding activity: predicting conserved functional regions by natural selection analysis. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:251. [PMID: 28526096 PMCID: PMC5438544 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adhesin proteins are used by Plasmodium parasites to bind and invade target cells. Hence, characterising molecules that participate in reticulocyte interaction is key to understanding the molecular basis of Plasmodium vivax invasion. This study focused on predicting functionally restricted regions of the P. vivax GPI-anchored micronemal antigen (PvGAMA) and characterising their reticulocyte binding activity. Results The pvgama gene was initially found in P. vivax VCG-I strain schizonts. According to the genetic diversity analysis, PvGAMA displayed a size polymorphism very common for antigenic P. vivax proteins. Two regions along the antigen sequence were highly conserved among species, having a negative natural selection signal. Interestingly, these regions revealed a functional role regarding preferential target cell adhesion. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study describes PvGAMA reticulocyte binding properties for the first time. Conserved functional regions were predicted according to natural selection analysis and their binding ability was confirmed. These findings support the notion that PvGAMA may have an important role in P. vivax merozoite adhesion to its target cells. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2183-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Baquero
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Darwin A Moreno-Pérez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia.,PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Carrera 24 No. 63C-69, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia.,PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Carrera 24 No. 63C-69, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Johanna Forero-Rodríguez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Heidy D Ortiz-Suárez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia. .,Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Carrera 24 No. 63C-69, Bogotá DC, Colombia.
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24
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Buitrago SP, Garzón-Ospina D, Patarroyo MA. Size polymorphism and low sequence diversity in the locus encoding the Plasmodium vivax rhoptry neck protein 4 (PvRON4) in Colombian isolates. Malar J 2016; 15:501. [PMID: 27756311 PMCID: PMC5069803 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1563-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Designing a vaccine against Plasmodium vivax has focused on selecting antigens involved in invasion mechanisms that must have domains with low polymorphism for avoiding allele-specific immune responses. The rhoptry neck protein 4 (RON4) forms part of the tight junction, which is essential in the invasion of hepatocytes and/or erythrocytes; however, little is known about this locus’ genetic diversity. Methods DNA sequences from 73 Colombian clinical isolates from pvron4 gene were analysed for characterizing their genetic diversity; pvron4 haplotype number and distribution, as well as the evolutionary forces determining diversity pattern, were assessed by population genetics and molecular evolutionary approaches. Results ron4 has low genetic diversity in P. vivax at sequence level; however, a variable amount of tandem repeats at the N-terminal region leads to extensive size polymorphism. This region seems to be exposed to the immune system. The central region has a putative esterase/lipase domain which, like the protein’s C-terminal fragment, is highly conserved at intra- and inter-species level. Both regions are under purifying selection. Conclusions pvron4 is the locus having the lowest genetic diversity described to date for P. vivax. The repeat regions in the N-terminal region could be associated with immune evasion mechanisms while the central region and the C-terminal region seem to be under functional or structural constraint. Bearing such results in mind, the PvRON4 central and/or C-terminal portions represent promising candidates when designing a subunit-based vaccine as they are aimed at avoiding an allele-specific immune response, which might limit vaccine efficacy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1563-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindy P Buitrago
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.,Microbiology Postgraduate Program, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. .,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
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25
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Alnasser Y, Ferradas C, Clark T, Calderon M, Gurbillon A, Gamboa D, McKakpo US, Quakyi IA, Bosompem KM, Sullivan DJ, Vinetz JM, Gilman RH. Colorimetric Detection of Plasmodium vivax in Urine Using MSP10 Oligonucleotides and Gold Nanoparticles. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005029. [PMID: 27706158 PMCID: PMC5051960 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent cause of human malaria in the world and can lead to severe disease with high potential for relapse. Its genetic and geographic diversities make it challenging to control. P. vivax is understudied and to achieve control of malaria in endemic areas, a rapid, accurate, and simple diagnostic tool is necessary. In this pilot study, we found that a colorimetric system using AuNPs and MSP10 DNA detection in urine can provide fast, easy, and inexpensive identification of P. vivax. The test exhibited promising sensitivity (84%), high specificity (97%), and only mild cross-reactivity with P. falciparum (21%). It is simple to use, with a visible color change that negates the need for a spectrometer, making it suitable for use in austere conditions. Using urine eliminates the need for finger-prick, increasing both the safety profile and patient acceptance of this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yossef Alnasser
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Taryn Clark
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Uri S. McKakpo
- School of Public Health and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Isabella A. Quakyi
- School of Public Health and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwabena M. Bosompem
- School of Public Health and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - David J. Sullivan
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph M. Vinetz
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Gilman
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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26
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Hupalo DN, Luo Z, Melnikov A, Sutton PL, Rogov P, Escalante A, Vallejo AF, Herrera S, Arévalo-Herrera M, Fan Q, Wang Y, Cui L, Lucas CM, Durand S, Sanchez JF, Baldeviano GC, Lescano AG, Laman M, Barnadas C, Barry A, Mueller I, Kazura JW, Eapen A, Kanagaraj D, Valecha N, Ferreira MU, Roobsoong W, Nguitragool W, Sattabonkot J, Gamboa D, Kosek M, Vinetz JM, González-Cerón L, Birren BW, Neafsey DE, Carlton JM. Population genomics studies identify signatures of global dispersal and drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax. Nat Genet 2016; 48:953-8. [PMID: 27348298 PMCID: PMC5347536 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is a major public health burden, responsible for the majority of malaria infections outside Africa. We explored the impact of demographic history and selective pressures on the P. vivax genome by sequencing 182 clinical isolates sampled from 11 countries across the globe, using hybrid selection to overcome human DNA contamination. We confirmed previous reports of high genomic diversity in P. vivax relative to the more virulent Plasmodium falciparum species; regional populations of P. vivax exhibited greater diversity than the global P. falciparum population, indicating a large and/or stable population. Signals of natural selection suggest that P. vivax is evolving in response to antimalarial drugs and is adapting to regional differences in the human host and the mosquito vector. These findings underline the variable epidemiology of this parasite species and highlight the breadth of approaches that may be required to eliminate P. vivax globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N Hupalo
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Zunping Luo
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Patrick L Sutton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter Rogov
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ananias Escalante
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia
- Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Qi Fan
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Third Military Medical University, Shapingba, Chongqing, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Moses Laman
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua, New Guinea
| | - Celine Barnadas
- Vector Borne Diseases Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Walter &Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Alyssa Barry
- Division of Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Division of Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
- Institute of Global Health (ISGLOBAL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - James W Kazura
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Alex Eapen
- National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Deena Kanagaraj
- National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Neena Valecha
- National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Marcelo U Ferreira
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabonkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Instituto de Medicine Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Margaret Kosek
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Instituto de Medicine Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Lilia González-Cerón
- Regional Centre for Research in Public Health, National Institute for Public Health, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - Bruce W Birren
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jane M Carlton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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27
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Population genetics structure of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein during the elimination process in low and unstable malaria transmission areas, southeast of Iran. Acta Trop 2016; 160:23-34. [PMID: 27102931 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2015] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Iran, the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax has dropped after a national malaria elimination program was launched. To estimate the likelihood of success and to measure the outcome of malaria intervention tools during elimination programs (2008-2012), the population genetic surveys of Iranian P. vivax isolates (n=60) were carried out using the CSP genetic marker. The results were compared with a similar work that was carried out during a control phase (2000-2003) in the same study areas. Based on PCR-RFLP analysis, 49 (81.67%) of 60 studied samples were VK210 and 11 (18.33%) were VK247 with no mixed genotypes. However, 10.97% of P. vivax isolates of control phase harbored the mixed genotypes. Sequencing analysis of 50 pvcsp gene showed 14 distinct haplotypes, of which 11 and 3 were VK210 and VK247 types, respectively. However, during the control phase, 19 distinct subtypes (11 VK210 and 8 VK247) were reported. Also, 7 of 11 VK210 and the VK247F subtypes were new, and 3 out of 7 new VK210 and VK247F were isolated from the patients with Pakistani nationality. The lower nucleotide diversity per site (π=0.02017±0.00436 and π=0.04525±0.00255) and haplotype diversity (Hd=0.513±0.093 and Hd=0.691±0.128) as well as lower In/Del haplotype [Hd(i)=0.243 and 0] and nucleotide diversity [π(i)=0.00078 and 0] were recorded for VK210 and VK247of the elimination samples, respectively. In conclusion, the comparison of PRMs and RATs in CRR along with the polymorphism analysis of the sequence lengths, SNPs, and In/Del polymorphisms in all analyzed samples showed lower genetic diversity for PvCSP in the elimination samples. Also, although there is a turnover of P. vivax parasite genotypes in the study areas, reduction in genetic diversity and transmission was detected due to scaling-up of the intervention tools during an elimination program in Iran. This notable challenge of the elimination program must be taken into account and controlled by active surveillance for limiting both reintroductions of new allelic forms as well as the spread of drug-resistant parasite to prevent any disease outbreaks.
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28
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Chaurio RA, Pacheco MA, Cornejo OE, Durrego E, Stanley CE, Castillo AI, Herrera S, Escalante AA. Evolution of the Transmission-Blocking Vaccine Candidates Pvs28 and Pvs25 in Plasmodium vivax: Geographic Differentiation and Evidence of Positive Selection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004786. [PMID: 27347876 PMCID: PMC4922550 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission-blocking (TB) vaccines are considered an important tool for malaria control and elimination. Among all the antigens characterized as TB vaccines against Plasmodium vivax, the ookinete surface proteins Pvs28 and Pvs25 are leading candidates. These proteins likely originated by a gene duplication event that took place before the radiation of the known Plasmodium species to primates. We report an evolutionary genetic analysis of a worldwide sample of pvs28 and pvs25 alleles. Our results show that both genes display low levels of genetic polymorphism when compared to the merozoite surface antigens AMA-1 and MSP-1; however, both ookinete antigens can be as polymorphic as other merozoite antigens such as MSP-8 and MSP-10. We found that parasite populations in Asia and the Americas are geographically differentiated with comparable levels of genetic diversity and specific amino acid replacements found only in the Americas. Furthermore, the observed variation was mainly accumulated in the EGF2- and EGF3-like domains for P. vivax in both proteins. This pattern was shared by other closely related non-human primate parasites such as Plasmodium cynomolgi, suggesting that it could be functionally important. In addition, examination with a suite of evolutionary genetic analyses indicated that the observed patterns are consistent with positive natural selection acting on Pvs28 and Pvs25 polymorphisms. The geographic pattern of genetic differentiation and the evidence for positive selection strongly suggest that the functional consequences of the observed polymorphism should be evaluated during development of TBVs that include Pvs25 and Pvs28. Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent human malarial parasite outside Africa. The fact that patients can relapse due to the parasite dormant liver stages, among other biologic and epidemiologic characteristics of vivax malaria, facilitates the persistence of the disease in many endemic areas. These challenges have fueled the search for new control tools, including transmission blocking (TB) vaccines targeting the parasite sexual stages. Here we study the genetic diversity of two major TB vaccine antigens, Pvs25 and Pvs28. We show that these genes are relatively conserved worldwide but still harbor diversity that is not evenly distributed across the genes. These patterns are shared by the same proteins in closely related parasite species suggesting their functional importance. We also identify strong geographic differentiation between the circulating variants found in Asia and the Americas. Finally, evolutionary genetic analyses indicate that the observed variation in both genes could be maintained by natural selection. Thus, these polymorphisms may confer an adaptive advantage to the parasite. These results indicate that the genetic variation found in these genes and their geographic distribution should be considered by vaccine developers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A Chaurio
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - M Andreína Pacheco
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Omar E Cornejo
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ester Durrego
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Craig E Stanley
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Andreína I Castillo
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | | | - Ananias A Escalante
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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29
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Sutton PL, Luo Z, Divis PCS, Friedrich VK, Conway DJ, Singh B, Barnwell JW, Carlton JM, Sullivan SA. Characterizing the genetic diversity of the monkey malaria parasite Plasmodium cynomolgi. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 40:243-252. [PMID: 26980604 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium cynomolgi is a malaria parasite that typically infects Asian macaque monkeys, and humans on rare occasions. P. cynomolgi serves as a model system for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, with which it shares such important biological characteristics as formation of a dormant liver stage and a preference to invade reticulocytes. While genomes of three P. cynomolgi strains have been sequenced, genetic diversity of P. cynomolgi has not been widely investigated. To address this we developed the first panel of P. cynomolgi microsatellite markers to genotype eleven P. cynomolgi laboratory strains and 18 field isolates from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. We found diverse genotypes among most of the laboratory strains, though two nominally different strains were found to be genetically identical. We also investigated sequence polymorphism in two erythrocyte invasion gene families, the reticulocyte binding protein and Duffy binding protein genes, in these strains. We also observed copy number variation in rbp genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L Sutton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Zunping Luo
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Paul C S Divis
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Volney K Friedrich
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, 38 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - David J Conway
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Balbir Singh
- Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - John W Barnwell
- Laboratory Research and Development Unit, Malaria Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jane M Carlton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Steven A Sullivan
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States.
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30
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Liu M, Cao S, Zhou M, Wang G, Jirapattharasate C, Adjou Moumouni PF, Iguchi A, Vudriko P, Suzuki H, Soma T, Xuan X. Genetic variations of four immunodominant antigens of Babesia gibsoni isolated from dogs in southwest Japan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:298-305. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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31
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Rawa MSA, Fong MY, Lau YL. Genetic diversity and natural selection in the rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) of recent Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Malaysia. Malar J 2016; 15:62. [PMID: 26847346 PMCID: PMC4743133 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1127-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Plasmodium rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) plays a role in the formation of the parasitophorous vacuole following the parasite's invasion of red blood cells. Although there is some evidence that the protein is recognized by the host's immune system, study of Plasmodium falciparum RAP-1 (PfRAP-1) suggests that it is not under immune pressure. A previous study on five old (1953-1962) P. knowlesi strains suggested that RAP-1 has limited genetic polymorphism and might be under negative selection. In the present study, 30 recent P. knowlesi isolates were studied to obtain a better insight into the polymorphism and natural selection of PkRAP-1. METHODS Blood samples from 30 knowlesi malaria patients were used. These samples were collected between 2010 and 2014. The PkRAP-1 gene, which contains two exons, was amplified by PCR, cloned into Escherichia coli and sequenced. Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA6 and DnaSP ver. 5.10.00 programs. RESULTS Thirty PkRAP-1 sequences were obtained. The nucleotide diversity (π) of exons 1, 2 and the total coding region (0.00915, 0.01353 and 0.01298, respectively) were higher than those of the old strains. Further analysis revealed a lower rate of non-synonymous (dN) than synonymous (dS) mutations, suggesting negative (purifying) selection of PkRAP-1. Tajima's D test and Fu and Li's D test values were not significant. At the amino acid level, 22 haplotypes were established with haplotype H7 having the highest frequency (7/34, 20.5 %). In the phylogenetic analysis, two distinct haplotype groups were observed. The first group contained the majority of the haplotypes, whereas the second had fewer haplotypes. CONCLUSIONS The present study found higher genetic polymorphism in the PkRAP-1 gene than the polymorphism level reported in a previous study. This observation may stem from the difference in sample size between the present (n = 30) and the previous (n = 5) study. Synonymous and non-synonymous mutation analysis indicated purifying (negative) selection of the gene. The separation of PkRAP-1haplotypes into two groups provides further evidence to the postulation of two distinct P. knowlesi types or lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira Syahfriena Amir Rawa
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Mun-Yik Fong
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. .,Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Yee-Ling Lau
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. .,Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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32
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Fong MY, Wong SS, Silva JRD, Lau YL. Genetic polymorphism in domain I of the apical membrane antigen-1 among Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia. Acta Trop 2015; 152:145-150. [PMID: 26384455 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is now recognized as a species that can cause human malaria. The first report of large scale human knowlesi malaria was in 2004 in Malaysia Borneo. Since then, hundreds of human knowlesi malaria cases have been reported in Southeast Asia. The present study investigates the genetic polymorphism of P. knowlesi DI domain of the apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1), a protein considered as a promising vaccine candidate for malaria. The DI domain of AMA-1 gene of P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia was amplified by PCR, cloned into Escherichia coli, then sequenced and analysed. Ninety-seven DI domain sequences were obtained. Comparison at the nucleotide level against P. knowlesi strain H as reference sequence showed 21 synonymous and 25 nonsynonymous mutations. Nonetheless, nucleotide sequence analysis revealed low genetic diversity of the DI domain, and it was under purifying (negative) selection. At the amino acid level, 26 different haplotypes were identified and 2 were predominant haplotypes (H1, H2) with high frequencies. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 26 haplotypes could be clustered into 2 distinct groups (I and II). Members of the groups were basically derived from haplotypes H1 and H2, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Shen Siang Wong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Jeremy Ryan De Silva
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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33
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Gupta B, Reddy BPN, Fan Q, Yan G, Sirichaisinthop J, Sattabongkot J, Escalante AA, Cui L. Molecular Evolution of PvMSP3α Block II in Plasmodium vivax from Diverse Geographic Origins. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135396. [PMID: 26266539 PMCID: PMC4534382 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Block II of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 3α (PvMSP3α) is conserved and has been proposed as a potential candidate for a malaria vaccine. The present study aimed to compare sequence diversity in PvMSP3a block II at a local microgeographic scale in a village as well as from larger geographic regions (countries and worldwide). Blood samples were collected from asymptomatic carriers of P. vivax in a village at the western border of Thailand and PvMSP3α was amplified and sequenced. For population genetic analysis, 237 PvMSP3α block II sequences from eleven P. vivax endemic countries were analyzed. PvMSP3α sequences from 20 village-level samples revealed two length variant types with one type containing a large deletion in block I. In contrast, block II was relatively conserved; especially, some non-synonymous mutations were extensively shared among 11 parasite populations. However, the majority of the low-frequency synonymous variations were population specific. The conserved pattern of nucleotide diversity in block II sequences was probably due to functional/structural constraints, which were further supported by the tests of neutrality. Notably, a small region in block II that encodes a predicted B cell epitope was highly polymorphic and showed signs of balancing selection, signifying that this region might be influenced by the immune selection and may serve as a starting point for designing multi-antigen/stage epitope based vaccines against this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavna Gupta
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - B. P. Niranjan Reddy
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - Qi Fan
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America
| | | | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400 Thailand
| | - Ananias A. Escalante
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Maskus DJ, Bethke S, Seidel M, Kapelski S, Addai-Mensah O, Boes A, Edgü G, Spiegel H, Reimann A, Fischer R, Barth S, Klockenbring T, Fendel R. Isolation, production and characterization of fully human monoclonal antibodies directed to Plasmodium falciparum MSP10. Malar J 2015; 14:276. [PMID: 26174014 PMCID: PMC4502606 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0797-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Semi-immunity against the malaria parasite is defined by a protection against clinical episodes of malaria and is partially mediated by a repertoire of inhibitory antibodies directed against the blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum, in particular against surface proteins of merozoites, the invasive form of the parasite. Such antibodies may be used for preventive or therapeutic treatment of P. falciparum malaria. Here, the isolation and characterization of novel human monoclonal antibodies (humAbs) for such applications is described. METHODS B lymphocytes had been selected by flow cytometry for specificity against merozoite surface proteins, including the merozoite surface protein 10 (MSP10). After Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation and identification of promising resulting lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), human immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable regions (Vh or Vl regions) were secured, cloned into plant expression vectors and transiently produced in Nicotiana benthamiana in the context of human full-size IgG1:κ. The specificity and the affinity of the generated antibodies were assessed by ELISA, dotblot and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy. The growth inhibitory activity was evaluated based on growth inhibition assays (GIAs) using the parasite strain 3D7A. RESULTS Supernatants from two LCLs, 5E8 and 5F6, showed reactivity against the second (5E8) or first (5F6) epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain of MSP10. The isolated V regions were recombinantly expressed in their natural pairing as well as in combination with each other. The resulting recombinant humAbs showed affinities of 9.27 × 10(-7) M [humAb10.1 (H5F6:κ5E8)], 5.46 × 10(-9) M [humAb10.2 (H5F6:κ5F6)] and 4.34 × 10(-9) M [humAb10.3 (H5E8:κ5E8)]. In GIAs, these antibodies exhibited EC50 values of 4.1 mg/ml [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6-6.6 mg/ml], 6.9 mg/ml (CI 5.5-8.6 mg/ml) and 9.5 mg/ml (CI 5.5-16.4 mg/ml), respectively. CONCLUSION This report describes a platform for the isolation of human antibodies from semi-immune blood donors by EBV transformation and their subsequent characterization after transient expression in plants. To our knowledge, the presented antibodies are the first humAbs directed against P. falciparum MSP10 to be described. They recognize the EGF-like folds of MSP10 and bind these with high affinity. Moreover, these antibodies inhibit P. falciparum 3D7A growth in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika J Maskus
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Susanne Bethke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Melanie Seidel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Stephanie Kapelski
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Otchere Addai-Mensah
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Alexander Boes
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Güven Edgü
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Holger Spiegel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Andreas Reimann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Rainer Fischer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Stefan Barth
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy, Institute for Applied Medical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University and Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Torsten Klockenbring
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Rolf Fendel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapy, Institute for Applied Medical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University and Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
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Inferring natural selection signals in Plasmodium vivax-encoded proteins having a potential role in merozoite invasion. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2015; 33:182-8. [PMID: 25943417 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/02/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Detecting natural selection signals in Plasmodium parasites antigens might be used for identifying potential new vaccine candidates. Fifty-nine Plasmodium vivax-Sal-I genes encoding proteins having a potential role in invasion were used as query for identifying them in recent P. vivax strain genome sequences and two closely-related Plasmodium species. Several measures of DNA sequence variation were then calculated and selection signatures were detected by using different approaches. Our results may be used for determining which genes expressed during P. vivax merozoite stage could be prioritised for further population genetics or functional studies for designing a P. vivax vaccine which would avoid allele-specific immune responses.
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Faber BW, Abdul Kadir K, Rodriguez-Garcia R, Remarque EJ, Saul FA, Vulliez-Le Normand B, Bentley GA, Kocken CHM, Singh B. Low levels of polymorphisms and no evidence for diversifying selection on the Plasmodium knowlesi Apical Membrane Antigen 1 gene. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124400. [PMID: 25881166 PMCID: PMC4400157 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic primate malaria, is a growing human health problem in Southeast Asia. P. knowlesi is being used in malaria vaccine studies, and a number of proteins are being considered as candidate malaria vaccine antigens, including the Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1). In order to determine genetic diversity of the ama1 gene and to identify epitopes of AMA1 under strongest immune selection, the ama1 gene of 52 P. knowlesi isolates derived from human infections was sequenced. Sequence analysis of isolates from two geographically isolated regions in Sarawak showed that polymorphism in the protein is low compared to that of AMA1 of the major human malaria parasites, P. falciparum and P. vivax. Although the number of haplotypes was 27, the frequency of mutations at the majority of the polymorphic positions was low, and only six positions had a variance frequency higher than 10%. Only two positions had more than one alternative amino acid. Interestingly, three of the high-frequency polymorphic sites correspond to invariant sites in PfAMA1 or PvAMA1. Statistically significant differences in the quantity of three of the six high frequency mutations were observed between the two regions. These analyses suggest that the pkama1 gene is not under balancing selection, as observed for pfama1 and pvama1, and that the PkAMA1 protein is not a primary target for protective humoral immune responses in their reservoir macaque hosts, unlike PfAMA1 and PvAMA1 in humans. The low level of polymorphism justifies the development of a single allele PkAMA1-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart W. Faber
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (BWF); (BS)
| | - Khamisah Abdul Kadir
- Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | | | - Edmond J Remarque
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Frederick A. Saul
- Institut Pasteur, Unité d’Immunologie Structurale, Département de Biologie Structurale et Chimie, Paris, France
- CNRS URA 2185, Paris, France
| | - Brigitte Vulliez-Le Normand
- Institut Pasteur, Unité d’Immunologie Structurale, Département de Biologie Structurale et Chimie, Paris, France
- CNRS URA 2185, Paris, France
| | - Graham A. Bentley
- Institut Pasteur, Unité d’Immunologie Structurale, Département de Biologie Structurale et Chimie, Paris, France
- CNRS URA 2185, Paris, France
| | - Clemens H. M. Kocken
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Balbir Singh
- Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
- * E-mail: (BWF); (BS)
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Muehlenbein MP, Pacheco MA, Taylor JE, Prall SP, Ambu L, Nathan S, Alsisto S, Ramirez D, Escalante AA. Accelerated diversification of nonhuman primate malarias in Southeast Asia: adaptive radiation or geographic speciation? Mol Biol Evol 2015; 32:422-39. [PMID: 25389206 PMCID: PMC4298170 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msu310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although parasitic organisms are found worldwide, the relative importance of host specificity and geographic isolation for parasite speciation has been explored in only a few systems. Here, we study Plasmodium parasites known to infect Asian nonhuman primates, a monophyletic group that includes the lineage leading to the human parasite Plasmodium vivax and several species used as laboratory models in malaria research. We analyze the available data together with new samples from three sympatric primate species from Borneo: The Bornean orangutan and the long-tailed and the pig-tailed macaques. We find several species of malaria parasites, including three putatively new species in this biodiversity hotspot. Among those newly discovered lineages, we report two sympatric parasites in orangutans. We find no differences in the sets of malaria species infecting each macaque species indicating that these species show no host specificity. Finally, phylogenetic analysis of these data suggests that the malaria parasites infecting Southeast Asian macaques and their relatives are speciating three to four times more rapidly than those with other mammalian hosts such as lemurs and African apes. We estimate that these events took place in approximately a 3-4-Ma period. Based on the genetic and phenotypic diversity of the macaque malarias, we hypothesize that the diversification of this group of parasites has been facilitated by the diversity, geographic distributions, and demographic histories of their primate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Andreína Pacheco
- Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | - Jesse E Taylor
- Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | - Sean P Prall
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington
| | | | | | - Sylvia Alsisto
- Sabah Wildlife Department, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Diana Ramirez
- Sabah Wildlife Department, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Ananias A Escalante
- Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe
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Cornejo OE, Fisher D, Escalante AA. Genome-wide patterns of genetic polymorphism and signatures of selection in Plasmodium vivax. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 7:106-19. [PMID: 25523904 PMCID: PMC4316620 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evu267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent human malaria parasite outside of Africa. Yet, studies aimed to identify genes with signatures consistent with natural selection are rare. Here, we present a comparative analysis of the pattern of genetic variation of five sequenced isolates of P. vivax and its divergence with two closely related species, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium knowlesi, using a set of orthologous genes. In contrast to Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the most lethal form of human malaria, we did not find significant constraints on the evolution of synonymous sites genome wide in P. vivax. The comparative analysis of polymorphism and divergence across loci allowed us to identify 87 genes with patterns consistent with positive selection, including genes involved in the “exportome” of P. vivax, which are potentially involved in evasion of the host immune system. Nevertheless, we have found a pattern of polymorphism genome wide that is consistent with a significant amount of constraint on the replacement changes and prevalent negative selection. Our analyses also show that silent polymorphism tends to be larger toward the ends of the chromosomes, where many genes involved in antigenicity are located, suggesting that natural selection acts not only by shaping the patterns of variation within the genes but it also affects genome organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar E Cornejo
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University
| | - David Fisher
- Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, the Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University
| | - Ananias A Escalante
- Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, the Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University Present address: Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
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39
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Heterogeneous genetic diversity pattern in Plasmodium vivax genes encoding merozoite surface proteins (MSP) -7E, -7F and -7L. Malar J 2014; 13:495. [PMID: 25496322 PMCID: PMC4300842 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The msp-7 gene has become differentially expanded in the Plasmodium genus; Plasmodium vivax has the highest copy number of this gene, several of which encode antigenic proteins in merozoites. Methods DNA sequences from thirty-six Colombian clinical isolates from P. vivax (pv) msp-7E, −7F and -7L genes were analysed for characterizing and studying the genetic diversity of these pvmsp-7 members which are expressed during the intra-erythrocyte stage; natural selection signals producing the variation pattern so observed were evaluated. Results The pvmsp-7E gene was highly polymorphic compared to pvmsp-7F and pvmsp-7L which were seen to have limited genetic diversity; pvmsp-7E polymorphism was seen to have been maintained by different types of positive selection. Even though these copies seemed to be species-specific duplications, a search in the Plasmodium cynomolgi genome (P. vivax sister taxon) showed that both species shared the whole msp-7 repertoire. This led to exploring the long-term effect of natural selection by comparing the orthologous sequences which led to finding signatures for lineage-specific positive selection. Conclusions The results confirmed that the P. vivax msp-7 family has a heterogeneous genetic diversity pattern; some members are highly conserved whilst others are highly diverse. The results suggested that the 3′-end of these genes encode MSP-7 proteins’ functional region whilst the central region of pvmsp-7E has evolved rapidly. The lineage-specific positive selection signals found suggested that mutations occurring in msp-7s genes during host switch may have succeeded in adapting the ancestral P. vivax parasite population to humans. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1475-2875-13-495) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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40
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Torres KJ, Castrillon CE, Moss EL, Saito M, Tenorio R, Molina DM, Davies H, Neafsey DE, Felgner P, Vinetz JM, Gamboa D. Genome-level determination of Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage targets of malarial clinical immunity in the Peruvian Amazon. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:1342-51. [PMID: 25381370 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons with blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia in the absence of symptoms are considered to be clinically immune. We hypothesized that asymptomatic subjects with P. falciparum parasitemia would differentially recognize a subset of P. falciparum proteins on a genomic scale. METHODS AND FINDINGS Compared with symptomatic subjects, sera from clinically immune, asymptomatically infected individuals differentially recognized 51 P. falciparum proteins, including the established vaccine candidate PfMSP1. Novel, hitherto unstudied hypothetical proteins and other proteins not previously recognized as potential vaccine candidates were also differentially recognized. Genes encoding the proteins differentially recognized by the Peruvian clinically immune individuals exhibited a significant enrichment of nonsynonymous nucleotide variation, an observation consistent with these genes undergoing immune selection. CONCLUSIONS A limited set of P. falciparum protein antigens was associated with the development of naturally acquired clinical immunity in the low-transmission setting of the Peruvian Amazon. These results imply that, even in a low-transmission setting, an asexual blood-stage vaccine designed to reduce clinical malaria symptoms will likely need to contain large numbers of often-polymorphic proteins, a finding at odds with many current efforts in the design of vaccines against asexual blood-stage P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine J Torres
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía
| | - Carlos E Castrillon
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía
| | - Eli L Moss
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mayuko Saito
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Roy Tenorio
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía Laboratorio Satelital, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Iquitos, Perú
| | | | - Huw Davies
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California-Irvine
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Philip Felgner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California-Irvine
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía Institute de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía Institute de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima
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The origin and diversification of the merozoite surface protein 3 (msp3) multi-gene family in Plasmodium vivax and related parasites. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2014; 78:172-84. [PMID: 24862221 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Revised: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The genus Plasmodium is a diversified group of parasites with more than 200 known species that includes those causing malaria in humans. These parasites use numerous proteins in a complex process that allows them to invade the red blood cells of their vertebrate hosts. Many of those proteins are part of multi-gene families; one of which is the merozoite surface protein-3 (msp3) family. The msp3 multi-gene family is considered important in the two main human parasites, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, as its paralogs are simultaneously expressed in the blood stage (merozoite) and are immunogenic. There are large differences among Plasmodium species in the number of paralogs in this family. Such differences have been previously explained, in part, as adaptations that allow the different Plasmodium species to invade their hosts. To investigate this, we characterized the array containing msp3 genes among several Plasmodium species, including P. falciparum and P. vivax. We first found no evidence indicating that the msp3 family of P. falciparum was homologous to that of P. vivax. Subsequently, by focusing on the diverse clade of nonhuman primate parasites to which P. vivax is closely related, where homology was evident, we found no evidence indicating that the interspecies variation in the number of paralogs was an adaptation related to changes in host range or host switches. Overall, we hypothesize that the evolution of the msp3 family in P. vivax is consistent with a model of multi-allelic diversifying selection where the paralogs may have functionally redundant roles in terms of increasing antigenic diversity. Thus, we suggest that the expressed MSP3 proteins could serve as "decoys", via antigenic diversity, during the critical process of invading the host red blood cells.
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Cheng Y, Wang B, Sattabongkot J, Lim CS, Tsuboi T, Han ET. Immunogenicity and antigenicity of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 10. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:2559-68. [PMID: 24764159 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3907-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Among the proteins involved in the invasion by merozoite, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) are suggested as potential vaccine candidates because of their localization to apical organelles and the surface; these candidates are predicted to play essential roles during invasion. As a GPI-AP, Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 10 (PvMSP-10) induces high antibody titers. However, such high antibody titers have shown no protective efficacy for animals challenged with P. vivax parasites in a previous study. To adequately evaluate the immunogenicity and further characterize PvMSP-10 in order to understand its vaccine potential, we assessed its immunogenicity by immunizing BALB/c mice with cell-free expressed recombinant PvMSP-10 protein. The antigenicity of MSP-10 was analyzed, and we found 42% sensitivity and 95% specificity using serum samples from P. vivax-infected Korean patients. The IgG1 and IgG3 were the predominant immunoreactive antibodies against PvMSP-10 in vivax patient sera, and IgG1 and IgG3 and Th1-type cytokines were predominantly secreted in PvMSP-10-immunized mice. We conclude that the immunogenicity and antigenicity of MSP-10 may serve as a potential vaccine against vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Cheng
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Hyoja2-dong, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
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Forero-Rodríguez J, Garzón-Ospina D, Patarroyo MA. Low genetic diversity and functional constraint in loci encoding Plasmodium vivax P12 and P38 proteins in the Colombian population. Malar J 2014; 13:58. [PMID: 24533461 PMCID: PMC3930544 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax is one of the five species causing malaria in human beings, affecting around 391 million people annually. The development of an anti-malarial vaccine has been proposed as an alternative for controlling this disease. However, its development has been hampered by allele-specific responses produced by the high genetic diversity shown by some parasite antigens. Evaluating these antigens’ genetic diversity is thus essential when designing a completely effective vaccine. Methods The gene sequences of Plasmodium vivax p12 (pv12) and p38 (pv38), obtained from field isolates in Colombia, were used for evaluating haplotype polymorphism and distribution by population genetics analysis. The evolutionary forces generating the variation pattern so observed were also determined. Results Both pv12 and pv38 were shown to have low genetic diversity. The neutral model for pv12 could not be discarded, whilst polymorphism in pv38 was maintained by balanced selection restricted to the gene’s 5′ region. Both encoded proteins seemed to have functional/structural constraints due to the presence of s48/45 domains, which were seen to be highly conserved. Conclusions Due to the role that malaria parasite P12 and P38 proteins seem to play during invasion in Plasmodium species, added to the Pv12 and Pv38 antigenic characteristics and the low genetic diversity observed, these proteins might be good candidates to be evaluated in the design of a multistage/multi-antigen vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No, 26-20, Bogotá, DC, Colombia.
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Alaro JR, Partridge A, Miura K, Diouf A, Lopez AM, Angov E, Long CA, Burns JM. A chimeric Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein vaccine induces high titers of parasite growth inhibitory antibodies. Infect Immun 2013; 81:3843-54. [PMID: 23897613 PMCID: PMC3811772 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00522-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The C-terminal 19-kDa domain of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (PfMSP119) is an established target of protective antibodies. However, clinical trials of PfMSP142, a leading blood-stage vaccine candidate which contains the protective epitopes of PfMSP119, revealed suboptimal immunogenicity and efficacy. Based on proof-of-concept studies in the Plasmodium yoelii murine model, we produced a chimeric vaccine antigen containing recombinant PfMSP119 (rPfMSP119) fused to the N terminus of P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 8 that lacked its low-complexity Asn/Asp-rich domain, rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp). Immunization of mice with the chimeric rPfMSP1/8 vaccine elicited strong T cell responses to conserved epitopes associated with the rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp) fusion partner. While specific for PfMSP8, this T cell response was adequate to provide help for the production of high titers of antibodies to both PfMSP119 and rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp) components. This occurred with formulations adjuvanted with either Quil A or with Montanide ISA 720 plus CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and was observed in both inbred and outbred strains of mice. PfMSP1/8-induced antibodies were highly reactive with two major alleles of PfMSP119 (FVO and 3D7). Of particular interest, immunization with PfMSP1/8 elicited higher titers of PfMSP119-specific antibodies than a combined formulation of rPfMSP142 and rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp). As a measure of functionality, PfMSP1/8-specific rabbit IgG was shown to potently inhibit the in vitro growth of blood-stage parasites of the FVO and 3D7 strains of P. falciparum. These data support the further testing and evaluation of this chimeric PfMSP1/8 antigen as a component of a multivalent vaccine for P. falciparum malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Alaro
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Malaria Immunology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrea Partridge
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Malaria Immunology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Malaria Immunology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ana M. Lopez
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Evelina Angov
- U.S. Military Malaria Research Program, Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Carole A. Long
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Malaria Immunology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - James M. Burns
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Chenet SM, Pacheco MA, Bacon DJ, Collins WE, Barnwell JW, Escalante AA. The evolution and diversity of a low complexity vaccine candidate, merozoite surface protein 9 (MSP-9), in Plasmodium vivax and closely related species. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 20:239-48. [PMID: 24044894 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The merozoite surface protein-9 (MSP-9) has been considered a target for an anti-malarial vaccine since it is one of many proteins involved in the erythrocyte invasion, a critical step in the parasite life cycle. Orthologs encoding this antigen have been found in all known species of Plasmodium parasitic to primates. In order to characterize and investigate the extent and maintenance of MSP-9 genetic diversity, we analyzed DNA sequences of the following malaria parasite species: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium reichenowi, Plasmodium chabaudi, Plasmodium yoelii, Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium coatneyi, Plasmodium gonderi, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium inui, Plasmodium simiovale, Plasmodium fieldi, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium vivax and evaluated the signature of natural selection in all MSP-9 orthologs. Our findings suggest that the gene encoding MSP-9 is under purifying selection in P. vivax and closely related species. We further explored how selection affected different regions of MSP-9 by comparing the polymorphisms in P. vivax and P. falciparum, and found contrasting patterns between these two species that suggest differences in functional constraints. This observation implies that the MSP-9 orthologs in human parasites may interact differently with the host immune response. Thus, studies carried out in one species cannot be directly translated into the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella M Chenet
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, AZ, USA; Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Rice BL, Acosta MM, Pacheco MA, Escalante AA. Merozoite surface protein-3 alpha as a genetic marker for epidemiologic studies in Plasmodium vivax: a cautionary note. Malar J 2013; 12:288. [PMID: 23964962 PMCID: PMC3765194 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread of the human malaria parasites in terms of geography, and is thought to present unique challenges to local efforts aimed at control and elimination. Parasite molecular markers can provide much needed data on P. vivax populations, but few such markers have been critically evaluated. One marker that has seen extensive use is the gene encoding merozoite surface protein 3-alpha (MSP-3α), a blood-stage antigen known to be highly variable among P. vivax isolates. Here, a sample of complete msp-3α gene sequences is analysed in order to assess its utility as a molecular marker for epidemiologic investigations. Methods Amplification, cloning and sequencing of additional P. vivax isolates from different geographic locations, including a set of Venezuelan field isolates (n = 10), yielded a sample of 48 complete msp-3α coding sequences. Characterization of standard population genetic measures of diversity, phylogenetic analysis, and tests for recombination were performed. This allowed comparisons to patterns inferred from the in silico simulation of a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) protocol used widely. Results The larger sample of MSP-3α diversity revealed incongruence between the observed levels of nucleotide polymorphism, which were high in all populations, and the pattern of PCR-RFLP haplotype diversity. Indeed, PCR-RFLP haplotypes were not informative of a population’s genetic diversity and identical haplotypes could be produced from analogous bands in the commonly used protocol. Evidence of frequent and variable insertion-deletion mutations and recurrent recombination between MSP-3α haplotypes complicated the inference of genetic diversity patterns and reduced the phylogenetic signal. Conclusions The genetic diversity of P. vivax msp-3α involves intragenic recombination events. Whereas the high genetic diversity of msp-3α makes it a promising marker for some epidemiological applications, the ability of msp-3α PCR-RFLP analysis to accurately track parasites is limited. Local studies of the circulating alleles are needed before implementing PCR-RFLP approaches. Furthermore, evidence from the global sample analysed here suggests such msp-3α PCR-RFLP methods are not suitable for broad geographic studies or tracking parasite populations for an extended period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Rice
- Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Ibelli AMG, Hermance MM, Kim TK, Gonzalez CL, Mulenga A. Bioinformatics and expression analyses of the Ixodes scapularis tick cystatin family. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2013; 60:41-53. [PMID: 23053911 PMCID: PMC4058331 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9613-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 09/13/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The cystatins are inhibitors of papain- and legumain-like cysteine proteinases, classified in MEROPS subfamilies I25A-I25C. This study shows that 84 % (42/50) of tick cystatins are putatively extracellular in subfamily I25B and the rest are putatively intracellular in subfamily I25A. On the neighbor joining phylogeny guide tree, subfamily I25A members cluster together, while subfamily I25B cystatins segregate among prostriata or metastriata ticks. Two Ixodes scapularis cystatins, AAY66864 and ISCW011771 that show 50-71 % amino acid identity to metastriata tick cystatins may be linked to pathways that are common to all ticks, while ISCW000447 100 % conserved in I. ricinus is important among prostriata ticks. Likewise metastriata tick cystatins, Dermacentor variabilis-ACF35512, Rhipicephalus microplus-ACX53850, A. americanum-AEO36092, R. sanguineus-ACX53922, D. variabilis-ACF35514, R. sanguineus-ACX54033 and A. maculatum-AEO35155 that show 73-86 % amino acid identity may be essential to metastriata tick physiology. RT-PCR expression analyses revealed that I. scapularis cystatins were constitutively expressed in the salivary glands, midguts and other tissues of unfed ticks and ticks that were fed for 24-120 h, except for ISCW017861 that are restricted to the 24 h feeding time point. On the basis of mRNA expression patterns, I. scapularis cystatins, ISCW017861, ISCW011771, ISCW002215 and ISCW0024528 that are highly expressed at 24 h are likely involved in regulating early stage tick feeding events such as tick attachment onto host skin and creation of the feeding lesion. Similarly, ISCW018602, ISCW018603 and ISCW000447 that show 2-3 fold transcript increase by 120 h of feeding are likely associated with blood meal up take, while those that maintain steady state expression levels (ISCW018600, ISCW018601 and ISCW018604) during feeding may not be associated with tick feeding regulation. We discuss our findings in the context of advancing our knowledge of tick molecular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Mércia Guaratini Ibelli
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Graduate Program in Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Meghan M. Hermance
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Cassandra Lee Gonzalez
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Galinski MR, Meyer EVS, Barnwell JW. Plasmodium vivax: modern strategies to study a persistent parasite's life cycle. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2013; 81:1-26. [PMID: 23384620 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407826-0.00001-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax has unique attributes to support its survival in varying ecologies and climates. These include hypnozoite forms in the liver, an invasion preference for reticulocytes, caveola-vesicle complex structures in the infected erythrocyte membrane and rapidly forming and circulating gametocytes. These characteristics make this species very different from P. falciparum. Plasmodium cynomolgi and other related simian species have identical biology and can serve as informative models of P. vivax infections. Plasmodium vivax and its model parasites can be grown in non-human primates (NHP), and in short-term ex vivo cultures. For P. vivax, in the absence of in vitro culture systems, these models remain highly relevant side by side with human clinical studies. While post-genomic technologies allow for greater exploration of P. vivax-infected blood samples from humans, these come with restrictions. Two advantages of NHP models are that infections can be experimentally tailored to address hypotheses, including genetic manipulation. Also, systems biology approaches can capitalise on computational biology combined with set experimental infection periods and protocols, which may include multiple sampling times, different types of samples, and the broad use of "omics" technologies. Opportunities for research on vivax malaria are increasing with the use of existing and new methodological strategies in combination with modern technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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Schneider KA, Escalante AA. Fitness components and natural selection: why are there different patterns on the emergence of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax? Malar J 2013; 12:15. [PMID: 23305428 PMCID: PMC3571882 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the distinct biological characteristics of Plasmodium species is crucial for control and elimination efforts, in particular when facing the spread of drug resistance. Whereas the evolutionary fitness of all malarial species could be approximated by the probability of being taken by a mosquito and then infecting a new host, the actual steps in the malaria life cycle leading to a successful transmission event show differences among Plasmodium species. These "steps" are called fitness components. Differences in terms of fitness components may affect how selection imposed by interventions, e.g. drug treatments, differentially acts on each Plasmodium species. Thus, a successful malaria control or elimination programme should understand how differences in fitness components among different malaria species could affect adaptive evolution (e.g. the emergence of drug resistance). In this investigation, the interactions between some fitness components and natural selection are explored. METHODS A population-genetic model is formulated that qualitatively explains how different fitness components (in particular gametocytogenesis and longevity of gametocytes) affect selection acting on merozoites during the erythrocytic cycle. By comparing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, the interplay of parasitaemia and gametocytaemia dynamics in determining fitness is modelled under circumstances that allow contrasting solely the differences between these two parasites in terms of their fitness components. RESULTS By simulating fitness components, it is shown that selection acting on merozoites (e.g., on drug resistant mutations or malaria antigens) is more efficient in P. falciparum than in P. vivax. These results could explain, at least in part, why resistance against drugs, such as chloroquine (CQ) is highly prevalent in P. falciparum worldwide, while CQ is still a successful treatment for P. vivax despite its massive use. Furthermore, these analyses are used to explore the importance of understanding the dynamic of gametocytaemia to ascertain the spreading of drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS The strength of natural selection on mutations that express their advantage at the merozoite stage is different in P. vivax and P. falciparum. Species-specific differences in gametocytogenesis and longevity of gametocytes need to be accounted for when designing effective malaria control and elimination programmes. There is a need for reliable data on gametocytogenesis from field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristan A Schneider
- Department of MNI, University of Applied Sciences Mittweida, Mittweida, Germany.
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