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Borg Y, Alsford S, Pavlika V, Zaikin A, Nesbeth DN. Synthetic biology tools for engineering Goodwin oscillation in Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08891. [PMID: 35198764 PMCID: PMC8844716 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastid protozoa possess properties that are highly divergent from the mammalian, yeast and bacterial cells more commonly used in synthetic biology and represent a tantalisingly untapped source of bioengineering potential. Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T. b. brucei), an established model organism for studying the Kinetoplastida, is non-pathogenic to humans and provides an interesting test case for establishing synthetic biology in this phylogenetic class. To demonstrate further the tractability of Kinetoplastida to synthetic biology, we sought to construct and demonstrate a Goodwin oscillator, the simplest oscillatory gene network, in T. b. brucei for the first time. We report one completed iteration of the archetypal synthetic biology Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle; firstly, using Ab initio mathematical modelling of the behaviour a theoretical, oscillatory, trypanosomal synthetic gene network (SGN) to inform the design of a plasmid encoding that network. Once assembled, the plasmid was then used to generate a stable transfectant T. b. brucei cell line. To test the performance of the oscillatory SGN, a novel experimental setup was established to capture images of the fluorescent signal from motion-restricted live cells. Data captured were consistent with oscillatory behaviour of the SGN, with cellular fluorescence observed to oscillate with a period of 50 min, with varying amplitude and linear growth trend. This first DBTL cycle establishes a foundation for future cycles in which the SGN design and experimental monitoring setup can be further refined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanika Borg
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Bernard Katz Building, Gordon Street, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,Department of Mathematics and Institute for Women's Health, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sam Alsford
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases & Department of Infection Biology, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Vasos Pavlika
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Bernard Katz Building, Gordon Street, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Alexei Zaikin
- Department of Mathematics and Institute for Women's Health, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Darren N Nesbeth
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Bernard Katz Building, Gordon Street, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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Poon SK, Peacock L, Gibson W, Gull K, Kelly S. A modular and optimized single marker system for generating Trypanosoma brucei cell lines expressing T7 RNA polymerase and the tetracycline repressor. Open Biol 2013; 2:110037. [PMID: 22645659 PMCID: PMC3352093 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.110037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present a simple modular extendable vector system for introducing the T7
RNA polymerase and tetracycline repressor genes into Trypanosoma
brucei. This novel system exploits developments in our
understanding of gene expression and genome organization to produce a
streamlined plasmid optimized for high levels of expression of the introduced
transgenes. We demonstrate the utility of this novel system in bloodstream and
procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei, including the genome
strain TREU927/4. We validate these cell lines using a variety of inducible
experiments that recapture previously published lethal and non-lethal
phenotypes. We further demonstrate the utility of the single marker (SmOx)
TREU927/4 cell line for in vivo experiments in the tsetse fly
and provide a set of plasmids that enable both whole-fly and salivary
gland-specific inducible expression of transgenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Poon
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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Sharma R, Gluenz E, Peacock L, Gibson W, Gull K, Carrington M. The heart of darkness: growth and form of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly. Trends Parasitol 2009; 25:517-24. [PMID: 19747880 PMCID: PMC3770903 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2009.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2009] [Revised: 07/14/2009] [Accepted: 08/03/2009] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The first description of African trypanosomes was made over a century ago. The importance of the tsetse in transmission and cyclic development of trypanosomes was discovered soon afterwards, and has been the focus of numerous studies since. However, investigation of trypanosomes in tsetse flies requires high resource investment and unusual patience; hence, many facets of trypanosome biology in the tsetse remain to be characterised despite the long history of research. Here, current knowledge and questions about some of the developmental changes in trypanosomes that occur in tsetse flies are summarised, along with recent technical advances that can now be used to provide some answers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK.
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Roditi I, Lehane MJ. Interactions between trypanosomes and tsetse flies. Curr Opin Microbiol 2008; 11:345-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2008.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2008] [Accepted: 06/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Herder S, Votýpka J, Jirků M, Rádrová J, Janzen CJ, Lukes J. Trypanosoma brucei 29-13 strain is inducible in but not permissive for the tsetse fly vector. Exp Parasitol 2007; 117:111-4. [PMID: 17603043 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2007] [Revised: 05/25/2007] [Accepted: 05/25/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Using green fluorescent protein as a reporter, we have shown that the strain 29-13 of Trypanosoma brucei, widely used for inducible down-regulation of mRNA, is inducible in, but not permissive for the tsetse flies Glossina palpalis gambiensis and Glossina morsitans morsitans. Within two weeks post-infection, 42% males and females of teneral and non-teneral tsetse flies harboured intestinal infections, yet not a single infection progressed into the salivary glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Herder
- UMR 177 IRD CIRAD, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Güther MLS, Lee S, Tetley L, Acosta-Serrano A, Ferguson MA. GPI-anchored proteins and free GPI glycolipids of procyclic form Trypanosoma brucei are nonessential for growth, are required for colonization of the tsetse fly, and are not the only components of the surface coat. Mol Biol Cell 2006; 17:5265-74. [PMID: 17035628 PMCID: PMC1679689 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e06-08-0702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The procyclic form of Trypanosoma brucei exists in the midgut of the tsetse fly. The current model of its surface glycocalyx is an array of rod-like procyclin glycoproteins with glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors carrying sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosamine side chains interspersed with smaller sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosamine-containing free GPI glycolipids. Mutants for TbGPI12, deficient in the second step of GPI biosynthesis, were devoid of cell surface procyclins and poly-N-acetyllactosamine-containing free GPI glycolipids. This major disruption to their surface architecture severely impaired their ability to colonize tsetse fly midguts but, surprisingly, had no effect on their morphology and growth characteristics in vitro. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the mutants retained a cell surface glycocalyx. This structure, and the viability of the mutants in vitro, prompted us to look for non-GPI-anchored parasite molecules and/or the adsorption of serum components. Neither were apparent from cell surface biotinylation experiments but [3H]glucosamine biosynthetic labeling revealed a group of previously unidentified high apparent molecular weight glycoconjugates that might contribute to the surface coat. While characterizing GlcNAc-PI that accumulates in the TbGPI12 mutant, we observed inositolphosphoceramides for the first time in this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lucia Sampaio Güther
- *Division of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvia Lee
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G11 6NU, Scotland, United Kingdom; and
| | - Laurence Tetley
- Institute of Biomedical and Life Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G11 6NU, Scotland, United Kingdom; and
| | - Michael A.J. Ferguson
- *Division of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
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