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Hernandez-Caballero I, Hellgren O, Garcia-Longoria Batanete L. Genomic advances in the study of the mosquito vector during avian malaria infection. Parasitology 2023; 150:1330-1339. [PMID: 37614176 PMCID: PMC10941221 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Invertebrate host–parasite associations are one of the keystones in order to understand vector-borne diseases. The study of these specific interactions provides information not only about how the vector is affected by the parasite at the gene-expression level, but might also reveal mosquito strategies for blocking the transmission of the parasites. A very well-known vector for human malaria is Anopheles gambiae. This mosquito species has been the main focus for genomics studies determining essential key genes and pathways over the course of a malaria infection. However, to-date there is an important knowledge gap concerning other non-mammophilic mosquito species, for example some species from the Culex genera which may transmit avian malaria but also zoonotic pathogens such as West Nile virus. From an evolutionary perspective, these 2 mosquito genera diverged 170 million years ago, hence allowing studies in both species determining evolutionary conserved genes essential during malaria infections, which in turn might help to find key genes for blocking malaria cycle inside the mosquito. Here, we extensively review the current knowledge on key genes and pathways expressed in Anopheles over the course of malaria infections and highlight the importance of conducting genomic investigations for detecting pathways in Culex mosquitoes linked to infection of avian malaria. By pooling this information, we underline the need to increase genomic studies in mosquito–parasite associations, such as the one in Culex–Plasmodium, that can provide a better understanding of the infection dynamics in wildlife and reduce the negative impact on ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Hernandez-Caballero
- Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura, E-06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Olof Hellgren
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, SE-22362, Sweden
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2
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Prado Sepulveda CC, Alencar RM, Santana RA, Belém de Souza I, D'Elia GMA, Godoy RSM, Duarte AP, Lopes SCP, de Lacerda MVG, Monteiro WM, Nacif-Pimenta R, Secundino NFC, Koerich LB, Pimenta PFP. Evolution and assembly of Anopheles aquasalis's immune genes: primary malaria vector of coastal Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands. Open Biol 2023; 13:230061. [PMID: 37433331 PMCID: PMC10335856 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230061] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Anophelines are vectors of malaria, the deadliest disease worldwide transmitted by mosquitoes. The availability of genomic data from various Anopheles species allowed evolutionary comparisons of the immune response genes in search of alternative vector control of the malarial parasites. Now, with the Anopheles aquasalis genome, it was possible to obtain more information about the evolution of the immune response genes. Anopheles aquasalis has 278 immune genes in 24 families or groups. Comparatively, the American anophelines possess fewer genes than Anopheles gambiae s. s., the most dangerous African vector. The most remarkable differences were found in the pathogen recognition and modulation families like FREPs, CLIP and C-type lectins. Even so, genes related to the modulation of the expression of effectors in response to pathogens and gene families that control the production of reactive oxygen species were more conserved. Overall, the results show a variable pattern of evolution in the immune response genes in the anopheline species. Environmental factors, such as exposure to different pathogens and differences in the microbiota composition, could shape the expression of this group of genes. The results presented here will contribute to a better knowledge of the Neotropical vector and open opportunities for malaria control in the endemic-affected areas of the New World.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Camilo Prado Sepulveda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Maciel Alencar
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rosa Amélia Santana
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Igor Belém de Souza
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Gigliola Mayra Ayres D'Elia
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Raquel Soares Maia Godoy
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, FIOCRUZ – Belo Horizonte. Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Duarte
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Stefanie Costa Pinto Lopes
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinicius Guimarães de Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Nacif-Pimenta
- Departament of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nágila Francinete Costa Secundino
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, FIOCRUZ – Belo Horizonte. Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Barbosa Koerich
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paulo Filemon Paolucci Pimenta
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, FIOCRUZ – Belo Horizonte. Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Sekar V, Rivero A, Pigeault R, Gandon S, Drews A, Ahren D, Hellgren O. Gene regulation of the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum, during the different stages within the mosquito vector. Genomics 2021; 113:2327-2337. [PMID: 34023365 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum is one of the most widespread species of avian malaria. As in the case of its human counterparts, bird Plasmodium undergoes a complex life cycle infecting two hosts: the arthropod vector and the vertebrate host. In this study, we examined transcriptomes of P. relictum (SGS1) during crucial timepoints within its vector, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus. Differential gene-expression analyses identified genes linked to the parasites life-stages at: i) a few minutes after the blood meal is ingested, ii) during peak oocyst production phase, iii) during peak sporozoite phase and iv) during the late-stages of the infection. A large amount of genes coding for functions linked to host-immune invasion and multifunctional genes was active throughout the infection cycle. One gene associated with a conserved Plasmodium membrane protein with unknown function was upregulated throughout the parasite development in the vector, suggesting an important role in the successful completion of the sporogonic cycle. Gene expression analysis further identified genes, with unknown functions to be significantly differentially expressed during the infection in the vector as well as upregulation of reticulocyte-binding proteins, which raises the possibility of the multifunctionality of these RBPs. We establish the existence of highly stage-specific pathways being overexpressed during the infection. This first study of gene-expression of a non-human Plasmodium species in its vector provides a comprehensive insight into the molecular mechanisms of the common avian malaria parasite P. relictum and provides essential information on the evolutionary diversity in gene regulation of the Plasmodium's vector stages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Rivero
- MIVEGEC (CNRS - Université de Montpellier - IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France; CREES (Centre de Recherche en Ecologie et Evolution de la Santé), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Romain Pigeault
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden; Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Gandon
- CEFE (CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry - EPHE - IRD), Montpellier, France
| | - Anna Drews
- MEMEG, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Dag Ahren
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), SciLifeLab, Department of Biology, Lund, Sweden
| | - Olof Hellgren
- MEMEG, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden.
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Lin YB, Rong JJ, Wei XF, Sui ZX, Xiao J, Huang DW. Proteomics and ultrastructural analysis of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larval peritrophic matrix. Proteome Sci 2021; 19:7. [PMID: 33836751 PMCID: PMC8035744 DOI: 10.1186/s12953-021-00175-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has significant economic potential. The larvae can be used in financially viable waste management systems, as they are voracious feeders able to efficiently convert low-quality waste into valuable biomass. However, most studies on H. illucens in recent decades have focused on optimizing their breeding and bioconversion conditions, while information on their biology is limited. METHODS About 200 fifth instar well-fed larvae were sacrificed in this work. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy were employed in this study to perform a proteomic and ultrastructural analysis of the peritrophic matrix (PM) of H. illucens larvae. RESULTS A total of 565 proteins were identified in the PM samples of H. illucen, of which 177 proteins were predicted to contain signal peptides, bioinformatics analysis and manual curation determined 88 proteins may be associated with the PM, with functions in digestion, immunity, PM modulation, and others. The ultrastructure of the H. illucens larval PM observed by scanning electron microscopy shows a unique diamond-shaped chitin grid texture. CONCLUSIONS It is the first and most comprehensive proteomics research about the PM of H. illucens larvae to date. All the proteins identified in this work has been discussed in details, except several unnamed or uncharacterized proteins, which should not be ignored and need further study. A comparison of the ultrastructure between H. illucens larval PM and those of other insects as observed by SEM indicates that the PM displays diverse textures on an ultra-micro scale and we suscept a unique diamond-shaped chitin grid texture may help H. illucens larval to hold more food. This work deepens our understanding of the molecular architecture and ultrastructure of the H. illucens larval PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Bo Lin
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jing-Jing Rong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xun-Fan Wei
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zhuo-Xiao Sui
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Jinhua Xiao
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Da-Wei Huang
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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Boonkaew T, Mongkol W, Prasert S, Paochan P, Yoneda S, Nguitragool W, Kumpitak C, Sattabongkot J, Kubera A. Transcriptome analysis of Anopheles dirus and Plasmodium vivax at ookinete and oocyst stages. Acta Trop 2020; 207:105502. [PMID: 32320680 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is transmitted by Plasmodium parasites through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. One of the most important mosquito vectors in the Greater Mekong Subregion is Anopheles dirus. This study reports RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) transcriptome analysis of An. dirus at 18 hours and 7 days after a P. vivax-infected blood meal, which represent infection at the ookinete and oocyst parasite developmental stages, respectively. Following infection, 582 An. dirus transcripts were modulated. The 2,408 P. vivax transcripts could be classified into ookinete-specific, two-stage, and oocyst-specific groups. Results were validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Gene ontology analysis of the vector and parasite revealed several biological pathways for both, providing a better understanding of Anopheles-Plasmodium interactions at the ookinete and oocyst stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tippawan Boonkaew
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Watcharakorn Mongkol
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Sureerat Prasert
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Pattaweeya Paochan
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Saki Yoneda
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate school of Engineering, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Chalermpon Kumpitak
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Anchanee Kubera
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand; Centre for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
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Wells MB, Andrew DJ. Anopheles Salivary Gland Architecture Shapes Plasmodium Sporozoite Availability for Transmission. mBio 2019; 10:e01238-19. [PMID: 31387905 PMCID: PMC6686039 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01238-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites (SPZs) must traverse the mosquito salivary glands (SGs) to reach a new vertebrate host and continue the malaria disease cycle. Although SGs can harbor thousands of sporozoites, only 10 to 100 are deposited into a host during probing. To determine how the SGs might function as a bottleneck in SPZ transmission, we have characterized Anopheles stephensi SGs infected with the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Our analyses corroborate findings from previous electron microscopy studies and provide new insights into the invasion process. We identified sites of SPZ accumulation within SGs across a range of infection intensities. Although SPZs were most often seen in the distal lateral SG lobes, they were also observed in the medial and proximal lateral lobes. Most parasites were associated with either the basement membrane or secretory cavities. SPZs accumulated at physical barriers, including fused salivary ducts and extensions of the chitinous salivary duct wall into the distal lumen. SPZs were observed only rarely within salivary ducts. SPZs appeared to contact each other in many different quantities, not just in the previously described large bundles. Within parasite bundles, all of the SPZs were oriented in the same direction. We found that moderate levels of infection did not necessarily correlate with major SG disruptions or abundant SG cell death. Altogether, our findings suggest that SG architecture largely acts as a barrier to SPZ transmission.IMPORTANCE Malaria continues to have a devastating impact on human health. With growing resistance to insecticides and antimalarial drugs, as well as climate change predictions indicating expansion of vector territories, the impact of malaria is likely to increase. Additional insights regarding pathogen migration through vector mosquitoes are needed to develop novel methods to prevent transmission to new hosts. Pathogens, including the microbes that cause malaria, must invade the salivary glands (SGs) for transmission. Since SG traversal is required for parasite transmission, SGs are ideal targets for transmission-blocking strategies. The work presented here highlights the role that mosquito SG architecture plays in limiting parasite traversal, revealing how the SG transmission bottleneck is imposed. Further, our data provide unprecedented detail about SG-sporozoite interactions and gland-to-gland variation not provided in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Wells
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Deborah J Andrew
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Smith ML, Styczynski MP. Systems Biology-Based Investigation of Host-Plasmodium Interactions. Trends Parasitol 2018; 34:617-632. [PMID: 29779985 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a serious, complex disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium parasites affect multiple tissues as they evade immune responses, replicate, sexually reproduce, and transmit between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. The explosion of omics technologies has enabled large-scale collection of Plasmodium infection data, revealing systems-scale patterns, mechanisms of pathogenesis, and the ways that host and pathogen affect each other. Here, we provide an overview of recent efforts using systems biology approaches to study host-Plasmodium interactions and the biological themes that have emerged from these efforts. We discuss some of the challenges in using systems biology for this goal, key research efforts needed to address those issues, and promising future malaria applications of systems biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren L Smith
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Mark P Styczynski
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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8
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Liu W, Huang L, Wei Q, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Zhang W, Cai L, Liang S. Microarray analysis of long non-coding RNA expression profiles uncovers a Toxoplasma-induced negative regulation of host immune signaling. Parasit Vectors 2018. [PMID: 29530077 PMCID: PMC5848448 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2697-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect mammalian cells and thereby regulate host gene expression. The long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be an important class of RNA molecules that regulate many biological processes, including host-pathogen interactions. However, the role of host lncRNAs in the response to T. gondii infection remains largely unknown. METHODS We applied a microarray approach to determine the differential expression profiles of both lncRNAs and mRNAs in the human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells after T. gondii infection. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed to reveal the potential functions of T. gondii-induced genes. Based on the co-expression networks of lncRNAs and immune-related genes, the role of NONSHAT022487 on the regulation of UNC93B1 related immune signaling was investigated by the knockdown and over-expression of lncRNA in human macrophage derived from the PMA-induced promonocytic cell line THP-1. RESULTS Our data showed that 996 lncRNAs and 109 mRNAs in HFF cells were significantly and differentially expressed following T. gondii infection (fold change ≥ 5, P < 0.05). The results from the GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that the mRNAs with differential expression were mainly involved in the host immune response. Remarkably, we identified a novel lncRNA, NONSHAT022487, which suppresses the expression of the immune-related molecule UNC93B1. After T. gondii infection, NONSHAT022487 impaired the secretion of the cytokines IL-12, TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ by downregulating UNC93B1 expression in human macrophage cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified infection-induced lncRNA expression as a novel mechanism by which the Toxoplasma parasite regulates host immune signaling, which advances our understanding of the interaction of T. gondii parasites and host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenquan Liu
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Liyang Huang
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qimei Wei
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wenting Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Liya Cai
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shaohui Liang
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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9
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Bartholomay LC, Michel K. Mosquito Immunobiology: The Intersection of Vector Health and Vector Competence. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 63:145-167. [PMID: 29324042 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-010715-023530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
As holometabolous insects that occupy distinct aquatic and terrestrial environments in larval and adult stages and utilize hematophagy for nutrient acquisition, mosquitoes are subjected to a wide variety of symbiotic interactions. Indeed, mosquitoes play host to endosymbiotic, entomopathogenic, and mosquito-borne organisms, including protozoa, viruses, bacteria, fungi, fungal-like organisms, and metazoans, all of which trigger and shape innate infection-response capacity. Depending on the infection or interaction, the mosquito may employ, for example, cellular and humoral immune effectors for septic infections in the hemocoel, humoral infection responses in the midgut lumen, and RNA interference and programmed cell death for intracellular pathogens. These responses often function in concert, regardless of the infection type, and provide a robust front to combat infection. Mosquito-borne pathogens and entomopathogens overcome these immune responses, employing avoidance or suppression strategies. Burgeoning methodologies are capitalizing on this concerted deployment of immune responses to control mosquito-borne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyric C Bartholomay
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706;
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506;
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Healer J, Cowman AF, Kaslow DC, Birkett AJ. Vaccines to Accelerate Malaria Elimination and Eventual Eradication. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2017; 7:cshperspect.a025627. [PMID: 28490535 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a025627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Remarkable progress has been made in coordinated malaria control efforts with substantial reductions in malaria-associated deaths and morbidity achieved through mass administration of drugs and vector control measures including distribution of long-lasting insecticide-impregnated bednets and indoor residual spraying. However, emerging resistance poses a significant threat to the sustainability of these interventions. In this light, the malaria research community has been charged with the development of a highly efficacious vaccine to complement existing malaria elimination measures. As the past 40 years of investment in this goal attests, this is no small feat. The malaria parasite is a highly complex organism, exquisitely adapted for survival under hostile conditions within human and mosquito hosts. Here we review current vaccine strategies to accelerate elimination and the potential for novel and innovative approaches to vaccine design through a better understanding of the host-parasite interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Healer
- Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
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11
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Liew JW, Fong MY, Lau YL. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Anopheles dirus TEP1 and NOS during Plasmodium berghei infection, using three reference genes. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3577. [PMID: 28761783 PMCID: PMC5533154 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) has been an integral part of characterizing the immunity of Anopheles mosquitoes towards Plasmodium invasion. Two anti-Plasmodium factors of Anopheles, thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), play a role in the refractoriness of Anopheles towards Plasmodium infection and are generally expressed during infection. However, these are less studied in Anopheles dirus, a dominant malaria vector in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, most studies used a single reference gene for normalization during gene expression analysis without proper validation. This may lead to erroneous quantification of expression levels. Therefore, the present study characterized and investigated the expression profiles of TEP1 and NOS of Anopheles dirus during P. berghei infection. Prior to that, the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1), actin 1 (Act) and ribosomal protein S7 (S7) genes were validated for their suitability as a set of reference genes. TEP1 and NOS expressions in An. dirus were found to be significantly induced after P. berghei infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W.K. Liew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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12
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Pimenta PFP, Orfano AS, Bahia AC, Duarte APM, Ríos-Velásquez CM, Melo FF, Pessoa FAC, Oliveira GA, Campos KMM, Villegas LM, Rodrigues NB, Nacif-Pimenta R, Simões RC, Monteiro WM, Amino R, Traub-Cseko YM, Lima JBP, Barbosa MGV, Lacerda MVG, Tadei WP, Secundino NFC. An overview of malaria transmission from the perspective of Amazon Anopheles vectors. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 110:23-47. [PMID: 25742262 PMCID: PMC4371216 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760140266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Americas, areas with a high risk of malaria transmission are mainly located in the Amazon Forest, which extends across nine countries. One keystone step to understanding the Plasmodium life cycle in Anopheles species from the Amazon Region is to obtain experimentally infected mosquito vectors. Several attempts to colonise Anopheles species have been conducted, but with only short-lived success or no success at all. In this review, we review the literature on malaria transmission from the perspective of its Amazon vectors. Currently, it is possible to develop experimental Plasmodium vivax infection of the colonised and field-captured vectors in laboratories located close to Amazonian endemic areas. We are also reviewing studies related to the immune response to P. vivax infection of Anopheles aquasalis, a coastal mosquito species. Finally, we discuss the importance of the modulation of Plasmodium infection by the vector microbiota and also consider the anopheline genomes. The establishment of experimental mosquito infections with Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium berghei parasites that could provide interesting models for studying malaria in the Amazonian scenario is important. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the parasites in New World vectors is crucial in order to better determine the interaction process and vectorial competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo FP Pimenta
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG,
Brasil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM,
Brasil
| | | | - Ana C Bahia
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Ana PM Duarte
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG,
Brasil
| | | | - Fabrício F Melo
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG,
Brasil
| | | | | | - Keillen MM Campos
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM,
Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Rejane C Simões
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Wuelton M Monteiro
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM,
Brasil
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Institut Pasteur, Paris,
France
| | | | - José BP Lima
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM,
Brasil
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Maria GV Barbosa
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM,
Brasil
| | - Marcus VG Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM,
Brasil
- Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane-Fiocruz, Manaus, AM, Brasil
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13
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Nikolaeva D, Draper SJ, Biswas S. Toward the development of effective transmission-blocking vaccines for malaria. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 14:653-80. [PMID: 25597923 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.993383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The continued global burden of malaria can in part be attributed to a complex lifecycle, with both human hosts and mosquito vectors serving as transmission reservoirs. In preclinical models of vaccine-induced immunity, antibodies to parasite sexual-stage antigens, ingested in the mosquito blood meal, can inhibit parasite survival in the insect midgut as judged by ex vivo functional studies such as the membrane feeding assay. In an era of renewed political momentum for malaria elimination and eradication campaigns, such observations have fueled support for the development and implementation of so-called transmission-blocking vaccines. While leading candidates are being evaluated using a variety of promising vaccine platforms, the field is also beginning to capitalize on global '-omics' data for the rational genome-based selection and unbiased characterization of parasite and mosquito proteins to expand the candidate list. This review covers the progress and prospects of these recent developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Nikolaeva
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
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14
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Akinosoglou KA, Bushell ESC, Ukegbu CV, Schlegelmilch T, Cho JS, Redmond S, Sala K, Christophides GK, Vlachou D. Characterization of Plasmodium developmental transcriptomes in Anopheles gambiae midgut reveals novel regulators of malaria transmission. Cell Microbiol 2014; 17:254-68. [PMID: 25225164 PMCID: PMC4371638 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Revised: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The passage through the mosquito is a major bottleneck for malaria parasite populations and a target of interventions aiming to block disease transmission. Here, we used DNA microarrays to profile the developmental transcriptomes of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei in vivo, in the midgut of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, from parasite stages in the midgut blood bolus to sporulating oocysts on the basal gut wall. Data analysis identified several distinct transcriptional programmes encompassing genes putatively involved in developmental processes or in interactions with the mosquito. At least two of these programmes are associated with the ookinete development that is linked to mosquito midgut invasion and establishment of infection. Targeted disruption by homologous recombination of two of these genes resulted in mutant parasites exhibiting notable infection phenotypes. GAMER encodes a short polypeptide with granular localization in the gametocyte cytoplasm and shows a highly penetrant loss-of-function phenotype manifested as greatly reduced ookinete numbers, linked to impaired male gamete release. HADO encodes a putative magnesium phosphatase with distinctive cortical localization along the concave ookinete periphery. Disruption of HADO compromises ookinete development leading to significant reduction of oocyst numbers. Our data provide important insights into the molecular framework underpinning Plasmodium development in the mosquito and identifies two genes with important functions at initial stages of parasite development in the mosquito midgut.
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15
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Asgari S. MicroRNA functions in insects. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 43:388-97. [PMID: 23103375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are generated in all eukaryotes and viruses. Their role as master regulators of gene expression in various biological processes has only been fully appreciated over the last decade. Accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in the expression of miRNAs may lead to disorders, including developmental defects, diseases and cancer. Here, I review what is currently known about miRNA functions in insects to provide an insight into their diverse roles in insect biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sassan Asgari
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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16
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Reid AJ, Berriman M. Genes involved in host-parasite interactions can be revealed by their correlated expression. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 41:1508-18. [PMID: 23275547 PMCID: PMC3561955 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks1340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular interactions between a parasite and its host are key to the ability of the parasite to enter the host and persist. Our understanding of the genes and proteins involved in these interactions is limited. To better understand these processes it would be advantageous to have a range of methods to predict pairs of genes involved in such interactions. Correlated gene expression profiles can be used to identify molecular interactions within a species. Here we have extended the concept to different species, showing that genes with correlated expression are more likely to encode proteins, which directly or indirectly participate in host–parasite interaction. We go on to examine our predictions of molecular interactions between the malaria parasite and both its mammalian host and insect vector. Our approach could be applied to study any interaction between species, for example, between a host and its parasites or pathogens, but also symbiotic and commensal pairings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam James Reid
- Parasite genomics group, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK.
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17
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Cai H, Zhou Z, Gu J, Wang Y. Comparative Genomics and Systems Biology of Malaria Parasites Plasmodium.. Curr Bioinform 2012; 7. [PMID: 24298232 DOI: 10.2174/157489312803900965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a serious infectious disease that causes over one million deaths yearly. It is caused by a group of protozoan parasites in the genus Plasmodium. No effective vaccine is currently available and the elevated levels of resistance to drugs in use underscore the pressing need for novel antimalarial targets. In this review, we survey omics centered developments in Plasmodium biology, which have set the stage for a quantum leap in our understanding of the fundamental processes of the parasite life cycle and mechanisms of drug resistance and immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Cai
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
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18
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Colpitts TM, Cox J, Nguyen A, Feitosa F, Krishnan MN, Fikrig E. Use of a tandem affinity purification assay to detect interactions between West Nile and dengue viral proteins and proteins of the mosquito vector. Virology 2011; 417:179-87. [PMID: 21700306 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2011.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2011] [Revised: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
West Nile and dengue viruses are (re)emerging mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cause significant morbidity and mortality in man. The identification of mosquito proteins that associate with flaviviruses may provide novel targets to inhibit infection of the vector or block transmission to humans. Here, a tandem affinity purification (TAP) assay was used to identify 18 mosquito proteins that interact with dengue and West Nile capsid, envelope, NS2A or NS2B proteins. We further analyzed the interaction of mosquito cadherin with dengue and West Nile virus envelope protein using co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. Blocking the function of select mosquito factors, including actin, myosin, PI3-kinase and myosin light chain kinase, reduced both dengue and West Nile virus infection in mosquito cells. We show that the TAP method may be used in insect cells to accurately identify flaviviral-host protein interactions. Our data also provides several targets for interrupting flavivirus infection in mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonya M Colpitts
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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19
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Abstract
As biomedical research becomes increasingly data-intensive, it is increasingly essential to integrate genomic-scale datasets, so as to generate a more holistic picture of complex biological processes. The systems biology paradigm may differ in strategy from traditional reductionist scientific methods, but the goal remains the same: to generate tenable hypotheses driving the experimental elucidation of biological mechanisms. Intracellular pathogens provide an excellent opportunity for systems analysis, as many of these organisms are amenable to genetic manipulation, allowing their biology to be played off against that of the host. Moreover, many of the most fundamental biological properties of these microbes (host cell invasion, immune evasion, intracellular replication, long-term persistence) are directly linked to pathogenesis and readily quantifiable using genomic-scale technologies. In this review, we summarize and discuss some of the available and foreseeable functional genomics datasets pertaining to host-pathogen interactions and suggest that the host-pathogen interface represents a promising, tractable challenge for systems biological analysis. Success will require developing and leveraging new technologies, expanding data acquisition, and increasing public access to comprehensive datasets, to assemble quantitative and testable models of the host-pathogen relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Beiting
- Department of Biology, Penn Genome Frontiers Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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20
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Abstract
Throughout their lifetime, mosquitoes are exposed to pathogens during feeding, through breaks in their cuticle and following pathogen-driven cuticular degradation. To resist infection, mosquitoes mount innate cellular and humoral immune responses that are elicited within minutes of exposure and can lead to pathogen death via three broadly defined mechanisms: lysis, melanization and hemocyte-mediated phagocytosis. This chapter reviews our current understanding of the mosquito immune system, with an emphasis on the physical barriers that prevent pathogens from entering the body, the organs and tissues that regulate immune responses and the mechanistic and molecular bases of immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián F Hillyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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21
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Mueller AK, Kohlhepp F, Hammerschmidt C, Michel K. Invasion of mosquito salivary glands by malaria parasites: prerequisites and defense strategies. Int J Parasitol 2010; 40:1229-35. [PMID: 20621627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2010] [Revised: 05/14/2010] [Accepted: 05/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The interplay between vector and pathogen is essential for vector-borne disease transmission. Dissecting the molecular basis of refractoriness of some vectors may pave the way to novel disease control mechanisms. A pathogen often needs to overcome several physical barriers, such as the peritrophic matrix, midgut epithelium and salivary glands. Additionally, the arthropod vector elicites immune responses that can severely limit transmission success. One important step in the transmission of most vector-borne diseases is the entry of the disease agent into the salivary glands of its arthropod vector. The salivary glands of blood-feeding arthropods produce a complex mixture of molecules that facilitate blood feeding by inhibition of the host haemostasis, inflammation and immune reactions. Pathogen entry into salivary glands is a receptor-mediated process, which requires molecules on the surface of the pathogen and salivary gland. In most cases, the nature of these molecules remains unknown. Recent advances in our understanding of malaria parasite entry into mosquito salivary glands strongly suggests that specific carbohydrate molecules on the salivary gland surface function as docking receptors for malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kristin Mueller
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University School of Medicine, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Adema CM, Hanington PC, Lun CM, Rosenberg GH, Aragon AD, Stout BA, Lennard Richard ML, Gross PS, Loker ES. Differential transcriptomic responses of Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastropoda, Mollusca) to bacteria and metazoan parasites, Schistosoma mansoni and Echinostoma paraensei (Digenea, Platyhelminthes). Mol Immunol 2009; 47:849-60. [PMID: 19962194 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2009.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2009] [Revised: 10/22/2009] [Accepted: 10/25/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A 70-mer-oligonucleotide-based microarray (1152 features) that emphasizes stress and immune responses factors was constructed to study transcriptomic responses of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata to different immune challenges. In addition to sequences with relevant putative ID and Gene Ontology (GO) annotation, the array features non-immune factors and unknown B. glabrata ESTs for functional gene discovery. The transcription profiles of B. glabrata (3 biological replicates, each a pool of 5 snails) were recorded at 12h post-wounding, exposure to Gram negative or Gram positive bacteria (Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus, respectively), or infection with compatible trematode parasites (Schistosoma mansoni or Echinostoma paraensei, 20 miracidia/snail), relative to controls, using universal reference RNA. The data were subjected to Significance Analysis for Microarrays (SAM), with a false positive rate (FPR) <or=10%. Wounding yielded a modest differential expression profile (27 up/21 down) with affected features mostly dissimilar from other treatments. Partially overlapping, yet distinct expression profiles were recorded from snails challenged with E. coli (83 up/20 down) or M. luteus (120 up/42 down), mostly showing up-regulation of defense and stress-related features. Significantly altered expression of selected immune features indicates that B. glabrata detects and responds differently to compatible trematodes. Echinostoma paraensei infection was associated mostly with down-regulation of many (immune-) transcripts (42 up/68 down), whereas S. mansoni exposure yielded a preponderance of up-regulated features (140 up/23 down), with only few known immune genes affected. These observations may reflect the divergent strategies developed by trematodes during their evolution as specialized pathogens of snails to negate host defense responses. Clearly, the immune defenses of B. glabrata distinguish and respond differently to various immune challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coen M Adema
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Biology MSC03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
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23
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Abstract
To Darwin, parasites were fascinating examples of adaptation but their significance as selective factors for a wide range of phenomena has only been studied in depth over the last few decades. This work has had its roots in behavioural/evolutionary ecology on the one hand, and in population biology/ecology on the other, thus shaping a new comprehensive field of 'evolutionary parasitology'. Taking parasites into account has been a success story and has shed new light on several old questions such as sexual selection, the evolution of sex and recombination, changes in behaviour, adaptive life histories, and so forth. In the process, the topic of ecological immunology has emerged, which analyses immune defences in a framework of costs and benefits. Throughout, a recurrent theme is how to appropriately integrate the underlying mechanisms as evolved boundary conditions into a framework of studying the adaptive value of traits. On the conceptual side, major questions remain and await further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Schmid-Hempel
- Institute of Integrative Biology (IBZ), ETH-Zürich ETH-Zentrum CHN, Universitätsstrasse 16, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
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24
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Patil DP, Atanur S, Dhotre DP, Anantharam D, Mahajan VS, Walujkar SA, Chandode RK, Kulkarni GJ, Ghate PS, Srivastav A, Dayananda KM, Gupta N, Bhagwat B, Joshi RR, Mourya DT, Patole MS, Shouche YS. Generation, annotation, and analysis of ESTs from midgut tissue of adult female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:386. [PMID: 19695102 PMCID: PMC2743715 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2008] [Accepted: 08/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is a tropical disease caused by protozoan parasite, Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans by various species of female anopheline mosquitoes. Anopheles stephensi is one such major malaria vector in urban parts of the Indian subcontinent. Unlike Anopheles gambiae, an African malaria vector, transcriptome of A. stephensi midgut tissue is less explored. We have therefore carried out generation, annotation, and analysis of expressed sequence tags from sugar-fed and Plasmodium yoelii infected blood-fed (post 24 h) adult female A. stephensi midgut tissue. Results We obtained 7061 and 8306 ESTs from the sugar-fed and P. yoelii infected mosquito midgut tissue libraries, respectively. ESTs from the combined dataset formed 1319 contigs and 2627 singlets, totaling to 3946 unique transcripts. Putative functions were assigned to 1615 (40.9%) transcripts using BLASTX against UniProtKB database. Amongst unannotated transcripts, we identified 1513 putative novel transcripts and 818 potential untranslated regions (UTRs). Statistical comparison of annotated and unannotated ESTs from the two libraries identified 119 differentially regulated genes. Out of 3946 unique transcripts, only 1387 transcripts were mapped on the A. gambiae genome. These also included 189 novel transcripts, which were mapped to the unannotated regions of the genome. The EST data is available as ESTDB at . Conclusion 3946 unique transcripts were successfully identified from the adult female A. stephensi midgut tissue. These data can be used for microarray development for better understanding of vector-parasite relationship and to study differences or similarities with other malaria vectors. Mapping of putative novel transcripts from A. stephensi on the A. gambiae genome proved fruitful in identification and annotation of several genes. Failure of some novel transcripts to map on the A. gambiae genome indicates existence of substantial genomic dissimilarities between these two potent malaria vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak P Patil
- Lab 3, National Center for Cell Science, Pune - 411007, India.
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25
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Yan J, Yang X, Mortin MA, Shahabuddin M. Malaria sporozoite antigen-directed genome-wide response in transgenic Drosophila. Genesis 2009; 47:196-203. [PMID: 19241390 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.20483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Malaria kills a million people annually. Understanding the relationship between a causative parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and the mosquito vector might suggest novel prevention approaches. We created and transformed into Drosophila two genes encoding, thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) and circumsporozoite protein (CSP), found on the cell surface of Plasmodium sporozoites. To understand a model insect's response, we induced these proteins separately and together, performing whole genome microarray analysis measuring gene expression changes. Gene ontology classification of responding genes reveals that TRAP and CSP strongly and differentially influence Drosophila genes involved with cell motility and gene regulation, respectively; however, the most striking effects are on the immune system. While immune-related genes are but modestly elevated compared with responses to sepsis, there is a marked repression of the Toll pathway. This suggests: (1) how Plasmodium infection of the mosquito might use TRAP and CSP to modulate the host insect's physiology to promote sporozoite survival and transmission to man and (2) that approaches to elevate expression of the mosquito's Toll pathway might lead to novel methods of malaria prevention.
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26
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Dixit R, Sharma A, Mourya DT, Kamaraju R, Patole MS, Shouche YS. Salivary gland transcriptome analysis during Plasmodium infection in malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. Int J Infect Dis 2009; 13:636-46. [PMID: 19128996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2008] [Revised: 06/19/2008] [Accepted: 07/12/2008] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the tissue-specific molecular cross-talk mechanism during the mosquito-parasite interaction is of prime importance in the design of new strategies for malaria control. Because mosquito salivary glands are the final destination for the parasite maturation and transmission of vector-borne diseases, identification and characterization of salivary genes and their products are equally important in order to access their effect on the infectivity of the parasite. During the last five years there have been several studies on the sialomes of Anopheles mosquitoes, however very limited information is available on the changes in the salivary gland transcriptome in the presence of Plasmodium, and this information is limited to the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. METHODS In this study we aimed to explore and identify parasite-induced transcripts from the salivary glands of Anopheles stephensi, using a subtractive hybridization protocol. RESULTS Ninety-four percent of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) showed close homology to previously known families of mosquito salivary gland secretary proteins, representing the induced expression of alternative splicing and/or additional new members of the protein family. The remaining 6% of ESTs did not yield significant homology to any known proteins in the non-redundant database and thus may represent a class of unknown/novel salivary proteins. Primary analysis of the ESTs also revealed identification of several novel immune-related transcripts, including defensin and cecropins, probably involved in counter-activation of the antagonistic defense system. A comprehensive description of each family of proteins has been discussed in relation to the tissue-specific mosquito-parasite interaction. CONCLUSION This is the first report on the identification of new putative salivary genes, presumably activated during parasite infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajnikant Dixit
- Molecular Biology Unit, National Center for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, India.
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27
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Abrantes P, Dimopoulos G, Grosso AR, do Rosário VE, Silveira H. Chloroquine mediated modulation of Anopheles gambiae gene expression. PLoS One 2008; 3:e2587. [PMID: 18596975 PMCID: PMC2432468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2007] [Accepted: 05/20/2008] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium development in the mosquito is crucial for malaria transmission and depends on the parasite's interaction with a variety of cell types and specific mosquito factors that have both positive and negative effects on infection. Whereas the defensive response of the mosquito contributes to a decrease in parasite numbers during these stages, some components of the blood meal are known to favor infection, potentiating the risk of increased transmission. The presence of the antimalarial drug chloroquine in the mosquito's blood meal has been associated with an increase in Plasmodium infectivity for the mosquito, which is possibly caused by chloroquine interfering with the capacity of the mosquito to defend against the infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this study, we report a detailed survey of the Anopheles gambiae genes that are differentially regulated by the presence of chloroquine in the blood meal, using an A. gambiae cDNA microarray. The effect of chloroquine on transcript abundance was evaluated separately for non-infected and Plasmodium berghei-infected mosquitoes. Chloroquine was found to affect the abundance of transcripts that encode proteins involved in a variety of processes, including immunity, apoptosis, cytoskeleton and the response to oxidative stress. This pattern of differential gene expression may explain the weakened mosquito defense response which accounts for the increased infectivity observed in chloroquine-treated mosquitoes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The results of the present study suggest that chloroquine can interfere with several putative mosquito mechanisms of defense against Plasmodium at the level of gene expression and highlight the need for a better understanding of the impacts of antimalarial agents on parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Abrantes
- Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais-LA/ UEI de Malária, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Zhu-Salzman K, Luthe DS, Felton GW. Arthropod-inducible proteins: broad spectrum defenses against multiple herbivores. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2008; 146:852-8. [PMID: 18316640 PMCID: PMC2259088 DOI: 10.1104/pp.107.112177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Accepted: 12/19/2007] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Keyan Zhu-Salzman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
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Sperança MA, Capurro ML. Perspectives in the control of infectious diseases by transgenic mosquitoes in the post-genomic era--a review. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2008; 102:425-33. [PMID: 17612761 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762007005000054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2006] [Accepted: 04/10/2007] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne diseases caused by a variety of microorganisms such as dengue virus and malaria parasites afflict billions of people worldwide imposing major economic and social burdens. Despite many efforts, vaccines against diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, with the exception of yellow fever, are not available. Control of such infectious pathogens is mainly performed by vector management and treatment of affected individuals with drugs. However, the numbers of insecticide-resistant insects and drug-resistant parasites are increasing. Therefore, inspired in recent years by a lot of new data produced by genomics and post-genomics research, several scientific groups have been working on different strategies to control infectious arthropod-borne diseases. This review focuses on recent advances and perspectives towards construction of transgenic mosquitoes refractory to malaria parasites and dengue virus transmission.
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Megy K, Hammond M, Lawson D, Bruggner RV, Birney E, Collins FH. Genomic resources for invertebrate vectors of human pathogens, and the role of VectorBase. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2008; 9:308-13. [PMID: 18262474 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2007.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2007] [Revised: 12/19/2007] [Accepted: 12/20/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput genome sequencing techniques have now reached vector biology with an emphasis on those species that are vectors of human pathogens. The first mosquito to be sequenced was Anopheles gambiae, the vector for Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. Further mosquitoes have followed: Aedes aegypti (yellow fever and dengue fever vector) and Culex pipiens (lymphatic filariasis and West Nile fever). Species that are currently in sequencing include the body louse Pediculus humanus (Typhus vector), the triatomine Rhodnius prolixus (Chagas disease vector) and the tick Ixodes scapularis (Lyme disease vector). The motivations for sequencing vector genomes are to further understand vector biology, with an eye on developing new control strategies (for example novel chemical attractants or repellents) or understanding the limitations of current strategies (for example the mechanism of insecticide resistance); to analyse the mechanisms driving their evolution; and to perform an exhaustive analysis of the gene repertory. The proliferation of genomic data creates the need for efficient and accessible storage. We present VectorBase, a genomic resource centre that is both involved in the annotation of vector genomes and act as a portal for access to the genomic information (http://www.vectorbase.org).
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Affiliation(s)
- K Megy
- EMBL, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK.
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31
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Sherman IW. References. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s0065-308x(08)00430-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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32
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Winter F, Edaye S, Hüttenhofer A, Brunel C. Anopheles gambiae miRNAs as actors of defence reaction against Plasmodium invasion. Nucleic Acids Res 2007; 35:6953-62. [PMID: 17933784 PMCID: PMC2175301 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The path Plasmodium takes across the Anopheles midgut constitutes the major bottleneck during the malaria transmission cycle. In the present study, using a combination of shot-gun cloning and bioinformatic analysis, we have identified 18 miRNAs from Anopheles gambiae including three miRNAs unique to mosquito. Twelve of them are expressed ubiquitously across the body, independently of gender, while the other six exhibited an expression pattern restricted to the digestive system. Strikingly, the expression patterns of four miRNAs, including the three unique to mosquito, are affected by the presence of Plasmodium. We also show that knocking down Dicer1 and Ago1 mRNAs led to an increased sensitivity to Plasmodium infection. Altogether, these data support an involvement of miRNAs as new layers in the regulation of Anopheles defence reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Winter
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université Louis Pasteur, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 15 rue Descarte, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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33
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Dinglasan RR, Kalume DE, Kanzok SM, Ghosh AK, Muratova O, Pandey A, Jacobs-Lorena M. Disruption of Plasmodium falciparum development by antibodies against a conserved mosquito midgut antigen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:13461-6. [PMID: 17673553 PMCID: PMC1948931 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0702239104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites must undergo development within mosquitoes to be transmitted to a new host. Antivector transmission-blocking vaccines inhibit parasite development by preventing ookinete interaction with mosquito midgut ligands. Therefore, the discovery of novel midgut antigen targets is paramount. Jacalin (a lectin) inhibits ookinete attachment by masking glycan ligands on midgut epithelial surface glycoproteins. However, the identities of these midgut glycoproteins have remained unknown. Here we report on the molecular characterization of an Anopheles gambiae aminopeptidase N (AgAPN1) as the predominant jacalin target on the mosquito midgut luminal surface and provide evidence for its role in ookinete invasion. alpha-AgAPN1 IgG strongly inhibited both Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum development in different mosquito species, implying that AgAPN1 has a conserved role in ookinete invasion of the midgut. Molecules targeting single midgut antigens seldom achieve complete abrogation of parasite development. However, the combined blocking activity of alpha-AgAPN1 IgG and an unrelated inhibitory peptide, SM1, against P. berghei was incomplete. We also found that SM1 can block only P. berghei, whereas alpha-AgAPN1 IgG can block both parasite species significantly. Therefore, we hypothesize that ookinetes can evade inhibition by two potent transmission-blocking molecules, presumably through the use of other ligands, and that this process further partitions murine from human parasite midgut invasion models. These results advance our understanding of malaria parasite-mosquito host interactions and guide in the design of transmission-blocking vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhoel R. Dinglasan
- *Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205
- To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: or
| | - Dario E. Kalume
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205; and
| | - Stefan M. Kanzok
- *Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Anil K. Ghosh
- *Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Olga Muratova
- Malaria Vaccine Development Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 5640 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205; and
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- *Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205
- To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: or
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Prabhakar S, Chen MS, Elpidina EN, Vinokurov KS, Smith CM, Marshall J, Oppert B. Sequence analysis and molecular characterization of larval midgut cDNA transcripts encoding peptidases from the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2007; 16:455-68. [PMID: 17651235 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2007.00740.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Peptidase sequences were analysed in randomly picked clones from cDNA libraries of the anterior or posterior midgut or whole larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus. Of a total of 1528 sequences, 92 encoded potential peptidases, from which 50 full-length cDNA sequences were obtained, including serine and cysteine proteinases and metallopeptidases. Serine proteinase transcripts were predominant in the posterior midgut, whereas transcripts encoding cysteine and metallopeptidases were mainly found in the anterior midgut. Alignments with other proteinases indicated that 40% of the serine proteinase sequences were serine proteinase homologues, and the remaining ones were identified as either trypsin, chymotrypsin or other serine proteinases. Cysteine proteinase sequences included cathepsin B- and L-like proteinases, and metallopeptidase transcripts were similar to carboxypeptidase A. Northern blot analysis of representative sequences demonstrated the differential expression profile of selected transcripts across five developmental stages of Te. molitor. These sequences provide insights into peptidases in coleopteran insects as a basis to study the response of coleopteran larvae to external stimuli and to evaluate regulatory features of the response.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Prabhakar
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
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35
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Spatial and sex-specific dissection of the Anopheles gambiae midgut transcriptome. BMC Genomics 2007; 8:37. [PMID: 17261194 PMCID: PMC1804276 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2006] [Accepted: 01/29/2007] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The midgut of hematophagous insects, such as disease transmitting mosquitoes, carries out a variety of essential functions that mostly relate to blood feeding. The midgut of the female malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae is a major site of interactions between the parasite and the vector. Distinct compartments and cell types of the midgut tissue carry out specific functions and vector borne pathogens interact and infect different parts of the midgut. Results A microarray based global gene expression approach was used to compare transcript abundance in the four major female midgut compartments (cardia, anterior, anterior part of posterior and posterior part of posterior midgut) and between the male and female Anopheles gambiae midgut. Major differences between the female and male midgut gene expression relate to digestive processes and immunity. Each compartment has a distinct gene function profile with the posterior midgut expressing digestive enzyme genes and the cardia and anterior midgut expressing high levels of antimicrobial peptide and other immune gene transcripts. Interestingly, the cardia expressed several known anti-Plasmodium factors. A parallel peptidomic analysis of the cardia identified known mosquito antimicrobial peptides as well as several putative short secreted peptides that are likely to represent novel antimicrobial factors. Conclusion The A. gambiae sex specific midgut and female midgut compartment specific transcriptomes correlates with their known functions. The significantly greater functional diversity of the female midgut relate to hematophagy that is associated with digestion and nutrition uptake as well as exposes it to a variety of pathogens, and promotes growth of its endogenous microbial flora. The strikingly high proportion of immunity related factors in the cardia tissue most likely serves the function to increase sterility of ingested sugar and blood. A detailed characterization of the functional specificities of the female mosquito midgut and its various compartments can greatly contribute to our understanding of its role in disease transmission and generate the necessary tools for the development of malaria control strategies.
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Lovegrove FE, Peña-Castillo L, Mohammad N, Liles WC, Hughes TR, Kain KC. Simultaneous host and parasite expression profiling identifies tissue-specific transcriptional programs associated with susceptibility or resistance to experimental cerebral malaria. BMC Genomics 2006; 7:295. [PMID: 17118208 PMCID: PMC1664577 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-7-295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2006] [Accepted: 11/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development and outcome of cerebral malaria (CM) reflects a complex interplay between parasite-expressed virulence factors and host response to infection. The murine CM model, Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA), which simulates many of the features of human CM, provides an excellent system to study this host/parasite interface. We designed "combination" microarrays that concurrently detect genome-wide transcripts of both PbA and mouse, and examined parasite and host transcriptional programs during infection of CM-susceptible (C57BL/6) and CM-resistant (BALB/c) mice. Results Analysis of expression data from brain, lung, liver, and spleen of PbA infected mice showed that both host and parasite gene expression can be examined using a single microarray, and parasite transcripts can be detected within whole organs at a time when peripheral blood parasitemia is low. Parasites display a unique transcriptional signature in each tissue, and lung appears to be a large reservoir for metabolically active parasites. In comparisons of susceptible versus resistant animals, both host and parasite display distinct, organ-specific transcriptional profiles. Differentially expressed mouse genes were related to humoral immune response, complement activation, or cell-cell interactions. PbA displayed differential expression of genes related to biosynthetic activities. Conclusion These data show that host and parasite gene expression profiles can be simultaneously analysed using a single "combination" microarray, and that both the mouse and malaria parasite display distinct tissue- and strain-specific responses during infection. This technology facilitates the dissection of host-pathogen interactions in experimental cerebral malaria and could be extended to other disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona E Lovegrove
- Institute of Medical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lourdes Peña-Castillo
- Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naveed Mohammad
- Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - W Conrad Liles
- Institute of Medical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, UHN and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Timothy R Hughes
- Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics and Microbiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, UHN and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin C Kain
- Institute of Medical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, UHN and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Raibaud A, Brahimi K, Roth CW, Brey PT, Faust DM. Differential gene expression in the ookinete stage of the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 150:107-13. [PMID: 16908078 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2006] [Revised: 06/28/2006] [Accepted: 07/03/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium, the malaria parasite, undergoes a complex developmental program in its mosquito vector. The ookinete is the parasite form which invades the mosquito midgut and is an important stage for genetic mixing. To identify genes expressed during ookinete development and mosquito midgut invasion, purified zygotes and ookinetes of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei were used to construct a suppression subtractive hybridization cDNA library, enriched in sequences expressed in the ookinete stage. In addition to four genes coding for previously described major ookinete-secreted proteins, we isolated ookinete-expressed sequences representing 18 predicted genes. Their gene products include proteins involved in signal transduction and regulatory processes. For six of these genes our analysis provides the first evidence for expression in the ookinete stage. A majority of the genes are not expressed in the zygote, the preceding developmental stage. Furthermore, four of the genes are also transcribed in sporozoites, and one of these in merozoites, suggesting that they code for proteins with a function common to Plasmodium invasive stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Raibaud
- Unité de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire des Insectes, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
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Rosinski-Chupin I, Briolay J, Brouilly P, Perrot S, Gomez SM, Chertemps T, Roth CW, Keime C, Gandrillon O, Couble P, Brey PT. SAGE analysis of mosquito salivary gland transcriptomes during Plasmodium invasion. Cell Microbiol 2006; 9:708-24. [PMID: 17054438 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2006.00822.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Invasion of the vector salivary glands by Plasmodium is a critical step for malaria transmission. To describe salivary gland cellular responses to sporozoite invasion, we have undertaken the analysis of Anopheles gambiae salivary gland transcriptome using Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE). Statistical analysis of the more than 160000 sequenced tags generated from four libraries, two from glands infected by Plasmodium berghei, two from glands of controls, revealed that at least 57 Anopheles genes are differentially expressed in infected salivary glands. Among the 37 immune-related genes identified by SAGE tags, four (Defensin1, GNBP, Serpin6 and Cecropin2) were found to be upregulated during salivary gland invasion, while five genes encoding small secreted proteins display induction patterns strongly reminiscent of that of Cecropin2. Invasion by Plasmodium has also an impact on the expression of genes involved in transport, lipid and energy metabolism, suggesting that the sporozoite may exploit the metabolism of its host. In contrast, protein composition of saliva is predicted to be only slightly modified after infection. This study, which is the first transcriptome analysis of the salivary gland response to Plasmodium infection, provides a basis for a better understanding of Plasmodium/Anopheles salivary gland interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Rosinski-Chupin
- Unité de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire des Insectes, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris, France.
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Hurd H, Grant KM, Arambage SC. Apoptosis-like death as a feature of malaria infection in mosquitoes. Parasitology 2006; 132 Suppl:S33-47. [PMID: 17018164 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182006000849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Malaria parasites of the genusPlasmodiummake a hazardous journey through their mosquito vectors. The majority die in the process, many as a result of the action of mosquito defence mechanisms. The mosquito too is not unscathed by the encounter with these parasites. Tissue damage occurs as a result of mid-gut invasion and reproductive fitness is lost when many developing ovarian follicles are resorbed. Here we discuss some of the mechanisms that are involved in killing the parasite and in the self-defence mechanisms employed by the mosquito to repair the mid-gut epithelium and to manipulate resources altering the trade-off position that balances reproduction and survival. In all cases, cells die by apoptotic-like mechanisms. In the midgut cells, apoptosis-induction pathways are being elucidated, the molecules involved in apoptosis are being recognised andDrosophilahomologues sought. The death of ookinetes in the mosquito mid-gut lumen is associated with caspase-like activity and, although homologues of mammalian caspases are not present in the malaria genome, other cysteine proteases that are potential candidates have been discussed. In the ovary, apoptosis of patches of follicular epithelial cells is followed by resorption of the developing follicle and a subsequent loss of egg production in that follicle.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hurd
- Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, University of Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK. h.hurd.keele.ac.uk
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Gandhe AS, Arunkumar KP, John SH, Nagaraju J. Analysis of bacteria-challenged wild silkmoth, Antheraea mylitta (lepidoptera) transcriptome reveals potential immune genes. BMC Genomics 2006; 7:184. [PMID: 16857061 PMCID: PMC1559613 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-7-184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2006] [Accepted: 07/21/2006] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the recent years a strong resemblance has been observed between the insect immune system and the mammalian innate immune mechanisms suggesting their common origin. Among the insects, only the dipterans (Drosophila and various mosquito species) have been widely investigated for their immune responses towards diverse pathogens. In the present study we constructed and analysed the immune transcriptome of the lepidopteran Antheraea mylitta, an economically important Indian tasar silkmoth with a view to unravel the potential immune-related genes and pathways. Results An expressed sequence tag (EST) library was constructed from mRNA obtained from fat bodies of A. mylitta larvae that had been challenged by infection with Escherichia coli cells. We identified 719 unique ESTs from a total of 1412 sequences so generated. A third of the transcriptome showed similarity with previously characterized immune-related genes that included both the known and putative immune genes. Of the four putative novel defence proteins (DFPs) annotated by PSI-BLAST three showed similarity to extracellular matrix proteins from vertebrates implicated in innate immunity, while the fourth was similar to, yet distinct from, the anti-microbial protein cecropin. Finally, we analysed the expression profiles of 15 potential immune-related genes, and the majority of them were induced more prominently with E. coli compared to Micrococcus luteus. We also identified several unknown proteins, some of which could have probable immune-related functions based on the results of the ProDom analysis. Conclusion The present study has identified many potential immune-related genes in A. mylitta some of which are vertebrate homologues and others are hitherto unreported putative defence proteins. Several genes were present as members of gene families, as has also been observed in other insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana S Gandhe
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, ECIL Road, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500076, India
| | - KP Arunkumar
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, ECIL Road, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500076, India
| | - Serene H John
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, ECIL Road, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500076, India
| | - J Nagaraju
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, ECIL Road, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500076, India
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Dong Y, Aguilar R, Xi Z, Warr E, Mongin E, Dimopoulos G. Anopheles gambiae immune responses to human and rodent Plasmodium parasite species. PLoS Pathog 2006; 2:e52. [PMID: 16789837 PMCID: PMC1475661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0020052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 331] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2005] [Accepted: 04/24/2006] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission of malaria is dependent on the successful completion of the Plasmodium lifecycle in the Anopheles vector. Major obstacles are encountered in the midgut tissue, where most parasites are killed by the mosquito's immune system. In the present study, DNA microarray analyses have been used to compare Anopheles gambiae responses to invasion of the midgut epithelium by the ookinete stage of the human pathogen Plasmodium falciparum and the rodent experimental model pathogen P. berghei. Invasion by P. berghei had a more profound impact on the mosquito transcriptome, including a variety of functional gene classes, while P. falciparum elicited a broader immune response at the gene transcript level. Ingestion of human malaria-infected blood lacking invasive ookinetes also induced a variety of immune genes, including several anti-Plasmodium factors. Twelve selected genes were assessed for effect on infection with both parasite species and bacteria using RNAi gene silencing assays, and seven of these genes were found to influence mosquito resistance to both parasite species. An MD2-like receptor, AgMDL1, and an immunolectin, FBN39, showed specificity in regulating only resistance to P. falciparum, while the antimicrobial peptide gambicin and a novel putative short secreted peptide, IRSP5, were more specific for defense against the rodent parasite P. berghei. While all the genes that affected Plasmodium development also influenced mosquito resistance to bacterial infection, four of the antimicrobial genes had no effect on Plasmodium development. Our study shows that the impact of P. falciparum and P. berghei infection on A. gambiae biology at the gene transcript level is quite diverse, and the defense against the two Plasmodium species is mediated by antimicrobial factors with both universal and Plasmodium-species specific activities. Furthermore, our data indicate that the mosquito is capable of sensing infected blood constituents in the absence of invading ookinetes, thereby inducing anti-Plasmodium immune responses. The malarial parasite Plasmodium has to traverse the gut wall of the Anopheles mosquito in order to complete its lifecycle and to be transmitted between hosts. At the midgut stage of infection, the mosquito activates immune responses to eliminate most invading parasites. The features of these immune responses are not very well understood and have mainly been examined using the rodent parasite model P. berghei. Here the authors investigated the relationship between the Anopheles gambiae responses against the human pathogen P. falciparum, the rodent parasite P. berghei, and bacterial infections, at both the gene expression and functional levels. The mosquito responses against these pathogens were quite diverse, and the defense against the two malaria parasite species involved both common and species-specific components. Malaria-infected blood was sufficient to activate anti-Plasmodium immune responses, even in the absence of midgut invasion. Through this mechanism, the mosquito can initiate its defense against Plasmodium prior to invasion of the gut. Mosquito genes that could negatively influence Plasmodium development were also capable of regulating the resistance to bacterial infection, but several of the antibacterial genes had no effect on Plasmodium; thus, the mosquito apparently utilizes its antibacterial defense systems against the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuemei Dong
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Ruth Aguilar
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Emma Warr
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Emmanuel Mongin
- Department of Human Genetics and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, The Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - George Dimopoulos
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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42
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Dana AN, Hillenmeyer ME, Lobo NF, Kern MK, Romans PA, Collins FH. Differential gene expression in abdomens of the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, after sugar feeding, blood feeding and Plasmodium berghei infection. BMC Genomics 2006; 7:119. [PMID: 16712725 PMCID: PMC1508153 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-7-119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2005] [Accepted: 05/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Large scale sequencing of cDNA libraries can provide profiles of genes expressed in an organism under defined biological and environmental circumstances. We have analyzed sequences of 4541 Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) from 3 different cDNA libraries created from abdomens from Plasmodium infection-susceptible adult female Anopheles gambiae. These libraries were made from sugar fed (S), rat blood fed (RB), and P. berghei-infected (IRB) mosquitoes at 30 hours after the blood meal, when most parasites would be transforming ookinetes or very early oocysts. RESULTS The S, RB and IRB libraries contained 1727, 1145 and 1669 high quality ESTs, respectively, averaging 455 nucleotides (nt) in length. They assembled into 1975 consensus sequences--567 contigs and 1408 singletons. Functional annotation was performed to annotate probable molecular functions of the gene products and the biological processes in which they function. Genes represented at high frequency in one or more of the libraries were subjected to digital Northern analysis and results on expression of 5 verified by qRT-PCR. CONCLUSION 13% of the 1965 ESTs showing identity to the A. gambiae genome sequence represent novel genes. These, together with untranslated regions (UTR) present on many of the ESTs, will inform further genome annotation. We have identified 23 genes encoding products likely to be involved in regulating the cellular oxidative environment and 25 insect immunity genes. We also identified 25 genes as being up or down regulated following blood feeding and/or feeding with P. berghei infected blood relative to their expression levels in sugar fed females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali N Dana
- Center for Tropical Disease Research and Training, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | | | - Neil F Lobo
- Center for Tropical Disease Research and Training, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Marcia K Kern
- Center for Tropical Disease Research and Training, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Patricia A Romans
- Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Frank H Collins
- Center for Tropical Disease Research and Training, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Rossi F, Garavaglia S, Giovenzana GB, Arcà B, Li J, Rizzi M. Crystal structure of the Anopheles gambiae 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:5711-6. [PMID: 16585514 PMCID: PMC1458638 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0510233103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In Anopheles gambiae, the vector for the most deadly malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, xanthurenic acid (XA) plays a key role in parasite gametogenesis and fertility. In mosquitoes, XA is produced by transamination of 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), a reaction that represents the main route to prevent the accumulation of the potentially toxic 3-HK excess. Interfering with XA metabolism in A. gambiae therefore appears an attractive avenue for the development of malaria transmission-blocking drugs and insecticides. We have determined the crystal structure of A. gambiae 3-HK transaminase in its pyridoxal 5'-phosphate form and in complex with a newly synthesized competitive enzyme inhibitor. Structural inspection of the enzyme active site reveals the key molecular determinants for ligand recognition and catalysis. Major contributions toward inhibitor binding are provided by a salt bridge between the inhibitor carboxylate and Arg-356 and by a remarkable hydrogen bond network involving the anthranilic moiety of the inhibitor and backbone atoms of residues Gly-25 and Asn-44. This study may be useful for the structure-based design of specific enzyme inhibitors of potential interest as antimalarial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franca Rossi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche-Drug and Food Biotechnology Center, University of Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro,” Via Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Silvia Garavaglia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche-Drug and Food Biotechnology Center, University of Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro,” Via Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Battista Giovenzana
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche-Drug and Food Biotechnology Center, University of Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro,” Via Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Bruno Arcà
- Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale, University of Napoli “Federico II,” 80134 Napoli, Italy; and
| | - Jianyong Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, 111 Engel Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24060
| | - Menico Rizzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche-Drug and Food Biotechnology Center, University of Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro,” Via Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy
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Marinotti O, Calvo E, Nguyen QK, Dissanayake S, Ribeiro JMC, James AA. Genome-wide analysis of gene expression in adult Anopheles gambiae. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2006; 15:1-12. [PMID: 16469063 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2006.00610.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
With their genome sequenced, Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes now serve as a powerful tool for basic research in comparative, evolutionary and developmental biology. The knowledge generated by these studies is expected to reveal molecular targets for novel vector control and pathogen transmission blocking strategies. Comparisons of gene-expression profiles between adult male and nonblood-fed female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes revealed that roughly 22% of the genes showed sex-dependent regulation. Blood-fed females switch the majority of their metabolism to blood digestion and egg formation within 3 h after the meal is ingested, in detriment to other activities such as flight and response to environment stimuli. Changes in gene expression are most evident during the first, second and third days after a blood meal, when as many as 50% of all genes showed significant variation in transcript accumulation. After laying the first cluster of eggs (between 72 and 96 h after the blood meal), mosquitoes return to a nongonotrophic stage, similar but not identical to that of 3-day-old nonblood-fed females. Ageing and/or the nutritional state of mosquitoes at 15 days after a blood meal is reflected by the down-regulation of approximately 5% of all genes. A full description of the large number of genes regulated at each analysed time point and each biochemical pathway or biological processes in which they are involved is not possible within the scope of this contribution. Therefore, we present descriptions of groups of genes displaying major differences in transcript accumulation during the adult mosquito life. However, a publicly available searchable database (http://www.angagepuci.bio.uci.edu/) has been made available so that detailed analyses of specific groups of genes based on their descriptions, functions or levels of gene expression variation can be performed by interested investigators according to their needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Marinotti
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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Dinglasan RR, Jacobs-Lorena M. Insight into a conserved lifestyle: protein-carbohydrate adhesion strategies of vector-borne pathogens. Infect Immun 2006; 73:7797-807. [PMID: 16299269 PMCID: PMC1307025 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.12.7797-7807.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rhoel R Dinglasan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, W4008, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Baton LA, Ranford-Cartwright LC. Spreading the seeds of million-murdering death**This title and some subheadings are taken from lines in Ronald Ross' poem In Exile, Reply – What Ails the Solitude, written on 21 August 1897, the day after he made his Nobel-Prize-winning discovery of parasite stages in the mosquito. ‘This day relenting God hath placed within my hand a wondrous thing; and God be praised. At His command, seeking His secret deeds with tears and toiling breath I find thy cunning seeds, O million-murdering Death. I know this little thing a myriad men will save. O Death, where is thy sting, thy victory, O Grave!’: metamorphoses of malaria in the mosquito. Trends Parasitol 2005; 21:573-80. [PMID: 16236552 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2005.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2005] [Revised: 08/15/2005] [Accepted: 09/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium spp. undergo a complex obligate developmental cycle within their invertebrate vectors that enables transmission between vertebrate hosts. This developmental cycle involves sexual reproduction and then asexual multiplication, separated by phases of invasion and colonization of distinct vector tissues. As with other stages in the Plasmodium life cycle, there is exquisite adaptation of the malaria parasite to its changing environment as it transforms within the blood of its vertebrate host, through the different tissues of its mosquito vector and onwards to infect a new vertebrate host. Despite the intricacies inherent in these successive transformations, malaria parasites remain staggeringly successful at disseminating through their vertebrate host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A Baton
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, G12 8QQ.
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Rossi F, Lombardo F, Paglino A, Cassani C, Miglio G, Arcà B, Rizzi M. Identification and biochemical characterization of the Anopheles gambiae 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase. FEBS J 2005; 272:5653-62. [PMID: 16262702 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2005.04961.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous oxidation of 3-hydroxykynureine (3-HK), a metabolic intermediate of the tryptophan degradation pathway, elicits a remarkable oxidative stress response in animal tissues. In the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti the excess of this toxic metabolic intermediate is efficiently removed by a specific 3-HK transaminase, which converts 3-HK into the more stable compound xanthurenic acid. In anopheline mosquitoes transmitting malaria, xanthurenic acid plays an important role in Plasmodium gametocyte maturation and fertility. Using the sequence information provided by the Anopheles gambiae genome and available ESTs, we adopted a PCR-based approach to isolate a 3-HK transaminase coding sequence from the main human malaria vector A. gambiae. Tissue and developmental expression analysis revealed an almost ubiquitary profile, which is in agreement with the physiological role of the enzyme in mosquito development and 3-HK detoxification. A high yield procedure for the expression and purification of a fully active recombinant version of the protein has been developed. Recombinant A. gambiae 3-HK transaminase is a dimeric pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzyme, showing an optimum pH of 7.8 and a comparable catalytic efficiency for both 3-HK and its immediate catabolic precursor kynurenine. This study may be useful for the identification of 3-HK transaminase inhibitors of potential interest as malaria transmission-blocking drugs or effective insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franca Rossi
- DiSCAFF, University of Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro, Novara, Italy
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Aguilar R, Dong Y, Warr E, Dimopoulos G. Anopheles infection responses; laboratory models versus field malaria transmission systems. Acta Trop 2005; 95:285-91. [PMID: 16011828 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2005.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2005] [Accepted: 06/06/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The molecular biology of disease vectors, particularly mosquitoes, has experienced a remarkable progress in the past two decades. This is mainly attributed to methodological advances and the emerging genome sequences of vector species, which have brought experimental biology to an unprecedented level. It is now possible to determine the entire transcriptome of Anopheles gambiae at a variety of conditions, with a low per-gene effort and cost. Proteomic profiles can be generated for as small samples as the hemolymph, and transient reverse genetic and stable germ line based transgenic analyses can be performed to analyze gene function. High throughput screening for receptors and ligands can be used to characterize interactions between vectors and pathogens. At the current breathtaking rates of data production it is essential to question and evaluate the relevance of laboratory infection models to the real disease transmission systems. The majority of scientific discoveries in mosquito molecular biology have been based on highly inbred laboratory strains and rodent malaria parasite infection models, which may differ substantially to their counterparts that transmit human malaria in the field. This review addresses the recent advances in high throughput transcription analyses of Anopheles responses to infection, and discusses considerations for the use of laboratory malaria infection models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Aguilar
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
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Aguilar R, Jedlicka AE, Mintz M, Mahairaki V, Scott AL, Dimopoulos G. Global gene expression analysis of Anopheles gambiae responses to microbial challenge. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2005; 35:709-19. [PMID: 15894188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2005.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2005] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Anopheles gambiae transcript responses to experimental challenge with heat inactivated Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Beauveria bassiana have been analyzed with an Affymetrix GeneChip comprising the entire predicted mosquito transcriptome. Significant up- or down-regulation (greater than 2-fold) can be assayed for approximately 2% of the mosquito transcriptome and affected genes represent a variety of functional classes that include immunity, apoptosis, stress response, detoxification, metabolism, blood digestion, olfaction and others. Transcript responses to the 3 microbial elicitors exhibit an exceptionally high degree of specificity and only a few genes are significantly regulated by more than 1 of the tested elicitors. This study identifies several transcripts that have not been linked directly to immune response in A. gambiae previously; their infection responsiveness and sequence features do however suggest implication in defence reactions; examples are genes encoding leucine-rich repeat domain proteins, cuticle domain proteins and proteins containing immunoglobulin and fibronectin domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Aguilar
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
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