1
|
Fontecha G, Escobar D, Ortiz B, Pinto A. A PCR-RFLP Technique to Assess the Geographic Origin of Plasmodium falciparum Strains in Central America. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7080149. [PMID: 35893657 PMCID: PMC9394469 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7080149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The elimination of malaria requires strengthening diagnosis and offering adequate and timely treatment. Imported cases of falciparum malaria represent a major challenge for pre-elimination areas, such as Central America, where chloroquine and primaquine continue to be used as first-line treatment. The pfs47 gene has been previously described as a precise molecular marker to track the geographic origin of the parasite. The aim of this study was to design a simple and low-cost technique using the polymorphic region of pfs47 to assess the geographic origin of P. falciparum strains. A PCR-RFLP technique was developed and evaluated using the MseI enzyme that proved capable of discriminating, with reasonable precision, the geographical origin of the parasites. This method could be used by national surveillance laboratories and malaria elimination programs in countries such as Honduras and Nicaragua in cases of malaria where an origin outside the Central American isthmus is suspected.
Collapse
|
2
|
Carter R, Miller LH, Culleton R. On Malaria Transmission and Transmission Blocking Immunity. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:tpmd211319. [PMID: 35895377 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Louis H Miller
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Richard Culleton
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Molina-Cruz A, Barillas-Mury C. Pfs47 as a Malaria Transmission-Blocking Vaccine Target. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:tpmd211325. [PMID: 35895390 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs), pioneered by Richard Carter and others, aim to prevent parasite development in the mosquito vector and are a promising new tool for malaria elimination. Pfs47, recently identified as a TBV target, is a three-domain 6-cysteine protein on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum sexual stages. Pfs47 allows the parasite to evade mosquito immunity and is key for P. falciparum infection of the dominant malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles dirus, and Anopheles albimanus. Antibodies against Pfs47 domain 2 (D2) have significant transmission-blocking activity that prevents Plasmodium ookinete development and is independent of human complement. Strong transmission-blocking activity has been mapped to a region of 52 amino acids in Pfs47 D2. Efforts to optimize the immunogenicity of the Pfs47 D2 antigen with a viral-like particle have been successful, and the efficacy of a P47-based TBV was confirmed in vivo with Pbs47, the orthologue of Pfs47 in the mouse malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. The current evidence warrants further development and clinical testing of a Pfs47-based TBV.
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang J, Chen K, Yang J, Zhang S, Li Y, Liu G, Luo J, Yin H, Wang G, Guan G. Comparative genomic analysis of Babesia duncani responsible for human babesiosis. BMC Biol 2022; 20:153. [PMID: 35790982 PMCID: PMC9258201 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01361-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human babesiosis, caused by parasites of the genus Babesia, is an emerging and re-emerging tick-borne disease that is mainly transmitted by tick bites and infected blood transfusion. Babesia duncani has caused majority of human babesiosis in Canada; however, limited data are available to correlate its genomic information and biological features. Results We generated a B. duncani reference genome using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) and Illumina sequencing technology and uncovered its biological features and phylogenetic relationship with other Apicomplexa parasites. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that B. duncani form a clade distinct from B. microti, Babesia spp. infective to bovine and ovine species, and Theileria spp. infective to bovines. We identified the largest species-specific gene family that could be applied as diagnostic markers for this pathogen. In addition, two gene families show signals of significant expansion and several genes that present signatures of positive selection in B. duncani, suggesting their possible roles in the capability of this parasite to infect humans or tick vectors. Conclusions Using ONT sequencing and Illumina sequencing technologies, we provide the first B. duncani reference genome and confirm that B. duncani forms a phylogenetically distinct clade from other Piroplasm parasites. Comparative genomic analyses show that two gene families are significantly expanded in B. duncani and may play important roles in host cell invasion and virulence of B. duncani. Our study provides basic information for further exploring B. duncani features, such as host-parasite and tick-parasite interactions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01361-9.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.
| | - Kai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jifei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Shangdi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Youquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Guangying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ford A, Kepple D, Williams J, Kolesar G, Ford CT, Abebe A, Golassa L, Janies DA, Yewhalaw D, Lo E. Gene Polymorphisms Among Plasmodium vivax Geographical Isolates and the Potential as New Biomarkers for Gametocyte Detection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:789417. [PMID: 35096643 PMCID: PMC8793628 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.789417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique biological features of Plasmodium vivax not only make it difficult to control but also to eliminate. For the transmission of the malaria parasite from infected human to the vector, gametocytes play a major role. The transmission potential of a malarial infection is inferred based on microscopic detection of gametocytes and molecular screening of genes in the female gametocytes. Microscopy-based detection methods could grossly underestimate the reservoirs of infection as gametocytes may occur as submicroscopic or as micro- or macro-gametocytes. The identification of genes that are highly expressed and polymorphic in male and female gametocytes is critical for monitoring changes not only in their relative proportions but also the composition of gametocyte clones contributing to transmission over time. Recent transcriptomic study revealed two distinct clusters of highly correlated genes expressed in the P. vivax gametocytes, indicating that the male and female terminal gametocytogeneses are independently regulated. However, the detective power of these genes is unclear. In this study, we compared genetic variations of 15 and 11 genes expressed, respectively, in the female and male gametocytes among P. vivax isolates from Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. Further, we constructed phylogenetic trees to determine the resolution power and clustering patterns of gametocyte clones. As expected, Pvs25 (PVP01_0616100) and Pvs16 (PVP01_0305600) expressed in the female gametocytes were highly conserved in all geographical isolates. In contrast, genes including 6-cysteine protein Pvs230 (PVP01_0415800) and upregulated in late gametocytes ULG8 (PVP01_1452800) expressed in the female gametocytes, as well as two CPW-WPC family proteins (PVP01_1215900 and PVP01_1320100) expressed in the male gametocytes indicated considerably high nucleotide and haplotype diversity among isolates. Parasite samples expressed in male and female gametocyte genes were observed in separate phylogenetic clusters and likely represented distinct gametocyte clones. Compared to Pvs25, Pvs230 (PVP01_0415800) and a CPW-WPC family protein (PVP01_0904300) showed higher expression in a subset of Ethiopian P. vivax samples. Thus, Pvs230, ULG8, and CPW-WPC family proteins including PVP01_0904300, PVP01_1215900, and PVP01_1320100 could potentially be used as novel biomarkers for detecting both sexes of P. vivax gametocytes in low-density infections and estimating transmission reservoirs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Ford
- Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Daniel Kepple
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Jonathan Williams
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Gabrielle Kolesar
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Colby T Ford
- Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States.,School of Data Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Abnet Abebe
- Department of Parasitology, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lemu Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Daniel A Janies
- Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
- Tropical and Infectious Disease Research Center, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.,School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Eugenia Lo
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States.,School of Data Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Onyango SA, Ochwedo KO, Machani MG, Omondi CJ, Debrah I, Ogolla SO, Lee MC, Zhou G, Kokwaro E, Kazura JW, Afrane YA, Githeko AK, Zhong D, Yan G. Genetic diversity and population structure of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum surface protein Pfs47 in isolates from the lowlands in Western Kenya. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260434. [PMID: 34843560 PMCID: PMC8629314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum parasites have evolved genetic adaptations to overcome immune responses mounted by diverse Anopheles vectors hindering malaria control efforts. Plasmodium falciparum surface protein Pfs47 is critical in the parasite’s survival by manipulating the vector’s immune system hence a promising target for blocking transmission in the mosquito. This study aimed to examine the genetic diversity, haplotype distribution, and population structure of Pfs47 and its implications on malaria infections in endemic lowlands in Western Kenya. Cross-sectional mass blood screening was conducted in malaria endemic regions in the lowlands of Western Kenya: Homa Bay, Kombewa, and Chulaimbo. Dried blood spots and slide smears were simultaneously collected in 2018 and 2019. DNA was extracted using Chelex method from microscopic Plasmodium falciparum positive samples and used to genotype Pfs47 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Thirteen observed haplotypes of the Pfs47 gene were circulating in Western Kenya. Population-wise, haplotype diversity ranged from 0.69 to 0.77 and the nucleotide diversity 0.10 to 0.12 across all sites. All the study sites displayed negative Tajima’s D values although not significant. However, the negative and significant Fu’s Fs statistical values were observed across all the study sites, suggesting population expansion or positive selection. Overall genetic differentiation index was not significant (FST = -0.00891, P > 0.05) among parasite populations. All Nm values revealed a considerable gene flow in these populations. These results could have important implications for the persistence of high levels of malaria transmission and should be considered when designing potential targeted control interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shirley A. Onyango
- Department of Zoological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Sub-Saharan Africa International Centre of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
| | - Kevin O. Ochwedo
- Sub-Saharan Africa International Centre of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Maxwell G. Machani
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Collince J. Omondi
- Sub-Saharan Africa International Centre of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Isaiah Debrah
- Sub-Saharan Africa International Centre of Excellence for Malaria Research, Homa Bay, Kenya
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Sidney O. Ogolla
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Ming-Chieh Lee
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Guofa Zhou
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Kokwaro
- Department of Zoological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - James W. Kazura
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Yaw A. Afrane
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Andrew K. Githeko
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Daibin Zhong
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DZ); (GY)
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DZ); (GY)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Molina-Cruz A, Raytselis N, Withers R, Dwivedi A, Crompton PD, Traore B, Carpi G, Silva JC, Barillas-Mury C. A genotyping assay to determine geographic origin and transmission potential of Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1145. [PMID: 34593959 PMCID: PMC8484479 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02667-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
As countries work towards malaria elimination, it is important to monitor imported cases to prevent reestablishment of local transmission. The Plasmodium falciparum Pfs47 gene has strong geographic population structure, because only those parasites with Pfs47 haplotypes compatible with the mosquito vector species in a given continent are efficiently transmitted. Analysis of 4,971 world-wide Pfs47 sequences identified two SNPs (at 707 and 725 bp) as sufficient to establish the likely continent of origin of P. falciparum isolates. Pfs47 sequences from Africa, Asia, and the New World presented more that 99% frequency of distinct combinations of the SNPs 707 and 725 genotypes. Interestingly, Papua New Guinea Pfs47 sequences have the highest diversity in SNPs 707 and 725. Accurate and reproducible High-Resolution Melting (HRM) assays were developed to genotype Pfs47 SNPs 707 and 725 in laboratory and field samples, to assess the geographic origin and risk of local transmission of imported P. falciparum malaria cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
| | - Nadia Raytselis
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Roxanne Withers
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Ankit Dwivedi
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Peter D Crompton
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Boubacar Traore
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Giovanna Carpi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Joana C Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Button-Simons KA, Kumar S, Carmago N, Haile MT, Jett C, Checkley LA, Kennedy SY, Pinapati RS, Shoue DA, McDew-White M, Li X, Nosten FH, Kappe SH, Anderson TJC, Romero-Severson J, Ferdig MT, Emrich SJ, Vaughan AM, Cheeseman IH. The power and promise of genetic mapping from Plasmodium falciparum crosses utilizing human liver-chimeric mice. Commun Biol 2021; 4:734. [PMID: 34127785 PMCID: PMC8203791 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02210-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic crosses are most powerful for linkage analysis when progeny numbers are high, parental alleles segregate evenly and numbers of inbred progeny are minimized. We previously developed a novel genetic crossing platform for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, an obligately sexual, hermaphroditic protozoan, using mice carrying human hepatocytes (the human liver-chimeric FRG NOD huHep mouse) as the vertebrate host. We report on two genetic crosses-(1) an allopatric cross between a laboratory-adapted parasite (NF54) of African origin and a recently patient-derived Asian parasite, and (2) a sympatric cross between two recently patient-derived Asian parasites. We generated 144 unique recombinant clones from the two crosses, doubling the number of unique recombinant progeny generated in the previous 30 years. The allopatric African/Asian cross has minimal levels of inbreeding and extreme segregation distortion, while in the sympatric Asian cross, inbred progeny predominate and parental alleles segregate evenly. Using simulations, we demonstrate that these progeny provide the power to map small-effect mutations and epistatic interactions. The segregation distortion in the allopatric cross slightly erodes power to detect linkage in several genome regions. We greatly increase the power and the precision to map biomedically important traits with these new large progeny panels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A Button-Simons
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nelly Carmago
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Meseret T Haile
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Catherine Jett
- Host Pathogen Interactions Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Lisa A Checkley
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Spencer Y Kennedy
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Douglas A Shoue
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Marina McDew-White
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Xue Li
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - François H Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Stefan H Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Timothy J C Anderson
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | - Michael T Ferdig
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | | | - Ashley M Vaughan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ian H Cheeseman
- Host Pathogen Interactions Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
PIMMS43 is required for malaria parasite immune evasion and sporogonic development in the mosquito vector. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:7363-7373. [PMID: 32165544 PMCID: PMC7132314 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1919709117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is transmitted among humans through mosquito bites. Here, we characterize a protein found on the surface of mosquito stages of malaria parasites and reveal that it serves to evade the mosquito immune system and ensure disease transmission. Neutralization of PIMMS43 (Plasmodium Infection of the Mosquito Midgut Screen 43), either by eliminating it from the parasite genome or by preincubating parasites with antibodies that bind to the PIMMS43 protein, inhibits mosquito infection with malaria parasites. Differences in PIMMS43 detected between African malaria parasite populations suggest that these populations have adapted for transmission by different mosquito vectors that are also differentially distributed across the continent. We conclude that targeting PIMMS43 can block malaria parasites inside mosquitoes before they can infect humans. After being ingested by a female Anopheles mosquito during a bloodmeal on an infected host, and before they can reach the mosquito salivary glands to be transmitted to a new host, Plasmodium parasites must establish an infection of the mosquito midgut in the form of oocysts. To achieve this, they must first survive a series of robust innate immune responses that take place prior to, during, and immediately after ookinete traversal of the midgut epithelium. Understanding how parasites may evade these responses could highlight new ways to block malaria transmission. We show that an ookinete and sporozoite surface protein designated as PIMMS43 (Plasmodium Infection of the Mosquito Midgut Screen 43) is required for parasite evasion of the Anopheles coluzzii complement-like response. Disruption of PIMMS43 in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei triggers robust complement activation and ookinete elimination upon mosquito midgut traversal. Silencing components of the complement-like system through RNAi largely restores ookinete-to-oocyst transition but oocysts remain small in size and produce a very small number of sporozoites that additionally are not infectious, indicating that PIMMS43 is also essential for sporogonic development in the oocyst. Antibodies that bind PIMMS43 interfere with parasite immune evasion when ingested with the infectious blood meal and significantly reduce the prevalence and intensity of infection. PIMMS43 genetic structure across African Plasmodium falciparum populations indicates allelic adaptation to sympatric vector populations. These data add to our understanding of mosquito–parasite interactions and identify PIMMS43 as a target of malaria transmission blocking.
Collapse
|
10
|
|
11
|
Molina-Cruz A, Canepa GE, Alves E Silva TL, Williams AE, Nagyal S, Yenkoidiok-Douti L, Nagata BM, Calvo E, Andersen J, Boulanger MJ, Barillas-Mury C. Plasmodium falciparum evades immunity of anopheline mosquitoes by interacting with a Pfs47 midgut receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:2597-2605. [PMID: 31969456 PMCID: PMC7007573 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917042117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface protein Pfs47 allows Plasmodium falciparum parasites to survive and be transmitted by making them "undetectable" to the mosquito immune system. P. falciparum parasites express Pfs47 haplotypes compatible with their sympatric vectors, while those with incompatible haplotypes are eliminated by the mosquito. We proposed that Pfs47 serves as a "key" that mediates immune evasion by interacting with a mosquito receptor "the lock," which differs in evolutionarily divergent anopheline mosquitoes. Recombinant Pfs47 (rPfs47) was used to identify the mosquito Pfs47 receptor protein (P47Rec) using far-Western analysis. rPfs47 bound to a single 31-kDa band and the identity of this protein was determined by mass spectrometry. The mosquito P47Rec has two natterin-like domains and binds to Pfs47 with high affinity (17 to 32 nM). P47Rec is a highly conserved protein with submicrovillar localization in midgut cells. It has structural homology to a cytoskeleton-interacting protein and accumulates at the site of ookinete invasion. Silencing P47Rec expression reduced P. falciparum infection, indicating that the interaction of Pfs47 with the receptor is critical for parasite survival. The binding specificity of P47Rec from distant anophelines (Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles dirus, and Anopheles albimanus) with Pfs47-Africa (GB4) and Pfs47-South America (7G8) haplotypes was evaluated, and it is in agreement with the previously documented compatibility between P. falciparum parasites expressing different Pfs47 haplotypes and these three anopheline species. Our findings give further support to the role of Pfs47 in the adaptation of P. falciparum to different vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852;
| | - Gaspar E Canepa
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Thiago Luiz Alves E Silva
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Adeline E Williams
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Simardeep Nagyal
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Lampouguin Yenkoidiok-Douti
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Bianca M Nagata
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Eric Calvo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - John Andersen
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Martin J Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Plasmodium Genomics and Genetics: New Insights into Malaria Pathogenesis, Drug Resistance, Epidemiology, and Evolution. Clin Microbiol Rev 2019; 32:32/4/e00019-19. [PMID: 31366610 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00019-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoan Plasmodium parasites are the causative agents of malaria, a deadly disease that continues to afflict hundreds of millions of people every year. Infections with malaria parasites can be asymptomatic, with mild or severe symptoms, or fatal, depending on many factors such as parasite virulence and host immune status. Malaria can be treated with various drugs, with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) being the first-line choice. Recent advances in genetics and genomics of malaria parasites have contributed greatly to our understanding of parasite population dynamics, transmission, drug responses, and pathogenesis. However, knowledge gaps in parasite biology and host-parasite interactions still remain. Parasites resistant to multiple antimalarial drugs have emerged, while advanced clinical trials have shown partial efficacy for one available vaccine. Here we discuss genetic and genomic studies of Plasmodium biology, host-parasite interactions, population structures, mosquito infectivity, antigenic variation, and targets for treatment and immunization. Knowledge from these studies will advance our understanding of malaria pathogenesis, epidemiology, and evolution and will support work to discover and develop new medicines and vaccines.
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
In the progression of the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, a small proportion of asexual parasites differentiate into male or female sexual forms called gametocytes. Just like their asexual counterparts, gametocytes are contained within the infected host's erythrocytes (RBCs). However, unlike their asexual partners, they do not exit the RBC until they are taken up in a blood meal by a mosquito. In the mosquito midgut, they are stimulated to emerge from the RBC, undergo fertilization, and ultimately produce tens of thousands of sporozoites that are infectious to humans. This transmission cycle can be blocked by antibodies targeting proteins exposed on the parasite surface in the mosquito midgut, a process that has led to the development of candidate transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV), including some that are in clinical trials. Here we review the leading TBV antigens and highlight the ongoing search for additional gametocyte/gamete surface antigens, as well as antigens on the surfaces of gametocyte-infected erythrocytes, which can potentially become a new group of TBV candidates.
Collapse
|
14
|
Molina-Cruz A, Canepa GE, Barillas-Mury C. Plasmodium P47: a key gene for malaria transmission by mosquito vectors. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017; 40:168-174. [PMID: 29229188 PMCID: PMC5739336 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites that have a complex life cycle. The parasite protein P47 is critical for disease transmission. P47 mediates mosquito immune evasion in both Plasmodium berghei (Pbs47) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pfs47), and has been shown to be important for optimal female gamete fertility in P. berghei. Pfs47 presents strong geographic structure in natural P. falciparum populations, consistent with natural selection of Pfs47 haplotypes by the mosquito immune system as the parasite adapted to new vector species worldwide. These key functions make Plasmodium P47 an attractive target to disrupt malaria transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, United States.
| | - Gaspar E Canepa
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, United States
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Knuepfer E, Napiorkowska M, van Ooij C, Holder AA. Generating conditional gene knockouts in Plasmodium - a toolkit to produce stable DiCre recombinase-expressing parasite lines using CRISPR/Cas9. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28634346 PMCID: PMC5478596 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03984-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful establishment of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology in Plasmodium spp. has provided a powerful tool to transform Plasmodium falciparum into a genetically more tractable organism. Conditional gene regulation approaches are required to study the function of gene products critical for growth and erythrocyte invasion of blood stage parasites. Here we employ CRISPR/Cas9 to facilitate use of the dimerisable Cre-recombinase (DiCre) that is frequently used to mediate the excision and loss of loxP-flanked DNA sequences in a rapamycin controlled manner. We describe novel CRISPR/Cas9 transfection plasmids and approaches for the speedy, stable and marker-free introduction of transgenes encoding the DiCre recombinase into genomic loci dispensable for blood stage development. Together these plasmids form a toolkit that will allow the rapid generation of transgenic DiCre-expressing P. falciparum lines in any genetic background. Furthermore, the newly developed 3D7-derived parasite lines, constitutively and stably expressing DiCre, generated using this toolkit will prove useful for the analysis of gene products. Lastly, we introduce an improved treatment protocol that uses a lower rapamycin concentration and shorter treatment times, leading to loxP-guided recombination with close to 100% efficiency within the same replication cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Knuepfer
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom.
| | - Marta Napiorkowska
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom.,Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | - Christiaan van Ooij
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom.
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
The s48/45 six-cysteine proteins: mediators of interaction throughout the Plasmodium life cycle. Int J Parasitol 2016; 47:409-423. [PMID: 27899328 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
During their life cycle Plasmodium parasites rely upon an arsenal of proteins that establish key interactions with the host and vector, and between the parasite sexual stages, with the purpose of ensuring infection, reproduction and proliferation. Among these is a group of secreted or membrane-anchored proteins known as the six-cysteine (6-cys) family. This is a small but important family with only 14 members thus far identified, each stage-specifically expressed during the parasite life cycle. 6-cys proteins often localise at the parasite surface or interface with the host and vector, and are conserved in different Plasmodium species. The unifying feature of the family is the s48/45 domain, presumably involved in adhesion and structurally related to Ephrins, the ligands of Eph receptors. The most prominent s48/45 members are currently under functional investigation and are being pursued as vaccine candidates. In this review, we examine what is known about the 6-cys family, their structure and function, and discuss future research directions.
Collapse
|
17
|
Paul NH, Vengesai A, Mduluza T, Chipeta J, Midzi N, Bansal GP, Kumar N. Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum transmission reducing immunity among primary school children in a malaria moderate transmission region in Zimbabwe. Acta Trop 2016; 163:103-8. [PMID: 27491342 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Malaria continues to cause alarming morbidity and mortality in more than 100 countries worldwide. Antigens in the various life cycle stages of malaria parasites are presented to the immune system during natural infection and it is widely recognized that after repeated malaria exposure, adults develop partially protective immunity. Specific antigens of natural immunity represent among the most important targets for the development of malaria vaccines. Immunity against the transmission stages of the malaria parasite represents an important approach to reduce malaria transmission and is believed to become an important tool for gradual elimination of malaria. Development of immunity against Plasmodium falciparum sexual stages was evaluated in primary school children aged 6-16 years in Makoni district of Zimbabwe, an area of low to modest malaria transmission. Malaria infection was screened by microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests and finally using nested PCR. Plasma samples were tested for antibodies against recombinant Pfs48/45 and Pfs47 by ELISA. Corresponding serum samples were used to test for P. falciparum transmission reducing activity in Anopheles stephensi and An. gambiae mosquitoes using the membrane feeding assay. The prevalence of malaria diagnosed by rapid diagnostic test kit (Paracheck)™ was 1.7%. However, of the randomly tested blood samples, 66% were positive by nested PCR. ELISA revealed prevalence (64% positivity at 1:500 dilution, in randomly selected 66 plasma samples) of antibodies against recombinant Pfs48/45 (mean A 405nm=0.53, CI=0.46-0.60) and Pfs47 (mean A405nm=0.91, CI=0.80-1.02); antigens specific to the sexual stages. The mosquito membrane feeding assay demonstrated measurable transmission reducing ability of the samples that were positive for Pfs48/45 antibodies by ELISA. Interestingly, 3 plasma samples revealed enhancement of infectivity of P. falciparum in An. stephensi mosquitoes. These studies revealed the presence of antibodies with transmission reducing immunity in school age children from a moderate transmission area of malaria, and provide further support to exploit target antigens such as Pfs48/45 for further development of a malaria transmission blocking vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noah H Paul
- Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre, Food and Biomedical Technology Institute, 1574 Alpes Rd., P O Box 6640, Hatcliffe, Harare, Zimbabwe; University of Zimbabwe, Biochemistry Department, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Arthur Vengesai
- University of Zimbabwe, Biochemistry Department, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- University of Zimbabwe, Biochemistry Department, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - James Chipeta
- University of Zambia School of Medicine and University Teaching Hospital, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, P.O. Box 50110, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Nicholas Midzi
- University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences Department of Community Medicine, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Geetha P Bansal
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Nirbhay Kumar
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Molina-Cruz A, Zilversmit MM, Neafsey DE, Hartl DL, Barillas-Mury C. Mosquito Vectors and the Globalization of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria. Annu Rev Genet 2016; 50:447-465. [PMID: 27732796 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-120215-035211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a devastating public health problem. Recent discoveries have shed light on the origin and evolution of Plasmodium parasites and their interactions with their vertebrate and mosquito hosts. P. falciparum malaria originated in Africa from a single horizontal transfer between an infected gorilla and a human, and became global as the result of human migration. Today, P. falciparum malaria is transmitted worldwide by more than 70 different anopheline mosquito species. Recent studies indicate that the mosquito immune system can be a barrier to malaria transmission and that the P. falciparum Pfs47 gene allows the parasite to evade mosquito immune detection. Here, we review the origin and globalization of P. falciparum and integrate this history with analysis of the biology, evolution, and dispersal of the main mosquito vectors. This new perspective broadens our understanding of P. falciparum population structure and the dispersal of important parasite genetic traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852;
| | - Martine M Zilversmit
- Richard Guilder Graduate School and Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
| | - Daniel L Hartl
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hupalo DN, Luo Z, Melnikov A, Sutton PL, Rogov P, Escalante A, Vallejo AF, Herrera S, Arévalo-Herrera M, Fan Q, Wang Y, Cui L, Lucas CM, Durand S, Sanchez JF, Baldeviano GC, Lescano AG, Laman M, Barnadas C, Barry A, Mueller I, Kazura JW, Eapen A, Kanagaraj D, Valecha N, Ferreira MU, Roobsoong W, Nguitragool W, Sattabonkot J, Gamboa D, Kosek M, Vinetz JM, González-Cerón L, Birren BW, Neafsey DE, Carlton JM. Population genomics studies identify signatures of global dispersal and drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax. Nat Genet 2016; 48:953-8. [PMID: 27348298 PMCID: PMC5347536 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is a major public health burden, responsible for the majority of malaria infections outside Africa. We explored the impact of demographic history and selective pressures on the P. vivax genome by sequencing 182 clinical isolates sampled from 11 countries across the globe, using hybrid selection to overcome human DNA contamination. We confirmed previous reports of high genomic diversity in P. vivax relative to the more virulent Plasmodium falciparum species; regional populations of P. vivax exhibited greater diversity than the global P. falciparum population, indicating a large and/or stable population. Signals of natural selection suggest that P. vivax is evolving in response to antimalarial drugs and is adapting to regional differences in the human host and the mosquito vector. These findings underline the variable epidemiology of this parasite species and highlight the breadth of approaches that may be required to eliminate P. vivax globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N Hupalo
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Zunping Luo
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Patrick L Sutton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter Rogov
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ananias Escalante
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia
- Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Qi Fan
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Third Military Medical University, Shapingba, Chongqing, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Moses Laman
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua, New Guinea
| | - Celine Barnadas
- Vector Borne Diseases Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Walter &Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Alyssa Barry
- Division of Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Division of Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
- Institute of Global Health (ISGLOBAL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - James W Kazura
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Alex Eapen
- National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Deena Kanagaraj
- National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Neena Valecha
- National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Marcelo U Ferreira
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabonkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Instituto de Medicine Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Margaret Kosek
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Instituto de Medicine Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Lilia González-Cerón
- Regional Centre for Research in Public Health, National Institute for Public Health, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - Bruce W Birren
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jane M Carlton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liu W, Sundararaman SA, Loy DE, Learn GH, Li Y, Plenderleith LJ, Ndjango JBN, Speede S, Atencia R, Cox D, Shaw GM, Ayouba A, Peeters M, Rayner JC, Hahn BH, Sharp PM. Multigenomic Delineation of Plasmodium Species of the Laverania Subgenus Infecting Wild-Living Chimpanzees and Gorillas. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:1929-39. [PMID: 27289102 PMCID: PMC4943199 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the major cause of malaria morbidity and mortality worldwide, is only distantly related to other human malaria parasites and has thus been placed in a separate subgenus, termed Laverania Parasites morphologically similar to P. falciparum have been identified in African apes, but only one other Laverania species, Plasmodium reichenowi from chimpanzees, has been formally described. Although recent studies have pointed to the existence of additional Laverania species, their precise number and host associations remain uncertain, primarily because of limited sampling and a paucity of parasite sequences other than from mitochondrial DNA. To address this, we used limiting dilution polymerase chain reaction to amplify additional parasite sequences from a large number of chimpanzee and gorilla blood and fecal samples collected at two sanctuaries and 30 field sites across equatorial Africa. Phylogenetic analyses of more than 2,000 new sequences derived from the mitochondrial, nuclear, and apicoplast genomes revealed six divergent and well-supported clades within the Laverania parasite group. Although two of these clades exhibited deep subdivisions in phylogenies estimated from organelle gene sequences, these sublineages were geographically defined and not present in trees from four unlinked nuclear loci. This greatly expanded sequence data set thus confirms six, and not seven or more, ape Laverania species, of which P. reichenowi, Plasmodium gaboni, and Plasmodium billcollinsi only infect chimpanzees, whereas Plasmodium praefalciparum, Plasmodium adleri, and Pladmodium blacklocki only infect gorillas. The new sequence data also confirm the P. praefalciparum origin of human P. falciparum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Liu
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Sesh A Sundararaman
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Dorothy E Loy
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Gerald H Learn
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Yingying Li
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Lindsey J Plenderleith
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sheri Speede
- Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, IDA-Africa, Portland, Oregon
| | - Rebeca Atencia
- Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center, Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo
| | - Debby Cox
- Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center, Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo Africa Programmes, Jane Goodall Institute, Vienna, Virginia
| | - George M Shaw
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Ahidjo Ayouba
- UMI 233, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), INSERM U1175, and University of Montpellier, France
| | - Martine Peeters
- UMI 233, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), INSERM U1175, and University of Montpellier, France
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Paul M Sharp
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Vallejo AF, Martinez NL, Tobon A, Alger J, Lacerda MV, Kajava AV, Arévalo-Herrera M, Herrera S. Global genetic diversity of the Plasmodium vivax transmission-blocking vaccine candidate Pvs48/45. Malar J 2016; 15:202. [PMID: 27067024 PMCID: PMC4828788 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1263-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax 48/45 protein is expressed on the surface of gametocytes/gametes and plays a key role in gamete fusion during fertilization. This protein was recently expressed in Escherichia coli host as a recombinant product that was highly immunogenic in mice and monkeys and induced antibodies with high transmission-blocking activity, suggesting its potential as a P. vivax transmission-blocking vaccine candidate. To determine sequence polymorphism of natural parasite isolates and its potential influence on the protein structure, all pvs48/45 sequences reported in databases from around the world as well as those from low-transmission settings of Latin America were compared. Methods Plasmodium vivax parasite isolates from malaria-endemic regions of Colombia, Brazil and Honduras (n = 60) were used to sequence the Pvs48/45 gene, and compared to those previously reported to GenBank and PlasmoDB (n = 222). Pvs48/45 gene haplotypes were analysed to determine the functional significance of genetic variation in protein structure and vaccine potential. Results Nine non-synonymous substitutions (E35K, Y196H, H211N, K250N, D335Y, E353Q, A376T, K390T, K418R) and three synonymous substitutions (I73, T149, C156) that define seven different haplotypes were found among the 282 isolates from nine countries when compared with the Sal I reference sequence. Nucleotide diversity (π) was 0.00173 for worldwide samples (range 0.00033–0.00216), resulting in relatively high diversity in Myanmar and Colombia, and low diversity in Mexico, Peru and South Korea. The two most frequent substitutions (E353Q: 41.9 %, K250N: 39.5 %) were predicted to be located in antigenic regions without affecting putative B cell epitopes or the tertiary protein structure. Conclusions There is limited sequence polymorphism in pvs48/45 with noted geographical clustering among Asian and American isolates. The low genetic diversity of the protein does not influence the predicted antigenicity or protein structure and, therefore, supports its further development as transmission-blocking vaccine candidate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jackeline Alger
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Hospital Escuela Universitario, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Marcus V Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Andrey V Kajava
- Centre de Recherches Biochimie Macromoléculaire (CRBM), Institut de Biologie Computationnelle (IBC), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Institute of Bioengineering, University ITMO, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia.,School of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Feng H, Gupta B, Wang M, Zheng W, Zheng L, Zhu X, Yang Y, Fang Q, Luo E, Fan Q, Tsuboi T, Cao Y, Cui L. Genetic diversity of transmission-blocking vaccine candidate Pvs48/45 in Plasmodium vivax populations in China. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:615. [PMID: 26627683 PMCID: PMC4665908 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1232-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The male gamete fertilization factor P48/45 in malaria parasites is a prime transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) candidate. Efforts to develop antimalarial vaccines are often thwarted by genetic diversity of the target antigens. Here we evaluated the genetic diversity of Pvs48/45 gene in global Plasmodium vivax populations. Methods We determined 200 Pvs48/45 sequences collected from temperate and subtropical parasite populations in China. Population genetic and evolutionary analyses were performed to determine the levels of genetic diversity, potential signature of selection, and population differentiation. Results Analysis of the Pvs48/45 sequences from 200 P. vivax parasites collected in a temperate and a tropical region revealed a low level of genetic diversity (π = 0.0012) with 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 11 were nonsynonymous. Analysis of 344 Pvs48/45 sequences from nine worldwide P. vivax populations detected a total of 38 haplotypes, of which 13 haplotypes were present only once. Multiple tests for selection confirmed a signature of positive selection on Pvs48/45 with selection skewed to the second cysteine domain. Haplotype network analysis and Wright’s fixation index showed large geographical differentiation with the presence of continent-or region-specific mutations in this gene. Conclusions Pvs48/45 displays low levels of genetic diversity with the presence of region-specific mutations. Some of the mutations may be potential epitope targets based on their positions in the predicted structure, highlighting the need for future evaluation of these mutations in designing Pvs48/45-based TBV. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1232-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Feng
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Bhavna Gupta
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Meilian Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Wenqi Zheng
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Li Zheng
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Xiaotong Zhu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Yimei Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali Medical College, Dali, Yunnan, China.
| | - Qiang Fang
- Department of Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, China.
| | - Enjie Luo
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Qi Fan
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Cell-free Science and Technology Research Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan.
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. .,Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Plasmodium evasion of mosquito immunity and global malaria transmission: The lock-and-key theory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:15178-83. [PMID: 26598665 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520426112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria originated in Africa and became global as humans migrated to other continents. During this journey, parasites encountered new mosquito species, some of them evolutionarily distant from African vectors. We have previously shown that the Pfs47 protein allows the parasite to evade the mosquito immune system of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Here, we investigated the role of Pfs47-mediated immune evasion in the adaptation of P. falciparum to evolutionarily distant mosquito species. We found that P. falciparum isolates from Africa, Asia, or the Americas have low compatibility to malaria vectors from a different continent, an effect that is mediated by the mosquito immune system. We identified 42 different haplotypes of Pfs47 that have a strong geographic population structure and much lower haplotype diversity outside Africa. Replacement of the Pfs47 haplotypes in a P. falciparum isolate is sufficient to make it compatible to a different mosquito species. Those parasites that express a Pfs47 haplotype compatible with a given vector evade antiplasmodial immunity and survive. We propose that Pfs47-mediated immune evasion has been critical for the globalization of P. falciparum malaria as parasites adapted to new vector species. Our findings predict that this ongoing selective force by the mosquito immune system could influence the dispersal of Plasmodium genetic traits and point to Pfs47 as a potential target to block malaria transmission. A new model, the "lock-and-key theory" of P. falciparum globalization, is proposed, and its implications are discussed.
Collapse
|
24
|
Molina-Cruz A, Barillas-Mury C. The remarkable journey of adaptation of the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite to New World anopheline mosquitoes. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 109:662-7. [PMID: 25185006 PMCID: PMC4156459 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum originated in Africa, dispersed around the
world as a result of human migration and had to adapt to several different indigenous
anopheline mosquitoes. Anophelines from the New World are evolutionary distant form
African ones and this probably resulted in a more stringent selection of
Plasmodium as it adapted to these vectors. It is thought that
Plasmodium has been genetically selected by some anopheline species
through unknown mechanisms. The mosquito immune system can greatly limit infection
and P. falciparum evolved a strategy to evade these responses, at
least in part mediated by Pfs47, a highly polymorphic gene. We
propose that adaptation of P. falciparum to new vectors may require
evasion of their immune system. Parasites with a Pfs47 haplotype
compatible with the indigenous mosquito vector would be able to survive and be
transmitted. The mosquito antiplasmodial response could be an important determinant
of P. falciparum population structure and could affect malaria
transmission in the Americas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Jones S, Grignard L, Nebie I, Chilongola J, Dodoo D, Sauerwein R, Theisen M, Roeffen W, Singh SK, Singh RK, Singh S, Kyei-Baafour E, Tetteh K, Drakeley C, Bousema T. Naturally acquired antibody responses to recombinant Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 transmission blocking vaccine candidates. J Infect 2015; 71:117-27. [PMID: 25869538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pfs48/45 and Pfs230 are Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage proteins and promising malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidates. Antibody responses against these proteins may be naturally acquired and target antigens may be under selective pressure. This has consequences for the future evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in populations naturally exposed to malaria. METHODS We determined naturally acquired antibody responses to the recombinant proteins Pfs48/45-10C and Pfs230-230CMB in children from three malaria endemic settings in Ghana, Tanzania and Burkina Faso. We also examined genetic polymorphisms in the P. falciparum gene pfs48/45. RESULTS Antibody prevalence was 1.1-18.2% for 10C and 6.7-18.9% for 230CMB. In Burkina Faso we observed evidence of an age-dependent acquisition pattern for both 10C (p < 0.001) and 230CMB (p = 0.031). Membrane feeding assays on a separate dataset demonstrated an association between functional transmission reducing activity and antibody prevalence for both 10C (p = 0.017) and 230CMB (p = 0.049). 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms were found in pfs48/45 (from 126 samples), with 5 non-synonymous SNPs in the Pfs48/45 10C region. CONCLUSIONS We conclude there are naturally acquired antibody responses to both vaccine candidates which have functional relevance by reducing the transmissibility of infected individuals. We identified genetic polymorphisms, in pfs48/45 which exhibited geographical specificity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Jones
- Department of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn Grignard
- Department of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Issa Nebie
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Daniel Dodoo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Robert Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology and Genetics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Will Roeffen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Sanjay Singh
- Gennova Bio Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pune, India
| | - Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Kevin Tetteh
- Department of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Drakeley
- Department of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Tachibana M, Suwanabun N, Kaneko O, Iriko H, Otsuki H, Sattabongkot J, Kaneko A, Herrera S, Torii M, Tsuboi T. Plasmodium vivax gametocyte proteins, Pvs48/45 and Pvs47, induce transmission-reducing antibodies by DNA immunization. Vaccine 2015; 33:1901-8. [PMID: 25765968 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Malaria transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV) aim to interfere with the development of the malaria parasite in the mosquito vector, and thus prevent spread of transmission in a community. To date three TBV candidates have been identified in Plasmodium vivax; namely, the gametocyte/gamete protein Pvs230, and the ookinete surface proteins Pvs25 and Pvs28. The Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte/gamete stage proteins Pfs48/45 and Pfs47 have been studied as TBV candidates, and Pfs48/45 shown to induce transmission-blocking antibodies, but the candidacy of their orthologs in P. vivax, Pvs48/45 (PVX_083235) and Pvs47 (PVX_083240), for vivax TBV have not been tested. Herein we investigated whether targeting Pvs48/45 and Pvs47 can inhibit parasite transmission to mosquitoes, using P. vivax isolates obtained in Thailand. Mouse antisera directed against the products from plasmids expressing Pvs48/45 and Pvs47 detected proteins of approximately 45- and 40-kDa, respectively, in the P. vivax gametocyte lysate, by Western blot analysis under non-reducing conditions. In immunofluorescence assays Pvs48/45 was detected predominantly on the surface and Pvs47 was detected in the cytoplasm of gametocytes. Membrane feeding transmission assays demonstrated that anti-Pvs48/45 and -Pvs47 mouse sera significantly reduced the number of P. vivax oocysts developing in the mosquito midgut. Limited amino acid polymorphism of these proteins was observed among 27 P. vivax isolates obtained from Thailand, Vanuatu, and Colombia; suggesting that polymorphism may not be an impediment for the utilization of Pvs48/45 and Pvs47 as TBV antigens. In one Thai isolate we found that the fourth cysteine residue in the Pvs47 cysteine-rich domain (CRD) III (amino acid position 337) is substituted to phenylalanine. However, antibodies targeting Pvs47 CRDI-III showed a significant transmission-reducing activity against this isolate, suggesting that this substitution in Pvs47 was not critical for recognition by the generated antibodies. In conclusion, our results indicate that Pvs48/45 and Pvs47 are potential transmission-blocking vaccine candidates of P. vivax.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Tachibana
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan
| | - Nantavadee Suwanabun
- Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Iriko
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe 654-0142, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Otsuki
- Division of Medical Zoology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori 683-8503, Japan
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Akira Kaneko
- Department of Parasitology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 545-8585, Japan; Island Malaria Group, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Socrates Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center, Cali AA 25574, Colombia
| | - Motomi Torii
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
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.
Collapse
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
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Severo MS, Levashina EA. Mosquito defenses against Plasmodium parasites. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2014; 3:30-36. [PMID: 32846668 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2014.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Malaria, the human infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, is transmitted by the bite of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Mosquitoes actively detect Plasmodium and mount efficient responses that eliminate the majority of invading parasites. Such responses include hemocyte-mediated defenses, activation of the complement-like system, melanization, and immune signaling cascades. This review aims to summarize our current knowledge of the mosquito immune responses to Plasmodium and to highlight the remaining gaps in our understanding of these events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maiara S Severo
- Vector Biology Unit, Max-Planck-Institut für Infektionsbiologie, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elena A Levashina
- Vector Biology Unit, Max-Planck-Institut für Infektionsbiologie, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Tao D, Ubaida-Mohien C, Mathias DK, King JG, Pastrana-Mena R, Tripathi A, Goldowitz I, Graham DR, Moss E, Marti M, Dinglasan RR. Sex-partitioning of the Plasmodium falciparum stage V gametocyte proteome provides insight into falciparum-specific cell biology. Mol Cell Proteomics 2014; 13:2705-24. [PMID: 25056935 PMCID: PMC4188997 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m114.040956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the critical gaps in malaria transmission biology and surveillance is our lack of knowledge about Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte biology, especially sexual dimorphic development and how sex ratios that may influence transmission from the human to the mosquito. Dissecting this process has been hampered by the lack of sex-specific protein markers for the circulating, mature stage V gametocytes. The current evidence suggests a high degree of conservation in gametocyte gene complement across Plasmodium, and therefore presumably for sex-specific genes as well. To better our understanding of gametocyte development and subsequent infectiousness to mosquitoes, we undertook a Systematic Subtractive Bioinformatic analysis (filtering) approach to identify sex-specific P. falciparum NF54 protein markers based on a comparison with the Dd2 strain, which is defective in producing males, and with syntenic male and female proteins from the reanalyzed and updated P. berghei (related rodent malaria parasite) gametocyte proteomes. This produced a short list of 174 male- and 258 female-enriched P. falciparum stage V proteins, some of which appear to be under strong diversifying selection, suggesting ongoing adaptation to mosquito vector species. We generated antibodies against three putative female-specific gametocyte stage V proteins in P. falciparum and confirmed either conserved sex-specificity or the lack of cross-species sex-partitioning. Finally, our study provides not only an additional resource for mass spectrometry-derived evidence for gametocyte proteins but also lays down the foundation for rational screening and development of novel sex-partitioned protein biomarkers and transmission-blocking vaccine candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dingyin Tao
- From the ‡W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ceereena Ubaida-Mohien
- §Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Derrick K Mathias
- From the ‡W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonas G King
- From the ‡W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca Pastrana-Mena
- From the ‡W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Abhai Tripathi
- From the ‡W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ilana Goldowitz
- ¶Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David R Graham
- §Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Eli Moss
- ‖The Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthias Marti
- ¶Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rhoel R Dinglasan
- From the ‡W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Theisen M, Roeffen W, Singh SK, Andersen G, Amoah L, van de Vegte-Bolmer M, Arens T, Tiendrebeogo RW, Jones S, Bousema T, Adu B, Dziegiel MH, Christiansen M, Sauerwein R. A multi-stage malaria vaccine candidate targeting both transmission and asexual parasite life-cycle stages. Vaccine 2014; 32:2623-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
31
|
Mobegi VA, Duffy CW, Amambua-Ngwa A, Loua KM, Laman E, Nwakanma DC, MacInnis B, Aspeling-Jones H, Murray L, Clark TG, Kwiatkowski DP, Conway DJ. Genome-wide analysis of selection on the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in West African populations of differing infection endemicity. Mol Biol Evol 2014; 31:1490-9. [PMID: 24644299 PMCID: PMC4032133 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msu106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Locally varying selection on pathogens may be due to differences in drug pressure, host immunity, transmission opportunities between hosts, or the intensity of between-genotype competition within hosts. Highly recombining populations of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum throughout West Africa are closely related, as gene flow is relatively unrestricted in this endemic region, but markedly varying ecology and transmission intensity should cause distinct local selective pressures. Genome-wide analysis of sequence variation was undertaken on a sample of 100 P. falciparum clinical isolates from a highly endemic region of the Republic of Guinea where transmission occurs for most of each year and compared with data from 52 clinical isolates from a previously sampled population from The Gambia, where there is relatively limited seasonal malaria transmission. Paired-end short-read sequences were mapped against the 3D7 P. falciparum reference genome sequence, and data on 136,144 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained. Within-population analyses identifying loci showing evidence of recent positive directional selection and balancing selection confirm that antimalarial drugs and host immunity have been major selective agents. Many of the signatures of recent directional selection reflected by standardized integrated haplotype scores were population specific, including differences at drug resistance loci due to historically different antimalarial use between the countries. In contrast, both populations showed a similar set of loci likely to be under balancing selection as indicated by very high Tajima’s D values, including a significant overrepresentation of genes expressed at the merozoite stage that invades erythrocytes and several previously validated targets of acquired immunity. Between-population FST analysis identified exceptional differentiation of allele frequencies at a small number of loci, most markedly for five SNPs covering a 15-kb region within and flanking the gdv1 gene that regulates the early stages of gametocyte development, which is likely related to the extreme differences in mosquito vector abundance and seasonality that determine the transmission opportunities for the sexual stage of the parasite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor A Mobegi
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomMedical Research Council Unit, Fajara, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Craig W Duffy
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kovana M Loua
- National Institute of Public Health, Conakry, Republic of Guinea
| | - Eugene Laman
- National Institute of Public Health, Conakry, Republic of Guinea
| | | | - Bronwyn MacInnis
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Harvey Aspeling-Jones
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lee Murray
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Taane G Clark
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic P Kwiatkowski
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United KingdomWellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David J Conway
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomMedical Research Council Unit, Fajara, Banjul, The Gambia
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Woo MK, Kim KA, Kim J, Oh JS, Han ET, An SSA, Lim CS. Sequence polymorphisms in Pvs48/45 and Pvs47 gametocyte and gamete surface proteins in Plasmodium vivax isolated in Korea. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 108:S0074-02762013000300359. [PMID: 23778662 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762013000300015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleotide sequence analyses of the Pvs48/45 and Pvs47 genes were conducted in 46 malaria patients from the Republic of Korea (ROK) (n = 40) and returning travellers from India (n = 3) and Indonesia (n = 3). The domain structures, which were based on cysteine residue position and secondary protein structure, were similar between Plasmodium vivax (Pvs48/45 and Pvs47) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pfs48/45 and Pfs47). In comparison to the Sal-1 reference strain (Pvs48/45, PVX_083235 and Pvs47, PVX_083240), Korean isolates revealed seven polymorphisms (E35K, H211N, K250N, D335Y, A376T, I380T and K418R) in Pvs48/45. These isolates could be divided into five haplotypes with the two major types having frequencies of 47.5% and 20%, respectivelfy. In Pvs47, 10 polymorphisms (F22L, F24L, K27E, D31N, V230I, M233I, E240D, I262T, I273M and A373V) were found and they could be divided into four haplotypes with one major type having a frequency of 75%. The Pvs48/45 isolates from India showed a unique amino acid substitution site (K26R). Compared to the Sal-1 and ROK isolates, the Pvs47 isolates from travellers returning from India and Indonesia had amino acid substitutions (S57T and I262K). The current data may contribute to the development of the malaria transmission-blocking vaccine in future clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mi Kyung Woo
- Korea University Guro Hospital, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Molina-Cruz A, Garver LS, Alabaster A, Bangiolo L, Haile A, Winikor J, Ortega C, van Schaijk BCL, Sauerwein RW, Taylor-Salmon E, Barillas-Mury C. The human malaria parasite Pfs47 gene mediates evasion of the mosquito immune system. Science 2013; 340:984-7. [PMID: 23661646 PMCID: PMC3807741 DOI: 10.1126/science.1235264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum transmission by Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes is remarkably efficient, resulting in a very high prevalence of human malaria infection in sub-Saharan Africa. A combination of genetic mapping, linkage group selection, and functional genomics was used to identify Pfs47 as a P. falciparum gene that allows the parasite to infect A. gambiae without activating the mosquito immune system. Disruption of Pfs47 greatly reduced parasite survival in the mosquito, and this phenotype could be reverted by genetic complementation of the parasite or by disruption of the mosquito complement-like system. Pfs47 suppresses midgut nitration responses that are critical to activate the complement-like system. We provide direct experimental evidence that immune evasion mediated by Pfs47 is critical for efficient human malaria transmission by A. gambiae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lindsey S. Garver
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Amy Alabaster
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lois Bangiolo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ashley Haile
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jared Winikor
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Corrie Ortega
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ben C. L. van Schaijk
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, 268, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert W. Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, 268, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Taylor-Salmon
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Tonkin ML, Arredondo SA, Loveless BC, Serpa JJ, Makepeace KA, Sundar N, Petrotchenko EV, Miller LH, Grigg ME, Boulanger MJ. Structural and Biochemical Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum 12 (Pf12) Reveals a Unique Interdomain Organization and the Potential for an Antiparallel Arrangement with Pf41. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:12805-17. [DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.455667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
|
35
|
Manske M, Miotto O, Campino S, Auburn S, Almagro-Garcia J, Maslen G, O'Brien J, Djimde A, Doumbo O, Zongo I, Ouedraogo JB, Michon P, Mueller I, Siba P, Nzila A, Borrmann S, Kiara SM, Marsh K, Jiang H, Su XZ, Amaratunga C, Fairhurst R, Socheat D, Nosten F, Imwong M, White NJ, Sanders M, Anastasi E, Alcock D, Drury E, Oyola S, Quail MA, Turner DJ, Ruano-Rubio V, Jyothi D, Amenga-Etego L, Hubbart C, Jeffreys A, Rowlands K, Sutherland C, Roper C, Mangano V, Modiano D, Tan JC, Ferdig MT, Amambua-Ngwa A, Conway DJ, Takala-Harrison S, Plowe CV, Rayner JC, Rockett KA, Clark TG, Newbold CI, Berriman M, MacInnis B, Kwiatkowski DP. Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum diversity in natural infections by deep sequencing. Nature 2012; 487:375-9. [PMID: 22722859 PMCID: PMC3738909 DOI: 10.1038/nature11174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 393] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2010] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Malaria elimination strategies require surveillance of the parasite population for genetic changes that demand a public health response, such as new forms of drug resistance. Here we describe methods for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation in Plasmodium falciparum by deep sequencing of parasite DNA obtained from the blood of patients with malaria, either directly or after short-term culture. Analysis of 86,158 exonic single nucleotide polymorphisms that passed genotyping quality control in 227 samples from Africa, Asia and Oceania provides genome-wide estimates of allele frequency distribution, population structure and linkage disequilibrium. By comparing the genetic diversity of individual infections with that of the local parasite population, we derive a metric of within-host diversity that is related to the level of inbreeding in the population. An open-access web application has been established for the exploration of regional differences in allele frequency and of highly differentiated loci in the P. falciparum genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Manske
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
van Dijk MR, van Schaijk BCL, Khan SM, van Dooren MW, Ramesar J, Kaczanowski S, van Gemert GJ, Kroeze H, Stunnenberg HG, Eling WM, Sauerwein RW, Waters AP, Janse CJ. Three members of the 6-cys protein family of Plasmodium play a role in gamete fertility. PLoS Pathog 2010; 6:e1000853. [PMID: 20386715 PMCID: PMC2851734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2009] [Accepted: 03/09/2010] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of fertilization is critically dependent on the mutual recognition of gametes and in Plasmodium, the male gamete surface protein P48/45 is vital to this process. This protein belongs to a family of 10 structurally related proteins, the so called 6-cys family. To identify the role of additional members of this family in Plasmodium fertilisation, we performed genetic and functional analysis on the five members of the 6-cys family that are transcribed during the gametocyte stage of P. berghei. This analysis revealed that in addition to P48/45, two members (P230 and P47) also play an essential role in the process of parasite fertilization. Mating studies between parasites lacking P230, P48/45 or P47 demonstrate that P230, like P48/45, is a male fertility factor, consistent with the previous demonstration of a protein complex containing both P48/45 and P230. In contrast, disruption of P47 results in a strong reduction of female fertility, while males remain unaffected. Further analysis revealed that gametes of mutants lacking expression of p48/45 or p230 or p47 are unable to either recognise or attach to each other. Disruption of the paralog of p230, p230p, also specifically expressed in gametocytes, had no observable effect on fertilization. These results indicate that the P. berghei 6-cys family contains a number of proteins that are either male or female specific ligands that play an important role in gamete recognition and/or attachment. The implications of low levels of fertilisation that exist even in the absence of these proteins, indicating alternative pathways of fertilisation, as well as positive selection acting on these proteins, are discussed in the context of targeting these proteins as transmission blocking vaccine candidates. Sexual reproduction for malaria parasites is an essential process and is necessary for parasite transmission between hosts. Fertilisation between female and male gametes occurs in the midgut of the mosquito and proteins on the surface of gametes are principle targets in transmission blocking strategies. Despite their importance, relatively little is known about the malaria proteins involved in fertilisation. In this study we show that two gamete proteins, one expressed on the surface of males, the other on the surface of females, have important roles in the mutual recognition and attachment of gametes. Mutant parasites that lack the presence of these surface proteins show a strong reduction in fertility. Comparison of these gamete surface proteins in different malaria parasites showed that these proteins are evolving rapidly either across their length or at discreet regions/domains. We found, that despite the drastic reduction in zygote formation, low levels of fertilisation can still occur in the absence of these surface proteins, indicating that gametes can use alternative proteins to recognize each other. Both genetic variation of gamete surface proteins and the presence of different fertilisation pathways have important implications for transmission blocking vaccines targeting gamete surface proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa R. van Dijk
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ben C. L. van Schaijk
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Shahid M. Khan
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maaike W. van Dooren
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jai Ramesar
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Szymon Kaczanowski
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Geert-Jan van Gemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Kroeze
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik G. Stunnenberg
- Department of Molecular Biology, NCMLS, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wijnand M. Eling
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert W. Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew P. Waters
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biomedical Life Sciences & Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Barry AE, Schultz L, Buckee CO, Reeder JC. Contrasting population structures of the genes encoding ten leading vaccine-candidate antigens of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS One 2009; 4:e8497. [PMID: 20041125 PMCID: PMC2795866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2009] [Accepted: 12/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The extensive diversity of Plasmodium falciparum antigens is a major obstacle to a broadly effective malaria vaccine but population genetics has rarely been used to guide vaccine design. We have completed a meta-population genetic analysis of the genes encoding ten leading P. falciparum vaccine antigens, including the pre-erythrocytic antigens csp, trap, lsa1 and glurp; the merozoite antigens eba175, ama1, msp's 1, 3 and 4, and the gametocyte antigen pfs48/45. A total of 4553 antigen sequences were assembled from published data and we estimated the range and distribution of diversity worldwide using traditional population genetics, Bayesian clustering and network analysis. Although a large number of distinct haplotypes were identified for each antigen, they were organized into a limited number of discrete subgroups. While the non-merozoite antigens showed geographically variable levels of diversity and geographic restriction of specific subgroups, the merozoite antigens had high levels of diversity globally, and a worldwide distribution of each subgroup. This shows that the diversity of the non-merozoite antigens is organized by physical or other location-specific barriers to gene flow and that of merozoite antigens by features intrinsic to all populations, one important possibility being the immune response of the human host. We also show that current malaria vaccine formulations are based upon low prevalence haplotypes from a single subgroup and thus may represent only a small proportion of the global parasite population. This study demonstrates significant contrasts in the population structure of P. falciparum vaccine candidates that are consistent with the merozoite antigens being under stronger balancing selection than non-merozoite antigens and suggesting that unique approaches to vaccine design will be required. The results of this study also provide a realistic framework for the diversity of these antigens to be incorporated into the design of next-generation malaria vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa E Barry
- Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|