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Alaithan H, Kumar N, Islam MZ, Liappis AP, Nava VE. Novel Therapeutics for Malaria. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1800. [PMID: 37513987 PMCID: PMC10383744 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a potentially fatal disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. It is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in endemic countries of the tropical and subtropical world, particularly in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. It is estimated that 247 million malaria cases and 619,000 deaths occurred in 2021 alone. The World Health Organization's (WHO) global initiative aims to reduce the burden of disease but has been massively challenged by the emergence of parasitic strains resistant to traditional and emerging antimalarial therapy. Therefore, development of new antimalarial drugs with novel mechanisms of action that overcome resistance in a safe and efficacious manner is urgently needed. Based on the evolving understanding of the physiology of Plasmodium, identification of potential targets for drug intervention has been made in recent years, resulting in more than 10 unique potential anti-malaria drugs added to the pipeline for clinical development. This review article will focus on current therapies as well as novel targets and therapeutics against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Alaithan
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Nirbhay Kumar
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Mohammad Z Islam
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA
| | - Angelike P Liappis
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Victor E Nava
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
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2
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Abstract
Aquaporins (AQP) working as membrane channels facilitated water transport, play vital roles in various physiological progress including cell migration, energy metabolism, inflammation, etc. They are quite important drug targets, but elusive for discovery due to their undruggable properties. In this chapter, we summarized most fluently used methods for screening AQP inhibitors, including cell swelling assay, cell shrinking assay, and stopped-flow assay. And three classes of AQP inhibitors have been discussed, including metal-related inhibitors, quaternary ammonium salts, and small molecule inhibitors which further divided into four parts, sulfanilamide analogies, TGN-020, antiepileptic drugs, and others. It has been suggested that although they showed inhibition effects on AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP7, or AQP9 in some researches, none of them could be asserted as AQP inhibitors to some extent. Discovering AQP inhibitors is a big challenge, but if successful, it will be a great contribution for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Baoxue Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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3
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Garten M, Beck JR. Structured to conquer: transport across the Plasmodium parasitophorous vacuole. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:181-188. [PMID: 34375857 PMCID: PMC8463430 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
During the vertebrate stage of the Plasmodium life cycle, obligate intracellular malaria parasites establish a vacuolar niche for replication, first within host hepatocytes at the pre-patent liver-stage and subsequently in erythrocytes during the pathogenic blood-stage. Survival in this protective microenvironment requires diverse transport mechanisms that enable the parasite to transcend the vacuolar barrier. Effector proteins exported out of the vacuole modify the erythrocyte membrane, increasing access to serum nutrients which then cross the vacuole membrane through a nutrient-permeable channel, supporting rapid parasite growth. This review highlights the most recent insights into the organization of the parasite vacuole to facilitate the solute, lipid and effector protein trafficking that establishes a nutrition pipeline in the terminally differentiated, organelle-free red blood cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Garten
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Josh R Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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4
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Abstract
Obligate intracellular malaria parasites reside within a vacuolar compartment generated during invasion which is the principal interface between pathogen and host. To subvert their host cell and support their metabolism, these parasites coordinate a range of transport activities at this membrane interface that are critically important to parasite survival and virulence, including nutrient import, waste efflux, effector protein export, and uptake of host cell cytosol. Here, we review our current understanding of the transport mechanisms acting at the malaria parasite vacuole during the blood and liver-stages of development with a particular focus on recent advances in our understanding of effector protein translocation into the host cell by the Plasmodium Translocon of EXported proteins (PTEX) and small molecule transport by the PTEX membrane-spanning pore EXP2. Comparison to Toxoplasma gondii and other related apicomplexans is provided to highlight how similar and divergent mechanisms are employed to fulfill analogous transport activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Chi-Min Ho
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
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5
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Azad AK, Raihan T, Ahmed J, Hakim A, Emon TH, Chowdhury PA. Human Aquaporins: Functional Diversity and Potential Roles in Infectious and Non-infectious Diseases. Front Genet 2021; 12:654865. [PMID: 33796134 PMCID: PMC8007926 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.654865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins and found in all living organisms from bacteria to human. AQPs mainly involved in the transmembrane diffusion of water as well as various small solutes in a bidirectional manner are widely distributed in various human tissues. Human contains 13 AQPs (AQP0-AQP12) which are divided into three sub-classes namely orthodox aquaporin (AQP0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8), aquaglyceroporin (AQP3, 7, 9, and 10) and super or unorthodox aquaporin (AQP11 and 12) based on their pore selectivity. Human AQPs are functionally diverse, which are involved in wide variety of non-infectious diseases including cancer, renal dysfunction, neurological disorder, epilepsy, skin disease, metabolic syndrome, and even cardiac diseases. However, the association of AQPs with infectious diseases has not been fully evaluated. Several studies have unveiled that AQPs can be regulated by microbial and parasitic infections that suggest their involvement in microbial pathogenesis, inflammation-associated responses and AQP-mediated cell water homeostasis. This review mainly aims to shed light on the involvement of AQPs in infectious and non-infectious diseases and potential AQPs-target modulators. Furthermore, AQP structures, tissue-specific distributions and their physiological relevance, functional diversity and regulations have been discussed. Altogether, this review would be useful for further investigation of AQPs as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of infectious as well as non-infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abul Kalam Azad
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Topu Raihan
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Jahed Ahmed
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Al Hakim
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Tanvir Hossain Emon
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
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6
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Belete TM. Recent Progress in the Development of New Antimalarial Drugs with Novel Targets. Drug Des Devel Ther 2020; 14:3875-3889. [PMID: 33061294 PMCID: PMC7519860 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s265602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a major global health problem that causes significant mortality and morbidity annually. The therapeutic options are scarce and massively challenged by the emergence of resistant parasite strains, which causes a major obstacle to malaria control. To prevent a potential public health emergency, there is an urgent need for new antimalarial drugs, with single-dose cures, broad therapeutic potential, and novel mechanism of action. Antimalarial drug development can follow several approaches ranging from modifications of existing agents to the design of novel agents that act against novel targets. Modern advancement in the biology of the parasite and the availability of the different genomic techniques provide a wide range of novel targets in the development of new therapy. Several promising targets for drug intervention have been revealed in recent years. Therefore, this review focuses on the progress made on the latest scientific and technological advances in the discovery and development of novel antimalarial agents. Among the most interesting antimalarial target proteins currently studied are proteases, protein kinases, Plasmodium sugar transporter inhibitor, aquaporin-3 inhibitor, choline transport inhibitor, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitor, isoprenoid biosynthesis inhibitor, farnesyltransferase inhibitor and enzymes are involved in lipid metabolism and DNA replication. This review summarizes the novel molecular targets and their inhibitors for antimalarial drug development approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tafere Mulaw Belete
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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7
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Posfai D, Maher SP, Roesch C, Vantaux A, Sylvester K, Péneau J, Popovici J, Kyle DE, Witkowski B, Derbyshire ER. Plasmodium vivax Liver and Blood Stages Recruit the Druggable Host Membrane Channel Aquaporin-3. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:719-727.e5. [PMID: 32330444 PMCID: PMC7303948 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax infects hepatocytes to form schizonts that cause blood infection, or dormant hypnozoites that can persist for months in the liver before leading to relapsing blood infections. The molecular processes that drive P. vivax schizont and hypnozoite survival remain largely unknown, but they likely involve a rich network of host-pathogen interactions, including those occurring at the host-parasite interface, the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). Using a recently developed P. vivax liver-stage model system we demonstrate that host aquaporin-3 (AQP3) localizes to the PVM of schizonts and hypnozoites within 5 days after invasion. This recruitment is also observed in P. vivax-infected reticulocytes. Chemical treatment with the AQP3 inhibitor auphen reduces P. vivax liver hypnozoite and schizont burden, and inhibits P. vivax asexual blood-stage growth. These findings reveal a role for AQP3 in P. vivax liver and blood stages and suggest that the protein may be targeted for therapeutic treatment. Host aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is recruited to P. vivax hypnozoites and schizonts The AQP3 inhibitor auphen inhibits P. vivax hypnozoites and schizonts Host AQP3 is recruited to P. vivax-infected erythrocytes derived from patient samples Auphen inhibits blood stages of clinical P. vivax isolates
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Posfai
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Steven P Maher
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 D.W. Brooks Dr, ste 370, Athens, GE 30602, USA
| | - Camille Roesch
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Amélie Vantaux
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Kayla Sylvester
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Julie Péneau
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Jean Popovici
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 D.W. Brooks Dr, ste 370, Athens, GE 30602, USA
| | - Benoît Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia.
| | - Emily R Derbyshire
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Chemistry Department, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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8
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Wolanin K, Fontinha D, Sanches-Vaz M, Nyboer B, Heiss K, Mueller AK, Prudêncio M. A crucial role for the C-terminal domain of exported protein 1 during the mosquito and hepatic stages of the Plasmodium berghei life cycle. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13088. [PMID: 31364224 PMCID: PMC6771729 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular Plasmodium parasites develop inside a parasitophorous vacuole (PV), a specialised compartment enclosed by a membrane (PVM) that contains proteins of both host and parasite origin. Although exported protein 1 (EXP1) is one of the earliest described parasitic PVM proteins, its function throughout the Plasmodium life cycle remains insufficiently understood. Here, we show that whereas the N-terminus of Plasmodium berghei EXP1 (PbEXP1) is essential for parasite survival in the blood, parasites lacking PbEXP1's entire C-terminal (CT) domain replicate normally in the blood but cause less severe pathology than their wild-type counterparts. Moreover, truncation of PbEXP1's CT domain not only impairs parasite development in the mosquito but also abrogates PbEXP1 localization to the PVM of intrahepatic parasites, severely limiting their replication and preventing their egress into the blood. Our findings highlight the importance of EXP1 during the Plasmodium life cycle and identify this protein as a promising target for antiplasmodial intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Wolanin
- Parasitology Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Diana Fontinha
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Margarida Sanches-Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Britta Nyboer
- Parasitology Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Heiss
- Parasitology Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, Heidelberg Division, Heidelberg, Germany.,PEPperPRINT GmbH, Research & Development Division, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ann-Kristin Mueller
- Parasitology Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, Heidelberg Division, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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9
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Posfai D, Sylvester K, Reddy A, Ganley JG, Wirth J, Cullen QE, Dave T, Kato N, Dave SS, Derbyshire ER. Plasmodium parasite exploits host aquaporin-3 during liver stage malaria infection. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007057. [PMID: 29775485 PMCID: PMC5979039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Within the liver a single Plasmodium parasite transforms into thousands of blood-infective forms to cause malaria. Here, we use RNA-sequencing to identify host genes that are upregulated upon Plasmodium berghei infection of hepatocytes with the hypothesis that host pathways are hijacked to benefit parasite development. We found that expression of aquaporin-3 (AQP3), a water and glycerol channel, is significantly induced in Plasmodium-infected hepatocytes compared to uninfected cells. This aquaglyceroporin localizes to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, the compartmental interface between the host and pathogen, with a temporal pattern that correlates with the parasite’s expansion in the liver. Depletion or elimination of host AQP3 expression significantly reduces P. berghei parasite burden during the liver stage and chemical disruption by a known AQP3 inhibitor, auphen, reduces P. falciparum asexual blood stage and P. berghei liver stage parasite load. Further use of this inhibitor as a chemical probe suggests that AQP3-mediated nutrient transport is an important function for parasite development. This study reveals a previously unknown potential route for host-dependent nutrient acquisition by Plasmodium which was discovered by mapping the transcriptional changes that occur in hepatocytes throughout P. berghei infection. The dataset reported may be leveraged to identify additional host factors that are essential for Plasmodium liver stage infection and highlights Plasmodium’s dependence on host factors within hepatocytes. Plasmodium parasites undergo an obligatory morphogenesis and replication within the liver before they invade red blood cells and cause malaria. The liver stage is clinically silent but essential for the Plasmodium parasite to complete its life cycle. During this time, the parasite relies on the host cell to support a massive replication event, yet host factors that are critical to this expansion are largely unknown. We identify human aquaporin-3 (AQP3), a water and glycerol channel, as essential for the proper development of the parasite within the liver cell. AQP3 localizes to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, the interface between the host cytoplasm and the parasite, possibly aiding in the nutritional uptake for the parasite. Genetic disruption or treatment with the AQP3 inhibitor auphen, reduces parasite load in liver and blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Posfai
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kayla Sylvester
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Anupama Reddy
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jack G. Ganley
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Johannes Wirth
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Quinlan E. Cullen
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Tushar Dave
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Nobutaka Kato
- The Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sandeep S. Dave
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Emily R. Derbyshire
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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Sherling ES, van Ooij C. Host cell remodeling by pathogens: the exomembrane system in Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2017; 40:701-21. [PMID: 27587718 PMCID: PMC5007283 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection of erythrocytes by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. To survive inside erythrocytes, these parasites induce sweeping changes within the host cell, one of the most dramatic of which is the formation of multiple membranous compartments, collectively referred to as the exomembrane system. As an uninfected mammalian erythrocyte is devoid of internal membranes, the parasite must be the force and the source behind the formation of these compartments. Even though the first evidence of the presence these of internal compartments was obtained over a century ago, their functions remain mostly unclear, and in some cases completely unknown, and the mechanisms underlying their formation are still mysterious. In this review, we provide an overview of the different parts of the exomembrane system, describing the parasitophorous vacuole, the tubovesicular network, Maurer's clefts, the caveola-vesicle complex, J dots and other mobile compartments, and the small vesicles that have been observed in Plasmodium-infected cells. Finally, we combine the data into a simplified view of the exomembrane system and its relation to the alterations of the host erythrocyte. Plasmodium parasites remodel the host erythrocyte in various ways, including the formation of several membranous compartments, together referred to as the exomembrane system, within the erythrocyte cytosol that together are key to the sweeping changes in the host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma S Sherling
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Christiaan van Ooij
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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11
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Tribensky A, Graf AW, Diehl M, Fleck W, Przyborski JM. Trafficking of PfExp1 to the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane of Plasmodium falciparum is independent of protein folding and the PTEX translocon. Cell Microbiol 2017; 19. [PMID: 27892646 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Having entered the mature human erythrocyte, the malaria parasite survives and propagates within a parasitophorous vacuole, a membrane-bound compartment separating the parasite from the host cell cytosol. The bounding membrane of this vacuole, referred to as the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM), contains parasite-encoded proteins, but how these membrane proteins are trafficked to the PVM remains unknown. Here, we have studied the trafficking of PfExp1 to the PVM. We find that trafficking of PfExp1 to the PVM is independent of the folding state of the protein and also continues unabated upon inactivation of the PVM translocon Plasmodium Translocon of Exported proteins (PTEX). Our data strongly suggest that the trafficking of membrane proteins to the PVM occurs by as yet unknown mechanism, potentially unique to Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Tribensky
- Department of Parasitology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas W Graf
- Department of Parasitology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Diehl
- Department of Parasitology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Wiebke Fleck
- Department of Parasitology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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12
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Abstract
Blood group antigens represent polymorphic traits inherited among individuals and populations. At present, there are 34 recognized human blood groups and hundreds of individual blood group antigens and alleles. Differences in blood group antigen expression can increase or decrease host susceptibility to many infections. Blood groups can play a direct role in infection by serving as receptors and/or coreceptors for microorganisms, parasites, and viruses. In addition, many blood group antigens facilitate intracellular uptake, signal transduction, or adhesion through the organization of membrane microdomains. Several blood groups can modify the innate immune response to infection. Several distinct phenotypes associated with increased host resistance to malaria are overrepresented in populations living in areas where malaria is endemic, as a result of evolutionary pressures. Microorganisms can also stimulate antibodies against blood group antigens, including ABO, T, and Kell. Finally, there is a symbiotic relationship between blood group expression and maturation of the gastrointestinal microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cooling
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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13
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Baumeister S, Gangopadhyay P, Repnik U, Lingelbach K. Novel insights into red blood cell physiology using parasites as tools. Eur J Cell Biol 2015; 94:332-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2015.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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14
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Repnik U, Gangopadhyay P, Bietz S, Przyborski JM, Griffiths G, Lingelbach K. The apicomplexan parasite Babesia divergens internalizes band 3, glycophorin A and spectrin during invasion of human red blood cells. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1052-68. [PMID: 25628009 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum invades human red blood cells (RBC), while Babesia divergens infects bovine and, occasionally, human RBC. The mammalian RBC is normally unable to endocytose or phagocytose and the events leading to invasion are incompletely understood. Initially, both parasites are surrounded by the RBC plasma membrane-derived parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) that is formed during invasion. In P. falciparum-infected RBC, the PVM persists at least until parasite replication is completed whereas it has been proposed that the B. divergens PVM is disintegrated soon upon invasion. Here, we have used a B. divergens strain adapted to human RBC to investigate the formation and fate of the PVM. Using ultrastructural analysis and whole-mount or on-section immunofluorescence and immunogold labelling, we demonstrate that the initial vacuolar membrane is formed from protein and lipid components of the RBC plasma membrane. Integral membrane proteins band 3 and glycophorin A and the cytoskeletal protein spectrin are associated with the PVM of the B. divergens, but are absent from the PVM of P. falciparum at the ring or the trophozoite stage. Our results provide evidence that the biophysical properties of the RBC cytoskeleton per se do not preclude the internalization of cytoskeletal proteins by invading parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urska Repnik
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindernveien 31, Oslo, 0316, Norway
| | - Preetish Gangopadhyay
- Department of Parasitology, Philipps University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Sven Bietz
- Department of Parasitology, Philipps University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Jude M Przyborski
- Department of Parasitology, Philipps University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Gareth Griffiths
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindernveien 31, Oslo, 0316, Norway
| | - Klaus Lingelbach
- Department of Parasitology, Philipps University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, Marburg, 35043, Germany
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15
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Reduced glycerol incorporation into phospholipids contributes to impaired intra-erythrocytic growth of glycerol kinase knockout Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2013; 1830:5326-34. [PMID: 23954205 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Revised: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a devastating disease and Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal parasite infecting humans. Understanding the biology of this parasite is vital in identifying potential novel drug targets. During every 48-hour intra-erythrocytic asexual replication cycle, a single parasite can produce up to 32 progeny. This extensive proliferation implies that parasites require substantial amounts of lipid precursors for membrane biogenesis. Glycerol kinase is a highly conserved enzyme that functions at the interface of lipid synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. P. falciparum glycerol kinase catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of glycerol to glycerol-3-phosphate, a major phospholipid precursor. METHODS The P. falciparum glycerol kinase gene was disrupted using double crossover homologous DNA recombination to generate a knockout parasite line. Southern hybridization and mRNA analysis were used to verify gene disruption. Parasite growth rates were monitored by flow cytometry. Radiolabelling studies were used to assess incorporation of glycerol into parasite phospholipids. RESULTS Disruption of the P. falciparum glycerol kinase gene produced viable parasites, but their growth was significantly reduced to 56.5±1.8% when compared to wild type parasites. (14)C-glycerol incorporation into the major phospholipids of the parasite membrane, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, was 48.4±10.8% and 53.1±5.7% relative to an equivalent number of wild type parasites. CONCLUSIONS P. falciparum glycerol kinase is required for optimal intra-erythrocytic asexual parasite development. Exogenous glycerol may be used as an alternative carbon source for P. falciparum phospholipid biogenesis, despite the lack of glycerol kinase to generate glycerol-3-phosphate. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE These studies provide new insight into glycerolipid metabolism in P. falciparum.
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Kenthirapalan S, Waters AP, Matuschewski K, Kooij TW. Flow cytometry-assisted rapid isolation of recombinant Plasmodium berghei parasites exemplified by functional analysis of aquaglyceroporin. Int J Parasitol 2012; 42:1185-92. [PMID: 23137753 PMCID: PMC3521960 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Revised: 10/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The most critical bottleneck in the generation of recombinant Plasmodium berghei parasites is the mandatory in vivo cloning step following successful genetic manipulation. This study describes a new technique for rapid selection of recombinant P. berghei parasites. The method is based on flow cytometry to isolate isogenic parasite lines and represents a major advance for the field, in that it will speed the generation of recombinant parasites as well as cut down on animal use significantly. High expression of GFP during blood infection, a prerequisite for robust separation of transgenic lines by flow cytometry, was achieved. Isogenic recombinant parasite populations were isolated even in the presence of a 100-fold excess of wild-type (WT) parasites. Aquaglyceroporin (AQP) loss-of-function mutants and parasites expressing a tagged AQP were generated to validate this approach. aqp(-) parasites grow normally within the WT phenotypic range during blood infection of NMRI mice. Similarly, colonization of the insect vector and establishment of an infection after mosquito transmission were unaffected, indicating that AQP is dispensable for life cycle progression in vivo under physiological conditions, refuting its use as a suitable drug target. Tagged AQP localized to perinuclear structures and not the parasite plasma membrane. We suggest that flow-cytometric isolation of isogenic parasites overcomes the major roadblock towards a genome-scale repository of mutant and transgenic malaria parasite lines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew P. Waters
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Parasitology Unit, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Taco W.A. Kooij
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Parasitology Unit, Berlin, Germany
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 30 28460325; fax: +49 30 28460225.
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Aquaporins in drug discovery and pharmacotherapy. Mol Aspects Med 2012; 33:691-703. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2012.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Revised: 01/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Zuccala ES, Baum J. Cytoskeletal and membrane remodelling during malaria parasite invasion of the human erythrocyte. Br J Haematol 2011; 154:680-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08766.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Mutyam V, Puccetti MV, Frisbie J, Goldstein DL, Krane CM. Dynamic regulation of aquaglyceroporin expression in erythrocyte cultures from cold- and warm-acclimated Cope's gray treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 315:424-37. [PMID: 21656914 DOI: 10.1002/jez.689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2011] [Revised: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cope's gray treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis,is a freeze-tolerant anuran which accumulates and distributes glycerol as a cryoprotectant before freezing. We hypothesize that HC-3, an aquaglyceroporin member of the MIP family of water pores, may play an important role in the process of freeze tolerance by mediating transmembrane passage of glycerol and water during cold-acclimation. The objectives of this study were two-fold: to examine HC-3 protein abundance and cellular localization in erythrocytes from cold- and warm-acclimated frogs and to develop and characterize an erythrocyte cell culture system for examining HC-3 gene regulation. Compared with warm-acclimated frogs, erythrocytes from cold-acclimated frogs had higher HC-3 protein expression and enhanced plasma membrane localization. Furthermore, erythrocytes from cold- and warm-acclimated frogs maintained in culture at 4 and 20°C exhibited time- and temperature-dependent regulation of HC-3 expression and an increase in the abundance of high molecular weight immunoreactive species within 24 hr of culture at 20°C. Deglycosylation of erythrocyte proteins resulted in the disappearance of the high molecular weight species, indicating that HC-3 is post-translationally modified by N-linked glycosylation. Erythrocytes cultured in media containing glycerol also showed an increased abundance of the high molecular weight bands and enhanced plasma membrane localization of HC-3, suggesting a role for glycerol in regulating HC-3 subcellular trafficking. Thus, the development of this erythrocyte cell culture system from H. chrysoscelis opened an opportunity to study the properties of cells with changing expression of an aquaglyceroporin, HC-3, and to explore the factors regulating that expression.
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Campos E, Moura TF, Oliva A, Leandro P, Soveral G. Lack of Aquaporin 3 in bovine erythrocyte membranes correlates with low glycerol permeation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 408:477-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.04.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Dhangadamajhi G, Kar SK, Ranjit M. The survival strategies of malaria parasite in the red blood cell and host cell polymorphisms. Malar Res Treat 2010; 2010:973094. [PMID: 22332025 PMCID: PMC3277829 DOI: 10.4061/2010/973094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2010] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasite growth within the erythrocyte causes dramatic alterations of host cell which on one hand facilitates nutrients acquisition from extracellular environment and on other hand contributes to the symptoms of severe malaria. The current paper focuses on interactions between the Plasmodium parasite and its metabolically highly reduced host cell, the natural selection of numerous polymorphisms in the genes encoding hemoglobin and other erythrocyte proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunanidhi Dhangadamajhi
- Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
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Baumeister S, Winterberg M, Przyborski JM, Lingelbach K. The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum: cell biological peculiarities and nutritional consequences. PROTOPLASMA 2010; 240:3-12. [PMID: 19949823 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-009-0090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2009] [Accepted: 11/09/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites obligatorily invade and multiply within eukaryotic cells. Phylogenetically, they are related to a group of algae which, during their evolution, have acquired a secondary endosymbiont. This organelle, which in the parasite is called the apicoplast, is highly reduced compared to the endosymbionts of algae, but still contains many plant-specific biosynthetic pathways. The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum infects mammalian erythrocytes which are devoid of intracellular compartments and which largely lack biosynthetic pathways. Despite the limited resources of nutrition, the parasite grows and generates up to 32 merozoites which are the infectious stages of the complex life cycle. A large part of the intra-erythrocytic development takes place in the so-called parasitophorous vacuole, a compartment which forms an interface between the parasite and the cytoplasm of the host cell. In the course of parasite growth, the host cell undergoes dramatic alterations which on one hand contribute directly to the symptoms of severe malaria and which, on the other hand, are also required for parasite survival. Some of these alterations facilitate the acquisition of nutrients from the extracellular environment which are not provided by the host cell. Here, we describe the cell biologically unique interactions between an intracellular eukaryotic pathogen and its metabolically highly reduced host cell. We further discuss current models to explain the appearance of pathogen-induced novel physiological properties in a host cell which has lost its genetic programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Baumeister
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany
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