1
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Shrikondawar AN, Chennoju K, Ghosh DK, Ranjan A. Identification and characterization of nuclear localization signals in the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:801-817. [PMID: 38369616 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Secretory proteins of Plasmodium exhibit differential spatial and functional activity within the host cell nucleus. However, the nuclear localization signals (NLSs) for these proteins remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we have identified and characterized two NLSs in the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf-CSP). Both NLSs in the Pf-CSP contain clusters of lysine and arginine residues essential for specific interactions with the conserved tryptophan and asparagine residues of importin-α, facilitating nuclear translocation of Pf-CSP. While the two NLSs of Pf-CSP function independently and are both crucial for nuclear localization, a single NLS of Pf-CSP leads to weak nuclear localization. These findings shed light on the mechanism of nuclear penetrability of secretory proteins of Plasmodium proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshaykumar Nanaji Shrikondawar
- Computational and Functional Genomics Group, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | - Kiranmai Chennoju
- Computational and Functional Genomics Group, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | | | - Akash Ranjan
- Computational and Functional Genomics Group, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
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2
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Assawapanumat W, Roobsoong W, Chotivanich K, Sattabongkot J, Kampaengtip A, Sungkarat W, Sunintaboon P, Nasongkla N. In Vitro Tracking of Sporozoites via Fluorescence Imaging and MRI Using Multifunctional Micelles. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:5324-5332. [PMID: 38039355 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Early detection could increase the treatment efficiency and prevent the recurrence of malaria disease. To track and detect malarial sporozoites, novel drug delivery systems have been explored for their ability to target these parasites specifically. This study investigates the potential of micelles to track Plasmodium vivax by targeting the Plasmodium vivax hexose transporter using glucose-based interactions. In vitro experiments were conducted using glucose/SPIO/Nile red (targeted) micelles and methoxy/SPIO/Nile red (nontargeted) micelles, revealing that the targeted micelles exhibited stronger fluorescence with the sporozoites and higher relative R2* values compared to the nontargeted micelles. These findings suggest that targeted micelles could be used for the specific detection of Plasmodium sporozoites using fluorescence imaging and MRI techniques, offering a promising approach for efficient malaria parasite detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wirat Assawapanumat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kesinee Chotivanich
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Adun Kampaengtip
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Witaya Sungkarat
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Faculty of Health Science Technology, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Panya Sunintaboon
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Norased Nasongkla
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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3
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Lahree A, Mello-Vieira J, Mota MM. The nutrient games - Plasmodium metabolism during hepatic development. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:445-460. [PMID: 37061442 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.013] [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: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a febrile illness caused by species of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium and is characterized by recursive infections of erythrocytes, leading to clinical symptoms and pathology. In mammals, Plasmodium parasites undergo a compulsory intrahepatic development stage before infecting erythrocytes. Liver-stage parasites have a metabolic configuration to facilitate the replication of several thousand daughter parasites. Their metabolism is of interest to identify cellular pathways essential for liver infection, to kill the parasite before onset of the disease. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on nutrient acquisition and biosynthesis by liver-stage parasites mostly generated in murine malaria models, gaps in knowledge, and challenges to create a holistic view of the development and deficiencies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparajita Lahree
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - João Mello-Vieira
- Institute of Biochemistry II, School of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Maria M Mota
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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4
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Hussain T, Linera-Gonzalez J, Beck JM, Fierro MA, Mair GR, Smith RC, Beck JR. The PTEX Pore Component EXP2 Is Important for Intrahepatic Development during the Plasmodium Liver Stage. mBio 2022; 13:e0309622. [PMID: 36445080 PMCID: PMC9765067 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03096-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate infection, obligate intracellular malaria parasites develop within a parasitophorous vacuole, which constitutes the interface between the parasite and its hepatocyte or erythrocyte host cells. To traverse this barrier, Plasmodium spp. utilize a dual-function pore formed by EXP2 for nutrient transport and, in the context of the PTEX translocon, effector protein export across the vacuole membrane. While critical to blood-stage survival, less is known about EXP2/PTEX function in the liver stage, although major differences in the export mechanism are suggested by absence of the PTEX unfoldase HSP101 in the intrahepatic vacuole. Here, we employed the glucosamine-activated glmS ribozyme to study the role of EXP2 during Plasmodium berghei liver-stage development in hepatoma cells. Insertion of the glmS sequence into the exp2 3' untranslated region (UTR) enabled glucosamine-dependent depletion of EXP2 after hepatocyte invasion, allowing separation of EXP2 function during intrahepatic development from a recently reported role in hepatocyte invasion. Postinvasion EXP2 knockdown reduced parasite size and largely abolished expression of the mid- to late-liver-stage marker LISP2. As an orthogonal approach to monitor development, EXP2-glmS parasites and controls were engineered to express nanoluciferase. Activation of glmS after invasion substantially decreased luminescence in hepatoma monolayers and in culture supernatants at later time points corresponding to merosome detachment, which marks the culmination of liver-stage development. Collectively, our findings extend the utility of the glmS ribozyme to study protein function in the liver stage and reveal that EXP2 is important for intrahepatic parasite development, indicating that PTEX components also function at the hepatocyte-parasite interface. IMPORTANCE After the mosquito bite that initiates a Plasmodium infection, parasites first travel to the liver and develop in hepatocytes. This liver stage is asymptomatic but necessary for the parasite to transition to the merozoite form, which infects red blood cells and causes malaria. To take over their host cells, avoid immune defenses, and fuel their growth, these obligately intracellular parasites must import nutrients and export effector proteins across a vacuole membrane in which they reside. In the blood stage, these processes depend on a translocon called PTEX, but it is unclear if PTEX also functions during the liver stage. Here, we adapted the glmS ribozyme to control expression of EXP2, the membrane pore component of PTEX, during the liver stage of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Our results show that EXP2 is important for intracellular development in the hepatocyte, revealing that PTEX components are also functionally important during liver-stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir Hussain
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - John M. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Manuel A. Fierro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Gunnar R. Mair
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Ryan C. Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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5
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Glucose-mediated proliferation of a gut commensal bacterium promotes Plasmodium infection by increasing mosquito midgut pH. Cell Rep 2021; 35:108992. [PMID: 33882310 PMCID: PMC8116483 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-nectar-derived sugar is the major energy source for mosquitoes, but its influence on vector competence for malaria parasites remains unclear. Here, we show that Plasmodium berghei infection of Anopheles stephensi results in global metabolome changes, with the most significant impact on glucose metabolism. Feeding on glucose or trehalose (the main hemolymph sugars) renders the mosquito more susceptible to Plasmodium infection by alkalizing the mosquito midgut. The glucose/trehalose diets promote proliferation of a commensal bacterium, Asaia bogorensis, that remodels glucose metabolism in a way that increases midgut pH, thereby promoting Plasmodium gametogenesis. We also demonstrate that the sugar composition from different natural plant nectars influences A. bogorensis growth, resulting in a greater permissiveness to Plasmodium. Altogether, our results demonstrate that dietary glucose is an important determinant of mosquito vector competency for Plasmodium, further highlighting a key role for mosquito-microbiota interactions in regulating the development of the malaria parasite.
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6
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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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7
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Tripathi J, Segeritz CP, Griffiths G, Bushell W, Vallier L, Skarnes WC, Mota MM, Billker O. A Novel Chemically Differentiated Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Model to Study Liver Stages of Plasmodium berghei. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 14:1123-1134. [PMID: 32442532 PMCID: PMC7355138 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Asymptomatic and obligatory liver stage (LS) infection of Plasmodium parasites presents an attractive target for antimalarial vaccine and drug development. Lack of robust cellular models to study LS infection has hindered the discovery and validation of host genes essential for intrahepatic parasite development. Here, we present a chemically differentiated mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based LS model, which supports complete development of Plasmodium berghei exoerythrocytic forms (EEFs) and can be used to define new host-parasite interactions. Using our model, we established that host Pnpla2, coding for adipose triglyceride lipase, is dispensable for P. berghei EEF development. In addition, we also evaluated in-vitro-differentiated human hepatocyte-like cells (iHLCs) to study LS of P. berghei and found it to be a sub-optimal infection model. Overall, our results present a new mouse ESC-based P. berghei LS infection model that can be utilized to study the impact of host genetic variation on parasite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaishree Tripathi
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Charis-Patricia Segeritz
- Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gareth Griffiths
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wendy Bushell
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK; Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - William C Skarnes
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Ten Discovery Drive, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Maria M Mota
- Unidade de Malária, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Oliver Billker
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK; Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden and Molecular Biology Department, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
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8
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Glennon EKK, Austin LS, Arang N, Kain HS, Mast FD, Vijayan K, Aitchison JD, Kappe SHI, Kaushansky A. Alterations in Phosphorylation of Hepatocyte Ribosomal Protein S6 Control Plasmodium Liver Stage Infection. Cell Rep 2020; 26:3391-3399.e4. [PMID: 30893610 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.02.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites are highly selective when infecting hepatocytes and induce many changes within the host cell upon infection. While several host cell factors have been identified that are important for liver infection, our understanding of what facilitates the maintenance of infection remains incomplete. Here, we describe a role for phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (Ser235/236) (p-RPS6) in Plasmodium yoelii-infected hepatocytes. Blocking RPS6 phosphorylation prior to infection decreases the number of liver stage parasites within 24 h. Infected hepatocytes exhibit elevated levels of p-RPS6 while simultaneously abrogating the induction of phosphorylation of RPS6 in response to insulin stimulation. This is in contrast with the regulation of p-RPS6 by Toxoplasma gondii, which elevates levels of p-RPS6 after infection but does not alter the response to insulin. Our data support a model in which RPS6 phosphorylation is uncoupled from canonical regulators in Plasmodium-infected hepatocytes and is relied on by the parasite to maintain infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K K Glennon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Laura S Austin
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Nadia Arang
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Heather S Kain
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Fred D Mast
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Kamalakannan Vijayan
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - John D Aitchison
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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9
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Tweedell RE, Tao D, Hamerly T, Robinson TM, Larsen S, Grønning AGB, Norris AM, King JG, Law HCH, Baumbach J, Bergmann-Leitner ES, Dinglasan RR. The Selection of a Hepatocyte Cell Line Susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoite Invasion That Is Associated With Expression of Glypican-3. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:127. [PMID: 30891005 PMCID: PMC6413710 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro studies of liver stage (LS) development of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are technically challenging; therefore, fundamental questions about hepatocyte receptors for invasion that can be targeted to prevent infection remain unanswered. To identify novel receptors and to further understand human hepatocyte susceptibility to P. falciparum sporozoite invasion, we created an optimized in vitro system by mimicking in vivo liver conditions and using the subcloned HC-04.J7 cell line that supports mean infection rates of 3-5% and early development of P. falciparum exoerythrocytic forms-a 3- to 5-fold improvement on current in vitro hepatocarcinoma models for P. falciparum invasion. We juxtaposed this invasion-susceptible cell line with an invasion-resistant cell line (HepG2) and performed comparative proteomics and RNA-seq analyses to identify host cell surface molecules and pathways important for sporozoite invasion of host cells. We identified and investigated a hepatocyte cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, glypican-3, as a putative mediator of sporozoite invasion. We also noted the involvement of pathways that implicate the importance of the metabolic state of the hepatocyte in supporting LS development. Our study highlights important features of hepatocyte biology, and specifically the potential role of glypican-3, in mediating P. falciparum sporozoite invasion. Additionally, it establishes a simple in vitro system to study the LS with improved invasion efficiency. This work paves the way for the greater malaria and liver biology communities to explore fundamental questions of hepatocyte-pathogen interactions and extend the system to other human malaria parasite species, like P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Tweedell
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dingyin Tao
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Timothy Hamerly
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tanisha M Robinson
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Simon Larsen
- Computational BioMedicine Lab, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Alexander G B Grønning
- Computational BioMedicine Lab, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Alessandra M Norris
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jonas G King
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology & Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
| | - Henry Chun Hin Law
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Computational BioMedicine Lab, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elke S Bergmann-Leitner
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Rhoel R Dinglasan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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10
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Ishino T, Murata E, Tokunaga N, Baba M, Tachibana M, Thongkukiatkul A, Tsuboi T, Torii M. Rhoptry neck protein 2 expressed in Plasmodium sporozoites plays a crucial role during invasion of mosquito salivary glands. Cell Microbiol 2018; 21:e12964. [PMID: 30307699 PMCID: PMC6587811 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Malaria parasite transmission to humans is initiated by the inoculation of Plasmodium sporozoites into the skin by mosquitoes. Sporozoites develop within mosquito midgut oocysts, first invade the salivary glands of mosquitoes, and finally infect hepatocytes in mammals. The apical structure of sporozoites is conserved with the infective forms of other apicomplexan parasites that have secretory organelles, such as rhoptries and micronemes. Because some rhoptry proteins are crucial for Plasmodium merozoite infection of erythrocytes, we examined the roles of rhoptry proteins in sporozoites. Here, we demonstrate that rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) is also localized to rhoptries in sporozoites. To elucidate RON2 function in sporozoites, we applied a promoter swapping strategy to restrict ron2 transcription to the intraerythrocytic stage in the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei. Ron2 knockdown sporozoites were severely impaired in their ability to invade salivary glands, via decreasing the attachment capacity to the substrate. This is the first rhoptry protein demonstrated to be involved in salivary gland invasion. In addition, ron2 knockdown sporozoites showed less infectivity to hepatocytes, possibly due to decreased attachment/gliding ability, indicating that parts of the parasite invasion machinery are conserved, but their contribution might differ among infective forms. Our sporozoite stage‐specific knockdown system will help to facilitate understanding the comprehensive molecular mechanisms of parasite invasion of target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Ishino
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Eri Murata
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan.,Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Naohito Tokunaga
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Minami Baba
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Mayumi Tachibana
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | | | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Motomi Torii
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
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11
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Moreira D, Estaquier J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Silvestre R. Metabolic Crosstalk Between Host and Parasitic Pathogens. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2018; 109:421-458. [PMID: 30535608 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-74932-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A complex network that embraces parasite-host intrinsic factors and the microenvironment regulated the interaction between a parasite and its host. Nutritional pressures exerted by both elements of this duet thus dictate this host-parasite niche. To survive and proliferate inside a host and a harsh nutritional environment, the parasites modulate different nutrient sensing pathways to subvert host metabolic pathways. Such mechanism is able to change the flux of distinct nutrients/metabolites diverting them to be used by the parasites. Apart from this nutritional strategy, the scavenging of nutrients, particularly host fatty acids, constitutes a critical mechanism to fulfil parasite nutritional requirements, ultimately defining the host metabolic landscape. The host metabolic alterations that result from host-parasite metabolic coupling can certainly be considered important targets to improve diagnosis and also for the development of future therapies. Metabolism is in fact considered a key element within this complex interaction, its modulation being crucial to dictate the final infection outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigacão e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Bioloógicas, Faculdade de Farmaácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jérôme Estaquier
- CNRS FR 3636, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- i3S-Instituto de Investigacão e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Bioloógicas, Faculdade de Farmaácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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12
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Nyboer B, Heiss K, Mueller AK, Ingmundson A. The Plasmodium liver-stage parasitophorous vacuole: A front-line of communication between parasite and host. Int J Med Microbiol 2017; 308:107-117. [PMID: 28964681 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular development and differentiation of the Plasmodium parasite in the host liver is a prerequisite for the actual onset of malaria disease pathology. Since liver-stage infection is clinically silent and can be completely eliminated by sterilizing immune responses, it is a promising target for urgently needed innovative antimalarial drugs and/or vaccines. Discovered more than 65 years ago, these stages remain poorly understood regarding their molecular repertoire and interaction with their host cells in comparison to the pathogenic erythrocytic stages. The differentiating and replicative intrahepatic parasite resides in a membranous compartment called the parasitophorous vacuole, separating it from the host-cell cytoplasm. Here we outline seminal work that contributed to our present understanding of the fundamental dynamic cellular processes of the intrahepatic malarial parasite with both specific host-cell factors and compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Nyboer
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Heiss
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ann-Kristin Mueller
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany,.
| | - Alyssa Ingmundson
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
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13
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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.
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14
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Meireles P, Sales-Dias J, Andrade CM, Mello-Vieira J, Mancio-Silva L, Simas JP, Staines HM, Prudêncio M. GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake plays a crucial role during Plasmodium hepatic infection. Cell Microbiol 2016; 19. [PMID: 27404888 PMCID: PMC5297879 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens have evolved mechanisms to ensure their survival and development inside their host cells. Here, we show that glucose is a pivotal modulator of hepatic infection by the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei and that glucose uptake via the GLUT1 transporter is specifically enhanced in P. berghei‐infected cells. We further show that ATP levels of cells containing developing parasites are decreased, which is known to enhance membrane GLUT1 activity. In addition, GLUT1 molecules are translocated to the membrane of the hepatic cell, increasing glucose uptake at later stages of infection. Chemical inhibition of GLUT1 activity leads to a decrease in glucose uptake and the consequent impairment of hepatic infection, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results reveal that changes in GLUT1 conformation and cellular localization seem to be part of an adaptive host response to maintain adequate cellular nutrition and energy levels, ensuring host cell survival and supporting P. berghei hepatic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Meireles
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Sales-Dias
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolina M Andrade
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Mello-Vieira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Liliana Mancio-Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - J Pedro Simas
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Henry M Staines
- Institute for Infection & Immunity, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, UK
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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