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Wendt C, Miranda K. Endocytosis in malaria parasites: An ultrastructural perspective of membrane interplay in a unique infection model. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2024; 93:27-49. [PMID: 39181577 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains a major global threat, representing a severe public health problem worldwide. Annually, it is responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality in many tropical developing countries where the disease is endemic. The causative agent of malaria, Plasmodium spp., exhibits a complex life cycle, alternating between an invertebrate vector, which transmits the disease, and the vertebrate host. The disease pathology observed in the vertebrate host is attributed to the asexual development of Plasmodium spp. inside the erythrocyte. Once inside the red blood cell, malaria parasites cause extensive changes in the host cell, increasing membrane rigidity and altering its normal discoid shape. Additionally, during their intraerythrocytic development, malaria parasites incorporate and degrade up to 70 % of host cell hemoglobin. This mechanism is essential for parasite development and represents an important drug target. Blocking the steps related to hemoglobin endocytosis or degradation impairs parasite development and can lead to its death. The ultrastructural analysis of hemoglobin endocytosis on Plasmodium spp. has been broadly explored along the years. However, it is only recently that the proteins involved in this process have started to emerge. Here, we will review the most important features related to hemoglobin endocytosis and catabolism on malaria parasites. A special focus will be given to the recent analysis obtained through 3D visualization approaches and to the molecules involved in these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Wendt
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Biomineralização, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Kildare Miranda
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Abstract
Malaria remains a significant threat to global health, and despite concerted efforts to curb the disease, malaria-related morbidity and mortality increased in recent years. Malaria is caused by unicellular eukaryotes of the genus Plasmodium, and all clinical manifestations occur during asexual proliferation of the parasite inside host erythrocytes. In the blood stage, Plasmodium proliferates through an unusual cell cycle mode called schizogony. Contrary to most studied eukaryotes, which divide by binary fission, the parasite undergoes several rounds of DNA replication and nuclear division that are not directly followed by cytokinesis, resulting in multinucleated cells. Moreover, despite sharing a common cytoplasm, these nuclei multiply asynchronously. Schizogony challenges our current models of cell cycle regulation and, at the same time, offers targets for therapeutic interventions. Over the recent years, the adaptation of advanced molecular and cell biological techniques have given us deeper insight how DNA replication, nuclear division, and cytokinesis are coordinated. Here, we review our current understanding of the chronological events that characterize the unusual cell division cycle of P. falciparum in the clinically relevant blood stage of infection.
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Araki T, Kawai S, Kakuta S, Kobayashi H, Umeki Y, Saito-Nakano Y, Sasaki T, Nagamune K, Yasutomi Y, Nozaki T, Franke-Fayard B, Khan SM, Hisaeda H, Annoura T. Three-dimensional electron microscopy analysis reveals endopolygeny-like nuclear architecture segregation in Plasmodium oocyst development. Parasitol Int 2019; 76:102034. [PMID: 31805442 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.102034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The genus Plasmodium is a unicellular eukaryotic parasite that is the causative agent of malaria, which is transmitted by Anopheline mosquito. There are a total of three developmental stages in the production of haploid parasites in the Plasmodium life cycle: the oocyst stage in mosquitoes and the liver and blood stages in mammalian hosts. The Plasmodium oocyst stage plays an important role in the production of the first generation of haploid parasites. Nuclear division is the most important event that occurs during the proliferation of all eukaryotes. However, obtaining the details of nuclear division at the oocyst stage is challenging owing to difficulties in preparation. In this study, we used focused-ion-beam-milling combined with scanning-electron-microscopy to report the 3D architecture during nuclear segregations in oocyst stage. This advanced technology allowed us to analyse the 3D details of organelle segregation inside the oocyst during sporogony formation. It was revealed that multiple nuclei were involved with several centrosomes in one germ nucleus during sporozoite budding (endopolygeny). Our high-resolution 3D analysis uncovered the endopolygeny-like nuclear architecture of Plasmodium in the definitive host. This nuclear segregation was different from that in the blood stage, and its similarity to other apicomplexan parasite nuclear divisions such as Sarcocystis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamasa Araki
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Satoru Kawai
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Soichiro Kakuta
- Laboratory of Morphology and Image Analysis, Research Support Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kobayashi
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yuko Umeki
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saito-Nakano
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Toshinori Sasaki
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Kisaburo Nagamune
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yasutomi
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Vaccine Research, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 1-1 Hachimandai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0843, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Shahid M Khan
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hajime Hisaeda
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Takeshi Annoura
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
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Mehnert AK, Simon CS, Guizetti J. Immunofluorescence staining protocol for STED nanoscopy of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 229:47-52. [PMID: 30831155 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immunofluorescence staining is the key technique for visualizing organization of endogenous cellular structures in single cells. Labeling and imaging of blood stage Plasmodium falciparum has always been challenging since it is a small intracellular parasite. A widely-used standard for parasite immunofluorescence is fixation in suspension with addition of minute amounts of glutaraldehyde to the paraformaldehyde-based solution. While this maintains red blood cell integrity, it has been postulated that antigenicity of the parasite proteins was, if at all, only slightly reduced. Here we show the deleterious effect that even these small quantities of glutaraldehyde can have on immunofluorescence staining quality and present an alternative cell seeding protocol that allows fixation with only paraformaldehyde. The highly improved signal intensity and staining efficiency enabled us to carry out RescueSTED nanoscopy on microtubules and nuclear pores and describe their organization in greater detail throughout the blood stage cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Mehnert
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Caroline Sophie Simon
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Hoeijmakers WAM, Stunnenberg HG, Bártfai R. Placing the Plasmodium falciparum epigenome on the map. Trends Parasitol 2012; 28:486-95. [PMID: 22999479 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2012.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2012] [Revised: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 08/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly evident that epigenetic mechanisms that act on and regulate chromatin structure play a key role in the development, adaptation, and survival of the malaria parasite within its human host. The study of epigenetics in Plasmodium falciparum started to flourish in recent years due to improvement of genomic technologies. Here we summarize the knowledge gained from genome-wide localization profiling of different epigenetic features, and discuss hypotheses emerging from the analysis of these 'descriptive' epigenetic maps. Furthermore, we highlight key questions to be answered, and provide a glimpse of developments required to gain true mechanistic understanding and to lift this maturing field to the next level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wieteke A M Hoeijmakers
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, Nijmegen Center for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Soares Medeiros LC, De Souza W, Jiao C, Barrabin H, Miranda K. Visualizing the 3D architecture of multiple erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium at nanoscale by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33445. [PMID: 22432024 PMCID: PMC3303842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Different methods for three-dimensional visualization of biological structures have been developed and extensively applied by different research groups. In the field of electron microscopy, a new technique that has emerged is the use of a focused ion beam and scanning electron microscopy for 3D reconstruction at nanoscale resolution. The higher extent of volume that can be reconstructed with this instrument represent one of the main benefits of this technique, which can provide statistically relevant 3D morphometrical data. As the life cycle of Plasmodium species is a process that involves several structurally complex developmental stages that are responsible for a series of modifications in the erythrocyte surface and cytoplasm, a high number of features within the parasites and the host cells has to be sampled for the correct interpretation of their 3D organization. Here, we used FIB-SEM to visualize the 3D architecture of multiple erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium chabaudi and analyzed their morphometrical parameters in a 3D space. We analyzed and quantified alterations on the host cells, such as the variety of shapes and sizes of their membrane profiles and parasite internal structures such as a polymorphic organization of hemoglobin-filled tubules. The results show the complex 3D organization of Plasmodium and infected erythrocyte, and demonstrate the contribution of FIB-SEM for the obtainment of statistical data for an accurate interpretation of complex biological structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Carolina Soares Medeiros
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Membranas Transportadoras, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley De Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Diretoria de Programas, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalização e Qualidade Industrial (INMETRO), Xerém, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Hector Barrabin
- Laboratório de Membranas Transportadoras, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kildare Miranda
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Diretoria de Programas, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalização e Qualidade Industrial (INMETRO), Xerém, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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