Classification of adhesive domains in the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 family

Glycophorin B-PfEMP1 interaction mediates robust rosetting in Plasmodium falciparum

P. falciparumerythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is the major parasite protein responsible for rosetting by binding to host receptors such as heparan sulfate, CR1 on RBC surface. Usually monomeric protein-carbohydrate interactions are weak [1], therefore PfEMP1 binds to plasma proteins like IgM or α2-macroglobulin that facilitate its clustering on parasitized RBC surface and augment rosetting [2,3]. We show that 3D7A expresses PfEMP1, PF3D7_0412900, and employs its CIDRγ2 domain to interact with glycophorin B on uninfected RBC to form large rosettes but more importantly even in the absence of plasma proteins. Overall, we established the role of PF3D7_0412900 in rosetting as antibodies against CIDRγ2 domain reduced rosetting and also identified its receptor, glycophorin B which could provide clue why glycophorin B null phenotype, S-s-U- RBCs prevalent in malaria endemic areas is protective against severe malaria.

Profiling the Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1-Specific Immununoglobulin G Response Among Ghanaian Children With Hemoglobin S and C

Members of the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family are important targets for protective immunity. Abnormal display of PfEMP1 on the surfaces of infected erythrocytes (IEs) and reduced cytoadhesion have been demonstrated in hemoglobin (Hb) AS and HbAC, inherited blood disorders associated with protection against severe P. falciparum malaria. We found that Ghanaian children with HbAS had lower levels of immunoglobulin G against several PfEMP1 variants and that this reactivity increased more slowly with age than in their HbAA counterparts. Moreover, children with HbAS have lower total parasite biomass than those with HbAA at comparable peripheral parasitemias, suggesting impaired cytoadhesion of HbAS IEs in vivo and likely explaining the slower acquisition of PfEMP1-specific immunoglobulin G in this group. In contrast, the function of acquired antibodies was comparable among Hb groups and appears to be intact and sufficient to control parasitemia via opsonization and phagocytosis of IEs.

Unravelling mysteries at the perivascular space: a new rationale for cerebral malaria pathogenesis

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe neurological complication caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasites; it is characterized by the sequestration of infected red blood cells within the cerebral microvasculature. New findings, combined with a better understanding of the central nervous system (CNS) barriers, have provided greater insight into the players and events involved in CM, including site-specific T cell responses in the human brain. Here, we review the updated roles of innate and adaptive immune responses in CM, with a focus on the role of the perivascular macrophage-endothelium unit in antigen presentation, in the vascular and perivascular compartments. We suggest that these events may be pivotal in the development of CM.

Pathogenicity and virulence of malaria: Sticky problems and tricky solutions

Infections with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax cause over 600,000 deaths each year, concentrated in Africa and in young children, but much of the world's population remain at risk of infection. In this article, we review the latest developments in the immunogenicity and pathogenesis of malaria, with a particular focus on P. falciparum, the leading malaria killer. Pathogenic factors include parasite-derived toxins and variant surface antigens on infected erythrocytes that mediate sequestration in the deep vasculature. Host response to parasite toxins and to variant antigens is an important determinant of disease severity. Understanding how parasites sequester, and how antibody to variant antigens could prevent sequestration, may lead to new approaches to treat and prevent disease. Difficulties in malaria diagnosis, drug resistance, and specific challenges of treating P. vivax pose challenges to malaria elimination, but vaccines and other preventive strategies may offer improved disease control.

Structural and genomic analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in human host factor endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) reveals complex interplay with malaria parasites

Plasmodium parasites responsible for malaria follow a complex life cycle of which half takes place inside the human host. Parasites present diverse antigens at different stages of their life cycle and interact with many surface molecules to attach to and enter host cells. The CIDRα1 domain of Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) in infected erythrocytes adheres to one such vascular receptor endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). EPCR is implicated in the pathogenesis of severe malaria as preferential binding of CIDRα1 to endothelium results in widespread sequestration of infected erythrocytes leading to endothelium inflammation and severe disease. A single EPCR variant S219G is clinically reported to provide protection from severe malaria. In this work, we have collated all single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in EPCR from dbSNP. We structurally mapped the SNPs on the three-dimensional complex of EPCR and PfEMP1 CIDRα1. Analysis shows that most EPCR mutations lie on the receptor surface and are non-conservative. Of the 11 mutations in the CIDRα1-interaction region of EPCR, S88P, L96V/I, and R98L/H/P/C are seen with comparably higher occurrences in diverse populations. Our structural analysis details a framework of the interactions between the parasite ligand and host factor EPCR. These structural glimpses provide a blueprint for designing both field-based variant sequencing studies and vaccine development.

Unravelling var complexity: Relationship between DBLα types and var genes in Plasmodium falciparum

The enormous diversity and complexity of var genes that diversify rapidly by recombination has led to the exclusion of assembly of these genes from major genome initiatives (e.g., Pf6). A scalable solution in epidemiological surveillance of var genes is to use a small ‘tag’ region encoding the immunogenic DBLα domain as a marker to estimate var diversity. As var genes diversify by recombination, it is not clear the extent to which the same tag can appear in multiple var genes. This relationship between marker and gene has not been investigated in natural populations. Analyses of in vitro recombination within and between var genes have suggested that this relationship would not be exclusive. Using a dataset of publicly-available assembled var sequences, we test this hypothesis by studying DBLα-var relationships for four study sites in four countries: Pursat (Cambodia) and Mae Sot (Thailand), representing low malaria transmission, and Navrongo (Ghana) and Chikwawa (Malawi), representing high malaria transmission. In all study sites, DBLα-var relationships were shown to be predominantly 1-to-1, followed by a second largest proportion of 1-to-2 DBLα-var relationships. This finding indicates that DBLα tags can be used to estimate not just DBLα diversity but var gene diversity when applied in a local endemic area. Epidemiological applications of this result are discussed.

CD36-A Host Receptor Necessary for Malaria Parasites to Establish and Maintain Infection

Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (PfIEs) present P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 proteins (PfEMP1s) on the cell surface, via which they cytoadhere to various endothelial cell receptors (ECRs) on the walls of human blood vessels. This prevents the parasite from passing through the spleen, which would lead to its elimination. Each P. falciparum isolate has about 60 different PfEMP1s acting as ligands, and at least 24 ECRs have been identified as interaction partners. Interestingly, in every parasite genome sequenced to date, at least 75% of the encoded PfEMP1s have a binding domain for the scavenger receptor CD36 widely distributed on host endothelial cells and many other cell types. Here, we discuss why the interaction between PfIEs and CD36 is optimal to maintain a finely regulated equilibrium that allows the parasite to multiply and spread while causing minimal harm to the host in most infections.

Determinants of brain swelling in pediatric and adult cerebral malaria

Cerebral malaria (CM) affects children and adults, but brain swelling is more severe in children. To investigate features associated with brain swelling in malaria, we performed blood profiling and brain MRI in a cohort of pediatric and adult patients with CM in Rourkela, India, and compared them with an African pediatric CM cohort in Malawi. We determined that higher plasma Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) levels and elevated var transcripts that encode for binding to endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) were linked to CM at both sites. Machine learning models trained on the African pediatric cohort could classify brain swelling in Indian children CM cases but had weaker performance for adult classification, due to overall lower parasite var transcript levels in this age group and more severe thrombocytopenia in Rourkela adults. Subgrouping of patients with CM revealed higher parasite biomass linked to severe thrombocytopenia and higher Group A–EPCR var transcripts in mild thrombocytopenia. Overall, these findings provide evidence that higher parasite biomass and a subset of Group A–EPCR binding variants are common features in children and adult CM cases, despite age differences in brain swelling.

A systematic review on genetic diversity of var gene DBL1α domain from different geographical regions in Plasmodium falciparum isolates

Background The major variant surface antigen (VSA) in Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) encoded by var gene family has an important role in cytoadhesion/sequestration and rosetting by adhesion of uninfected erythrocytes to infected erythrocytes leading to disease severity. DBL1α domain in the PfEMP-1, protein is crucial in the cytoadhesion phenomena in P. falciparum infections and this review aims to analyse the genetic diversity of DBL1α domain sequences in PfEMP-1 from different geographical regions globally. Methods All available DBL1α sequence data was reviewed by using the electronic database PubMed, ResearchGate, Google, Google scholar, MEDLINE with the following Keywords-Plasmodium falciparum", "var gene", "DBL1α", "field isolate", "diversity", "polymorphism", "Africa", "America", "Asia" and "Caribbean" from different geographical regions across the world. Results A total of 240 studies were identified initially but only 20 studies qualified for this systematic review. The overall ratio of distinct sequences DBL1α domain was 24.62/1167 the highest in African region (33.59/766 isolates) and lowest in South America (5.6/215 isolates). In the 18 included studies, the presence of distinct DBL1α sequences was the highest in Oceania 55.32% (1186/2144) followed by Africa (38.43%), Asia (22.45%) and South America (16.48%), though the sample size in Oceania was comparatively smaller to that of Africa and South America. Conclusion This review highlights the ratio and percentage of distinct sequences of DBL1α domain of var gene in different geographical regions giving an idea of the existing diversity prevalent in this potential vaccine target gene which may contribute to designing the preventive measures towards disease severity.

Antibody Levels to Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1-DBLγ11 and DBLδ-1 Predict Reduction in Parasite Density

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is a variant surface antigen family expressed on infected red blood cells that plays a role in immune evasion and mediates adhesion to vascular endothelium. PfEMP1s are potential targets of protective antibodies as suggested by previous seroepidemiology studies. Here, we used previously reported proteomic analyses of PfEMP1s of clinical parasite isolates collected from Malian children to identify targets of immunity. We designed a peptide library representing 11 PfEMP1 domains commonly identified on clinical isolates by membrane proteomics and then examined peptide-specific antibody responses in Malian children. The number of previous malaria infections was associated with development of PfEMP1 antibodies to peptides from domains CIDRα1.4, DBLγ11, DBLβ3, and DBLδ1. A zero-inflated negative binomial model with random effects (ZINBRE) was used to identify peptide reactivities that were associated with malaria risk. This peptide selection and serosurvey strategy revealed that high antibody levels to peptides from DBLγ11 and DBLδ1 domains correlated with decreased parasite burden in future infections, supporting the notion that specific PfEMP1 domains play a role in protective immunity.

IMPORTANCEPlasmodium infection causes devastating disease and high mortality in young children. Immunity develops progressively as children acquire protection against severe disease, although reinfections and recrudescences still occur throughout life in areas of endemicity, partly due to parasite immunoevasion via switching of variant proteins such as Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) expressed on the infected erythrocyte surface. Understanding the mechanisms behind antibody protection can advance development of new therapeutic interventions that address this challenge. PfEMP1 domain-specific antibodies have been linked to reduction in severe malaria; however, the large diversity of PfEMP1 domains in circulating parasites has not been fully investigated. We designed representative peptides based on B cell epitopes of PfEMP1 domains identified in membranes of clinical parasite isolates and surveyed peptide-specific antibody responses among young Malian children in a longitudinal birth cohort. We examined previous infections and age as factors contributing to antibody acquisition and identified antibody specificities that predict malaria risk.

The role of upstream open reading frames in translation regulation in the apicomplexan parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii

During their complex life cycles, the Apicomplexan parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii employ several layers of regulation of their gene expression. One such layer is mediated at the level of translation through upstream open reading frames (uORFs). As uORFs are found in the upstream regions of a majority of transcripts in both the parasites, it is essential that their roles in translational regulation be appreciated to a greater extent. This review provides a comprehensive summary of studies that show uORF-mediated gene regulation in these parasites and highlights examples of clinically and physiologically relevant genes, including var2csa in P. falciparum, and ApiAT1 in T. gondii, that exhibit uORF-mediated regulation. In addition to these examples, several studies that use bioinformatics, transcriptomics, proteomics and ribosome profiling also indicate the possibility of widespread translational regulation by uORFs. Further analysis of these genome-wide datasets, taking into account uORFs associated with each gene, will reveal novel genes involved in key biological pathways such as cell-cycle progression, stress-response and pathogenicity. The cumulative evidence from studies presented in this review suggests that uORFs will play crucial roles in regulating gene expression during clinical disease caused by these important human pathogens.

Complement C1s cleaves PfEMP1 at interdomain conserved sites inhibiting Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence

Cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) to the endothelial lining of blood vessels protects parasites from splenic destruction, but also leads to detrimental inflammation and vessel occlusion. Surface display of the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesion ligands exposes them to host antibodies and serum proteins. PfEMP1 are important targets of acquired immunity to malaria, and through evolution, the protein family has expanded and diversified to bind a select set of host receptors through antigenically diversified receptor-binding domains. Here, we show that complement component 1s (C1s) in serum cleaves PfEMP1 at semiconserved arginine motifs located at interdomain regions between the receptor-binding domains, rendering the IE incapable of binding the two main PfEMP1 receptors, CD36 and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). Bioinformatic analyses of PfEMP1 protein sequences from 15 P. falciparum genomes found the C1s motif was present in most PfEMP1 variants. Prediction of C1s cleavage and loss of binding to endothelial receptors was further corroborated by testing of several different parasite lines. These observations suggest that the parasites have maintained susceptibility for cleavage by the serine protease, C1s, and provides evidence for a complex relationship between the complement system and the P. falciparum cytoadhesion virulence determinant.

Evolutionary analyses of the major variant surface antigen-encoding genes reveal population structure of Plasmodium falciparum within and between continents

Malaria remains a major public health problem in many countries. Unlike influenza and HIV, where diversity in immunodominant surface antigens is understood geographically to inform disease surveillance, relatively little is known about the global population structure of PfEMP1, the major variant surface antigen of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The complexity of the var multigene family that encodes PfEMP1 and that diversifies by recombination, has so far precluded its use in malaria surveillance. Recent studies have demonstrated that cost-effective deep sequencing of the region of var genes encoding the PfEMP1 DBLα domain and subsequent classification of within host sequences at 96% identity to define unique DBLα types, can reveal structure and strain dynamics within countries. However, to date there has not been a comprehensive comparison of these DBLα types between countries. By leveraging a bioinformatic approach (jumping hidden Markov model) designed specifically for the analysis of recombination within var genes and applying it to a dataset of DBLα types from 10 countries, we are able to describe population structure of DBLα types at the global scale. The sensitivity of the approach allows for the comparison of the global dataset to ape samples of Plasmodium Laverania species. Our analyses show that the evolution of the parasite population emerging out of Africa underlies current patterns of DBLα type diversity. Most importantly, we can distinguish geographic population structure within Africa between Gabon and Ghana in West Africa and Uganda in East Africa. Our evolutionary findings have translational implications in the context of globalization. Firstly, DBLα type diversity can provide a simple diagnostic framework for geographic surveillance of the rapidly evolving transmission dynamics of P. falciparum. It can also inform efforts to understand the presence or absence of global, regional and local population immunity to major surface antigen variants. Additionally, we identify a number of highly conserved DBLα types that are present globally that may be of biological significance and warrant further characterization.

Diversity and expression of Plasmodium falciparum var gene in severe and mild malaria cases from Central India

BACKGROUND

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein is encoded by a highly variable multicopy var gene family known to play a key role in malaria pathogenicity. Therefore, we investigated sequence variation, expression profile and immune response of the Duffy binding-like domain (DBLα) region of the var gene.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from patients with cerebral, severe and mild malaria in Chhattisgarh, India, a region with endemic malaria. Polymerase chain reaction amplicons were cloned and sequenced to determine sequence variation. The expression level was analyzed targeting the upstream region of var gene using the Delta-Delta-Ct method. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) level was determined against the 6 synthetic peptides of the DBLα region.

RESULTS

The study identified that group 1 and group 5 sequences (cysteine/position of limited variability (cys/PoLV) classification) along with cys2/cys4 and MFK*/REY motifs and short amino acid length were significantly associated with malaria severity. The specific PoLV (MFKS, LREA, PTNL) were restricted to cerebral malaria. The expression level of var group A was higher than var groups B and C, demonstrating its prognostic characteristic. All peptides showed high-quality IgG response, while VAR P5 appeared to be a good marker for severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study illustrates the presence of specific sequences of DBLα tags involved in severe malaria that could be targeted in future interventions for malaria control and elimination.

Adhesion between P. falciparum infected erythrocytes and human endothelial receptors follows alternative binding dynamics under flow and febrile conditions

Characterizing the adhesive dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes (IEs) to different endothelial cell receptors (ECRs) in flow is a big challenge considering available methods. This study investigated the adhesive dynamics of IEs to five ECRs (CD36, ICAM-1, P-selectin, CD9, CSA) using simulations of in vivo-like flow and febrile conditions. To characterize the interactions between ECRs and knobby and knobless IEs of two laboratory-adapted P. falciplarum isolates, cytoadhesion analysis over time was performed using a new tracking bioinformatics method. The results revealed that IEs performed rolling adhesion exclusively over CD36, but exhibited stationary binding to the other four ECRs. The absence of knobs affected rolling adhesion both with respect to the distance travelled by IEs and their velocity. Knobs played a critical role at febrile temperatures by stabilizing the binding interaction. Our results clearly underline the complexity of the IE-receptor interaction and the importance of knobs for the survival of the parasite at fever temperatures, and lead us to propose a new hypothesis that could open up new strategies for the treatment of malaria.

Cerebral Plasmodium falciparum malaria: The role of PfEMP1 in its pathogenesis and immunity, and PfEMP1-based vaccines to prevent it

Malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium continues to be a major health problem worldwide. The unicellular Plasmodium-parasites have the unique capacity to infect and replicate within host erythrocytes. By expressing variant surface antigens Plasmodium falciparum has evolved to avoid protective immune responses; as a result in endemic areas anti-malaria immunity develops gradually over many years of multiple and repeated infections. We are studying the role of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) expressed by asexual stages of P. falciparum responsible for the pathogenicity of severe malaria. The immunopathology of falciparum malaria has been linked to cyto-adhesion of infected erythrocytes to specific host receptors. A greater appreciation of the PfEMP1 molecules important for the development of protective immunity and immunopathology is a prerequisite for the rational discovery and development of a safe and protective anti-disease malaria vaccine. Here we review the role of ICAM-1 and EPCR receptor adhering falciparum-parasites in the development of severe malaria; we discuss our current research to understand the factors involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria and the feasibility of developing a vaccine targeted specifically to prevent this disease.

Acquisition of Antibodies Against Endothelial Protein C Receptor-Binding Domains of Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 in Children with Severe Malaria

BACKGROUND

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) mediates parasite sequestration in postcapillary venules in P. falciparum malaria. PfEMP1 types can be classified based on their cysteine-rich interdomain region (CIDR) domains. Antibodies to different PfEMP1 types develop gradually after repeated infections as children age, and antibodies to specific CIDR types may confer protection.

METHODS

Levels of immunoglobulin G to 35 recombinant CIDR domains were measured by means of Luminex assay in acute-stage (baseline) and convalescent-stage plasma samples from Papua New Guinean children with severe or uncomplicated malaria and in healthy age-matched community controls.

RESULTS

At baseline, antibody levels were similar across the 3 groups. After infection, children with severe malaria had higher antibody levels than those with uncomplicated malaria against the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) binding CIDRα1 domains, and this difference was largely confined to older children. Antibodies to EPCR-binding domains increased from presentation to follow-up in severe malaria, but not in uncomplicated malaria.

CONCLUSIONS

The acquisition of antibodies against EPCR-binding CIDRα1 domains of PfEMP1 after a severe malaria episode suggest that EPCR-binding PfEMP1 may have a role in the pathogenesis of severe malaria in Papua New Guinea.

Plasmodium helical interspersed subtelomeric family-an enigmatic piece of the Plasmodium biology puzzle

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) refurbishes the infected erythrocytes by exporting a myriad of parasite proteins to the host cell. A novel exported protein family 'Plasmodium Helical Interspersed Subtelomeric' (PHIST) has gained attention for its significant roles in parasite biology. Here, we have collected and analysed available information on PHIST members to enhance understanding of their functions, varied localization and structure-function correlation. Functional diversity of PHIST proteins is highlighted by their involvement in PfEMP1 (Pf erythrocyte membrane protein 1) expression, trafficking and switching. This family also contributes to cytoadherence, gametocytogenesis, host cell modification and generation of extracellular vesicles. While the PHIST domain forms the hallmark of this family, existence and functions of additional domains (LyMP, TIGR01639) and the MEC motif underscores its diversity further. Since specific PHIST proteins seem to form pairs with PfEMP1 members, we have used in silico tools to predict such potential partners in Pf. This information and our analysis of structural data on a PHIST member provide important insights into their functioning. This review overall enables readers to view the PHIST family comprehensively, while highlighting key knowledge gaps in the field.

Antigenic cartography of immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1)

Naturally acquired clinical immunity to Plasmodium falciparum is partly mediated by antibodies directed at parasite-derived antigens expressed on the surface of red blood cells which mediate disease and are extremely diverse. Unlike children, adults recognize a broad range of variant surface antigens (VSAs) and are protected from severe disease. Though crucial to the design and feasibility of an effective malaria vaccine, it is not yet known whether immunity arises through cumulative exposure to each of many antigenic types, cross-reactivity between antigenic types, or some other mechanism. In this study, we measured plasma antibody responses of 36 children with symptomatic malaria to a diverse panel of 36 recombinant proteins comprising part of the DBLα domain (the 'DBLα-tag') of PfEMP1, a major class of VSAs. We found that although plasma antibody responses were highly specific to individual antigens, serological profiles of responses across antigens fell into one of just two distinct types. One type was found almost exclusively in children that succumbed to severe disease (19 out of 20) while the other occurred in all children with mild disease (16 out of 16). Moreover, children with severe malaria had serological profiles that were narrower in antigen specificity and shorter-lived than those in children with mild malaria. Borrowing a novel technique used in influenza-antigenic cartography-we mapped these dichotomous serological profiles to amino acid sequence variation within a small sub-region of the PfEMP1 DBLα domain. By applying our methodology on a larger scale, it should be possible to identify epitopes responsible for eliciting the protective version of serological profiles to PfEMP1 thereby accelerating development of a broadly effective anti-disease malaria vaccine.

Sticking for a Cause: The Falciparum Malaria Parasites Cytoadherence Paradigm

After a successful invasion, malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum extensively remodels the infected erythrocyte cellular architecture, conferring cytoadhesive properties to the infected erythrocytes. Cytoadherence plays a central role in the parasite's immune-escape mechanism, at the same time contributing to the pathogenesis of severe falciparum malaria. In this review, we discuss the cytoadhesive interactions between P. falciparum infected erythrocytes and various host cell types, and how these events are linked to malaria pathogenesis. We also highlight the limitations faced by studies attempting to correlate diversity in parasite ligands and host receptors with the development of severe malaria.

Meta-analysis of Plasmodium falciparum var Signatures Contributing to Severe Malaria in African Children and Indian Adults

The clinical presentation of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria differs between children and adults, but the mechanistic basis for this remains unclear. Contributing factors to disease severity include total parasite biomass and the diverse cytoadhesive properties mediated by the polymorphic var gene parasite ligand family displayed on infected erythrocytes. To explore these factors, we performed a multicohort analysis of the contribution of var expression and parasite biomass to severe malaria in two previously published pediatric cohorts in Tanzania and Malawi and an adult cohort in India. Machine learning analysis revealed independent and complementary roles for var adhesion types and parasite biomass in adult and pediatric severe malaria and showed that similar var profiles, including upregulation of group A and DC8 var, predict severe malaria in adults and children. Among adults, patients with multiorgan complications presented infections with significantly higher parasite biomass without significant differences in var adhesion types. Conversely, pediatric patients with specific complications showed distinct var signatures. Cerebral malaria patients showed broadly increased expression of var genes, in particular group A and DC8 var, while children with severe malaria anemia were classified based on high transcription of DC8 var only. This study represents the first large multisite meta-analysis of var expression, and it demonstrates the presence of common var profiles in severe malaria patients of different ages across distant geographical sites, as well as syndrome-specific disease signatures. The complex associations between parasite biomass, var adhesion type, and clinical presentation revealed here represent the most comprehensive picture so far of the relationship between cytoadhesion, parasite load, and clinical syndrome.IMPORTANCE P. falciparum malaria can cause multiple disease complications that differ by patient age. Previous studies have attempted to address the roles of parasite adhesion and biomass in disease severity; however, these studies have been limited to single geographical sites, and there is limited understanding of how parasite adhesion and biomass interact to influence disease manifestations. In this meta-analysis, we compared parasite disease determinants in African children and Indian adults. This study demonstrates that parasite biomass and specific subsets of var genes are independently associated with detrimental outcomes in both childhood and adult malaria. We also explored how parasite var adhesion types and biomass play different roles in the development of specific severe malaria pathologies, including childhood cerebral malaria and multiorgan complications in adults. This work represents the largest study to date of the role of both var adhesion types and biomass in severe malaria.

MOLECULAR-GENETIC MECHANISMS OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM VIRULENCE AND TROPICAL MALARIA PATHOGENESIS

There is introduced the analysis of molecular-genetic mechanisms of tropical malaria pathogenesis and P. falciparum virulence. It is shown, that pathogenesis of tropical malaria is associated with the properties of red blood cells membrane surface (RBCs or erythrocytes) that are infected by P. falciparum. There are «knobs structures» on membrane surface infected RBCs. Knobs structures contains a complex of P. falciparum proteins – PfEMP1 (Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1). PfEMP1 is associated with virulence of P. falciparum. Complex PfEMP1 has difficult polymorphous structure. Domains of PfEMP1 are able to associate with different cell receptors. Virulence`s individual components of the main factor are selectively sensitive to different tissues and organs. The severity of the clinical malaria infection course depends on the complex structure PfEMP1 of malaria parasites. Composition of polypeptide PfEMP1 is determined by var-complex. Nowadays there are 60 variants of var-complex. Regulation of gene expression, forming part of the var-complex, is carried out on a molecular-genetic level, cellular level, tissue level. Modern research in this area are aimed to explore genes polymorphism of the virulence`s main factor, to identify mechanism of its differential expression. Search of molecular – genetic markers is relevant to develop methods of gene diagnostic and malaria vaccine.

Identifying functional groups among the diverse, recombining antigenic var genes of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum from a local community in Ghana

A challenge in studying diverse multi-copy gene families is deciphering distinct functional types within immense sequence variation. Functional changes can in some cases be tracked through the evolutionary history of a gene family; however phylogenetic approaches are not possible in cases where gene families diversify primarily by recombination. We take a network theoretical approach to functionally classify the highly recombining var antigenic gene family of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We sample var DBLα sequence types from a local population in Ghana, and classify 9,276 of these variants into just 48 functional types. Our approach is to first decompose each sequence type into its constituent, recombining parts; we then use a stochastic block model to identify functional groups among the parts; finally, we classify the sequence types based on which functional groups they contain. This method for functional classification does not rely on an inferred phylogenetic history, nor does it rely on inferring function based on conserved sequence features. Instead, it infers functional similarity among recombining parts based on the sharing of similar co-occurrence interactions with other parts. This method can therefore group sequences that have undetectable sequence homology or even distinct origination. Describing these 48 var functional types allows us to simplify the antigenic diversity within our dataset by over two orders of magnitude. We consider how the var functional types are distributed in isolates, and find a nonrandom pattern reflecting that common var functional types are non-randomly distinct from one another in terms of their functional composition. The coarse-graining of var gene diversity into biologically meaningful functional groups has important implications for understanding the disease ecology and evolution of this system, as well as for designing effective epidemiological monitoring and intervention.

An immunoinformatics approach to promiscuous peptide design for the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (Pfemp-1), a variant adhesion molecule, can act as a key component of immunity against malaria. In the current selection of malaria vaccines, no efficient vaccines are available that can be employed for its proper treatment. Unfortunately, resistance to post-infection treatments is increasing and therefore there is a pressing need to develop an efficient vaccine. Peptide-based vaccines can be effective tools against malaria but HLA restriction is a major hindrance which can be conquered by using promiscuous peptides. In this work, we employed a combined in silico and experimental approach to identify promiscuous peptides for the treatment of malaria. At first, using the immunoinformatics approach, promiscuous peptides were predicted from two conserved domains, CIDR-1 and DBL-3γ, of the Pfemp-1 antigen. These peptides were selected on the basis of their predicted binding affinity with different HLA class-I & class-II alleles. A total of 13 peptides were selected based on their predicted IFN-γ and IL-4 induction ability as well as their hydrophobicity. Out of these 13, the peptide C6 was synthesised and experimentally evaluated for further rationalization, HLA-peptide complex modelling and binding interaction analysis. Interestingly, the peptide C6 (SFIHIYLYRNIRIQL) showed an encouraging immunological response and T-cell proliferation in the immunological assay. This valuable content can aid the better design of more potent and selective vaccine candidates against infectious diseases.

Convalescent Plasmodium falciparum-specific seroreactivity does not correlate with paediatric malaria severity or Plasmodium antigen exposure

Background

Antibody immunity is thought to be essential to prevent severe Plasmodium falciparum infection, but the exact correlates of protection are unknown. Over time, children in endemic areas acquire non-sterile immunity to malaria that correlates with development of antibodies to merozoite invasion proteins and parasite proteins expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes.

Results

A 1000 feature P. falciparum 3D7 protein microarray was used to compare P. falciparum-specific seroreactivity during acute infection and 30 days after infection in 23 children with uncomplicated malaria (UM) and 25 children with retinopathy-positive cerebral malaria (CM). All children had broad P. falciparum antibody reactivity during acute disease. IgM reactivity decreased and IgG reactivity increased in convalescence. Antibody reactivity to CIDR domains of “virulent” PfEMP1 proteins was low with robust reactivity to the highly conserved, intracellular ATS domain of PfEMP1 in both groups. Although children with UM and CM differed markedly in parasite burden and PfEMP1 exposure during acute disease, neither acute nor convalescent PfEMP1 seroreactivity differed between groups. Greater seroprevalence to a conserved Group A-associated ICAM binding extracellular domain was observed relative to linked extracellular CIDRα1 domains in both case groups. Pooled immune IgG from Malawian adults revealed greater reactivity to PfEMP1 than observed in children.

Conclusions

Children with uncomplicated and cerebral malaria have similar breadth and magnitude of P. falciparum antibody reactivity. The utility of protein microarrays to measure serological recognition of polymorphic PfEMP1 antigens needs to be studied further, but the study findings support the hypothesis that conserved domains of PfEMP1 are more prominent targets of cross reactive antibodies than variable domains in children with symptomatic malaria. Protein microarrays represent an additional tool to identify cross-reactive Plasmodium antigens including PfEMP1 domains that can be investigated as strain-transcendent vaccine candidates.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2323-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Plasmodium falciparum transcriptome in severe malaria reveals altered expression of genes involved in important processes including surface antigen-encoding var genes

Within the human host, the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is exposed to multiple selection pressures. The host environment changes dramatically in severe malaria, but the extent to which the parasite responds to-or is selected by-this environment remains unclear. From previous studies, the parasites that cause severe malaria appear to increase expression of a restricted but poorly defined subset of the PfEMP1 variant, surface antigens. PfEMP1s are major targets of protective immunity. Here, we used RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to analyse gene expression in 44 parasite isolates that caused severe and uncomplicated malaria in Papuan patients. The transcriptomes of 19 parasite isolates associated with severe malaria indicated that these parasites had decreased glycolysis without activation of compensatory pathways; altered chromatin structure and probably transcriptional regulation through decreased histone methylation; reduced surface expression of PfEMP1; and down-regulated expression of multiple chaperone proteins. Our RNAseq also identified novel associations between disease severity and PfEMP1 transcripts, domains, and smaller sequence segments and also confirmed all previously reported associations between expressed PfEMP1 sequences and severe disease. These findings will inform efforts to identify vaccine targets for severe malaria and also indicate how parasites adapt to-or are selected by-the host environment in severe malaria.

Signatures of competition and strain structure within the major blood-stage antigen of Plasmodium falciparum in a local community in Ghana

The concept of niche partitioning has received considerable theoretical attention at the interface of ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. Strain theory postulates that pathogen populations can be structured into distinct nonoverlapping strains by frequency-dependent selection in response to intraspecific competition for host immune space. The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum presents an opportunity to investigate this phenomenon in nature, under conditions of high recombination rate and extensive antigenic diversity. The parasite's major blood-stage antigen, Pf EMP1, is encoded by the hyperdiverse var genes. With a dataset that includes thousands of var DBLα sequence types sampled from asymptomatic cases within an area of high endemicity in Ghana, we address how var diversity is distributed within isolates and compare this to the distribution of microsatellite allelic diversity within isolates to test whether antigenic and neutral regions of the genome are structured differently. With respect to var DBLα sequence types, we find that on average isolates exhibit significantly lower overlap than expected randomly, but that there also exists frequent pairs of isolates that are highly related. Furthermore, the linkage network of var DBLα sequence types reveals a pattern of nonrandom modularity unique to these antigenic genes, and we find that modules of highly linked DBLα types are not explainable by neutral forces related to var recombination constraints, microsatellite diversity, sampling location, host age, or multiplicity of infection. These findings of reduced overlap and modularity among the var antigenic genes are consistent with a role for immune selection as proposed by strain theory. Identifying the evolutionary and ecological dynamics that are responsible for the nonrandom structure in P. falciparum antigenic diversity is important for designing effective intervention in endemic areas.

Plasmodium knowlesi: a superb in vivo nonhuman primate model of antigenic variation in malaria

Antigenic variation in malaria was discovered in Plasmodium knowlesi studies involving longitudinal infections of rhesus macaques (M. mulatta). The variant proteins, known as the P. knowlesi Schizont Infected Cell Agglutination (SICA) antigens and the P. falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) antigens, expressed by the SICAvar and var multigene families, respectively, have been studied for over 30 years. Expression of the SICA antigens in P. knowlesi requires a splenic component, and specific antibodies are necessary for variant antigen switch events in vivo. Outstanding questions revolve around the role of the spleen and the mechanisms by which the expression of these variant antigen families are regulated. Importantly, the longitudinal dynamics and molecular mechanisms that govern variant antigen expression can be studied with P. knowlesi infection of its mammalian and vector hosts. Synchronous infections can be initiated with established clones and studied at multi-omic levels, with the benefit of computational tools from systems biology that permit the integration of datasets and the design of explanatory, predictive mathematical models. Here we provide an historical account of this topic, while highlighting the potential for maximizing the use of P. knowlesi - macaque model systems and summarizing exciting new progress in this area of research.

Linking EPCR-Binding PfEMP1 to Brain Swelling in Pediatric Cerebral Malaria

Brain swelling is a major predictor of mortality in pediatric cerebral malaria (CM). However, the mechanisms leading to swelling remain poorly defined. Here, we combined neuroimaging, parasite transcript profiling, and laboratory blood profiles to develop machine-learning models of malarial retinopathy and brain swelling. We found that parasite var transcripts encoding endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR)-binding domains, in combination with high parasite biomass and low platelet levels, are strong indicators of CM cases with malarial retinopathy. Swelling cases presented low platelet levels and increased transcript abundance of parasite PfEMP1 DC8 and group A EPCR-binding domains. Remarkably, the dominant transcript in 50% of swelling cases encoded PfEMP1 group A CIDRα1.7 domains. Furthermore, a recombinant CIDRα1.7 domain from a pediatric CM brain autopsy inhibited the barrier-protective properties of EPCR in human brain endothelial cells in vitro. Together, these findings suggest a detrimental role for EPCR-binding CIDRα1 domains in brain swelling.

Plasmodium falciparum EPCR-binding PfEMP1 expression increases with malaria disease severity and is elevated in retinopathy negative cerebral malaria

BACKGROUND

Expression of group A and the A-like subset of group B Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is associated with severe malaria (SM). The diversity of var sequences combined with the challenges of distinct classification of patient pathologies has made studying the role of distinct PfEMP1 variants on malaria disease severity challenging. The application of retinopathy in the recent years has provided a further method to clinically evaluate children with cerebral malaria (CM). The question of whether children with clinical CM but no retinopathy represent a completely different disease process or a subgroup within the spectrum of CM remains an important question in malaria. In the current study, we use newly designed primer sets with the best coverage to date in a large cohort of children with SM to determine the role of var genes in malaria disease severity and especially CM as discriminated by retinopathy.

METHODS

We performed qRT-PCR targeting the different subsets of these var genes on samples from Ugandan children with CM (n = 98, of whom 50 had malarial retinopathy [RP] and 47 did not [RN]), severe malarial anemia (SMA, n = 47), and asymptomatic parasitemia (AP, n = 14). The primers used in this study were designed based on var sequences from 226 Illumina whole genome sequenced P. falciparum field isolates.

RESULTS

Increasing severity of illness was associated with increasing levels of endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR)-binding PfEMP1. EPCR-binding PfEMP1 transcript levels were highest in children with combined CM and SMA and then decreased by level of disease severity: RP CM > RN CM > SMA > AP.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings indicate that PfEMP1 binding to EPCR is important in the pathogenesis of SM, including RN CM, and suggest that increased expression of EPCR-binding PfEMP1 is associated with progressively more severe disease. Agents that block EPCR-binding of PfEMP1 could provide novel interventions to prevent or decrease disease severity in malaria.

A re-assessment of gene-tag classification approaches for describing var gene expression patterns during human Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite infections

PfEMP1 are variant parasite antigens that are inserted on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes (IE). Through interactions with various host molecules, PfEMP1 mediate IE sequestration in tissues and play a key role in the pathology of severe malaria. PfEMP1 is encoded by a diverse multi-gene family called var. Previous studies have shown that that expression of specific subsets of var genes are associated with low levels of host immunity and severe malaria. However, in most clinical studies to date, full-length var gene sequences were unavailable and various approaches have been used to make comparisons between var gene expression profiles in different parasite isolates using limited information. Several studies have relied on the classification of a 300 - 500 base-pair "DBLα tag" region in the DBLα domain located at the 5' end of most var genes. We assessed the relationship between various DBLα tag classification methods, and sequence features that are only fully assessable through full-length var gene sequences. We compared these different sequence features in full-length var gene from six fully sequenced laboratory isolates. These comparisons show that despite a long history of recombination,  DBLα sequence tag classification can provide functional information on important features of full-length var genes. Notably, a specific subset of DBLα tags previously defined as "group A-like" is associated with CIDRα1 domains proposed to bind to endothelial protein C receptor. This analysis helps to bring together different sources of data that have been used to assess var gene expression in clinical parasite isolates.

Population genomics of virulence genes of Plasmodium falciparum in clinical isolates from Uganda

Plasmodium falciparum causes a spectrum of malarial disease from asymptomatic to uncomplicated through to severe. Investigations of parasite virulence have associated the expression of distinct variants of the major surface antigen of the blood stages known as Pf EMP1 encoded by up to 60 var genes per genome. Looking at the population genomics of var genes in cases of uncomplicated malaria, we set out to determine if there was any evidence of a selective sweep of specific var genes or clonal epidemic structure related to the incidence of uncomplicated disease in children. By sequencing the conserved DBLα domain of var genes from six sentinel sites in Uganda we found that the parasites causing uncomplicated P. falciparum disease in children were highly diverse and that every child had a unique var DBLα repertoire. Despite extensive var DBLα diversity and minimal overlap between repertoires, specific DBLα types and groups were conserved at the population level across Uganda. This pattern was the same regardless of the geographic distance or malaria transmission intensity. These data lead us to propose that any parasite can cause uncomplicated malarial disease and that these diverse parasite repertoires are composed of both upsA and non-upsA var gene groups.

A new method for sequencing the hypervariable Plasmodium falciparum gene var2csa from clinical samples

Background

VAR2CSA, a member of the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family, mediates the binding of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes to chondroitin sulfate A, a surface-associated molecule expressed in placental cells, and plays a central role in the pathogenesis of placental malaria. VAR2CSA is a target of naturally acquired immunity and, as such, is a leading vaccine candidate against placental malaria. This protein is very polymorphic and technically challenging to sequence. Published var2csa sequences, mostly limited to specific domains, have been generated through the sequencing of cloned PCR amplicons using capillary electrophoresis, a method that is both time consuming and costly, and that performs poorly when applied to clinical samples that are commonly polyclonal. A next-generation sequencing platform, Pacific Biosciences (PacBio), offers an alternative approach to overcome these issues.

Methods

PCR primers were designed that target a 5 kb segment in the 5′ end of var2csa and the resulting amplicons were sequenced using PacBio sequencing. The primers were optimized using two laboratory strains and were validated on DNA from 43 clinical samples, extracted from dried blood spots on filter paper or from cryopreserved P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Sequence reads were assembled using the SMRT-analysis ConsensusTools module.

Results

Here, a PacBio sequencing-based approach for recovering a segment encoding the majority of VAR2CSA’s extracellular region is described; this segment includes the totality of the first four domains in the 5′ end of var2csa (~5 kb), from clinical malaria samples. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated, showing a high success rate from cryopreserved samples and more limited success from dried blood spots stored at room temperature, and characterized the genetic variation of the var2csa locus.

Conclusions

This method will facilitate a detailed analysis of var2csa genetic variation and can be adapted to sequence other hypervariable P. falciparum genes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1976-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Increased risk of low birth weight in women with placental malaria associated with P. falciparum VAR2CSA clade

Pregnancy associated malaria (PAM) causes adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes owing to Plasmodium falciparum accumulation in the placenta. Placental accumulation is mediated by P. falciparum protein VAR2CSA, a leading PAM-specific vaccine target. The extent of its antigen diversity and impact on clinical outcomes remain poorly understood. Through amplicon deep-sequencing placental malaria samples from women in Malawi and Benin, we assessed sequence diversity of VAR2CSA’s ID1-DBL2x region, containing putative vaccine targets and estimated associations of specific clades with adverse birth outcomes. Overall, var2csa diversity was high and haplotypes subdivided into five clades, the largest two defined by homology to parasites strains, 3D7 or FCR3. Across both cohorts, compared to women infected with only FCR3-like variants, women infected with only 3D7-like variants delivered infants with lower birthweight (difference: −267.99 g; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: −466.43 g,−69.55 g) and higher odds of low birthweight (<2500 g) (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.41; 95% CI:0.99,29.52) and small-for-gestational-age (OR: 3.65; 95% CI: 1.01,13.38). In two distinct malaria-endemic African settings, parasites harboring 3D7-like variants of VAR2CSA were associated with worse birth outcomes, supporting differential effects of infection with specific parasite strains. The immense diversity coupled with differential clinical effects of this diversity suggest that an effective VAR2CSA-based vaccine may require multivalent activity.

Characterisation of Plasmodium falciparum populations selected on the human endothelial receptors P-selectin, E-selectin, CD9 and CD151

The ability of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum to evade the immune system and be sequestered within human small blood vessels is responsible for severe forms of malaria. The sequestration depends on the interaction between human endothelial receptors and P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) exposed on the surface of the infected erythrocytes (IEs). In this study, the transcriptomes of parasite populations enriched for parasites that bind to human P-selectin, E-selectin, CD9 and CD151 receptors were analysed. IT4_var02 and IT4_var07 were specifically expressed in IT4 parasite populations enriched for P-selectin-binding parasites; eight var genes (IT4_var02/07/09/13/17/41/44/64) were specifically expressed in isolate populations enriched for CD9-binding parasites. Interestingly, IT4 parasite populations enriched for E-selectin- and CD151-binding parasites showed identical expression profiles to those of a parasite population exposed to wild-type CHO-745 cells. The same phenomenon was observed for the 3D7 isolate population enriched for binding to P-selectin, E-selectin, CD9 and CD151. This implies that the corresponding ligands for these receptors have either weak binding capacity or do not exist on the IE surface. Conclusively, this work expanded our understanding of P. falciparum adhesive interactions, through the identification of var transcripts that are enriched within the selected parasite populations.

Evidence of strain structure in Plasmodium falciparum var gene repertoires in children from Gabon, West Africa

Existing theory on competition for hosts between pathogen strains has proposed that immune selection can lead to the maintenance of strain structure consisting of discrete, weakly overlapping antigenic repertoires. This prediction of strain theory has conceptual overlap with fundamental ideas in ecology on niche partitioning and limiting similarity between coexisting species in an ecosystem, which oppose the hypothesis of neutral coexistence. For Plasmodium falciparum, strain theory has been specifically proposed in relation to the major surface antigen of the blood stage, known as PfEMP1 and encoded by the multicopy multigene family known as the var genes. Deep sampling of the DBLα domain of var genes in the local population of Bakoumba, West Africa, was completed to define whether patterns of repertoire overlap support a role of immune selection under the opposing force of high outcrossing, a characteristic of areas of intense malaria transmission. Using a 454 high-throughput sequencing protocol, we report extremely high diversity of the DBLα domain and a large parasite population with DBLα repertoires structured into nonrandom patterns of overlap. Such population structure, significant for the high diversity of var genes that compose it at a local level, supports the existence of "strains" characterized by distinct var gene repertoires. Nonneutral, frequency-dependent competition would be at play and could underlie these patterns. With a computational experiment that simulates an intervention similar to mass drug administration, we argue that the observed repertoire structure matters for the antigenic var diversity of the parasite population remaining after intervention.

Pathogenicity Determinants of the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum Have Ancient Origins

Cytoadhesion of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the microcirculation is a major virulence determinant. P. falciparum is descended from a subgenus of parasites that also infect chimpanzees and gorillas and exhibits strict host species specificity. Despite their high genetic similarity to P. falciparum, it is unknown whether ape parasites encode adhesion properties similar to those of P. falciparum or are as virulent in their natural hosts. Consequently, it has been unclear when virulent adhesion traits arose in P. falciparum and how long they have been present in the parasite population. It is also unknown whether cytoadhesive interactions pose a barrier to cross-species transmission. We show that parasite domains from the chimpanzee malaria parasite P. reichenowi bind human receptors with specificity similar to that of P. falciparum. Our findings suggest that parasite adhesion traits associated with both mild and severe malaria have much earlier origins than previously appreciated and have important implications for virulence evolution in a major human pathogen.

Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly of the human malaria parasites, is a member of the Laverania subgenus that also infects African Great Apes. The virulence of P. falciparum is related to cytoadhesion of infected erythrocytes in microvasculature, but the origin of dangerous parasite adhesion traits is poorly understood. To investigate the evolutionary history of the P. falciparum cytoadhesion pathogenicity determinant, we studied adhesion domains from the chimpanzee malaria parasite P. reichenowi. We demonstrate that the P. reichenowi var gene repertoire encodes cysteine-rich interdomain region (CIDR) domains which bind human CD36 and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) with the same levels of affinity and at binding sites similar to those bound by P. falciparum. Moreover, P. reichenowi domains interfere with the protective function of the activated protein C-EPCR pathway on endothelial cells, a presumptive virulence trait in humans. These findings provide evidence for ancient evolutionary origins of two key cytoadhesion properties of P. falciparum that contribute to human infection and pathogenicity.

IMPORTANCE Cytoadhesion of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the microcirculation is a major virulence determinant. P. falciparum is descended from a subgenus of parasites that also infect chimpanzees and gorillas and exhibits strict host species specificity. Despite their high genetic similarity to P. falciparum, it is unknown whether ape parasites encode adhesion properties similar to those of P. falciparum or are as virulent in their natural hosts. Consequently, it has been unclear when virulent adhesion traits arose in P. falciparum and how long they have been present in the parasite population. It is also unknown whether cytoadhesive interactions pose a barrier to cross-species transmission. We show that parasite domains from the chimpanzee malaria parasite P. reichenowi bind human receptors with specificity similar to that of P. falciparum. Our findings suggest that parasite adhesion traits associated with both mild and severe malaria have much earlier origins than previously appreciated and have important implications for virulence evolution in a major human pathogen.

Plasmodium falciparum proteins involved in cytoadherence of infected erythrocytes to chemokine CX3CL1

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is associated with cytoadherence of infected red blood cells (iRBC) to endothelial cells. Numerous host molecules have been involved in cytoadherence, including the adhesive chemokine CX3CL1. Most of the identified parasite ligands are from the multigenic and hypervariable Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) family which makes them poor targets for the development of a broadly protective vaccine. Using proteomics, we have identified two 25-kDa parasite proteins with adhesive properties for CX3CL1, called CBP for CX3CL1 Binding Proteins. CBPs are coded by single-copy genes with little polymorphic variation and no homology with other P. falciparum gene products. Specific antibodies raised against epitopes from the predicted extracellular domains of each CBP efficiently stain the surface of RBC infected with trophozoites or schizonts, which is a strong indication of CBP expression at the surface of iRBC. These anti-CBP antibodies partially neutralize iRBC adherence to CX3CL1. This adherence is similarly inhibited in the presence of peptides from the CBP extracellular domains, while irrelevant peptides had no such effect. CBP1 and CBP2 are new P. falciparum ligands for the human chemokine CX3CL1. The identification of this non-polymorphic P. falciparum factors provides a new avenue for innovative vaccination approaches.

Functional Antibodies and Protection against Blood-stage Malaria

Numerous efforts to understand the functional roles of antibodies demonstrated that they can protect against malaria. However, it is unclear which antibody responses are the best correlates of immunity, and which antibody functions are most important in protection from disease. Understanding the role of antibodies in protection against malaria is crucial for antimalarial vaccine design. In this review, the specific functional properties of naturally acquired and vaccine-induced antibodies that correlate to protection from the blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum malaria are re-examined and the gaps in knowledge related to antibody function in malarial immunity are highlighted.

Phagocytosis-inducing antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum upon immunization with a recombinant PfEMP1 NTS-DBL1α domain

BACKGROUND

Individuals living in endemic areas gradually acquire natural immunity to clinical malaria, largely dependent on antibodies against parasite antigens. There are many studies indicating that the variant antigen PfEMP1 at the surface of the parasitized red blood cell (pRBC) is one of the major targets of the immune response. It is believed that antibodies against PfEMP1 confer protection by blocking sequestration (rosetting and cytoadherence), inducing antibody-dependent cellular-inhibitory effect and opsonizing pRBCs for phagocytosis.

METHODS

A recombinant NTS-DBL1α domain from a rosette-mediating PfEMP1 was expressed in Escherichia coli. The resulting protein was purified and used for immunization to generate polyclonal (goat) and monoclonal (mouse) antibodies. The antibodies' ability to opsonize and induce phagocytosis in vitro was tested and contrasted with the presence of opsonizing antibodies naturally acquired during Plasmodium falciparum infection.

RESULTS

All antibodies recognized the recombinant antigen and the surface of live pRBCs, however, their capacity to opsonize the pRBCs for phagocytosis varied. The monoclonal antibodies isotyped as IgG2b did not induce phagocytosis, while those isotyped as IgG2a were in general very effective, inducing phagocytosis with similar levels as those naturally acquired during P. falciparum infection. These monoclonal antibodies displayed different patterns, some of them showing a concentration-dependent activity while others showed a prozone-like effect. The goat polyclonal antibodies were not able to induce phagocytosis.

CONCLUSION

Immunization with an NTS-DBL1-α domain of PfEMP1 generates antibodies that not only have a biological role in rosette disruption but also effectively induce opsonization for phagocytosis of pRBCs with similar activity to naturally acquired antibodies from immune individuals living in a malaria endemic area. Some of the antibodies with high opsonizing activity were not able to disrupt rosettes, indicating that epitopes of the NTS-DBL1-α other than those involved in rosetting are exposed on the pRBC surface and are able to induce functional antibodies. The ability to induce phagocytosis largely depended on the antibody isotype and on the ability to recognize the surface of the pRBC regardless of the rosette-disrupting capacity.

Interaction between Endothelial Protein C Receptor and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 to Mediate Binding of Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes to Endothelial Cells

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) are candidate receptors for the deadly complication cerebral malaria. However, it remains unclear if Plasmodium falciparum parasites with dual binding specificity are involved in cytoadhesion or different parasite subpopulations bind in brain microvessels. Here, we investigated this issue by studying different subtypes of ICAM-1-binding parasite lines. We show that two parasite lines expressing domain cassette 13 (DC13) of the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family have dual binding specificity for EPCR and ICAM-1 and further mapped ICAM-1 binding to the first DBLβ domain following the PfEMP1 head structure in both proteins. As PfEMP1 head structures have diverged between group A (EPCR binders) and groups B and C (CD36 binders), we also investigated how ICAM-1-binding parasites with different coreceptor binding traits influence P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte binding to endothelial cells. Whereas levels of binding to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-stimulated endothelial cells from the lung and brain by all ICAM-1-binding parasite lines increased, group A (EPCR and ICAM-1) was less dependent than group B (CD36 and ICAM-1) on ICAM-1 upregulation. Furthermore, both group A DC13 parasite lines had higher binding levels to brain endothelial cells (a microvascular niche with limited CD36 expression). This study shows that ICAM-1 is a coreceptor for a subset of EPCR-binding parasites and provides the first evidence of how EPCR and ICAM-1 interact to mediate parasite binding to both resting and TNF-α-activated primary brain and lung endothelial cells.

Cerebral malaria is a severe neurological complication of P. falciparum infection associated with infected erythrocyte (IE) binding in cerebral vessels. Yet little is known about the mechanisms by which parasites adhere in the brain or other microvascular sites. Here, we studied parasite lines expressing group A DC13-containing PfEMP1 variants, a subset that has previously been shown to have high brain cell- and other endothelial cell-binding activities. We show that DC13-containing PfEMP1 variants have dual EPCR- and ICAM-1-binding activities and that both receptors are involved in parasite adherence to lung and brain endothelial cells. As both EPCR and ICAM-1 are implicated in cerebral malaria, these findings suggest the possibility that parasites with dual binding activities are involved in parasite sequestration to microvascular beds with low CD36 expression, such as the brain, and we urge more research into the multiadhesive properties of PfEMP1 variants.

Severe adult malaria is associated with specific PfEMP1 adhesion types and high parasite biomass

The interplay between cellular and molecular determinants that lead to severe malaria in adults is unexplored. Here, we analyzed parasite virulence factors in an infected adult population in India and investigated whether severe malaria isolates impair endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), a protein involved in coagulation and endothelial barrier permeability. Severe malaria isolates overexpressed specific members of the Plasmodium falciparum var gene/PfEMP1 (P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1) family that bind EPCR, including DC8 var genes that have previously been linked to severe pediatric malaria. Machine learning analysis revealed that DC6- and DC8-encoding var transcripts in combination with high parasite biomass were the strongest indicators of patient hospitalization and disease severity. We found that DC8 CIDRα1 domains from severe malaria isolates had substantial differences in EPCR binding affinity and blockade activity for its ligand activated protein C. Additionally, even a low level of inhibition exhibited by domains from two cerebral malaria isolates was sufficient to interfere with activated protein C-barrier protective activities in human brain endothelial cells. Our findings demonstrate an interplay between parasite biomass and specific PfEMP1 adhesion types in the development of adult severe malaria, and indicate that low impairment of EPCR function may contribute to parasite virulence.

Differences in PfEMP1s recognized by antibodies from patients with uncomplicated or severe malaria

BACKGROUND

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) variants are encoded by var genes and mediate pathogenic cytoadhesion and antigenic variation in malaria. PfEMP1s can be broadly divided into three principal groups (A, B and C) and they contain conserved arrangements of functional domains called domain cassettes. Despite their tremendous diversity there is compelling evidence that a restricted subset of PfEMP1s is expressed in severe disease. In this study antibodies from patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria were compared for differences in reactivity with a range of PfEMP1s to determine whether antibodies to particular PfEMP1 domains were associated with severe or uncomplicated malaria.

METHODS

Parts of expressed var genes in a severe malaria patient were identified by RNAseq and several of these partial PfEMP1 domains were expressed together with others from laboratory isolates. Antibodies from Papuan patients to these parts of multiple PfEMP1 proteins were measured.

RESULTS

Patients with uncomplicated malaria were more likely to have antibodies that recognized PfEMP1 of Group C type and recognized a broader repertoire of group A and B PfEMP1s than patients with severe malaria.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that exposure to a broad range of group A and B PfEMP1s is associated with protection from severe disease in Papua, Indonesia.

Functional analysis of monoclonal antibodies against the Plasmodium falciparum PfEMP1-VarO adhesin

Background

Rosetting, namely the capacity of the Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells to bind uninfected RBCs, is commonly observed in African children with severe malaria. Rosetting results from specific interactions between a subset of variant P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesins encoded by var genes, serum components and RBC receptors. Rosette formation is a redundant phenotype, as there exists more than one var gene encoding a rosette-mediating PfEMP1 in each genome and hence a diverse array of underlying interactions. Moreover, field diversity creates a large panel of rosetting-associated serotypes and studies with human immune sera indicate that surface-reacting antibodies are essentially variant-specific. To gain better insight into the interactions involved in rosetting and map surface epitopes, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was investigated.

Methods

Monoclonal antibodies were isolated from mice immunized with PfEMP1-VarO recombinant domains. They were characterized using ELISA and reactivity with the native PfEMP1-VarO adhesin on immunoblots of reduced and unreduced extracts, as well as SDS-extracts of Palo Alto 89F5 VarO schizonts. Functionality was assessed using inhibition of Palo Alto 89F5 VarO rosette formation and disruption of Palo Alto 89F5 VarO rosettes. Competition ELISAs were performed with biotinylated antibodies against DBL1 to identify reactivity groups. Specificity of mAbs reacting with the DBL1 adhesion domain was explored using recombinant proteins carrying mutations abolishing RBC binding or binding to heparin, a potent inhibitor of rosette formation.

Results

Domain-specific, surface-reacting mAbs were obtained for four individual domains (DBL1, CIDR1, DBL2, DBL4). Monoclonal antibodies reacting with DBL1 potently inhibited the formation of rosettes and disrupted Palo Alto 89F5 VarO rosettes. Most surface-reactive mAbs and all mAbs interfering with rosetting reacted on parasite immunoblots with disulfide bond-dependent PfEMP1 epitopes. Based on competition ELISA and binding to mutant DBL1 domains, two distinct binding sites for rosette-disrupting mAbs were identified in close proximity to the RBC-binding site.

Conclusions

Rosette-inhibitory antibodies bind to conformation-dependent epitopes located close to the RBC-binding site and distant from the heparin-binding site. These results provide novel clues for a rational intervention strategy that targets rosetting.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-1016-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Beninese children with cerebral malaria do not develop humoral immunity against the IT4-VAR19-DC8 PfEMP1 variant linked to EPCR and brain endothelial binding

Background

Malaria is still one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world. Sequestration of infected erythrocytes (IEs) is the prime mediator of disease. Cytoadhesion of IEs is mediated by members of the highly diverse Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). A restricted sub-set of var genes encoding for PfEMP1s possessing the domain cassettes DC8 and DC13 were found to bind to the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). These var genes were shown to be highly expressed by parasites from patients with severe malaria clinical outcomes compared to those from patients with uncomplicated symptoms.

Methods

In order to further study the molecular mechanisms underlying DC8/DC13 expressing IEs adhesion to EPCR, a method was developed to produce highly pure recombinant EPCR. The IT4 parasite strain was selected on either anti-IT4-VAR19 purified IgG, EPCR or human brain endothelial cell line and their var gene expression profiles as well as their binding phenotypes were compared. The N-terminal region of IT4-VAR19 comprising a full-length DC8 cassette as well as the single EPCR binding CIDRα1.1 domain were also produced, and their immune recognition (IgG) was assessed using plasma samples from Beninese children presenting acute mild malaria, severe malaria or cerebral malaria at the time of their admission to the clinic, and from convalescent-phase plasma collected 30 days after anti-malarial treatment.

Results

The multi-domain VAR19-NTS-DBLγ6 binds to EPCR with a greater affinity than the CIDRα1.1 domain alone and this study also demonstrates that VAR19-NTS-DBLγ6 binding to the EPCR-expressing endothelial cell line (HBEC5i) is more pronounced than that of the CIDRα1.1 domain alone. IT4-VAR19 represents the preferentially expressed-PfEMP1 when FCR3-IEs are selected based on their capability to bind EPCR. Notably, no significant difference in the levels of antibodies towards IT4-VAR19 antigens was observed within all clinical groups between plasma samples collected during the acute malaria phase compared to samples collected 30 days after anti-malaria treatment.

Conclusions

These data indicate that even being the preferentially selected IT4-EPCR-binding variant, the IT4-VAR19-DC8 region does not appear to be associated with the acquisition of antibodies during a single severe paediatric malaria episode in Benin.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-1008-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Plasmodium falciparum adhesion domains linked to severe malaria differ in blockade of endothelial protein C receptor

Cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) is associated with severe malaria. It has been postulated that parasite binding could exacerbate microvascular coagulation and endothelial dysfunction in cerebral malaria by impairing the protein C-EPCR interaction, but the extent of binding inhibition has not been fully determined. Here we expressed the cysteine-rich interdomain region (CIDRα1) domain from a variety of domain cassette (DC) 8 and DC13 P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 proteins and show they interact in a distinct manner with EPCR resulting in weak, moderate and strong inhibition of the activated protein C (APC)-EPCR interaction. Overall, there was a positive correlation between CIDRα1-EPCR binding activity and APC blockade activity. In addition, our analysis from a combination of mutagenesis and blocking antibodies finds that an Arg81 (R81) in EPCR plays a pivotal role in CIDRα1 binding, but domains with weak and strong APC blockade activity were distinguished by their sensitivity to inhibition by anti-EPCR mAb 1535, implying subtle differences in their binding footprints. These data reveal a previously unknown functional heterogeneity in the interaction between P. falciparum and EPCR and have major implications for understanding the distinct clinical pathologies of cerebral malaria and developing new treatment strategies.

Antigenic Variation in Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum is the protozoan parasite that causes most malaria-associated morbidity and mortality in humans with over 500,000 deaths annually. The disease symptoms are associated with repeated cycles of invasion and asexual multiplication inside red blood cells of the parasite. Partial, non-sterile immunity to P. falciparum malaria develops only after repeated infections and continuous exposure. The successful evasion of the human immune system relies on the large repertoire of antigenically diverse parasite proteins displayed on the red blood cell surface and on the merozoite membrane where they are exposed to the human immune system. Expression switching of these polymorphic proteins between asexual parasite generations provides an efficient mechanism to adapt to the changing environment in the host and to maintain chronic infection. This chapter discusses antigenic diversity and variation in the malaria parasite and our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms that direct the expression of these proteins.