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Simião GM, Parreira KS, Klein SG, Ferreira FB, Freitas FDS, Silva EFD, Silva NM, Silva MVD, Lima WR. Involvement of Inflammatory Cytokines, Renal NaPi-IIa Cotransporter, and TRAIL Induced-Apoptosis in Experimental Malaria-Associated Acute Kidney Injury. Pathogens 2024; 13:376. [PMID: 38787228 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The murine model of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA was used to investigate the relationship among pro-inflammatory cytokines, alterations in renal function biomarkers, and the induction of the TRAIL apoptosis pathway during malaria-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). Renal function was evaluated through the measurement of plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The mRNA expression of several cytokines and NaPi-IIa was quantified. Kidney sections were examined and cytokine levels were assessed using cytometric bead array (CBA) assays. The presence of glomerular IgG deposits and apoptosis-related proteins were investigated using in situ immunofluorescence assays and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. NaPi-IIa downregulation in the kidneys provided novel insights into the pathogenesis of hypophosphatemia during CM. Histopathological analysis revealed characteristic features of severe malaria-associated nephritis, including glomerular collapse and tubular alterations. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, were upregulated. The TRAIL apoptosis pathway was significantly activated, implicating its role in renal apoptosis. The observed alterations in renal biomarkers and the downregulation of NaPi-IIa shed light on potential mechanisms contributing to renal dysfunction in ECM. The intricate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, along with the activation of the TRAIL apoptosis pathway, highlights the complexity of malaria-associated AKI and provides new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Martins Simião
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rondonopolis, Rondonópolis 78736-900, MT, Brazil
| | | | - Sandra Gabriela Klein
- Laboratory of Biotechnology in Experimental Models, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia 38410-337, MG, Brazil
| | - Flávia Batista Ferreira
- Laboratory of Biotechnology in Experimental Models, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia 38410-337, MG, Brazil
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia 38405-318, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Neide Maria Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia 38405-318, MG, Brazil
| | - Murilo Vieira da Silva
- Laboratory of Biotechnology in Experimental Models, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia 38410-337, MG, Brazil
| | - Wânia Rezende Lima
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rondonopolis, Rondonópolis 78736-900, MT, Brazil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Catalao, Catalão 75706-881, GO, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biotechnology in Experimental Models, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia 38410-337, MG, Brazil
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Parreira KS, Scarpelli P, Rezende Lima W, Garcia RS. Contribution of Transcriptome to Elucidate the Biology of Plasmodium spp. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:169-187. [PMID: 35021974 DOI: 10.2174/1568026622666220111140803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In the present review, we discuss some of the new technologies that have been applied to elucidate how Plasmodium spp escape from the immune system and subvert the host physiology to orchestrate the regulation of its biological pathways. Our manuscript describes how techniques such as microarray approaches, RNA-Seq and single-cell RNA sequencing have contributed to the discovery of transcripts and changed the concept of gene expression regulation in closely related malaria parasite species. Moreover, the text highlights the contributions of high-throughput RNA sequencing for the current knowledge of malaria parasite biology, physiology, vaccine target and the revelation of new players in parasite signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Scarpelli
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wânia Rezende Lima
- Departamento de Medicina, Instituto de Biotecnologia-Universidade Federal de Catalão
| | - R S Garcia
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
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Aguiar AC, de Sousa LR, Garcia CR, Oliva G, Guido RV. New Molecular Targets and Strategies for Antimalarial Discovery. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:4380-4402. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170830103003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains a major health problem, especially because of the emergence
of resistant P. falciparum strains to artemisinin derivatives. In this context, safe and affordable
antimalarial drugs are desperately needed. New proteins have been investigated
as molecular targets for research and development of innovative compounds with welldefined
mechanism of action. In this review, we highlight genetically and clinically validated
plasmodial proteins as drug targets for the next generation of therapeutics. The enzymes
described herein are involved in hemoglobin hydrolysis, the invasion process,
elongation factors for protein synthesis, pyrimidine biosynthesis, post-translational modifications
such as prenylation, phosphorylation and histone acetylation, generation of ATP
in mitochondrial metabolism and aminoacylation of RNAs. Significant advances on proteomics,
genetics, structural biology, computational and biophysical methods provided
invaluable molecular and structural information about these drug targets. Based on this,
several strategies and models have been applied to identify and improve lead compounds.
This review presents the recent progresses in the discovery of antimalarial drug candidates,
highlighting the approaches, challenges, and perspectives to deliver affordable, safe
and low single-dose medicines to treat malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Caroline Aguiar
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Lorena R.F. de Sousa
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Celia R.S. Garcia
- Physiology Department, Bioscience Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael V.C. Guido
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
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Schloetel JG, Heine J, Cowman AF, Pasternak M. Guided STED nanoscopy enables super-resolution imaging of blood stage malaria parasites. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4674. [PMID: 30886187 PMCID: PMC6423018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40718-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a major burden world-wide, but the disease-causing parasites from the genus Plasmodium are difficult to study in vitro. Owing to the small size of the parasites, subcellular imaging poses a major challenge and the use of super-resolution techniques has been hindered by the parasites' sensitivity to light. This is particularly apparent during the blood-stage of the Plasmodium life cycle, which presents an important target for drug research. The iron-rich food vacuole of the parasite undergoes disintegration when illuminated with high-power lasers such as those required for high resolution in Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy. This causes major damage to the sample precluding the use of this super-resolution technique. Here we present guided STED, a novel adaptive illumination (AI) STED approach, which takes advantage of the highly-reflective nature of the iron deposit in the cell to identify the most light-sensitive parts of the sample. Specifically in these parts, the high-power STED laser is deactivated automatically to prevent local damage. Guided STED nanoscopy finally allows super-resolution imaging of the whole Plasmodium life cycle, enabling multicolour imaging of blood-stage malaria parasites with resolutions down to 35 nm without sample destruction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jörn Heine
- Abberior Instruments GmbH, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alan F Cowman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michał Pasternak
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Synthesis and antiplasmodial activity of glyco-conjugate hybrids of phenylhydrazono-indolinones and glycosylated 1,2,3-triazolyl-methyl-indoline-2,3-diones. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 155:764-771. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Parasitic diseases that pose a threat to human life include leishmaniasis - caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania species. Existing drugs have limitations due to deleterious side effects like teratogenicity, high cost and drug resistance. This calls for the need to have an insight into therapeutic aspects of disease. Areas covered: We have identified different drug targets via. molecular, imuunological, metabolic as well as by system biology approaches. We bring these promising drug targets into light so that they can be explored to their maximum. In an effort to bridge the gaps between existing knowledge and prospects of drug discovery, we have compiled interesting studies on drug targets, thereby paving the way for establishment of better therapeutic aspects. Expert opinion: Advancements in technology shed light on many unexplored pathways. Further probing of well established pathways led to the discovery of new drug targets. This review is a comprehensive report on current and emerging drug targets, with emphasis on several metabolic targets, organellar biochemistry, salvage pathways, epigenetics, kinome and more. Identification of new targets can contribute significantly towards strengthening the pipeline for disease elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, UP, India
| | - Bhawana Singh
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, UP, India
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Pecenin MF, Borges-Pereira L, Levano-Garcia J, Budu A, Alves E, Mikoshiba K, Thomas A, Garcia CRS. Blocking IP 3 signal transduction pathways inhibits melatonin-induced Ca 2+ signals and impairs P. falciparum development and proliferation in erythrocytes. Cell Calcium 2018; 72:81-90. [PMID: 29748136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3) signaling plays a crucial role in a wide range of eukaryotic processes. In Plasmodium falciparum, IP3 elicits Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores, even though no IP3 receptor homolog has been identified to date. The human host hormone melatonin plays a key role in entraining the P. falciparum life cycle in the intraerythrocytic stages, apparently through an IP3-dependent Ca2+ signal. The melatonin-induced cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) increase and malaria cell cycle can be blocked by the IP3 receptor blocker 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB). However, 2-APB also inhibits store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Therefore, we have used two novel 2-APB derivatives, DPB162-AE and DPB163-AE, which are 100-fold more potent than 2-APB in blocking SOCE in mammalian cells, and appear to act by interfering with clustering of STIM proteins. In the present work we report that DPB162-AE and DPB163-AE block the [Ca2+]cyt rise in response to melatonin in P. falciparum, but only at high concentrations. These compounds also block SOCE in the parasite at similarly high concentrations suggesting that P. falciparum SOCE is not activated in the same way as in mammalian cells. We further find that DPB162-AE and DPB163-AE affect the development of the intraerythrocytic parasites and invasion of new red blood cells. Our efforts to episomally express proteins that compete with native IP3 receptor like IP3-sponge and an IP3 sensor such as IRIS proved to be lethal to P. falciparum during intraerythrocytic cycle. The present findings point to an important role of IP3-induced Ca2+ release in intraerythrocytic stage of P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Fila Pecenin
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA; Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julio Levano-Garcia
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Budu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Alves
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katsuhiko Mikoshiba
- Lab. for Developmental Neurobiology, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan
| | - Andrew Thomas
- New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA
| | - Celia R S Garcia
- New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA; Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP) Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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8
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Lima WR, Martins DC, Parreira KS, Scarpelli P, Santos de Moraes M, Topalis P, Hashimoto RF, Garcia CRS. Genome-wide analysis of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum transcription factor PfNF-YB shows interaction with a CCAAT motif. Oncotarget 2017; 8:113987-114001. [PMID: 29371963 PMCID: PMC5768380 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about transcription factor regulation during the Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic cycle. In order to elucidate the role of the P. falciparum (Pf)NF-YB transcription factor we searched for target genes in the entire genome. PfNF-YB mRNA is highly expressed in late trophozoite and schizont stages relative to the ring stage. In order to determine the candidate genes bound by PfNF-YB a ChIP-on-chip assay was carried out and 297 genes were identified. Ninety nine percent of PfNF-YB binding was to putative promoter regions of protein coding genes of which only 16% comprise proteins of known function. Interestingly, our data reveal that PfNF-YB binding is not exclusively to a canonical CCAAT box motif. PfNF-YB binds to genes coding for proteins implicated in a range of different biological functions, such as replication protein A large subunit (DNA replication), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (nucleic acid metabolism) and multidrug resistance protein 2 (intracellular transport).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wânia Rezende Lima
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais-Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso-Campus Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - David Correa Martins
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
| | - Kleber Simônio Parreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais-Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso-Campus Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Pedro Scarpelli
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miriam Santos de Moraes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pantelis Topalis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, Hellas, Greece
| | - Ronaldo Fumio Hashimoto
- Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Maslachah L, Widiyatno TV, Yustinasari LR, Plumeriastuti H. Phenotypic approach artemisinin resistance in malaria rodent as in vivo model. Vet World 2017; 10:790-797. [PMID: 28831224 PMCID: PMC5553149 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.790-797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to prove the development of artemisinin resistance phenotypically in malaria rodent as an in vivo resistance development model in humans. Materials and Methods: Plasmodium berghei was infected intraperitoneally in mice, then artemisinin was given with “4-day-test” with effective dose (ED) 99% dose for 3 days which begins 48 h after infection (D2, D3, and D4). Parasite development was followed during 5th until 10th days of infection. After parasitemia >2% of red blood cell which contains parasites on 1 mice, that mice were used as donor to be passaged on the new 5 mice. After that, parasitemia was calculated. ED50 and ED90 were examined with parasite clearance time (PCT), recrudescence time (RT), and also morphology development examination of intraerythrocytic cycle of P. berghei with transmission electron microscope. Results: Among the control group compare with the treatment group showed significant differences at α=0.05 on 5th day (D5) until 10th day (D10). The control group of 4th passage (K4) with passage treatment group of 4th passage (P4) on the 10th days (D10) post infection showed no significant differences in the α=0.05. The average percentage of inhibition growth was decreasing which is started from 5th to 10th day post infection in P1, P2, P3, and P4. On the development of P. berghei stage, which is given repeated artemisinin and repeated passage, there was a formation of dormant and also vacuoles in Plasmodium that exposed to the drug. Conclusion: Exposure to artemisinin with repeated passages in mice increased the value of ED50 and ED90, decreased the PCT and RT and also changes in morphology dormant and vacuole formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilik Maslachah
- Department of Basic Medicine, Veterinary Pharmacy Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Thomas V Widiyatno
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Lita Rakhma Yustinasari
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Hani Plumeriastuti
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University Surabaya, Indonesia
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Borges-Pereira L, Meissner KA, Wrenger C, Garcia CRS. Plasmodium falciparum GFP-E-NTPDase expression at the intraerythrocytic stages and its inhibition blocks the development of the human malaria parasite. Purinergic Signal 2017; 13:267-277. [PMID: 28285440 PMCID: PMC5563288 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-017-9557-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is the causative agent of the most dangerous form of malaria in humans. It has been reported that the P. falciparum genome encodes for a single ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPDase), an enzyme that hydrolyzes extracellular tri- and di-phosphate nucleotides. The E-NTPDases are known for participating in invasion and as a virulence factor in many pathogenic protozoa. Despite its presence in the parasite genome, currently, no information exists about the activity of this predicted protein. Here, we show for the first time that P. falciparum E-NTPDase is relevant for parasite lifecycle as inhibition of this enzyme impairs the development of P. falciparum within red blood cells (RBCs). ATPase activity could be detected in rings, trophozoites, and schizonts, as well as qRT-PCR, confirming that E-NTPDase is expressed throughout the intraerythrocytic cycle. In addition, transfection of a construct which expresses approximately the first 500 bp of an E-NTPDase-GFP chimera shows that E-NTPDase co-localizes with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the early stages and with the digestive vacuole (DV) in the late stages of P. falciparum intraerythrocytic cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 101, travessa 14, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Kamila Anna Meissner
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 101, travessa 14, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.
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11
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Chan JA, Howell KB, Langer C, Maier AG, Hasang W, Rogerson SJ, Petter M, Chesson J, Stanisic DI, Duffy MF, Cooke BM, Siba PM, Mueller I, Bull PC, Marsh K, Fowkes FJI, Beeson JG. A single point in protein trafficking by Plasmodium falciparum determines the expression of major antigens on the surface of infected erythrocytes targeted by human antibodies. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:4141-58. [PMID: 27193441 PMCID: PMC5042999 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2267-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies to blood-stage antigens of Plasmodium falciparum play a pivotal role in human immunity to malaria. During parasite development, multiple proteins are trafficked from the intracellular parasite to the surface of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs). However, the relative importance of different proteins as targets of acquired antibodies, and key pathways involved in trafficking major antigens remain to be clearly defined. We quantified antibodies to surface antigens among children, adults, and pregnant women from different malaria-exposed regions. We quantified the importance of antigens as antibody targets using genetically engineered P. falciparum with modified surface antigen expression. Genetic deletion of the trafficking protein skeleton-binding protein-1 (SBP1), which is involved in trafficking the surface antigen PfEMP1, led to a dramatic reduction in antibody recognition of IEs and the ability of human antibodies to promote opsonic phagocytosis of IEs, a key mechanism of parasite clearance. The great majority of antibody epitopes on the IE surface were SBP1-dependent. This was demonstrated using parasite isolates with different genetic or phenotypic backgrounds, and among antibodies from children, adults, and pregnant women in different populations. Comparisons of antibody reactivity to parasite isolates with SBP1 deletion or inhibited PfEMP1 expression suggest that PfEMP1 is the dominant target of acquired human antibodies, and that other P. falciparum IE surface proteins are minor targets. These results establish SBP1 as part of a critical pathway for the trafficking of major surface antigens targeted by human immunity, and have key implications for vaccine development, and quantifying immunity in populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Anne Chan
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Katherine B Howell
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christine Langer
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Alexander G Maier
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Wina Hasang
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michaela Petter
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Joanne Chesson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Michael F Duffy
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Brian M Cooke
- Programs in Infection and Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter M Siba
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter C Bull
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Kevin Marsh
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Freya J I Fowkes
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne School of Public Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia.
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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12
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Plattner H. Trichocysts-Paramecium'sProjectile-like Secretory Organelles. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2016; 64:106-133. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Plattner
- Department of Biology; University of Konstanz; PO Box M625 78457 Konstanz Germany
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Cruz LN, Wu Y, Ulrich H, Craig AG, Garcia CRS. Tumor necrosis factor reduces Plasmodium falciparum growth and activates calcium signaling in human malaria parasites. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1860:1489-97. [PMID: 27080559 PMCID: PMC4876768 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Plasmodium has a complex biology including the ability to interact with host signals modulating their function through cellular machinery. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) elicits diverse cellular responses including effects in malarial pathology and increased infected erythrocyte cytoadherence. As TNF levels are raised during Plasmodium falciparum infection we have investigated whether it has an effect on the parasite asexual stage. Methods Flow cytometry, spectrofluorimetric determinations, confocal microscopy and PCR real time quantifications were employed for characterizing TNF induced effects and membrane integrity verified by wheat germ agglutinin staining. Results TNF is able to decrease intracellular parasitemia, involving calcium as a second messenger of the pathway. Parasites incubated for 48 h with TNF showed reduced erythrocyte invasion. Thus, TNF induced rises in intracellular calcium concentration, which were blocked by prior addition of the purinergic receptor agonists KN62 and A438079, or interfering with intra- or extracellular calcium release by thapsigargin or EGTA (ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid). Importantly, expression of PfPCNA1 which encodes the Plasmodium falciparum Proliferating-Cell Nuclear Antigen 1, decreased after P. falciparum treatment of TNF (tumor necrosis factor) or 6-Bnz cAMP (N6-benzoyladenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate sodium salt). Conclusions This is potentially interesting data showing the relevance of calcium in downregulating a gene involved in cellular proliferation, triggered by TNF. General significance The data show that Plasmodium may subvert the immunological system and use TNF for the control of its proliferation within the vertebrate host. TNF is able to decrease parasitemia in P. falciparum‐infected RBCs. TNF induced rises in intracellular calcium concentration, which were blocked by the purinergic receptor agonists KN62 and A438079. Interfering with intra‐ or extracellular calcium release by thapsigargin or EGTA also block TNF‐induce calcium release in P. falciparum. Expression of the P. falciparum Proliferating‐Cell Nuclear Antigen 1 (PfPCNA1) decreased after P. falciparum treatment with TNF or 6‐Bnz cAMP. The data show that Plasmodium may subvert the immunological system and use TNF for the control of its proliferation within the vertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Cruz
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, n321, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Yang Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alister G Craig
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, n321, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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14
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Alves E, Maluf FV, Bueno VB, Guido RVC, Oliva G, Singh M, Scarpelli P, Costa F, Sartorello R, Catalani LH, Brady D, Tewari R, Garcia CRS. Biliverdin targets enolase and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) to reduce the growth of intraerythrocytic development of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22093. [PMID: 26915471 PMCID: PMC4768138 DOI: 10.1038/srep22093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, haem degradation to biliverdin (BV) through the action of haem oxygenase (HO) is a critical step in haem metabolism. The malaria parasite converts haem into the chemically inert haemozoin to avoid toxicity. We discovered that the knock-out of HO in P. berghei is lethal; therefore, we investigated the function of biliverdin (BV) and haem in the parasite. Addition of external BV and haem to P. falciparum-infected red blood cell (RBC) cultures delays the progression of parasite development. The search for a BV molecular target within the parasites identified P. falciparum enolase (Pf enolase) as the strongest candidate. Isothermal titration calorimetry using recombinant full-length Plasmodium enolase suggested one binding site for BV. Kinetic assays revealed that BV is a non-competitive inhibitor. We employed molecular modelling studies to predict the new binding site as well as the binding mode of BV to P. falciparum enolase. Furthermore, addition of BV and haem targets the phosphorylation of Plasmodium falciparum eIF2α factor, an eukaryotic initiation factor phosphorylated by eIF2α kinases under stress conditions. We propose that BV targets enolase to reduce parasite glycolysis rates and changes the eIF2α phosphorylation pattern as a molecular mechanism for its action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Alves
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP), Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Fernando V Maluf
- Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Vânia B Bueno
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Rafael V C Guido
- Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Maneesh Singh
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP), Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Pedro Scarpelli
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP), Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Fahyme Costa
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP), Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Robson Sartorello
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP), Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Luiz H Catalani
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Celia R S Garcia
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sinalização Celular Patógeno-Hospedeiro (NUSCEP), Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
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15
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Budu A, Gomes MM, Melo PM, El Chamy Maluf S, Bagnaresi P, Azevedo MF, Carmona AK, Gazarini ML. Calmidazolium evokes high calcium fluctuations in Plasmodium falciparum. Cell Signal 2015; 28:125-135. [PMID: 26689736 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Calcium and calmodulin (CaM) are important players in eukaryote cell signaling. In the present study, by using a knockin approach, we demonstrated the expression and localization of CaM in all erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Under extracellular Ca(2+)-free conditions, calmidazolium (CZ), a potent CaM inhibitor, promoted a transient cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)]cyt) increase in isolated trophozoites, indicating that CZ mobilizes intracellular sources of calcium. In the same extracellular Ca(2+)-free conditions, the [Ca(2+)]cyt rise elicited by CZ treatment was ~3.5 fold higher when the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium store was previously depleted ruling out the mobilization of calcium from the ER by CZ. The effects of the Ca(2+)/H(+) ionophore ionomycin (ION) and the Na(+)/H(+) ionophore monensin (MON) suggest that the [Ca(2+)]cyt-increasing effect of CZ is driven by the removal of Ca(2+) from at least one Ca(2+)-CaM-related (CaMR) protein as well as by the mobilization of Ca(2+) from intracellular acidic calcium stores. Moreover, we showed that the mitochondrion participates in the sequestration of the cytosolic Ca(2+) elicited by CZ. Finally, the modulation of membrane Ca(2+) channels by CZ and thapsigargin (THG) was demonstrated. The opened channels were blocked by the unspecific calcium channel blocker Co(2+) but not by 2-APB (capacitative calcium entry inhibitor) or nifedipine (L-type Ca(2+) channel inhibitor). Taken together, the results suggested that one CaMR protein is an important modulator of calcium signaling and homeostasis during the Plasmodium intraerythrocytic cell cycle, working as a relevant intracellular Ca(2+) reservoir in the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Budu
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mayrim M Gomes
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Pollyana M Melo
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sarah El Chamy Maluf
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Piero Bagnaresi
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauro F Azevedo
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana K Carmona
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Marcos L Gazarini
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
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16
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Broadbent KM, Broadbent JC, Ribacke U, Wirth D, Rinn JL, Sabeti PC. Strand-specific RNA sequencing in Plasmodium falciparum malaria identifies developmentally regulated long non-coding RNA and circular RNA. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:454. [PMID: 26070627 PMCID: PMC4465157 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1603-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a complex and multi-stage life cycle that requires extensive and precise gene regulation to allow invasion and hijacking of host cells, transmission, and immune escape. To date, the regulatory elements orchestrating these critical parasite processes remain largely unknown. Yet it is becoming increasingly clear that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) could represent a missing regulatory layer across a broad range of organisms. Results To investigate the regulatory capacity of lncRNA in P. falciparum, we harvested fifteen samples from two time-courses. Our sample set profiled 56 h of P. falciparum blood stage development. We then developed and validated strand-specific, non-polyA-selected RNA sequencing methods, and pursued the first assembly of P. falciparum strand-specific transcript structures from RNA sequencing data. This approach enabled the annotation of over one thousand lncRNA transcript models and their comprehensive global analysis: coding prediction, periodicity, stage-specificity, correlation, GC content, length, location relative to annotated transcripts, and splicing. We validated the complete splicing structure of three lncRNAs with compelling properties. Non-polyA-selected deep sequencing also enabled the prediction of hundreds of intriguing P. falciparum circular RNAs, six of which we validated experimentally. Conclusions We found that a subset of lncRNAs, including all subtelomeric lncRNAs, strongly peaked in expression during invasion. By contrast, antisense transcript levels significantly dropped during invasion. As compared to neighboring mRNAs, the expression of antisense-sense pairs was significantly anti-correlated during blood stage development, indicating transcriptional interference. We also validated that P. falciparum produces circRNAs, which is notable given the lack of RNA interference in the organism, and discovered that a highly expressed, five-exon antisense RNA is poised to regulate P. falciparum gametocyte development 1 (PfGDV1), a gene required for early sexual commitment events. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1603-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Broadbent
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. .,Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Jill C Broadbent
- FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. .,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Ulf Ribacke
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. .,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, BMC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Dyann Wirth
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. .,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - John L Rinn
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. .,Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. .,Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. .,Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. .,FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. .,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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17
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Kumar S, Kumari R, Pandey R. New insight-guided approaches to detect, cure, prevent and eliminate malaria. PROTOPLASMA 2015; 252:717-753. [PMID: 25323622 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-014-0697-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
New challenges posed by the development of resistance against artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as well as previous first-line therapies, and the continuing absence of vaccine, have given impetus to research in all areas of malaria control. This review portrays the ongoing progress in several directions of malaria research. The variants of RTS,S and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) are being developed and test adapted as multicomponent and multistage malaria control vaccines, while many other vaccine candidates and methodologies to produce antigens are under experimentation. To track and prevent the spread of artemisinin resistance from Southeast Asia to other parts of the world, rolling circle-enhanced enzyme activity detection (REEAD), a time- and cost-effective malaria diagnosis in field conditions, and a DNA marker associated with artemisinin resistance have become available. Novel mosquito repellents and mosquito trapping and killing techniques much more effective than the prevalent ones are undergoing field testing. Mosquito lines stably infected with their symbiotic wild-type or genetically engineered bacteria that kill sympatric malaria parasites are being constructed and field tested for stopping malaria transmission. A complementary approach being pursued is the addition of ivermectin-like drug molecules to ACTs to cure malaria and kill mosquitoes. Experiments are in progress to eradicate malaria mosquito by making it genetically male sterile. High-throughput screening procedures are being developed and used to discover molecules that possess long in vivo half life and are active against liver and blood stages for the fast cure of malaria symptoms caused by simple or relapsing and drug-sensitive and drug-resistant types of varied malaria parasites, can stop gametocytogenesis and sporogony and could be given in one dose. Target-based antimalarial drug designing has begun. Some of the putative next-generation antimalarials that possess in their scaffold structure several of the desired properties of malaria cure and control are exemplified by OZ439, NITD609, ELQ300 and tafenoquine that are already undergoing clinical trials, and decoquinate, usnic acid, torin-2, ferroquine, WEHI-916, MMV396749 and benzothiophene-type N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) inhibitors, which are candidates for future clinical usage. Among these, NITD609, ELQ300, decoquinate, usnic acid, torin-2 and NMT inhibitors not only cure simple malaria and are prophylactic against simple malaria, but they also cure relapsing malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Kumar
- SKA Institution for Research, Education and Development (SKAIRED), 4/11 SarvPriya Vihar, New Delhi, 110016, India,
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18
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Pinto MEF, Batista JM, Koehbach J, Gaur P, Sharma A, Nakabashi M, Cilli EM, Giesel GM, Verli H, Gruber CW, Blanch EW, Tavares JF, da Silva MS, Garcia CRS, Bolzani VS. Ribifolin, an orbitide from Jatropha ribifolia, and its potential antimalarial activity. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2015; 78:374-80. [PMID: 25699574 DOI: 10.1021/np5007668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A new orbitide named ribifolin was isolated and characterized from Jatropha ribifolia using mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, quantitative amino acid analysis, molecular dynamics/simulated annealing, and Raman optical activity measurements and calculations. Ribifolin (1) and its linear form (1a) were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis, followed by evaluation of its antiplasmodial and cytotoxicity activities. Compound 1 was moderately effective (IC50 = 42 μM) against the Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meri Emili F Pinto
- †Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University-UNESP, 14800-060, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João M Batista
- †Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University-UNESP, 14800-060, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
- ‡Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, M1 7DN, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- §School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- ⊥Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pratibha Gaur
- ∥Departament of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, The University of São Paulo-USP, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Abhinay Sharma
- ∥Departament of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, The University of São Paulo-USP, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Myna Nakabashi
- ∥Departament of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, The University of São Paulo-USP, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Maffud Cilli
- †Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University-UNESP, 14800-060, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme M Giesel
- #Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, 91500-970, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Hugo Verli
- #Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, 91500-970, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Christian W Gruber
- ⊥Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ewan W Blanch
- ‡Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, M1 7DN, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Joseam F Tavares
- □Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Federal University of Paraíba-UFPB, 58051-970, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Marcelo S da Silva
- □Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Federal University of Paraíba-UFPB, 58051-970, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Celia R S Garcia
- ∥Departament of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, The University of São Paulo-USP, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanderlan S Bolzani
- †Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University-UNESP, 14800-060, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
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Silva GNS, Schuck DC, Cruz LN, Moraes MS, Nakabashi M, Gosmann G, Garcia CRS, Gnoatto SCB. Investigation of antimalarial activity, cytotoxicity and action mechanism of piperazine derivatives of betulinic acid. Trop Med Int Health 2014; 20:29-39. [PMID: 25308185 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To semisynthesise piperazine derivatives of betulinic acid to evaluate antimalarial activity, cytotoxicity and action mechanism. METHODS The new derivatives were evaluated against the CQ-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain by flow cytometry (FC) using YOYO-1 as stain. Cytotoxicity of 4a and 4b was performed with HEK293T cells for 24 and 48 h by MTT assay. The capability of compound 4a to modulate Ca(2+) in the trophozoite stage was investigated. The trophozoites were stained with Fluo4-AM and analysed by spectrofluorimetry. Effect on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was tested for 4a by FC with DiOC6 (3) as stain. For β-haematin assay, 4a was incubated for 24 h with reagents such as haemin, and the fluorescence was measured by FlexStation at an absorbance of 405 nm. RESULTS Antimalarial activity of 4a and 4b was IC50 = 1 and 4 μm, respectively. Compound 4a displayed cytotoxicity with IC50 = 69 and 29 μm for 24 and 48 h, respectively, and 4b was not cytotoxic at the tested concentrations. Addition of 4a leads to an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) . We have measured ΔΨm after treating parasites with the compound. Data on Figure 4a show that mitochondria were not affected. The action mechanism for 4a, inhibition of β-haematin formation (17%), was lower than CQ treatment (83%; IC50 = 3 mm). CONCLUSION Compound 4a showed excellent antimalarial activity, and its action mechanism is involved in Ca(2+) pathway(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria N S Silva
- Phytochemistry and Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Plasmodium Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil
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20
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Zenonos ZA, Rayner JC, Wright GJ. Towards a comprehensive Plasmodium falciparum merozoite cell surface and secreted recombinant protein library. Malar J 2014; 13:93. [PMID: 24620899 PMCID: PMC3995786 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum is the aetiological agent for malaria, a deadly infectious disease for which no vaccine has yet been licensed. The proteins displayed on the merozoite cell surface have long been considered attractive vaccine targets because of their direct exposure to host antibodies; however, progress in understanding the functional role of these targets has been hindered by technical challenges associated with expressing these proteins in a functionally active recombinant form. To address this, a method that enables the systematic expression of functional extracellular Plasmodium proteins was previously developed, and used to create a library of 42 merozoite proteins. METHODS To compile a more comprehensive library of recombinant proteins representing the repertoire of P. falciparum merozoite extracellular proteins for systematic vaccine and functional studies, genome-wide expression profiling was used to identify additional candidates. Candidate proteins were recombinantly produced and their integrity and expression levels were tested by Western blotting and ELISA. RESULTS Twenty-five additional genes that were upregulated during late schizogony, and predicted to encode secreted and cell surface proteins, were identified and expressed as soluble recombinant proteins. A band consistent with the entire ectodomain was observed by immunoblotting for the majority of the proteins and their expression levels were quantified. By using sera from malaria-exposed immune adults, the immunoreactivity of 20 recombinant proteins was assessed, and most of the merozoite ligands were found to carry heat-labile epitopes. To facilitate systematic comparative studies across the entire library, multiple Plasmodium proteins were simultaneously purified using a custom-made platform. CONCLUSIONS A library of recombinant P. falciparum secreted and cell surface proteins was expanded by 20 additional proteins, which were shown to express at usable levels and contain conformational epitopes. This resource of extracellular P. falciparum merozoite proteins, which now contains 62 full-length ectodomains, will be a valuable tool in elucidating the function of these proteins during the blood stages of infection, and facilitate the comparative assessment of blood stage vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gavin J Wright
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.
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21
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Walker DM, Oghumu S, Gupta G, McGwire BS, Drew ME, Satoskar AR. Mechanisms of cellular invasion by intracellular parasites. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 71:1245-63. [PMID: 24221133 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1491-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Numerous disease-causing parasites must invade host cells in order to prosper. Collectively, such pathogens are responsible for a staggering amount of human sickness and death throughout the world. Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, and malaria are neglected diseases and therefore are linked to socio-economical and geographical factors, affecting well-over half the world's population. Such obligate intracellular parasites have co-evolved with humans to establish a complexity of specific molecular parasite-host cell interactions, forming the basis of the parasite's cellular tropism. They make use of such interactions to invade host cells as a means to migrate through various tissues, to evade the host immune system, and to undergo intracellular replication. These cellular migration and invasion events are absolutely essential for the completion of the lifecycles of these parasites and lead to their for disease pathogenesis. This review is an overview of the molecular mechanisms of protozoan parasite invasion of host cells and discussion of therapeutic strategies, which could be developed by targeting these invasion pathways. Specifically, we focus on four species of protozoan parasites Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium, and Toxoplasma, which are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn M Walker
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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22
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da Silva HB, de Salles EM, Panatieri RH, Boscardin SB, Rodríguez-Málaga SM, Alvarez JM, D'Império Lima MR. IFN-γ-induced priming maintains long-term strain-transcending immunity against blood-stage Plasmodium chabaudi malaria. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 191:5160-9. [PMID: 24133169 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1300462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism by which protective immunity to Plasmodium is lost in the absence of continued exposure to this parasite has yet to be fully elucidated. It has been recently shown that IFN-γ produced during human and murine acute malaria primes the immune response to TLR agonists. In this study, we investigated whether IFN-γ-induced priming is important to maintain long-term protective immunity against Plasmodium chabaudi AS malaria. On day 60 postinfection, C57BL/6 mice still had chronic parasitemia and efficiently controlled homologous and heterologous (AJ strain) challenge. The spleens of chronic mice showed augmented numbers of effector/effector memory (TEM) CD4(+) cells, which is associated with increased levels of IFN-γ-induced priming (i.e., high expression of IFN-inducible genes and TLR hyperresponsiveness). After parasite elimination, IFN-γ-induced priming was no longer detected and protective immunity to heterologous challenge was mostly lost with >70% mortality. Spontaneously cured mice had high serum levels of parasite-specific IgG, but effector T/TEM cell numbers, parasite-driven CD4(+) T cell proliferation, and IFN-γ production were similar to noninfected controls. Remarkably, the priming of cured mice with low doses of IFN-γ rescued TLR hyperresponsiveness and the capacity to control heterologous challenge, increasing the TEM cell population and restoring the CD4(+) T cell responses to parasites. Contribution of TLR signaling to the CD4(+) T cell responses in chronic mice was supported by data obtained in mice lacking the MyD88 adaptor. These results indicate that IFN-γ-induced priming is required to maintain protective immunity against P. chabaudi and aid in establishing the molecular basis of strain-transcending immunity in human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Borges da Silva
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
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Schuck DC, Ferreira SB, Cruz LN, da Rocha DR, Moraes MS, Nakabashi M, Rosenthal PJ, Ferreira VF, Garcia CRS. Biological evaluation of hydroxynaphthoquinones as anti-malarials. Malar J 2013; 12:234. [PMID: 23841934 PMCID: PMC3726445 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hydroxynaphthoquinones have been extensively investigated over the past 50 years for their anti-malarial activity. One member of this class, atovaquone, is combined with proguanil in Malarone®, an important drug for the treatment and prevention of malaria. METHODS Anti-malarial activity was assessed in vitro for a series of 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (N1-N5) evaluating the parasitaemia after 48 hours of incubation. Potential cytotoxicity in HEK293T cells was assessed using the MTT assay. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential of Plasmodium were measured using the fluorescent dye Mitrotracker Red CMXROS. RESULTS Four compounds demonstrated IC50s in the mid-micromolar range, and the most active compound, N3, had an IC50 of 443 nM. N3 disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential, and after 1 hour presented an IC50ΔΨmit of 16 μM. In an in vitro cytotoxicity assay using HEK 293T cells N3 demonstrated no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 16 μM. CONCLUSIONS N3 was a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport, had nanomolar activity against cultured Plasmodium falciparum and showed minimal cytotoxicity. N3 may serve as a starting point for the design of new hydroxynaphthoquinone anti-malarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree C Schuck
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Sabrina B Ferreira
- Departamento de Química Orgânica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil
- Departamento de Química Orgânica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé 27930-560, Brazil
| | - Laura N Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
| | - David R da Rocha
- Departamento de Química Orgânica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil
| | - Miriam S Moraes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Myna Nakabashi
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Vitor F Ferreira
- Departamento de Química Orgânica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil
| | - Celia RS Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, n.321 Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Grab DJ, Nenortas E, Bakshi RP, Nikolskaia OV, Friedman JE, Shapiro TA. Membrane active chelators as novel anti-African trypanosome and anti-malarial drugs. Parasitol Int 2013; 62:461-3. [PMID: 23811202 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2013.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Revised: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Malaria (Plasmodium spp.) and human African trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma brucei spp.) are vector borne, deadly parasitic diseases. While chemotherapeutic agents for both diseases are available, difficulty in disease eradication and development of drug resistance require that new therapies targeting unexplored pathways or exploiting novel modes of action be developed. Intracellular Plasmodium and extracellular Trypanosoma brucei may have unique and essential requirements for divalent metal ions, beyond that deemed physiological for the host. Membrane Active Chelators (MACs), biologically active only in a hydrophobic lipid environment, are able to bind metal ions at elevated non-physiological concentrations in the vicinity of cell membranes. A dose-response relationship study using validated viability assays revealed that two MAC drugs, DP-b99 and DP-460, were cytotoxic for these parasites in vitro. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) values for DP-b99 and DP-460 were 87 μM and 39 μM for Trypanosoma brucei brucei and 21 μM and 28 μM for erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum, respectively. Furthermore, drug potency was maintained for at least 24h in serum containing medium at 37°C. While the exact mechanism of action of MACs against intracellular malaria and extracellular African trypanosome parasites has yet to be determined, their potential as antiparasitic agents warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis J Grab
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Lima WR, Holder AA, Garcia CRS. Melatonin signaling and its modulation of PfNF-YB transcription factor expression in Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:13704-18. [PMID: 23839089 PMCID: PMC3742212 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140713704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2013] [Revised: 06/23/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most severe tropical infectious diseases. More than 220 million people around the world have a clinical malaria infection and about one million die because of Plasmodium annually. This parasitic pathogen replicates efficiently in its human host making it difficult to eradicate. It is transmitted by mosquito vectors and so far mosquito control programs have not effectively eliminated this transmission. Because of malaria's enormous health and economic impact and the need to develop new control and eventual elimination strategies, a big research effort has been made to better understand the biology of this parasite and its interactions with its vertebrate host. Determination of the genome sequence and organization, the elucidation of the role of key proteins, and cell signaling studies have helped to develop an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that provide the parasite's versatility. The parasite can sense its environment and adapt to benefit its survival, indeed this is essential for it to complete its life cycle. For many years we have studied how the Plasmodium parasite is able to sense melatonin. In this review we discuss the melatonin signaling pathway and its role in the control of Plasmodium replication and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wânia Rezende Lima
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508900, Brazil; E-Mail:
| | - Anthony A. Holder
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK; E-Mail:
| | - Célia R. S. Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508900, Brazil; E-Mail:
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26
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Lima WR, Moraes M, Alves E, Azevedo MF, Passos DO, Garcia CRS. The PfNF-YB transcription factor is a downstream target of melatonin and cAMP signalling in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. J Pineal Res 2013; 54:145-53. [PMID: 22804732 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2012.01021.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of malaria and is responsible for the majority of deaths worldwide. The mechanism of cell cycle control within intra-erythrocytic stages has been examined as a potential means of a promising way to identifying how to stop parasite development in red blood cells. Our group determined that melatonin increases parasitemia in P. falciparum and P. chabaudi through a complex signalling cascade. In vertebrates, melatonin controls the expression of transcription factors, leading us to postulate rather that the indoleamine would affect PfNF-YB expression in human malaria parasites. We show here that PfNF-YB transcription factor is highly expressed and colocalized in the nucleus in mature parasites during intra-erythrocytic stages, thus suggesting an important role in cell division. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that melatonin and cAMP modulate the PfNF-YB transcription factor expression in P. falciparum at erythrocytic stages. In addition, PfNF-YB is found to be more ubiquitinated in the presence of melatonin. Finally, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is able to modulate PfNF-YB expression as well. Taken together, our dada reinforce the role played by melatonin in the cell cycle control of P. falciparum and point this indolamine as a target to develop new antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wânia R Lima
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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27
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Lindner SE, Swearingen KE, Harupa A, Vaughan AM, Sinnis P, Moritz RL, Kappe SHI. Total and putative surface proteomics of malaria parasite salivary gland sporozoites. Mol Cell Proteomics 2013; 12:1127-43. [PMID: 23325771 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m112.024505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria infections of mammals are initiated by the transmission of Plasmodium salivary gland sporozoites during an Anopheles mosquito vector bite. Sporozoites make their way through the skin and eventually to the liver, where they infect hepatocytes. Blocking this initial stage of infection is a promising malaria vaccine strategy. Therefore, comprehensively elucidating the protein composition of sporozoites will be invaluable in identifying novel targets for blocking infection. Previous efforts to identify the proteins expressed in Plasmodium mosquito stages were hampered by the technical difficulty of separating the parasite from its vector; without effective purifications, the large majority of proteins identified were of vector origin. Here we describe the proteomic profiling of highly purified salivary gland sporozoites from two Plasmodium species: human-infective Plasmodium falciparum and rodent-infective Plasmodium yoelii. The combination of improved sample purification and high mass accuracy mass spectrometry has facilitated the most complete proteome coverage to date for a pre-erythrocytic stage of the parasite. A total of 1991 P. falciparum sporozoite proteins and 1876 P. yoelii sporozoite proteins were identified, with >86% identified with high sequence coverage. The proteomic data were used to confirm the presence of components of three features critical for sporozoite infection of the mammalian host: the sporozoite motility and invasion apparatus (glideosome), sporozoite signaling pathways, and the contents of the apical secretory organelles. Furthermore, chemical labeling and identification of proteins on live sporozoites revealed previously uncharacterized complexity of the putative sporozoite surface-exposed proteome. Taken together, the data constitute the most comprehensive analysis to date of the protein expression of salivary gland sporozoites and reveal novel potential surface-exposed proteins that might be valuable targets for antibody blockage of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott E Lindner
- Malaria Program, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
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Sharma A, Santos IO, Gaur P, Ferreira VF, Garcia CR, da Rocha DR. Addition of thiols to o-quinone methide: New 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl[1,4]naphthoquinones and their activity against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (3D7). Eur J Med Chem 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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29
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Innocente AM, Silva GNS, Cruz LN, Moraes MS, Nakabashi M, Sonnet P, Gosmann G, Garcia CRS, Gnoatto SCB. Synthesis and antiplasmodial activity of betulinic acid and ursolic acid analogues. Molecules 2012; 17:12003-14. [PMID: 23085651 PMCID: PMC6268073 DOI: 10.3390/molecules171012003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Revised: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 40% of the World population is at risk of contracting malaria, which affects primarily poor populations in tropical and subtropical areas. Antimalarial pharmacotherapy has utilised plant-derived products such as quinine and artemisinin as well as their derivatives. However, worldwide use of these antimalarials has caused the spread of resistant parasites, resulting in increased malaria morbidity and mortality. Considering that the literature has demonstrated the antimalarial potential of triterpenes, specially betulinic acid (1) and ursolic acid (2), this study investigated the antimalarial activity against P. falciparum chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 strain of some new derivatives of 1 and 2 with modifications at C-3 and C-28. The antiplasmodial study employed flow cytometry and spectrofluorimetric analyses using YOYO-1, dihydroethidium and Fluo4/AM for staining. Among the six analogues obtained, compounds 1c and 2c showed excellent activity (IC₅₀ = 220 and 175 nM, respectively) while 1a and b demonstrated good activity (IC₅₀ = 4 and 5 μM, respectively). After cytotoxicity evaluation against HEK293T cells, 1a was not toxic, while 1c and 2c showed IC₅₀ of 4 μM and a selectivity index (SI) value of 18 and 23, respectively. Moreover, compound 2c, which presents the best antiplasmodial activity, is involved in the calcium-regulated pathway(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrine M. Innocente
- Laboratório de Fitoquímica e Síntese Orgânica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil; (A.M.I.); (G.N.S.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Gloria N. S. Silva
- Laboratório de Fitoquímica e Síntese Orgânica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil; (A.M.I.); (G.N.S.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Laura Nogueira Cruz
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Plasmodium, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, USP. Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321, São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (L.N.C.); (M.S.M.); (M.N.); (C.R.S.G.)
| | - Miriam S. Moraes
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Plasmodium, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, USP. Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321, São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (L.N.C.); (M.S.M.); (M.N.); (C.R.S.G.)
| | - Myna Nakabashi
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Plasmodium, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, USP. Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321, São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (L.N.C.); (M.S.M.); (M.N.); (C.R.S.G.)
| | - Pascal Sonnet
- Laboratoire des Glucides, FRE CNRS 3517, UFR de Pharmacie Université de Picardie Jules Verne1, Rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens cedex 1, France
| | - Grace Gosmann
- Laboratório de Fitoquímica e Síntese Orgânica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil; (A.M.I.); (G.N.S.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Célia R. S. Garcia
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Plasmodium, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, USP. Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321, São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (L.N.C.); (M.S.M.); (M.N.); (C.R.S.G.)
| | - Simone C. B. Gnoatto
- Laboratório de Fitoquímica e Síntese Orgânica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil; (A.M.I.); (G.N.S.S.); (G.G.)
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Koyama FC, Ribeiro RY, Garcia JL, Azevedo MF, Chakrabarti D, Garcia CRS. Ubiquitin proteasome system and the atypical kinase PfPK7 are involved in melatonin signaling in Plasmodium falciparum. J Pineal Res 2012; 53:147-53. [PMID: 22348509 PMCID: PMC3360131 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2012.00981.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that melatonin modulates the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic cycle by increasing schizont stage population as well as diminishing ring stage population. In addition, the importance of calcium and cAMP in melatonin signaling pathway in P. falciparum was also demonstrated. Nevertheless, the molecular effectors of the indoleamine signaling pathway remain elusive. We now demonstrate by real-time PCR that melatonin treatment up-regulates genes related to ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS) components and that luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, inhibits UPS transcription modulation. We also show that protein kinase PfPK7, a P. falciparum orphan kinase, plays a crucial role in the melatonin transduction pathway, since following melatonin treatment of P. falciparum parasites where pfpk7 gene is disrupted (pfpk7(-) parasites) (i) the ratio of asexual stages remain unchanged, (ii) the increase in cytoplasmatic calcium in response to melatonin was strongly diminished and (iii) up-regulation of UPS genes did not occur. The wild-type melatonin-induced alterations in cell cycle features, calcium rise and UPS gene transcription were restored by re-introduction of a functional copy of the pfpk7 gene in the pfpk7(-) parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda C Koyama
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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31
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Cruz LN, Wu Y, Craig AG, Garcia CRS. Signal transduction in Plasmodium-Red Blood Cells interactions and in cytoadherence. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2012; 84:555-72. [PMID: 22634746 DOI: 10.1590/s0001-37652012005000036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for more than 1.5 million deaths each year, especially among children (Snow et al. 2005). Despite of the severity of malaria situation and great effort to the development of new drug targets (Yuan et al. 2011) there is still a relative low investment toward antimalarial drugs. Briefly there are targets classes of antimalarial drugs currently being tested including: kinases, proteases, ion channel of GPCR, nuclear receptor, among others (Gamo et al. 2010). Here we review malaria signal transduction pathways in Red Blood Cells (RBC) as well as infected RBCs and endothelial cells interactions, namely cytoadherence. The last process is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. The molecules displayed on the surface of both infected erythrocytes (IE) and vascular endothelial cells (EC) exert themselves as important mediators in cytoadherence, in that they not only induce structural and metabolic changes on both sides, but also trigger multiple signal transduction processes, leading to alteration of gene expression, with the balance between positive and negative regulation determining endothelial pathology during a malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
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32
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Generation of second messengers in Plasmodium. Microbes Infect 2012; 14:787-95. [PMID: 22584103 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2012.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2011] [Revised: 04/17/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Signalling in malaria parasites is a field of growing interest as its components may prove to be valuable drug targets, especially when one considers the burden of a disease that is responsible for up to 500 million infections annually. The scope of this review is to discuss external stimuli in the parasite life cycle and the upstream machinery responsible for translating them into intracellular responses, focussing particularly on the calcium signalling pathway.
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Cruz LN, Juliano MA, Budu A, Juliano L, Holder AA, Blackman MJ, Garcia CR. Extracellular ATP triggers proteolysis and cytosolic Ca²⁺ rise in Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii malaria parasites. Malar J 2012; 11:69. [PMID: 22420332 PMCID: PMC3358241 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 03/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium has a complex cell biology and it is essential to dissect the cell-signalling pathways underlying its survival within the host. METHODS Using the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide substrate Abz-AIKFFARQ-EDDnp and Fluo4/AM, the effects of extracellular ATP on triggering proteolysis and Ca²⁺ signalling in Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii malaria parasites were investigated. RESULTS The protease activity was blocked in the presence of the purinergic receptor blockers suramin (50 μM) and PPADS (50 μM) or the extracellular and intracellular calcium chelators EGTA (5 mM) and BAPTA/AM (25, 100, 200 and 500 μM), respectively for P. yoelii and P. berghei. Addition of ATP (50, 70, 200 and 250 μM) to isolated parasites previously loaded with Fluo4/AM in a Ca²⁺-containing medium led to an increase in cytosolic calcium. This rise was blocked by pre-incubating the parasites with either purinergic antagonists PPADS (50 μM), TNP-ATP (50 μM) or the purinergic blockers KN-62 (10 μM) and Ip5I (10 μM). Incubating P. berghei infected cells with KN-62 (200 μM) resulted in a changed profile of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) processing as revealed by western blot assays. Moreover incubating P. berghei for 17 h with KN-62 (10 μM) led to an increase in rings forms (82% ± 4, n = 11) and a decrease in trophozoite forms (18% ± 4, n = 11). CONCLUSIONS The data clearly show that purinergic signalling modulates P. berghei protease(s) activity and that MSP1 is one target in this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nogueira Cruz
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Butantan, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP Brazil
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Control of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic cycle: γδ T cells target the red blood cell-invasive merozoites. Blood 2011; 118:6952-62. [PMID: 22045985 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2011-08-376111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The control of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic parasite density is essential for protection against malaria, because it prevents pathogenesis and progression toward severe disease. P falciparum blood-stage parasite cultures are inhibited by human Vγ9Vδ2 γδ T cells, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we show that both intraerythrocytic parasites and the extracellular red blood cell-invasive merozoites specifically activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in a γδ T cell receptor-dependent manner and trigger their degranulation. In contrast, the γδ T cell-mediated antiparasitic activity only targets the extracellular merozoites. Using perforin-deficient and granulysin-silenced T-cell lines, we demonstrate that granulysin is essential for the in vitro antiplasmodial process, whereas perforin is dispensable. Patients infected with P falciparum exhibited elevated granulysin plasma levels associated with high levels of granulysin-expressing Vδ2(+) T cells endowed with parasite-specific degranulation capacity. This indicates in vivo activation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells along with granulysin triggering and discharge during primary acute falciparum malaria. Altogether, this work identifies Vγ9Vδ2 T cells as unconventional immune effectors targeting the red blood cell-invasive extracellular P falciparum merozoites and opens novel perspectives for immune interventions harnessing the antiparasitic activity of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to control parasite density in malaria patients.
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Bagnaresi P, Nakabashi M, Thomas AP, Reiter RJ, Garcia CRS. The role of melatonin in parasite biology. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2011; 181:1-6. [PMID: 21982826 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2011.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Revised: 09/21/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Regarded as the circadian hormone in mammals, melatonin is a highly conserved molecule, present in nearly all species. In this review, we discuss the role of this indolamine and its precursors in the cell biology of parasites and the role of the molecule in the physiology of the host. In Plasmodium, melatonin can modulate intracellular concentrations of calcium and cAMP, which in turn can regulate kinase activity and cell cycle. In Trypanosoma infections, modulation of the immune system by melatonin is extremely important in controlling the parasite population. Melatonin also contributes to the inflammatory response to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Thus, there are a number of unique adaptations involving intricate connections between melatonin and the biology of the parasite-host relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Bagnaresi
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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36
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Schuck DC, Ribeiro RY, Nery AA, Ulrich H, Garcia CRS. Flow cytometry as a tool for analyzing changes in Plasmodium falciparum cell cycle following treatment with indol compounds. Cytometry A 2011; 79:959-64. [PMID: 22015733 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.21136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2011] [Revised: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin and its derivatives modulate the Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium chabaudi cell cycle. Flow cytometry was employed together with the nucleic acid dye YOYO-1 allowing precise discrimination between mono- and multinucleated forms of P. falciparum-infected red blood cell. The use of YOYO-1 permitted excellent discrimination between uninfected and infected red blood cells as well as between early and late parasite stages. Fluorescence intensities of schizont-stage parasites were about 10-fold greater than those of ring-trophozoite form parasites. Melatonin and related indolic compounds including serotonin, N-acetyl-serotonin and tryptamine induced an increase in the percentage of multinucleated forms compared to non-treated control cultures. YOYO-1 staining of infected erythrocyte and subsequent flow cytometry analysis provides a powerful tool in malaria research for screening of bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desirée Cigaran Schuck
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Spaccapelo R, Aime E, Caterbi S, Arcidiacono P, Capuccini B, Di Cristina M, Dottorini T, Rende M, Bistoni F, Crisanti A. Disruption of plasmepsin-4 and merozoites surface protein-7 genes in Plasmodium berghei induces combined virulence-attenuated phenotype. Sci Rep 2011; 1:39. [PMID: 22355558 PMCID: PMC3216526 DOI: 10.1038/srep00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood stage malaria parasites causing a mild and self limited infection in mice have
been obtained with either radiation or chemical mutagenesis showing the possibility
of developing an attenuated malaria vaccine. Targeted disruption of plasmepsin-4
(pm4) or the merozoite surface protein-7 (msp7) genes also induces
a virulence-attenuated phenotype in terms of absence of experimental cerebral
malaria (ECM), delayed increase of parasitemia and reduced mortality rate. The
decrease in virulence in parasites lacking either pm4 or msp7 is
however incomplete and dependent on the parasite and mouse strain combination. The
sequential disruption of both genes induced remarkable virulence-attenuated
blood-stage parasites characterized by a self-resolving infection with low levels of
parasitemia and no ECM. Furthermore, convalescent mice were protected against the
challenge with P. berghei or P. yoelii parasites for several months.
These observations provide a proof-of-concept step for the development of human
malaria vaccines based on genetically attenuated blood-stage parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Spaccapelo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Via Del Giochetto, 06126 Perugia, Italy
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Gazarini ML, Beraldo FH, Almeida FM, Bootman M, Da Silva AM, Garcia CRS. Melatonin triggers PKA activation in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi. J Pineal Res 2011; 50:64-70. [PMID: 20964707 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2010.00810.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Calcium (Ca(2+) ) is a critical regulator of many aspects of the Plasmodium reproductive cycle. In particular, intra-erythrocyte Plasmodium parasites respond to circulating levels of the melatonin in a process mediated partly by intracellular Ca(2+) . Melatonin promotes the development and synchronicity of parasites, thereby enhancing their spread and worsening the clinical implications. The signalling mechanisms underlying the effects of melatonin are not fully established, although both Ca(2+) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) have been implicated. Furthermore, it is not clear whether different strains of Plasmodium use the same, or divergent, signals to control their development. The aim of this study was to explore the signalling mechanisms engaged by melatonin in P. chabaudi, a virulent rodent parasite. Using parasites at the throphozoite stage acutely isolated from mice erythrocytes, we demonstrate that melatonin triggers cAMP production and protein kinase A (PKA) activation. Interestingly, the stimulation of cAMP/PKA signalling by melatonin was dependent on elevation of Ca(2+) within the parasite, because buffering Ca(2+) changes using the chelator BAPTA prevented cAMP production in response to melatonin. Incubation with melatonin evoked robust Ca(2+) signals within the parasite, as did the application of a membrane-permeant analogue of cAMP. Our data suggest that P. chabaudi engages both Ca(2+) and cAMP signalling systems when stimulated by melatonin. Furthermore, there is positive feedback between these messengers, because Ca(2+) evokes cAMP elevation and vice versa. Melatonin more than doubled the observed extent of parasitemia, and the increase in cAMP concentration and PKA activation was essential for this effect. These data support the possibility to use melatonin antagonists or derivates in therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos L Gazarini
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brasil
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39
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Cruz LND, Alves E, Leal MT, Juliano MA, Rosenthal PJ, Juliano L, Garcia CRS. FRET peptides reveal differential proteolytic activation in intraerythrocytic stages of the malaria parasites Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii. Int J Parasitol 2010; 41:363-72. [PMID: 21168413 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2010] [Revised: 10/26/2010] [Accepted: 10/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is still a major health problem in developing countries. It is caused by the protist parasite Plasmodium, in which proteases are activated during the cell cycle. Ca(2+) is a ubiquitous signalling ion that appears to regulate protease activity through changes in its intracellular concentration. Proteases are crucial to Plasmodium development, but the role of Ca(2+) in their activity is not fully understood. Here we investigated the role of Ca(2+) in protease modulation among rodent Plasmodium spp. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptides, we verified protease activity elicited by Ca(2+) from the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) after stimulation with thapsigargin (a sarco/endoplasmatic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) inhibitor) and from acidic compartments by stimulation with nigericin (a K(+)/H(+) exchanger) or monensin (a Na(+)/H(+) exchanger). Intracellular (BAPTA/AM) and extracellular (EGTA) Ca(2+) chelators were used to investigate the role played by Ca(2+) in protease activation. In Plasmodium berghei both EGTA and BAPTA blocked protease activation, whilst in Plasmodium yoelii these compounds caused protease activation. The effects of protease inhibitors on thapsigargin-induced proteolysis also differed between the species. Pepstatin A and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) increased thapsigargin-induced proteolysis in P. berghei but decreased it in P. yoelii. Conversely, E64 reduced proteolysis in P. berghei but stimulated it in P. yoelii. The data point out key differences in proteolytic responses to Ca(2+) between species of Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nogueira da Cruz
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374 Edifício Biomédicas II, CEP 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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40
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Alves E, Bartlett PJ, Garcia CRS, Thomas AP. Melatonin and IP3-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum within infected red blood cells. J Biol Chem 2010; 286:5905-12. [PMID: 21149448 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.188474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
IP(3)-dependent Ca(2+) signaling controls a myriad of cellular processes in higher eukaryotes and similar signaling pathways are evolutionarily conserved in Plasmodium, the intracellular parasite that causes malaria. We have reported that isolated, permeabilized Plasmodium chabaudi, releases Ca(2+) upon addition of exogenous IP(3). In the present study, we investigated whether the IP(3) signaling pathway operates in intact Plasmodium falciparum, the major disease-causing human malaria parasite. P. falciparum-infected red blood cells (RBCs) in the trophozoite stage were simultaneously loaded with the Ca(2+) indicator Fluo-4/AM and caged-IP(3). Photolytic release of IP(3) elicited a transient Ca(2+) increase in the cytosol of the intact parasite within the RBC. The intracellular Ca(2+) pools of the parasite were selectively discharged, using thapsigargin to deplete endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) and the antimalarial chloroquine to deplete Ca(2+) from acidocalcisomes. These data show that the ER is the major IP(3)-sensitive Ca(2+) store. Previous work has shown that the human host hormone melatonin regulates P. falciparum cell cycle via a Ca(2+)-dependent pathway. In the present study, we demonstrate that melatonin increases inositol-polyphosphate production in intact intraerythrocytic parasite. Moreover, the Ca(2+) responses to melatonin and uncaging of IP(3) were mutually exclusive in infected RBCs. Taken together these data provide evidence that melatonin activates PLC to generate IP(3) and open ER-localized IP(3)-sensitive Ca(2+) channels in P. falciparum. This receptor signaling pathway is likely to be involved in the regulation and synchronization of parasite cell cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Alves
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
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41
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In vivo uptake of a haem analogue Zn protoporphyrin IX by the human malaria parasite P. falciparum-infected red blood cells. Cell Biol Int 2010; 34:859-65. [PMID: 20491653 DOI: 10.1042/cbi20090427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The cellular traffic of haem during the development of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, through the stages R (ring), T (trophozoite) and S (schizonts), was investigated within RBC (red blood cells). When Plasmodium cultures were incubated with a fluorescent haem analogue, ZnPPIX (Zn protoporphyrin IX) the probe was seen at the cytoplasm (R stage), and the vesicle-like structure distribution pattern was more evident at T and S stages. The temporal sequence of ZnPPIX uptake by P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes shows that at R and S stages, a time-increase acquisition of the porphyrin reaches the maximum fluorescence distribution after 60 min; in contrast, at the T stage, the maximum occurs after 120 min of ZnPPIX uptake. The difference in time-increase acquisition of the porphyrin is in agreement with a maximum activity of haem uptake at the T stage. To gain insights into haem metabolism, recombinant PfHO (P. falciparum haem oxygenase) was expressed, and the conversion of haem into BV (biliverdin) was detected. These findings point out that, in addition to haemozoin formation, the malaria parasite P. falciparum has evolved two distinct mechanisms for dealing with haem toxicity, namely, the uptake of haem into a cellular compartment where haemozoin is formed and HO activity. However, the low Plasmodium HO activity detected reveals that the enzyme appears to be a very inefficient way to scavenge the haem compared with the Plasmodium ability to uptake the haem analogue ZnPPIX and delivering it to the food vacuole.
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42
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Levano-Garcia J, Dluzewski AR, Markus RP, Garcia CRS. Purinergic signalling is involved in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum invasion to red blood cells. Purinergic Signal 2010; 6:365-72. [PMID: 21437007 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-010-9202-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2010] [Accepted: 09/30/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Plasmodium falciparum, the most important etiological agent of human malaria, is endowed with a highly complex cell cycle that is essential for its successful replication within the host. A number of evidence suggest that changes in parasite Ca(2+) levels occur during the intracellular cycle of the parasites and play a role in modulating its functions within the RBC. However, the molecular identification of Plasmodium receptors linked with calcium signalling and the causal relationship between Ca(2+) increases and parasite functions are still largely mysterious. We here describe that increases in P. falciparum Ca(2+) levels, induced by extracellular ATP, modulate parasite invasion. In particular, we show that addition of ATP leads to an increase of cytosolic Ca(2+) in trophozoites and segmented schizonts. Addition of the compounds KN62 and Ip5I on parasites blocked the ATP-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](c). Besides, the compounds or hydrolysis of ATP with apyrase added in culture drastically reduce RBC infection by parasites, suggesting strongly a role of extracellular ATP during RBC invasion. The use of purinoceptor antagonists Ip5I and KN62 in this study suggests the presence of putative purinoceptor in P. falciparum. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that increases in [Ca(2+)](c) in the malarial parasite P. falciparum by ATP leads to the modulation of its invasion of red blood cells. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11302-010-9202-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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43
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Hanssen E, Knoechel C, Klonis N, Abu-Bakar N, Deed S, LeGros M, Larabell C, Tilley L. Cryo transmission X-ray imaging of the malaria parasite, P. falciparum. J Struct Biol 2010; 173:161-8. [PMID: 20826218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2010.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2010] [Revised: 08/13/2010] [Accepted: 08/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cryo transmission X-ray microscopy in the "water window" of photon energies has recently been introduced as a method that exploits the natural contrast of biological samples. We have used cryo tomographic X-ray imaging of the intra-erythrocytic malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, to undertake a survey of the cellular features of this important human pathogen. We examined whole hydrated cells at different stages of growth and defined some of the structures with different X-ray density, including the parasite nucleus, cytoplasm, digestive vacuole and the hemoglobin degradation product, hemozoin. As the parasite develops from an early cup-shaped morphology to a more rounded shape, puncta of hemozoin are formed; these coalesce in the mature trophozoite into a central compartment. In some trophozoite stage parasites we observed invaginations of the parasite surface and, using a selective permeabilization process, showed that these remain connected to the RBC cytoplasm. Some of these invaginations have large openings consistent with phagocytic structures and we observed independent endocytic vesicles in the parasite cytoplasm which appear to play a role in hemoglobin uptake. In schizont stage parasites staggered mitosis was observed and X-ray-dense lipid-rich structures were evident at their apical ends of the developing daughter cells. Treatment of parasites with the antimalarial drug artemisinin appears to affect parasite development and their ability to produce the hemoglobin breakdown product, hemozoin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Hanssen
- Electron Microscopy Unit Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
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44
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Hanssen E, McMillan PJ, Tilley L. Cellular architecture of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Int J Parasitol 2010; 40:1127-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2010] [Revised: 04/15/2010] [Accepted: 04/15/2010] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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45
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LEPPER S, MERKEL M, SARTORI A, CYRKLAFF M, FRISCHKNECHT F. Rapid quantification of the effects of blotting for correlation of light and cryo-light microscopy images. J Microsc 2010; 238:21-6. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03327.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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46
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Transfection systems for Babesia bovis: A review of methods for the transient and stable expression of exogenous genes. Vet Parasitol 2010; 167:205-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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47
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Srinivasan V, Spence DW, Moscovitch A, Pandi-Perumal SR, Trakht I, Brown GM, Cardinali DP. Malaria: therapeutic implications of melatonin. J Pineal Res 2010; 48:1-8. [PMID: 20025640 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2009.00728.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Malaria, which infects more than 300 million people annually, is a serious disease. Epidemiological surveys indicate that of those who are affected, malaria will claim the lives of more than one million individuals, mostly children. There is evidence that the synchronous maturation of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes a severe form of malaria in humans and Plasmodium chabaudi, responsible for rodent malaria, could be linked to circadian changes in melatonin concentration. In vitro melatonin stimulates the growth and development of P. falciparum through the activation of specific melatonin receptors coupled to phospholipase-C activation and the concomitant increase of intracellular Ca2+. The Ca2+ signaling pathway is important to stimulate parasite transition from the trophozoite to the schizont stage, the final stage of intraerythrocytic cycle, thus promoting the rise of parasitemia. Either pinealectomy or the administration of the melatonin receptor blocking agent luzindole desynchronizes the parasitic cell cycle. Therefore, the use of melatonin antagonists could be a novel therapeutic approach for controlling the disease. On the other hand, the complexity of melatonin's action in malaria is underscored by the demonstration that treatment with high doses of melatonin is actually beneficial for inhibiting apoptosis and liver damage resulting from the oxidative stress in malaria. The possibility that the coordinated administration of melatonin antagonists (to impair the melatonin signal that synchronizes P. falciparum) and of melatonin in doses high enough to decrease oxidative damage could be a novel approach in malaria treatment is discussed.
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48
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Hanssen E, Goldie KN, Tilley L. Ultrastructure of the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Methods Cell Biol 2010; 96:93-116. [PMID: 20869520 DOI: 10.1016/s0091-679x(10)96005-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly of the human malaria parasites. The particular virulence of this species derives from its ability to subvert the physiology of its host during the blood stages of its development. The parasite grows and divides within erythrocytes, feeding on the hemoglobin, and remodeling its host cells so they adhere to blood vessel walls. The advent of molecular transfection technology, coupled with optical microscopy of fluorescent protein reporters, has greatly improved our understanding of the ways in which the malaria parasite alters its host cell. However, a full interpretation of the information from these studies requires similar advances in our knowledge of the ultrastructure of the parasite. Here we give an overview of different electron microscopy techniques that have revealed the fine structure of the parasite at different stages of development. We present data on some of the unusual organelles of P. falciparum, in particular, the membrane structures that are elaborated in the erythrocyte cytoplasm and are thought to play an important role in trafficking of virulence proteins. We present and discuss some of the exciting whole cell imaging techniques that represent a new frontier in the studies of parasite ultrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Hanssen
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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49
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Sartorello R, Amaya MJ, Nathanson MH, Garcia CRS. The plasmodium receptor for activated C kinase protein inhibits Ca(2+) signaling in mammalian cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2009; 389:586-92. [PMID: 19748487 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2009] [Accepted: 09/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malarial parasite, expresses an ortholog for the protein kinase C (PKC) activator RACK1. However, PKC has not been identified in this parasite, and the mammalian RACK1 can interact with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R). Therefore we investigated whether the Plasmodium ortholog PfRACK also can affect InsP3R-mediated Ca(2+) signaling in mammalian cells. GFP-tagged PfRACK and endogenous RACK1 were expressed in a similar distribution within cells. PfRACK inhibited agonist-induced Ca(2+) signals in cells expressing each isoform of the InsP3R, and this effect persisted when expression of endogenous RACK1 was reduced by siRNA. PfRACK also inhibited Ca(2+) signals induced by photorelease of caged InsP3. These findings provide evidence that PfRACK directly inhibits InsP3-mediated Ca(2+) signaling in mammalian cells. Interference with host cell signaling pathways to subvert the host intracellular milieu may be an important mechanism for parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robson Sartorello
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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50
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Molecular and cellular approaches to understanding pathogen-host interactions in neglected diseases. Curr Opin Microbiol 2009; 12:392-3. [PMID: 19577951 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2009.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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